A few blogs back I mentioned my oldest son’s wife expecting this month, and my youngest son’s family also expecting a little one next summer.

Well, I used to be able to say “each of my children has a child”, and that meant I had 3 grandchildren. I can’t say that any more!

Tonight, at around 7:20 pm California time, my grandson was born.  After a long night and day without much sleep, my daughter in law had her baby.  She was exhausted.  The baby is SO cute, and I even got to hold him!  Becky’s mother is visiting here from Cyprus, and she held him for a few minutes too.  Then of course, his daddy held him.

I’m tired too, went straight to the hospital after I left school, which was a 40 minute drive.  Then at 9:30 I drove Becky’s mother back to their apt., which is a 30 minute drive northwest.  Then I had to make a 40 minute drive home.

In the morning I have to go get Becky’s mother and bring her to the hospital (my son stayed overnight at the hospital with his new little family).  I have to do homework and correct papers this weekend too… wow, oh yes and then there’s some Christmas shopping I need to do.

This next week is the “last” week of school before Christmas vacation. Yay!

Love to all this weekend,
Gerrie

Just a short note. 

Yesterday I got an email telling me the unofficial results of the state ASL test I took last month.  I passed 2 out of 3 subtests.  I can re-take the subtest I still need next May.  In the meantime I’m figuring out ways to prepare myself for it.  This first time I had no idea what to expect.  Now I do, and I’m very happy I only need to take one part again!

Nothing much else is going on, at least nothing worth mentioning. 

There are churches and ministries I’ve heard or read about “problems” with….  that the leadership is not what they say they are, to put it nicely.  And yet I hear of the miracles and God’s work being done in the people that attend them.  I’m coming to the conclusion that God decides to intervene sometimes “in spite of” the leadership, and works with individuals based on THEIR faithfulness and obedience no matter which ministry or church they are with.

Now, if I could figure out what God is doing in my life, it would help.  Someone in church a few weeks ago reminded me of the Psalmist’s reference to the Word being a “lamp unto his feet,” meaning you don’t get much more than the path lit up for you.  So we’re not always given a lot of information to go on.  So we have to walk by faith not by sight, cuz there isn’t much to see anyway!!!

That is fine, except when there is pain and it seems senseless….

That’s about all for now,
Gerrie

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at my son and daughter-in-law’s house, only 4 blocks from where I live:)  There were 12 of us:  my three children and their spouses, my daughter-in-law’s mother and her fiance, my daughter-in-law’s father, and my two grandsons (they’re 7).  Later my daughter-in-law’s sister and her boyfriend stopped in for dessert.  The kids played, the little doggies ran around, my oldest son’s wife and I talked about pregnancy and birth (she’s due next month), and we all just relaxed.

Today I went to see the movie August Rush.  It’s a very good movie about the bond of love and music affecting people in the deepest way and bringing them together, and the faith of one 11 year old boy.  Last week I saw Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium… I loved it even more.  it’s a little silly BUT has a wonderful underlying message of faith and love (and the main character even talks of those two qualities).

Tomorrow after church I’m taking one of my grandsons to see the movie Enchanted (I let him choose between that and Bee Movie).

I’ve decided to read Psalm 37:4 and claim the promise in it every day, and to trust God to fulfill it. 

I have to finish doing my grades for school and work on my college class.. back to school on Monday:)

Just ordinary stuff going on!

Love to all,
Gerrie

See the p.s. at the bottom for the reason for this edit:)

We’re supposed to be thankful every day, really as a way of “being”.  To count our blessings and thank God for them.  But even with that, this holiday makes me stop and reflect and remember the blessings better.

I’ve been through trials, nothing earth-shattering like some of you, but they’ve been emotionally hard for me and friends have helped me get through them.

So I thought I’d just write a short note saying to all my friends on Xanga, how much I appreciate all of you.  All your support, comments, prayers, hand-holding (albeit through cyberspace) and love have been an absolute gift from God, working through you.  I’ll refrain from trying to list you all because surely I’ll forget someone important.

So to anyone who reads this and has ever, EVER said an encouraging word to me (and two of you have done way way more than that even just in the last couple of days), I say thank you and God bless you richly through this end-of-year, coming year, and always.

Love to all,
Gerrie

P.S.  I don’t know if I’ve mentioned that my oldest son’s wife is expecting a baby in December (next month), and that all indications are that it’s a boy. 

Well, this morning I got news from my other  son (the youngest of my 3 children) : their little family is going to have an addition next summer!  And I’m excited because they only live about 4 blocks away from me:)

Up till now it’s been that “each of my children has a child”… now it’s going to be FIVE  grandchildren!  One more thing to be thankful for, don’t you think?

What a week!  Monday started out ok.  I decided not to give my students new words, but to instead review their old words with them.  I noticed they were starting to forget things they’d learned in the beginning of the year and decided not to let it continue.  So I told them to get out all their lists.  I assigned them to form groups and make up a story or dialogue and present it to the class.  We’ve gotten two-thirds through the presentations, and some of them are doing very well.  I tested them on Friday.

This week was also the week I wrapped up the French Revolution study (and tested Friday) in the special education World History class I teach.  It amazes me how many times things get repeated in our history. Not just war, but “good intentions gone bad.”  It was the first time in history people under a monarchy actually got rid of their king. It started out as a “good idea”, because the country was going bankrupt, and the poor were starving and going without while the king and his court lived it up.  At first it seemed as if the lowest class was finally getting a voice…until the power ended up in the hands of a few who not only misused their power, but let their paranoia grow and destroy.

I’d always thought that the revolution was “poor against rich” and that the rich were the only ones killed.  It turns out that the obsession with making sure the revolution continued resulted in the arrest and death of anybody who even dared criticize how things were going, or, to quote one historian on a documentary we watched, “wasn’t enthusiastic enough.” As many as 800 people a month were sent to the guillotine over the year-long “Reign of Terror.”  It surprised me how much like the neighbor-turning-in-neighbor of Nazi and Communist days it was.

The week ended in a 6-hour state test I had to take today (Saturday)  to prove “subject competence” in American Sign Language so that I can teach it.  I’ve been so nervous about the test!  Tuesday night I was ready to go interpret for something when suddenly I got the vision squigglies of an oncoming migraine.  Twenty minutes later the squiggly vision passed and I went and interpreted, but then I fought a headache on and off for a couple of days.

The test wasn’t as bad as I anticipated (interpreter certification was harder).  The test was given in three subtests, and covered language accuracy, deaf culture, and linguistics.  Linguistics is my love and strongest area, and that was the third and easiest one of the bunch.  It takes a month to find out whether I’ve passed; if I need to do it again, it’s not available again until next May.  If I do pass, I’m going to celebrate; I hope this is the LAST test ever required for me to continue teaching!

Anybody remember the 60′s folk group New Christy Minstrels, or the songs “Green Green” or “Eve of Destruction” by Barry McGuire?  Barry still performs and goes on tour with a fellow named  Pete Talbott, and they’re going to be in town.  Barry is a Christian and so they’re going to be performing and giving their testimonies at the little Foursquare church I’ve started attending.  The pastor said they came there on their previous tour, so they’re visiting again tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it. 

Barry has pitched in on performances at a local coffee house when some core members of the New Christy Minstrels come, too, and I did go to one of those.

Then tomorrow afternoon is the baby shower for my oldest son’s wife.  She’s due some time in mid-December, but her mother had a history of birthing early, so they’re not taking any chances having the shower later in the month.

That’s about all the news lately….  it’s all one day at a time and hanging onto the Lord.  And He is definitely good  I pray for you, don’t stop praying for me please!

Love to all,
Gerrie

I know, I haven’t written in a while.  I only write when I have something worthwhile to say.  A friend of mine doesn’t see the use of blogging, and pictures it as writing things like, “went to the bathroom 3 times today” for all the world to see.  But of course we all know differently.  I tell him people in my blog circles don’t write like that, we’re more of a community that encourages and prays for each other, etc.

I’ve gotten on a new mailing list from the National Education Association.  They pull articles from newspapers and magazines all over about what is happening in the world of education, such as teachers using technology, schools trying out new software or techniques, etc.  One was about a teacher who has used blogging as a writing tool for his high school English students, and now teaches classes to teachers about blogging and other technologies, etc., to use in school.  The article teasingly called him a “blogvangelist”, because he is so adamant about the helpfulness of blogging.  Not only does he advocate using it for students, but for teachers and writers, etc., to share ideas with each other.

I’ve gone to the new church for 2 or 3 weeks now.  The pastor has just returned from Sri Lanka where he gave classes to pastors of churches over there.  Tonight I went to prayer and worship, and the pastor played guitar in the band and led worship; the assistant pastor led the prayer and scripture reading parts.  It was wonderful to be in a group of people so filled with spiritual joy you could feel it in the room.

As I said, I saw a deaf couple I already knew, but the interesting thing is the wife introduced me to a lady named Jan, and we figured out why we seemed familiar to each other:  she works at the school where I teach, as a substitute interpreter!  We saw each other at school today and talked for a few minutes, then we sat together tonight at service.  Tonight she introduced me to a nice married couple, who in turn introduced me to the assistant pastor.  So it feels like I’m getting a little settled, and I am planning to go back next Sunday.

As for the job, I love it.  My third period group is  huge challenge, but I’m learning to do better at discipline and rein them in.  The past 2 or 3 days there was a “cricket” noise, and I knew it was fake and when I’d walk over to a certain rowdy group of kids, the noise would stop.  The kids said it could be a real one, but I knew better.  I told them that it’s not fair to distract and disrupt the teaching, so if the noise doesn’t stop, I’ll be unfair and give a test on a list of words we just introduced a day ago (normally I introduce the list Monday and test on Friday).  The noise stopped.

Then today I rearranged the seating, and mentioned the cricket, saying that I would respect the person a whole lot if the perpetrator would admit to having done it.  A girl confessed to having done it with her cell phone.  So we’ll see what happens tomorrow.

As for life, there is nothing else going on besides job, school and church…  on Saturday November 3rd I take a state competency test for teaching American Sign Language in schools.  Prayers would be apprecated!

That’s about all there is right now.  Thanks to the dear ones here who have encouraged and prayed for me, it means so much to have wonderful friends.

Love to all,
Gerrie

Today I tried another church.  I’d been thinking about trying this church but couldn’t remember where it was.  Then a friend mentioned it and told me where it is.  The friend was going to meet me there but got sick and couldn’t come (which I found out after I got home), but I went in anyway.  It’s a Foursquare church about 8 miles from me.

One of the pastors greeted me, and he was very kind and introduced me to his daughter, who interprets for the deaf people that attend.  I asked about it because I noticed there are sign classes on their monthly schedule. There were about 5 deaf people there today, and the church has 100 people attending each service (they have two).

I sat toward the front across the aisle from where the deaf people sit, so I could watch the interpreting but not have to focus on it.  After the music started I looked at the deaf people and discovered that I knew one of them!!!  I’d met him in the days when I worked as an interpreter for the state department of vocational rehabilitation.

The worship music was wonderful, and the sermon gave a lot of food for thought.  The church seems more ‘mature’ than the one around the corner from me, and of course, Foursquare denomination is charismatic.  So it seems like it might be what I’ve been looking for.

When I went into teaching I left an interpreting job.  My intention was to get away from the deaf community and signing.  Part of that is due to developing arthritis in my shoulders and the need to stop interpreting for a living.  Part of that is, because I just simply wanted to be with hearing people.  (The Lydells will understand this).

I’m beginning to wonder if the Lord is drawing me back into the deaf community.  Sign language is such a part of me — I’ve been drawn to sign language since I was ten years old, and I’ve been signing and interpreting for most of the last 30 years.  I find myself thinking in sign, praying in sign, and signing as I sing in worship (especially if I’m moved to tears or upset).

In 1980 I was asked to establish and work in a “deaf program” for my church, encouraging deaf members and interpreters, and training interpreters.  I worked there for 8 1/2 years then was replaced by a ministerial candidate; I mourned the loss of that job, my heart was in it so much.  Then after my divorce in 1995 I supported myself by interpreting at various colleges and freelancing, until I was hired to work at vocational rehabilitation.  I left that job for a teaching job after I graduated with my B.A.  Like I said, when I started teaching I thought I was leaving the deaf community, although at times afterward I craved sign.

When I got the job teaching sign language at the high school I didn’t think anything of it in particular, except that perhaps professionally I’ve found my niche.  The deaf teachers at school talk to me, and of course I’m very comfortable there; the wife of the VR counselor I worked for teaches a DHH class, so I’m also among friends.

My personal life is in limbo, transition, whatever you call it.  It’s uncomfortable.  I’m looking for a church where I can feel “planted’ and get back to serving the Lord with others.  I’d also like to be half of a marriage partnership in ministry of some kind….  and now this finding the deaf people at the church I visited today makes me wish I could hear personally from the Lord what He has in mind for me:)

So I’m walking the path putting one foot in front of another…. trying to follow where the Lord leads. To anyone praying with/for me thank you from the bottom of my heart and I beg you not to stop, and please know I do pray for my Xanga friends.

Love to all,
Gerrie

I was reading a blog about thanking God in the midst of trouble, and it reminded me of having a baby.  The Bible compares trials on this earth to a woman in labor.

I had all three of my children with no medication at all (they don’t give you much till you’re about to give birth anyway, so really it was no big deal).  What got me through the labor pains was, yes, the classes I’d had about what it is all about so I wouldn’t be scared, and training in breathing and relaxing, but  more than that, the fact that there was a baby at the end, to hold and see who it was,  made it easier to get through each contraction (counting down to “no more left”), and made it worth everything!

Our Christian life is like that.  Scripture says that the trials we have now are nothing compared to the joy and peace we will have in Heaven.  It also says we are God’s children.  It says we are to grow up to the stature and fullness of Jesus Christ.

So, in a way, if our growing pains as children in the Lord, and our trials and troubles are like “labor pains,”  then WE are the baby at the end!

Love to all,
Gerrie

Well I think we just finished week 4 of school.  I am SO happy at this school!  The administration is supportive, the kids are great, the other teachers are mostly friendly and nice.

We had a couple of glitches in the beginning, because some of my ASL2 students are in awe of the other teacher they had for ASL1 last year, so they transferred out.  At first it bothered me but then I realized it was better to have the gainsayers out.

First and second period the kids are great, they’re learning, they’re loving it, and a few of them say it’s their favorite subject, and a couple have said I’m their favorite teacher.

Third period is more of a challenge.  For some reason a few of the kids in there are insolent and disrespectful, and it’s infected the whole class.  Finally, yesterday I made them all write a behavior contract and take it home for parents to sign, and to also write their cell phone and email addresses for me.  One boy I’ve had to kick out more than once. 

I come off as too nice, and the kids think they can walk all over me.  Think again, I will NOT put up with this nonsense, especially if it interferes with learning (and one student came to me saying he wasn’t learning much in my 3rd period).

But I love my job, I look forward to going to work every day, and enjoy it so much.  I thank God for putting me in this school.

Have a great weekend, all!
Gerrie

It’s the third week of school where I teach, and next Tuesday is “Back to School Night.”

For me personally, it’s the second week of school at Azusa Pacfic University, in Azusa California.  I have 5 more classes to take toward my clear (permanent) special ed credential, 3 of which I’ll take at APU. I also have one more class and a test to pass so I can get my single subject credential for teaching American Sign Language at the high school where I work.

Right now I’m taking the first of the 3, as an online course.  I signed up for the course the first day of school, and it took me till the following Monday to figure out how to get into the online learning site!  My textbook will arrive tomorrow.  So the trek begins:)

I like learning.  I like school.  I get good grades.  But I’m certainly looking forward to being FINISHED!!!!

Love to all and thank you for prayers,
Gerrie