Sign Language

I've been greatly enjoying my time with ASL.  Class is fun.  Signing is fun.  Trying to interpret is fun, even though I suck.  Making new friends is fun.

Class was interesting.  In no particular order, here are My Top 5 Favorite Things About Class:

1.  Finding out that being made fun of on a weekly basis for 5 weeks straight can make me insecure.  I thought I was beyond that.

2.  Watching the class size dwindle.  17 people signed up.  13 people showed up on the first day of class.  8 people were still with us by week 6.  And 5 people showed up for the Final.  Awesome.

3.  The week we had to practice fingerspelling.  We paired up.  We wrote down 10 city names.  Then we practiced fingerspelling those citiy names with our partner.  The girl I was partnered with had never heard of Topeka.  She also misspelled Atlanta (she left out the first 't') and included Florida on her city list.  Nice.

4.  Being required to get in practice hours outside of class.  It's like play time!  Required, "I have to go, Rob, cause I need hours," play time!

5.  People noticing that I'm pretty good at sign.  It's funny.  I hate being acknowledged, in general.  Awards and special attention are nasty, embarrassing things.  But I like it that people think I'm good and that they notice, and that they sometimes tell me.  (Historically, I've disliked being acknowledged in things academic.  What a joke.  However, being honored for soccer?  That's different.  ASL is like soccer, then, instead of like academia.)

Stolen Quote #33

"Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories."

- stolen from John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester (1647 - 1680)

Apparently he wrote erotic poetry.  Found that out when I went looking for his picture.  Also, Johnny Depp played him in a 2004 movie called The Libertine.

Patience

I've been a little jittery and on edge lately because I'm not happy with the Lord's timing.  It's not even over something big, but it's making me ... impatient.  Come on, already!

I saw a member of the Stake Presidency in the hall at church (he's a member of our ward).  I said, "Jim.  I'm not appreciating the Lord's timing."  "About what?"  "I'm just...  We're fighting, the Lord and I.  I'm not happy at all."  He smiled at me.  "Well," he said, "You should get over it."  "That's not helpful," I responded.

I went to another ward's sacrament meeting after I attended my own, and the talks were on patience.  A woman talked about patience and having respect for the Lord's timing.  She moved here in the Fall after she lived away from her husband for 9 months.  He moved to the area and she stayed with the house, praying for it to sell.  As we all know, selling isn't a quick process these days.

She was talking about the lessons she learned, and it hit me.  I needed to get over it.  (I know, Jim already told me that.)  What I was grumbling about is a small, small thing.  People struggle with cancer for years, praying for patience along the way.  People live apart from their spouse for long periods of time, praying for strength.  What was I whining about?  My life is good.  Rob and I are happy.  We're all healthy.  Seriously, Tamra.  Just get over it.

I've been calmer since.  And I've even thought about praying without bitterness in my voice.  It's a good start.