Saturday, March 08, 2008

Welcome to the party!

Ultimate Blog Party 2008


Welcome! My name is Michelle, I grew up mostly in Minnesota. Graduated with a double BA in Sociology and Cultural Anthropology from a way to expensive private college in St.Paul to become a full time missionary in Mexico where I taught at Rancho Sordo Mudo (christian school for the deaf) and met my husband. We've since moved to the neighboring city of Ensenada to work with the deaf ministry here.

Come on in! It's noisy out here with all the traffic, but better once you get in the house.



My husband does construction and when there is an opportunity he likes to take deaf with him to work on the projects he is involved in.

But this blog mostly is me being a mother, a wife and a friend. I like to keep it light hearted. Humor! I love good humor, even if I have to laugh at myself - or I'd probably go insane.

It may be too late . . .

Some answers for some frequently asked questions:

Yes, there are different sign languages for each country, each ethnicity (I know there is a Mayan Sign Language as well as a Mexican Sign language)

I don't know why we don't all just sign one sign language, but I bet the reason is very similar as to why we don't all speak one language.

No, I don't read braille, and neither do any of my deaf friends.

Well - it's coffee time again - yes, in my Cornningware cup.

There are a lot of people at this party so I'll let you go back to meeting them - but again, thanks for stopping by!

By the way - There are over 1000 people at the party and LOTS of prizes . . . you don't even need to be a blogger! Checka checka !! I do have an American shipping address so I'm in the running for some prizes!

My top 5 are

  1. 72 — Webcam Provided by Liz
  2. 103 — Pink Brick Box Play Sets Provided by: LEGO
  3. A blog makeover by any of these: 24, 45, 67, or 123
  4. 70 — Chocolate Provided by: The Chocolistas
  5. 142 — Ballerina Barrette Hairclip Holder Provided by: Nissa’s Niceties

Then in no particular order . . .96, 84, 94, 131, 50, 77, 55, 59, 117, 49, 100, 143, 146, 116, 107, 112, 130, 140, 60, and 129.

29 comments:

FrazzMom said...

Thanks for inviting us over. I loved your video post! Hope your son enjoys his bath tonight ;-)

Cheryl said...

Thanks for the coffee, it was delicious! Best cup I've had all day!
I really enjoyed your video, what a great way to give us insight into your daily life.
I will be praying for you and your family!
Cheryl
please tell me, did someone really ask if you read braille?!?!

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing the video and giving us insight into your life. Nice to meet you. Happy blogging!

Amy's Blah, Blah, Blogging said...

Thanks for sharing the video! It was so cool getting to see you in action Michelle!

Have fun at your party!

K said...

Cool video, thanks for sharing! I went to Ensenada a couple years ago with friends, if I'm ever over that way again I'll have to be sure to look you up!

Gene Bach said...

Cool video. Our church youth are going to be in Ensenada this coming June. Who knows, maybe you'll see them.

Monkey Giggles said...

I love them video. Nice touch.

Jan said...

Hi Michelle! Thanks for visiting my blog again and leaving comments! I surely hope one day we can meet. But to answer your questions: yes, the VIPS is a good date place, but a little expensive. The Mexicans don't pay their water bills here either, though the Bible school tries to as much as possible. No, our students don't usually expect us to pay everything for them. When we were in Nicaragua, that was often the case, though.

Anonymous said...

Hi! I was a missionary teacher with New Tribes Mission before I married a year ago! I married and Aussie. We live in Australia, though I am an American. At my blog A Cup of Joy I am hosting Missions Month. I'd love to feature you! If you are interested, please email me at:
adb[dot]7379yahoo[dot]com

Looking forward to hearing from you!

I'm inviting you to party with me!

Win some chocolate from my-sister-in-law and I...we blog about CHOCOLATE...me from Australia...and her from Michigan. Here's the link: http://thechocolistas.blogspot.com/2008/03/ultimate-blog-party-2008.html

What am I doing in Australia? I married an Aussie...and moved to Brisbane, leaving my family and friends and all the right-side-of-the-road drivers in America.

Win a handmade pocket place mat from my blog Comfort Joy Designs. Here's the link:
http://comfortjoydesigns.blogspot.com/2008/03/ultimate-blog-party-2008.html

Want to know more about life in Australia? Visit my A Cup of Joy site where I keep up with my family and friends in America. Here's the link:
http://acupofjoy.wordpress.com/

Happy Partying!

Name: Jenni said...

I've been to Mexicali about 9 times on missions trips through our church & Azuza Pacific University. I'm not sure how close/far that is from Ensenada, but it sounds familiar. God bless your ministry!

Thanks for visiting my blog...I agree, I'm not sure how I get anything done with 3 kids under 4 yrs!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for throwing such a great party! You know I'm already a big fan!

Anonymous said...

Hi and welcome to the party! So nice to meet you and enjoy your blog. I'll probably stop by again later and browse some more.

Enjoy the party!

Michelle said...

Great blog, what an exciting and fulfilling mission! I look forward to reading more about your world. Check out my party when you have time, I'd love to have you drop in!

Anonymous said...

just wanted to say hello!

Kristin said...

Traffic...and baths are always fun! I hope you are enjoying the party!

Unknown said...

never once, not even one time, have my children begged for a bath. They are like our dog, they can roll in something rotting and putrid and still not want to take a bth. you are my hero, mother extrodinaire

Nissa said...

What a great contribution! I really didn't realize there are different sign languages for different cultures, although it does make sense! Common words are the same, though, right? Just mostly spelling words would be different? You've got me intrigued!
Happy partying & thanks for having me!(and favoriting my prize,too!)

cltgrace said...

Hi hi hi! What a delight to meet you! I must say I have an affinity for those working in the harvest. Don't you just love that scripture "How lovely are the feet of those who bring the good news."? Pretty feet...realy lovely. Bookmarking & praying for your work in Mexico.

Really?? I'm so embarrassed someone would ask you if you read braille. It's like when someone told me they wanted to go to India on a missions trip. "Why India?", I asked. "Well, I want to connect with my native American past." Really?? lol

Well, welcome to the party! Hope you've enjoyed yourself & made some new friends. It's great isn't it?

Peek in on us at GraceFULL Days & say hi before you go! Skip over the Vicks Caring Tributes & vote for my Gracie Cakes story as one of their finalists~ Thanks in advance. http://videos.vickscaringtributes.com/videos/index.html

GraceFULL blessing to you & yours~

Carmen

http://gracefulldays.blogspot.com

Michelle | Bleeding Espresso said...

Oh I'm so happy you're partying! if I'm not mistaken, I came across you during last year's party but I lost your link...happy to find you again :)

Come visit my party in southern Italy when you get a chance!

Bleeding Espresso

heather said...

Such a delight to meet you. Thanks for inviting me to your party. I enjoyed the video. Have fun partying!!!

Lisa W. said...

Hi Michelle so nice to meet you. I enjoyed your video. Prayers go out to Carlos, I read about Virginia. My husbands grandfather was deaf/mute. He was not born this way, he had falling down the root cellar stairs when he was a toddler and it caused this to happen. He passed away a few years ago. Anytime we tell each other by we always wave with the "I Love you sign". My children are younger so never got to know my husbands grandfather but I was just thinking this morning when my son was waving bye to my husband from the window, how this wave will probably be passed on from generation to generation and it was all started from his grandfather. His family still sign to each other some times when they are wanting to communicate without someone else hearing or they are in a situation when there is no talking. It is really neat what you are doing. My Grandfather was from Mexico and my Grandmothers parents were from Mexico. Some day I would like to take a trip there. I am with you about having to loose 50 lbs. :-) That how much I have to lose. I have the Winsor Pilates which I really like and was doing really well with and lost some weight but then my schedule sort of changed and I never got back into it. I really like the idea of the one you have with the worship songs. You can get your body and soul energized at the same time. :-) I think I am going to buy one for myself and my mom. She will really like it I know. Thanks for sharing and thanks for stopping by my blog. Boy that was a long message. LOL!

Jennifer Swanepoel said...

Hi, nice to meet you!

You are the FIRST PERSON to know where the quote in my "about" comes from. Yay Princess Bride!

I have not seen the movies Trekkie and Trekkies 2, I had never heard of them, but I WILL go find them so that we can be BFFs. *grin*

Kate said...

Lovely little place you've got here Michelle! Nice to meet you. If you can spare any, could you please send a little Mexican sunshine up north? I'd appreciate it. I'm freezing up here and moss is starting to form on my north side.

Thanks for popping into my party! I'd love to have you back!

Anonymous said...

thanks for stopping by my place!!!

Do people really ask you if you read braille?!?!?!

Lovely;)

Anonymous said...

Cultural anthropology?! That's my major (well, anthro -- my school doesn't differentiate between any of the areas)! I'm hoping to go back to school and finish up my degree after Miss L heads off to kindy. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Betty C said...

Great blog. I'll be back.

Kate said...

HELLO!!!! :D So awesome to "meet" you via the UBP (I know I know, you're not visiting any more blogs!) ;) That's ok! I just wanted to say HI and I'll be back to browse around. My husband and I were missionaries with New Tribes Mission over in PNG for a while...so fun to hear other missionary adventures. God bless y'all!!

m. said...

I'm partying with pictures. :) I write about my adorable kids and knitting through my ridiculous stash. You can find me here: http://megaknits.blogspot.com

Natalie said...

hi, happy blog party! nice to meet you. i am trying to visit everyone in mr. linky that ends with the #9 since i am 129. we will be praying for your ministry.