How do I even start?

Update! I found I was misinformed - it was Miriam's sister, Mitzy, who passed away.  She was 3 years old. 


This was good news only to Sarah, who didn't lose her best friend. Apparently after Miriam recovered from chickenpox her little sister came down with it.


It's a different child, but the same sorrow.


Miriam died last night.

She was 6 years old.

The doctors prescribed bad medicine.

She was out of school for a couple of weeks because she had chickenpox.  But she was back in class with my daughter, Sarah, on Monday.   After school Miriam's mother and father were hosting, in their very humble baptist church that he pastors, a VBS put on by a visiting church group.

So thrilled was Sarah to be romping around hand in hand with her best friend.

At the surprise baby shower for Sarah's and Miriam's teacher today we noticed that Miriam and her mother were absent - but it wasn't dwelt on.

Then later at the VBS I was talking with the youth pastor's wife . . . she told me the news.

And I grieve.

I'm actually surprised at how my heart hurts for Augustina - Miriam's mother.  I came home and just sobbed on my husbands shoulder.  Then I asked him to tell Sarah - which he did, and she came out of the room all red eyed and we hugged and cried together.

They have two younger children than Miriam - the youngest has down syndrome.  And they are a humble, poor, family.  How does a Pastor continue after burying his daughter?  How does a mother function?  If you remember, would you please pray for this family?

I'll be hugging my kids a little tighter tonight - that's for sure.

Reminiscing . .

Have I been absent from the blogging world of late?

Yes

And I know this irritates me more than it even registers with you . . .

We are leaving Saturday for our bi-annual trek north to visit the churches, friend and families that support us. So I've been in the hub of preparations, and getting presentations ready and such . . .aside from that we have a visiting group with us this week that leave on Friday.

So I console myself by imagining all the "free" time I'll have on our trip to peruse my bloglines and bloggity friends . . .

Meanwhile, going through some old pictures and ran across the time Heather and I hung out . . .

The mamas

The daughters

The son (*ack!* can this really be before my own two sons were born!!! It is! It is before! *ack!*)

The meltdown (yes, my girl -*roll eyes*)

My brother (who's lady gets the credit and thanks for letting us visit this place) says that it is known as "The Happiest Place on Earth" because the kids make a deposit there . . they go in giddy and leave all the "happy" there.

And since I missed "My Walk Monday" let me leave you with a verse that is really ministering to my spirit this morning: Isaiah 33:2, 6, 22

"O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you.

Be our strength every morning,
our salvation in time of distress. . . .

He will be the sure foundation for
your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear
of the LORD is the key to this treasure. . .

For the LORD is our judge,
the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us."

Heaven, I'm in heaven . . .

*ring*
"You! Go get your teeth brushed, and
*ring!*
You! no, no more chocolate milk . . ."
*ring*!
"Hello? Bueno?" This is how I typically answer the phone here in our home.
"Hello, Michelle? This is Karen." she's a fellow missionary from a different ministry here in Ensenada. She and her husband were directors of an orphanage as of late, but just recently were following God into new areas.

I just loaded up my two kids with Karen and her youngest two (she is a mother to 5) and she is taking them to a Carl's Jr (yes, in Mexico) with a massive play place. That was at 12:30 and she is bringing them back at 5pm.

So here I sit, just me and the baby. Baby is happy chowing down on cheerios and graham crackers. I'm having some flavorful Spanish rice and re fried beans topped with queso fresco and a glass of ice tea . . . I'm out of tortillas.

*shrug* Ni modo

Aaahhhhhh

Oh, and she dropped off dinner for me and the family, too!

Talk about blessing your socks off!

Speaking of blessing your socks off, I got to tell you about Heather's blessing!
Who is probably going about 21 different directions at once about now . . . !
If you don't know her (you really should) she is moving to Japan very soon with her family. She saw that in this interview I mentioned that I needed a lap top and so she offered me a Vaio computer that is very compact, albeit not a laptop, but smaller, newer, faster then the one I was using.

On Tuesday we were able to use this newer computer to do our deaf women's bible study via web cam! And I am having all sorts of fun downloading itunes and the such. Can you believe that my other computer didn't have room to allow me to do that?!?!?!? I am so tickled, just bursting with gratitude - so Heather, if you do stop by to give a read:

THANK YOU!!!! and mucho hugs your way, OK?

A friend is

A friend is someone who shares with you how to cook stuffed bell peppers in the microwave!
yum!
XOXOXO~~~

You've got to meet my new friend. . .

Guinevere's Thoughts on Nothing in Particular is just delightful! I met her at the blogging party, and she wrote a post here that resonates with me and for those who know me . . .
So here's some linky love for Guinevere!
Because trying to sign "time warp continuum" is as thrilling as it sounds.

Live long and Prosper, y'all~

But before I go . . .

Today I head out to our deaf women's retreat . . .

But before I do, I just wanted to tell you a bit about a few of the wonderful gals I met at the blogging party . . . which was huge, if you missed it.

This is Modern Mom "about" 2003/2005 New job title: Mom!
Presently: Features researcher, freelance writer; toy & product tester & reviewer.
Previously: TV Producer, Communications liaison, Project Manager, development & marketing. 2001 Candidate for Master’s in Education. 2000 Released original indie album.
1999 BA Communications.
1998 Mrs. Connecticut-America.
1995 New job title: Wife!
1995 Honors graduate, Associates Degree: Sign Language Interpreting/Deaf Studies.
1991 Continental Singer.
1989 Art school.

How cool is that? Of course my interest was piqued at the reference to sign language, and she quotes the movie "The Princess Bride" to boot . . . .
Since popping over to her party I've found her posts oh-so-funny with a dash of deep thinking and a mix of irony and satire to spice it up . . . a winner in my book.

Then I also met and have since enjoyed Jenni from Our life with 3 Girls she has girls about the same age as my three and so we can sigh in unison. Also, I appreciate that her post are often nice and short - due to the young three at hand - to which I greatly empathise . . .

I want to mention Cheryl from The 29:11 Promise. A mother of three and a pastors wife, and she writes of family and thoughts and things. 'Sides, she's a great comment-er.

Finally I'm going to mention a new blog party-er who's ministry is very similar to what we are doing - My life as JulieMom is about JulieMom and her family. They are missionaries to the deaf in South Africa. Her husband is deaf and she is a (hearing) mother of three girls. Plus she is a hoot. Watch out for her sense of humor, it will hit you blind sighted . . . .

There are many more - about 1500 more to be exact - although I didn't get to meet them all, perhaps I will be slowly mentioning a few more that I've come to like along the way - but I've GOT TO PACK!

OK - so I'm off again for this women's retreat . . .I'll take lot ' o pictures and be back later . . .
Ta ta for now y'all!

Some linky love

I was reading Planet Nomad and oh, let me quote her here:

"How on earth did I get a daughter who likes to sew, to knit, to crochet,
to make things? I absolutely hate doing crafts. The mere thought of scrap
booking makes me break out in hives. (Seriously, they’re not zits) I’ve learned to knit at least 5 different times, I add and drop stitches with wild abandon and have huge gaping holes in my handicrafts. Why on earth would someone want to do stuff like that when they could be reading?

Do you know where crafts come from? Satan. I’m not making that up. I’m
going to quote an actual verse here, from Genesis. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast.” Yep. THAT serpent, the one that tempted Eve. So I feel quite justified in my feelings"

I laugh because I am a non-crafty person myself. Not that I'd break
into hives. But I'd rather be reading too . . .

But really almost anytime I enjoy reading Planet Nomad. Go take a peek.

The visit with Virginia.

It really hurt to visit with Virginia. She is such a friend to me, and seeing her in the hospital bed, drooling from the side of her mouth, unresponsive . . . . I miss her, and I miss her comments, her company, her opinions.

Visiting hours yesterday were from 4pm to 6pm.

Previously, after church yesterday I invited Carlos and Virginia's kids over to play with us so the plan was for me to meet Carlos at the hospital at 4pm with the kids, and I'd be able to go visit Virginia.

There were 14 people (mostly deaf) who were waiting to visit Virginia.

They only let one person go at a time. We had to wear a mask. The place smelled of sicknesses, and her room was all colorless white and beige. She is alone in the room with it's too bright white lights, and it feels cold. The too-worn-thin hospital gown was slipping off one shoulder, and her lips had sores on them. Her hair needed washing and her hands smelled sweaty.

I only had moments, but after touching and rubbing her feet through the very thin sheet that half covered her, I took her hand and tried to sign into her hand.

They say that sometimes people in comas still hear what's going on. Well . . then, couldn't she be able to feel and understand that I'm trying to communicate with her???

Her eyes would open and close slowly but they looked around blindly.

I want to go back on a day when so many are not waiting for me to get their turn to see her. I want to go and wash the sweat from her hands and cover them in fragrant lotion. I want to spritz her with some sweet smelling body spray like the kind I know she loves. And perhaps bring a scented candle, not to light, I doubt they'd allow that, but let her room be fragrant.

I want to try to sign into her hand some more, even if it is to pour out my heart to her. I know she will be so upset to not know that our mutual friends Mario and Rita are expecting again! This will be their third baby . . . Virginia must know!

I want my friend back.

I'm back!

there is a moment in the mothers morning where she realizes that the little ones just are not going to let her sleep for a moment more

I really, really, wanted an hour more before we start getting ready for church, but . . . forget it! And so, with the kids having their very healthy and slaved over breakfast of toast and apples I have a moment to catch up with you all.

Oh man, but where do I begin? . . . .I think I'm gonna need coffee first . . .. hold one second . ..

*sigh* aaaaaahhhhhh

You know, the saying "When it rains, it pours." Well it has been hurricane season here.

First my computer dies, right when I needed it most! Then Virginia falls into a coma and is hospitalized. But no sooner did that happen then my own husband gets admitted to the hospital for pneumonia and my baby is diagnosed with RSV and pneumonia as well. Oh, and a "by the way" I have a cough that won't go away, but not nearly as urgent as all the above.

So in that order lets deal out updates . . .

We celebrate this morning because I now have a working computer thanks to my super bro. It's a "new to us" computer, but better than the one that died and functioning! Woo Hoo!

As for my good friend, ministry co-worker, Virginia, as II have been able to talk to her husband Carlos (the deaf pastor here) he seems amazingly calm and peaceful. It has been prayer! And yesterday I am told that they have taken her off the respirator, she is breathing on her own, she is off a lot of the medications they had her on to stabilize her and she is doing well. Her eyes are open, but unfocused. They were hoping to get her sitting in a wheel chair. I ask about her hands. If she has tried to sign. But no one knows. I hope to go in to see her today . . . . keep praying.

My husband scared me so bad when I first got him home from the hospital. He was SO weak and unable to do anything. It was so unlike him, and before he left the hospital his doctor told him that they found some fluid around his heart so that he had "A little CHF, congestive heart failure" and then his doctor when on vacation.

So seeing my husband weak, and unable to much get out of bed, I thought the "little CHF" was getting "a lot" and didn't know where to turn, since it was Christmas and all . . .
I did what I typically do when I need a reality check, I called my aunt. She has had pneumonia too and said that it took her 4 months to get out of bed and a whole year to fully recover.

*whew*

So his fatige is normal. And he will be taking it easy.
He is feeling better now, and yesterday he helped me with cleaning up the kids room (*grovel thank you! thank you oh hubby of mine! grovel*) and he hopes to be on the field again on Monday. But he insists that he is going to only point fingers and supervise, not do anything physically exacting.

As for the baby, he is taking his meds, getting nebulized every 8 hours and as happy as can be. The doctor says that she has never seen a baby with RSV be so happy. The baby is resting a lot, and drinking lots of mommas milk. He will not be doing anything physically exacting . . . so we are all good.

I finally got an appointment for myself, and am being treated for bronchitis plus my doctor said I have sever allergies. Totally treatable, and I'm feeling better too.

Now it is time for me to get ready to go to church. As I mentally prepare myself to interpret for the worship, I kind of hit a melancholy note, since it is Virginia that loved the signed worship more than anyone. I have to confess, I don't have as much "gana" -as they say here- or much "want to", to sign without her.

What a mood lifter!!!

This gal is quickly becoming a favorite read of mine! . . . .

Just what the doctor ordered today . . as she and her family prepare to go to South Africa to be missionaries there with the deaf she writes a rather long, but most enjoyable post . . .

Do see for yourself!

My Life as JulieMom

Friends vs Southern Friends

A lot of my friends, bloggity and otherwise, are southern gals . . .
I love these kinds of friend . .

Friends vs Southern Friends

FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Always bring the food. And lots of it.

FRIENDS: Will say "hello."
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss. More
than one.

FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Call your parents Mom and Dad, and really
mean it, too.

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Cry with you. And for you.

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing,
and just being together. Then do the dishes before leaving.

FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from
you. And most of the time know you better than you do
yourself.

FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, "I'm home!" If you
are not home they will wait.

FRIENDS: Are for a while.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Are for life. And then some.

If one is deprived of Southern Friends, this will serve as
an excellent educational tool for why they need to look into
the possibility.

Brought to you by GCFL.net: The Good, Clean Funnies List
A cheerful heart is good medicine... (Prov 17:22a)
Mail address: GCFL, Box 100, Harvest, AL 35749, USA

The latest GCFL funny can always be found on the web at
http://www.gcfl.net/latest.php

And now the REST of the story . . . .

SO . . .

Did you see the lady in her rubber gloves, pjs, morning hair and au naturale face frantically digging through her garbage that was out on the curb already to be picked up by the garbage man? Her husband standing there holding three other garbage bags?

Here you can get . . . THE REST OF THE STORY!

I would like to also mention that I am a new reader of Juliemom, and have found her a very expressive writer . . which I love.

Not only that, but soon her, her husband (deaf), and three girls are going to South Africa to be missionaries with the deaf there . . .How Cool is that?!?!?!

Monday, Tuesday

So, continuing in our story from last post . . .

The emergency had passed, my boy was breathing easier, and with orders from the ER to see his pediatrician that day (Monday), we went to the place we stay when state side, to get some much needed sleep.

Aside from a visit with his pediatrician and a stop at the supermarket for some food items and prescriptions, we slept most of Monday away. Loved it, and my boy was now was only sleepy and clingy but doing well.

As it so happens, a good friend of mine is just a couple houses away. I have written about her before . . . she is 36 weeks pregnant and has a 10 month old. Proof you can get pregnant while nursing.

Anyway . . . for a while now I have been wanting to check out this place called JavaMama. Long time ago I bemoaned that we mamas who are/were former Starbucks junkies needed a coffee house with a play place . . . that is JavaMama in a nutshell.

Since I didn't have anything pressing to do but wait for my hubby to show up on Wednesday for another round of doctor visits (for us, this time) I invited my friend to check out this place with me on Tuesday . . . and so, a little after morning nap time, toting our little boys, our baby gear and our pregnant-selves along we made our way out there.

It's a ways north east of where we were at, but the drive was enjoyable, and with two pregnant brains (equals one whole brain, for the most part) we only had to do one u-turn before we arrived. Pretty good . . . and we enjoyed our time there - the coffee was good, the play area better, and we hypothesised about starting our own JavaMama franchise down south were we KNOW other mothers need it!

Thing was, all day, all through the drive, and all through coffee my friend was having contractions. Not to painful, but some enough to take her breath away, and about 4-5 minutes apart. So just to be sure (for the fun of it) we finished up our coffees and then I drove her to the hospital.

Gear, kids and our pregnant selves waddled into the triage, and in about an hour we all waddled back out. Turns out she is only 1cm dilated, and as for the contractions . . .well *shrug of shoulders* try to rest, and hold out until at least Monday where the baby would be considered full term.

I just called her now . . . she is still pregnant, and if she gets up to walk across the room she gets contractions, which pretty much means that she is experiencing contractions every 4 or 5 minutes- All.The.Time.

Remember; I did say she has a fast crawling 10 month old.

Pretty much, I think this qualifies her to a "I was in labor for weeks!" labor story and buys her way out of dishes at least for a year . . .

but I'm not sure her hubby would agree.

Can you believe this!

Yesterday Yesenia was all alone with her three boys under 6 at their new home, a 25 acre camp site 2 miles from the famous San Miguel beach in Ensenada, Baja Californai Mexico. Not very far from us.

Yesenia and her family had just moved there to work with the groups and kinda guide this project, the project to build this Oasis.

"This project is currently being used to hold Christian camps for the orphanage
kids in Baja. In the future, a conference center will be built to hold Christian
conferences for youth, married couples, local churches and children. Eventually,
a Bible College will be built to train up students from all over the country of
Mexico to pastor churches and be the future leaders of Mexico."

It's in it's building stage, so there is no phone lines, and their cell phone doesn't get reception there.

So, imagine if you will her feeling when all of a sudden a vehicle with men with guns come crashing through her gate and busted open the door of her house!

They came in shouting at her to "Get down! Get down!" and asking "Where are the guns?"

"We don't have any guns, we are missionaries!"

Meanwhile she's praying for God's protection and trying to convince her 5 year old to STAY DOWN, and all he wants to do is see what is going on!

And she prayed her husband wouldn't come home just at this moment to walk into all this . . .realizing that she was alone with men with guns she then started to pray for protection over their bodies!

She tells me that the only time she wasn't praying for God's protection was when she was singing to her boys "Jesus Loves Me" so that they wouldn't be afraid.

They asked her a whole bunch of questions and searched the place. After a while . . when they found no guns . . .or it seems anything that interested them they told her that they would need to use her car and to hand over the keys . . .but don't worry she would get her car back. Apparently whomever smashed through the gate just dropped these guys off.

She told them that the keys where in her purse on the counter and they did take off in her car. And you know what?! They did bring the car back. Drove it up her driveway, left it open and without her keys.

And they did take anything either . . . . not her wallet, or anything else of value that was laying around . . .

None the less they spent that night at a friends house.

This has all been unnerving to say the least. Surreal was what I kept saying as she told me of the happenings.

Would you stay? Would you pack up and leave? Yesenia is from San Diego, her husband is a chemist . . they don't "need" to be here by any means . . they are just called..

We are going out there to visit them tomorrow. It is a visit we've had planned for over two weeks. I'll tell you more of how they feel about it then, but so far . . . they plan to stay.

For Sarah

This is for Sarah at Sermon on the Mountof Laundry.

I am finally feeling better myself . . . Thank you very much! Heart burn like crazy . . . I really should buy some stock in Tums.

Weekend Reflection

What a crazy God blessed week.

Monday we had a party for our deaf visitor that was here for our deaf woman's retreat.

Tuesday I spent on the phone trying to clear up some medical junk issues that just add up to head aches.

But Wednesday . . . ahh this is where the whole week took a turn for the blessed . . .

We made the long drive with our visiting couple up to just south of the LA area. We have a friend up there who has 'adopted' us and when we do the long drive we stay at her house for the night.

Turns out her son works for a non-profit organization that gives donated food and items to other ministries. He asked if we would like to take some stuff back for the deaf and ourselves . . .

Sure, but what he didn't tell us is that he would be coming out with a fork lift of bins full of stuff! Our mini-van left PACKED to the gill with baby items, canned food, and diapers.

Then early Thursday morning both my hubby and myself had a doctor's appointment, and so we asked my WONDERFUL brother J to watch the kids for three hours.

"Sure" he said "and since I am a nice guy, why don't you guys do something together like catch a movie and go out to eat without the kids, too." And when we dropped off the kids he handed us gift certificates to AMC movie theater. WHAT A GUY!

So after our doctor's appointments, we did go out to eat and we did see a movie . . . It was really, really nice. And when we got back the kids were just waking from naps . . because apparently they were little angels the whole time.

Either the kids have split personalities that only show with others or he's lying . . .

Just kidding, he's just plain good with kids . . . He works with kids in his ministry, it's what he does.

But none the less, what a day! What blessings . . . and what is more is that trudging in an old mini-van packed to the gills can cause some trouble when crossing the boarder . . .

Wouldn't you know we had no problem what so ever! They didn't even look twice at us

God is good

And now we have the pleasure of passing on this great blessing to others . . . I am expecting a couple with a baby to come by at any minute . .

I must admit . . . there is a bit of a scrooge in me that wants to hoard most of it (but the scrooge in me calls it "stocking up") . . . thankfully right now my hubby is in the generous mood so we just give away . . give away . . .

It really is more blessed to give than to receive, ya know.

The Ultimate Blog Party

Welcome!

I've been feeling nauseous with this new pregnancy of mine, so I don't have the much desire to write much. Who I am and what I do is in this blog . . so I'm link you to a few of my favorite post to look at . . . and some party pictures.

1. all sign is not universal
2. mom at the wheel
3. out of the mouth of babes
4. GOOOAALL! (or lack of it)
5. my opinion of pinatas
6. What was that?
7. Rules to drive by
8. 9 wierd things about me
9. thirteen things I've learned living with the deaf

Again, welcome!

And the winner is . . . .

I wrote of my friend Karen and her surprise pregnancy . . . . a bit after the reality of it all settled in she wrote me this:

Ok, here's what I think happened.

You have a 20 percent chance of getting pregnant while breastfeeding exclusively and I was breastfeeding exclusively.

Then I got a period and counted ALL the possible days that we could get pregnant and we used protection.

With that method there is a 10 percent chance of getting pregnant.

Well, when they did the ultrasound it looked like the baby was a week smaller than according to my last, and only, period.

So I figured I ovulated a week late which threw the whole counting days off and the 10 percent chance fell on us.

If I could be so frank as to say we didn't even tango 10 times since N was born so a 1 in 10 chance of getting pregnant isn't even close, I would guess at the very least 1 in 100.

Basically I guess the Lord decided I was to get pregnant NOW.

My mother in law still doesn't believe it is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding! It seems like fertility runs in my family. I told [my hubby] after this one is born he's not touching me for 3 years!

I say it's time to buy a lotto ticket!

Rita's welcome-baby shower.

This will not interest you if your not into:
- deaf culture
- baby showers

- these people personally
The guest of honor:
Mostly this is for Yesenia who couldn't actually make it to Rita's welcome-baby shower because her own two boys (out of three) where sick. *We missed ya!*

Virginia is holding the almost-two-month old baby we welcomed today, and you will see a sort of "spanglish" signed with both ASL and Mexican Sign Language.

Make an online slideshow at onetruemedia.com

This was a SMALL event. Both Rita and Virginia grew up going to Rancho Sordo Mudo where they teach a sort of ASL, I guess that would be their 'first' language. Next to sleeping beauty you see her brother. It is my opinion that they look exactly alike!

Oh, and even though both their parents are deaf, both these kids are 100% hearing, in case you were wondering.

More about Virginia

Photo and video editing at onetruemedia.com

So I wrote here about how I got to know Virginia, sign language and such . . . well.

So the scene here is one Sunday after the deaf had gathered for church.

First we see Rita and her new daughter, seated next to her is her son, almost two years old. Both she and her hubby are deaf, but the children are hearing.

Then we see Virginia signing in American Sign Language about worship and her daughter understanding it. Then you will see her address me - behind the camera - and she switches to Mexican sign language speaking about the tape of children's praise music I lent to her daughter.

I am excited to be working with Virginia and our friend Yesenia on a retreat for the deaf women. We even got a guest speaker to come! Praise the Lord! We will be inviting deaf women from Ensenada and Tijuana . . . it's, well, as I said, EXCITING!