Jodi Speaks Her Mind

Nothing ventured, nothing gained 7/18/2007

My entire life I have wanted to be able to do a french braid.  I had long hair for most of my growing up years and loved it when I could find a friend to french braid my hair.  I most often did this for gymnastics meets.  In any case, I’ve always thought it was so difficult.  Well, now I have a daughter with long hair and I feel so inadequate to do anything for her.  She recently got her hair cut and the lady who did it did some simple french braids and showed me how.  It was a brief lesson and I didn’t think at the time it was enough to work from, but I sat down last night and did two french braids in Adelina’s hair.  The first one was pretty sloppy, but the second one wasn’t half bad!  I was so proud, and of course Adelina looked darling.  Naturally, she pulled them out first thing this morning in order to enjoy her curls, so I didn’t get to take a picture, but I’m hoping to try again soon.  I so hope I can do it again.  I’m still a little bit in shock.  It’s not a skill I ever really thought I could master.  I guess you don’t succeed if you don’t try.  If/when I manage to do it again, I will take a picture and post it here!

Heat or Sun? 7/8/2007

It’s a tough call, especially since we have both in spades here in Arizona.  You might think it odd I even have/get to make a decision between heat or sun, but the situation is that I’ve begun exercising again.  While I often do TV-recorded workouts in the pleasant cool of the house, sometimes I like to get outside and run.  So I have a choice:  I can run after the sun goes down while it is around 96-97 degrees outside OR I can run in the morning when it is cooler, but the sun is bright and its rays are powerful.  For me, I choose heat over sun because I can endure sweat, but the sun is just not friendly to my fair skin.  There are more practical issues as well, such as the problem that Steve leaves by 6:00 am and I am so not a morning person.  Getting up early enough to run before he’s gone is most likely not ever going to happen.  So, for me, it’s the heat.  Oddly, I enjoy my hot evening runs, even if I am a disgusting sweaty mess when I return.  I bring along my ipod shuffle and enjoy a hearty selection of praise and worship while I run.  It’s a physical and spiritual workout.  Ok, off to the shower for me!

There’s no place like (a church) home

We have been attending a new church since last October.  Prior to that, for a few months we were attending a mega-church that had a sign language ministry.  We liked the access to Deaf people and sign language, but felt we were not being spiritually nourished very much.  Finally, we stumbled across meek little 2 Rivers Church by way of a car sticker and then a visit to their website and subsequent visit to a church service.  It’s a very small congregation that was originally a church-plant from Wisconsin of all places.  We felt immediately at home, though, and have been consistently attending ever since.  We became members in February, and Adelina is thoroughly enjoying the children.  If you’re local, feel free to come for a visit.  We’d love to have you.

Freedom and fun 7/5/2007

I’m no longer working.  Wow, I just love it.  I’m getting more exercise now and we already did a small painting project.  Adelina’s bathroom is now a vibrant robin-egg blue.  We’re going to take a trip to the library today to return books and select new ones, and tomorrow we’re going with some friends to see Ratatouille (for the third time!).

Happy (belated) 4th of July to everyone.  We went to a pool-party cookout with folks from church and then went to see fireworks.  We ended up just pulling off the side of the road and getting out and sitting on the ground (on blankets) to watch.  It was a nice time.  We could hear occasional traffic though, and when a motorcycle rode past, Adelina didn’t even look but she said, “that was a motorcycle.”  Steve commented at how amazing it is that she can distinguish vehicles by their engine sounds and she’s DEAF!  Over the next several days I want to collect samples of her language so you can appreciate how far she has come.  She still struggles with language, but sometimes she speaks whole, complete, correct sentences!  We are so proud.

More to come…