"Serious illnesses, family tragedies, and emotional struggles do not happen necessarily because we have sinned. Adversity and heartbreak happen to good people; such is the fruit of a fallen world. But having experienced tragedy, sickness, and disappointment in His own life, the Savior knows how to strengthen us in such trials as well. He is there not only when we cry out from the burden of sin but also when we cry out for any other reason." -Bruce D. Porter

Signing

You know, signing is not that hard. It's actually very easy. We've been watching the Singing Time videos and it's actually not all that bad. Go to ASL Pro on line and there's a pretty good browser there to help with words. Start with the words you use everyday. That way it's easy. I've actually started with finger spelling, signing the ABC's. Once comfortable with this, I then began to pick up other signs. And then I'm wondering how will Seth ever sign back to us? Well, duh, same way hearing children learn to talk. They hear it over and over and repeat back what they hear. Signing children do the same. They see the signs over and over and will start to imitate the signs. Seth signs milk. When I saw him trying it out, it started to hit home that it really works! I'm getting more comfortable around the deaf people at the school. I don't understand them yet, but I do recognize some signs. One day Todd will pick it up too!

Flood Watch

It rains so much here. And right now since it's cold, it's always muddy as well. I thought it was funny when they announce on the radio that there was a flood watch in effect tonight. What, like we actually can get more rain? Wow! We'll see what happens. I guess it's suppose to rain pretty hard tonight. Usually the rain is a light drizzle which lasts all day long. Rarely do we get hard down pours and it's really even more exciting to have thunder! It just rumbles and keeps rolling because there are no mountains to stop it! Luckily, we are not in a flood prone area. There is a creek below the house, but we are well above it to not have to worry about flooding problems. I think it's neat that the pansies are growing right now. I wonder how long into the winter they will last, or will they last all winter until it's too hot next summer? I think I might have to go buy some for my flower pots next to the house and see what happens.

Happy Thanksgiving!

There are only two things that bring you happiness in this life: family and service. I love my family and when you see all that you do for them in the light of service, it's no longer a chore. I don't mind cleaning up after them and knowing they'll make a mess again. I'm glad they had a clean place to mess up! Happy Thanksgiving!

Funny Little Karsten

Karsten is so funny. I take Seth to the Maryland School for the Death for their Infant/Toddler program. Siblings are allowed to join as well. So I tell Karsten he gets to go to a new preschool. He will join the older children in their group. I tell him it will be a deaf preschool. He leaves the room and goes in his room and I hear him say, "I don't want to go there." He then comes back into my room and says, "but Mom, I can hear." That made me laugh. So I explained to him that it didn't matter, he would learn to sign like the rest of the children and he would have fun. Needless to say, on Friday, he had a fun time and he calls it his "deaf preschool". When I walked into the class on Friday they were playing a game in the gym. It was the quietest group of kids playing a game that I've seen! From what I can tell, there are about three others with hearing aids, so they have some level of hearing, one girl had a cochlear implant, and the others I assume are completely deaf? There were a couple of parents there who were deaf as well. A couple of the teachers are deaf as well, so because we are new and don't sign very much at all, one of the teachers interprets for us. The school teaches both ways of speech, the speaking and listening side and the signing side. Seth was either practicing waving or the sign for milk the other day. Or perhaps he was just checking out his fingers! Every Saturday I drive down to Alexandria VA for Seth to see a private speech teacher. She is very good. I am so surprised at how well Seth listens and responds to her. He does things for her that I never thought he could do! I wish she could come just live with us! She is definatley talented and I try to rationalize that even though it's such a far drive, it will be worth it in the end. I hate accidents. That's the worst part of the drive. Accidents back up traffic so bad and makes the drive so much longer. I only made one wrong turn this last trip out! I'm getting better!

Karsten has started reading the Dick and Jane books. I love those books. I always grab one if I see a copy at the thrift store. He is very good at reading. He loves to read Funny Little Sally. And Puff, the cat. It's amazing what words they can remember. I've done some sounding out words with him as well, like cat, hat, sat, etc. He's also starting to learn basic addition. I will miss him when he leaves for Kindergarten! He's been a joy to have at home with me!

On a Political Note

Ok, usually I'm not that vocal when it comes to politics. I'll admit, I'm clueless on a lot of things, either because I don't know what is going on or that I don't know that facts about what is going on. So, I'm trying to change that. One great tool in deciding whether we are going the right direction in regards to the government is to study history! The following quotes were made by Ezra Taft Benson in 1961 during General Conference. Although at the time the fight was against communism, I think we can see the same thing happening in our time.

Today the devil a

s a wolf in a supposedly new suit of sheep's clothing is enticing some men, both in and out of the Church, to parrot his line by advocating planned government guaranteed security programs at the expense of our liberties. Latter-day Saints should be reminded how and why they voted as they did in heaven. If some have decided to change their vote they should repent-throw their support on the side of freedom-and cease promoting this subversion.

No true Latter-day Saint and no true American can be a socialist or a communist or support programs leading in that direction. These evil philosophies are incompatible with Mormonism, the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

So what do I think in our day this has regards to? Government run health care.

Please check out the article yourself, there's a ton in there.

http://search.ldslibrary.com/article/view/121550

Alex's birthday!

So, for Alex's birthday he got a tricycle! Grandma and Grandpa Stailey also flew in from Utah, which was a surprise to the children. It was a great week having them here, even though a few of us got sick!