Blowing Smoke about bad grades

Well, you all know I've been paranoid about flunking my class last semester. In fact, I was fairly convinced that even if I passed, it would be by a scant margin. If you want to know all the gritty details, just read the mournful former posts.

I finally emailed my teacher to find out how the scores settled. Here's the email I just back from my Prof.

Elizabeth:

Your average for Sign to Voice class was 92.7, which is an A of course.

Congratulations on achieving your Novice certification! You were one point shy of Apprentice (Level 2). I believe the score they show you is the lower of your two scores in ASL and PSE, so you probably did better in the other mode. And you’ve now had an introduction to the testing system – you’ll perform better next time based on that alone.

Take care.

Tom

Can you believe that???? Ha! Well, I passed! Ha!

Paradox in Parenting

I've been really struggling with my parenting lately. Read: I'm losing my temper multiple times every single day.

Last night, I wrote out the entire problem, including an example scenario so I can take it with me to see a counselor, which happens this Friday.

Then, I asked Royal to read my "Problem Description". To summarize for your sake, basically I ask the children to do something over and over, each time getting angrier. I think I should be making them happy, so I "try" to be polite and sweet on top of not happy. Then, I lose my temper and start yelling. Then I feel guilty and hate myself for awhile. Repeat cycle.

Finally, I'm ready to ask his opinion. So I say something like, "Okay, Dear. I want to stay calm with my kids. You know I believe my anger towards them is almost always irrational, and I do not know what to do differently. What do you think I could do that I'm not doing?"

He said, "Well, the first time they disobey, and you feel that first tiny inkling of irritation, send them to their room immediately. Let them be alone, and when you feel better, call them back out to try again."

So, that sounds obvious and simple. I determined to follow that advice.

I pictured screaming, whining children, furious at their merciless mother. I pictured children alone and in their rooms for hours at a time. I had some concerns.

But, I determined to follow his advice.

Today was day number one. Boy was I wrong. The children each only got sent (or put) in their rooms once or twice each. There was only one crying fit for about 5 minutes. I felt calm or even happy the ENTIRE DAY. (And Royal hasn't come back yet. Its 9pm.)

But, amazingly enough, the children were happier than usual by day's end. I just couldn't believe it. I thought they were going to hate me.

dec 2009 family photo

Merry Christmas to all!

This was 2 full years ago. Can't believe it. Now Mae-Mae is 9 months old! Jim was 9 months in this pic.

I'm going through and backing up family photos today.

We aren't snowed in, but we are pretending just for fun... Grace had the day off, and we have acquired a Kinect! You guys have to try this. (Especially you, Grandma Lori! I think if it can see you, you'll love it. It sometimes struggles to "see" tall people.)

Elizabeth's latest adventures

Greetings, Earthlings!

I've been away in my own world for awhile, but I thought I would drop in and visit with you.

My paternal Grandmother, after whom I'm named, is ailing, and I've begun writing her. So, here is a quote from a recent letter.

"I've invented a new business that I will begin soon. It is a kind of online network for Sign Language Interpreters that doesn't currently exist. Sean, my brother, will help me with the marketing aspect.

"I want to tell you a little about my business, and I also do not want to bore you. Basically, right now it is impossible for Deaf people or Interpreters to know how skilled an interpreter is without hiring that interpreter. For Deaf people, this results in a very expensive, frustrating search for a decent interpreter. For Interpreters, it is also a problem.

"My business will allow you to get to know your interpreter before you choose one. You can see their professional skill, and even view their resume and whatever personal experiences they have lived through that they wish to share. For example, if I am Deaf and getting treatment for Breast Cancer, I would strongly prefer an Interpreter who has either had cancer herself or has had a close relative go through Breast Cancer treatment. My business can disclose just such information.

"I am feeling very stuck right now, but Royal has inspired me to move forward with what I can do anyways and just keep trying.

"At least I can bring to pass an embryonic version of my vision. Then, perhaps God will open more doors or guide me to find them!"

Otherwise in my world we failed to get ANY christmas letters out last year. :-(

I have some very cool news: (Well, my professional colleagues would not think this is very cool, but for those of you who are just my friends, you can!)
I GOT CERTIFIED IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI AS A "NOVICE INTERPRETER"!!!!!

Translation: I'm not good enough to actually work yet, but someday I will be! I got a 69 on the test, and you need an 85 to be a "real" interpreter. I am VERY happy with my score! Because I thought I earned about a 40.

Anyway, even with just my novice certification, I still got a little plastic card with my picture, and its all official and stuff!!!!!!!

So happy! Oh, yeah! Check y'all later.

Sienna

Sienna is down here in the basement, vacuuming to earn extra money. So, I'm on the computer (in the same room) taking care of bills, and reading my comments on the blog. This is what I hear as the vacuum is turned off.

"Mother, could you please pick up the baby. I don't want to suck her fingers up."

jim dec 2010

mae dec 2010

dec 2010

A season closes

Times are changing for me. I've been struggling in my life, and I hope these changes will bring some relief.

Yesterday, I took my final exam for sign-to-voice interpreting. Next semester I'm taking a break from college courses.

I drove 2 hours to Jefferson City on Dec 1 to take the Missouri State performance exam for Sign Language interpreters. That was an important milestone for me professionally, even though I am confident I didn't pass. (I won't receive the test results for up to 6 months.) From that failure, I learned a great deal. My biggest weakness is reading fingerspelling, and that test is loaded with it!

Royal has been gone for about three out of the last six months. He will be home by this weekend. Now, we are pursuing a less travel-heavy work schedule for him. When he left this last time, after Thanksgiving, I simply did not find enough childcare support in my church/friend community here. When it is very cold outside, I feel trapped in my house. It takes about 3 hours of work to bring home groceries. I'm not counting finding time to put them away.

I don't know about your life, but it is next to impossible for me to find 3 hours of time to work just on getting groceries with 3 or 4 kids in tow, who meanwhile will be hungry, poopy, need to go to the bathroom, hungry again, tired, and need to ask if we can get 400 things, oh, and what they want for Christmas.

So, now, I'm looking forward to enjoying my life more. As long as I've got an adorable, cheerful, playful 7 month old, I may as well really have fun with her.

As long as I've got the most beautiful 2 year old son, who gives rapt attention to almost any book, I may as well enjoy cuddling up to him.

I'm looking forward to working with Royal to bring our 2 different views of the future into focus and harmony. I really enjoy pursuing goals that we are both in on. I feel delighted to have him back.

I feel very blessed with the future I have to live into this winter.

Quill Pen, Really from June 2010

Brent's debut

After my dad's wedding, my Brother-in-law, Brent M., and my sister Nicole, and my mom, and Royal and the kids...
We all visited Nauvoo and St. Louis. Here, Brent is feeding Mae. Back when her hair was a lot thicker! (Hey, at least she's not bald yet!)

Mae, four months old

Since Heather's request, I have repented my blog inactivity. Here is my darling youngest.

Laumiere Sculpture Park

We're the blurry pixels in the background. There weren't a whole lot of representational sculptures in the park, but it was still fun.

Good Clean Funny

You want hilarious, and just fine for the kids? Check out our new friend, Tim Hawkins.

www.timhawkins.net

Click on "The Government Can"

Royal and I periodically mourn over little good, clean humor or movies. Thank you, Gramma P. for this link!

And, here's a 2 minute song he does about what you Don't Say to Your Wife!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK2OakMoW_c&feature=related

I hope we get to see him live when he comes to Missouri!

Finally the Facebook Frontier

Well, I did it.

I joined Facebook.

This is what this means to me: 1. an opportunity to develop a professional network of the Deaf and Interpreters in the St. Louis area.

2. An opportunity for old friends to contact me and be as current as I wish them to be about my life.

I am not interested in local contacts on Facebook, other than professionally. I am also not interested in having an internet social life. My life is already brimming over with life! (Meaning my work of raising children to be with me in the eternities.) My life is overly full of very important things, and I don't have much room for less important though perhaps good things.

So, I love you, feel free to send me a friend request. If I don't respond, just email me. Why, Elizabeth? And I'll tell you. I'll say, "I really only use facebook for specific reasons. Why don't we go out to lunch, instead?" Of course, we'll have to do lunch after 10:30 PM when Mae goes to bed. (Did I tell you the good news? She is sleeping through the night! About 7 hours average.)