If We Have a Job -

   We were "safe". We knew it. Getting paid through the FCC - they would never dare cut back on funds to a vital company who helps Americans with disabilities - HA! Right.... safe.
   Have you ever thought about how a deaf or hard of hearing person makes a phone call? Have you ever thought about a deaf person at all? I don't mean these questions to sound emotionally raw or unkind, I just know that before I met The Beloved my answer to both of those questions were no.
   Since marrying him my eyes have been opened to a world that I had before unintentionally ignored. A fascinating world that has its own culture, language, and thriving community.
   The Beloved is employed by Sorenson Communications where he manages a Video Relay Service (VRS) Call Center. VRS allows a deaf person to call in using their own language  - wait, they have their own language? Yes - American Sign Language (ASL). In my past life I thought how hard can ASL be? Just learn the signs and then perform them to coincide with the English sentence. Not so easy my friends. ASL is its own language - completely different sentence structure.  - So, the deaf person calls in over broad-band and communicates with an interpreter, who speaks to a hearing person.
   VRS companies get paid by the FCC per interpeted minute. The FCC has recently made a proposal to lower this rate by 40% leaving Sorenson and other VRS companies no option, but to go bankrupt before the end of the year.
   How many times a day do you use your phone? Why do you use it? How would you feel if someone took it away? If the FCC follows through with their plan the deaf community loses the only functionally equivalent communication system they have to a hearing individual. Also, hundreds of jobs will be lost. Jobs held by hearing and deaf employees alike.

Here's a link to an awesome YouTube video that was put out by some of those in the deaf community.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IUHLYnc1LI

In this economy nobody  is "safe" but at least we can have a voice. The FCC is accepting comments re: this proposal until tomorrow.
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/begin?procName=03-123&filedFrom=X

Here is a link to Sorenson's Save VRS website:
http://www.sorensonvrs.com/savevrs

Here is the link to the local news report My Beloved was on. Isn't he CUTE...
http://www.wrex.com/Global/story.asp?S=12496764
The video is on the right side.

Until the 1st of July then :)  .... we'll let you know what the FCC has to report.

The Communication Tool -

FOR A STRONG MARRIAGE -

This past weekend I discovered the benefits of having a full water gun nearby.

For those of you who don't know The Beloved very well he may come across as shy or a man who keeps to himself. FYI: This is a lie that he portrays only at social gatherings or in other various large group settings.

The sad truth is - The Beloved has been cursed with a lack of knowing how to be serious the majority of the time. He is the KING, let me say it again, the KING of teasing, and of making up unharmful stories, out of the blue, that are completely untrue.

Example, up until the day we were addressing our wedding announcements I thought his mother's maiden name was Jones.

It's not.

Why did I think it was Jones?

Well, typically when you ask a person what their middle name is and they say Jones, you believe it. And then when they go on to say that they were named this because it is their mother's maiden name, you say okay.

Never say okay.

Question everything perfect and normal coming out of The Beloved's mouth. :)

Let's just say his middle name is definitely not Jones and he wasn't even named after his mother.

He thought I knew he was kidding...

because people kid about that?

With every marriage you have to learn how your spouse communicates. It is the key to avoiding contention and having a strong partnership.

I never knew communicating with my spouse would require accessories.

But, sometimes -

a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

Here's how it plays out:

Me: Beloved, what do you want to do today?

Beloved: I don't believe in doing things.

(I pull the trigger on water gun)

Me: Do you want to go hiking?

Beloved: I don't believe in hiking.

(I shoot him with water gun)

Beloved: Yes, I would love to go hiking. 

Me: What time should we leave?

Beloved: Does it require leaving?

(I shoot him with water gun)

Beloved: I'll be ready in 30minutes.

So,

if you see a man or woman walking around with a loaded water gun - try to immediately push the thought aside that they may be a little crazy. What you are really witnessing is simply an individual who is trying to successfully communicate in their marriage - and that is a beautiful thing.

I love you honey. You now have permission to blog about me.

Wait,

that's entirely not true.

But, I promise I have never lied to you about my middle name. And that says a lot - because I hear it happens to people all the time :).

It's the strangest thing.

***The Beloved isn't a liar per say. But once he gets to know you... joking about everything is fair game. You've been warned.  I suggest you purchase a water gun. *** 

It's Been a Year -

Good Morning Birthday Boy!

Today I got you all dressed just to have you decorate yourself soon after.

You were a little bit afraid of your birthday cake. Sorry about that.

Look at you, opening your very first b-day card!

Wow, you're going to look handsome in that.

Watch out  for that arm coming in for the toys :)

I've never seen a more perfect "preparing to devour cake" pose.

There was no holding back for you buddy. 

Happy 1st birthday! We can't believe you're one already. You still feel  so much like our little baby. We love your silly toothy grin and your big gray eyes. Thanks for being a cuddle bug. Your daddy especially needed one of those. He could hold you for hours.

We adore every piece of you!

We love you Baby!

A Day Late -

Mom, I am sorry I didn't get this posted yesterday. I was caught up in the spoiledness of the day -

But, I wanted to let you know that I need you for more than just bug killing reasons. Even though - I must say you are unnaturally talented in this area. Yesterday at church our Bishop spoke about a few things his mother had taught him when he was growing up. Later, this lead The Beloved and I into a discussion about things our parents had taught us. The list in my brain went crazy, as memory after memory flooded my mind. Which really heightened my self esteem because I thought my memory had all but deteriorated. :)
And though I mean this as a thank you, I want everyone to understand that in no way have I mastered my mother's abilities, but only that I have a supreme example to look up to.
1. Hard work.
Cleaning down in those utterly disgusting window wells must have had a positive affect on me even though I'll deny it to your face :). You are one of the hardest workers I know.
2. If you're going to do something do it right.
3. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. You don't speak ill of people. You are not a gossip. And although at times I would love for you to share the dirt. You don't. That's the type of friend a person wants. If a friend is talking bad about someone else you can almost guarantee they're talking bad about you (not you, but in general :)). I thought every adult was like you. Now I realize you're the exception. Thanks for being the exception. 
4. Be dependable.
5. Be honest.
6. If you notice something needs to be done then do it. Why should somebody else do it and not you? 
7. Being valiant in the gospel. Choose the right no matter what. The Lord will bless you. Plus, it just feels good. Say your prayers every night. Read your scriptures. Accept church callings. Have family home evening consistently even if your two youngest daughters are driving you to the brink of insanity.
8. Don't forget to have fun. Once in awhile it's okay to have a water gun fight in the house. Never hold back from playing a hot rook game.
9. We all have to do things we don't like.
ex - dishes, laundry, changing poopy diapers, giving a talk in church...
10.You can get by on good looks for a minute but then you better have something to say. 
Education, education, education!
11. Think before you speak.
12. Forgive
13. Take a day out and read a good book.
14. Laugh at yourself.
15. Don't let your husband take your name in vain :).
The Beloved is not allowed to say, "OH Domestic Goddess!" when he is frustrated with me.
16. You taught me how to enjoy a cold drink :) which you may regret. But, it sure is soothing to drink a Pepsi at the end of the day, or at the beginning, or whenever.
17. Unconditional Love. I know you'll love me no matter what. And I can be quite the stinker.
There is nothing quite like a mother's love.
I miss you when I'm sick because you spoil me to death and I am not afraid to whine to you.
I miss your Sunday dinners, and so does The Beloved :). You even let me skip out on dishes once in awhile which is such a treat.
I miss knowing that when The Beloved and I go out on a date our children are entrusted into somebody's care that loves them as much as we do.
I miss exchanging neck and foot rubs.
So... yes Mom I do need you.
A mother always needs their mother.
18. You taught me how to be a mother.
Thank you!
I am so extremely blessed to call you mine.

Blogging -

Normal Brain vs. Blogging Brain

Normal brain: Never would have taken a picture of a gallon of milk.

Blogging Brain: "I dropped the milk. Oh, my precious milk. It is all over the floor. It cost a whopping $2.89. How in the world am I going to pour out of this container? Aghhhhh. I bet other women would empathize with me. I should blog about this. I better grab the camera."

Blogging Brain: "Oh that picture didn't turn out very well. They need to truly understand how warped this gallon is. Let me try again."

Normal Brain: Would have taken care of crying baby in the background.

Result of listening to Blogging Brain:

Gave the two year old time to play tattoo parlor,

made the hungry baby cry, and gave me more than enough photos of milk to treasure for eternity.

Mom I Need You....

That gross big bug that never dies is back.

My technique of running around and screaming isn't working.

My brave Little C stabbed it with a pencil

AND IT STILL SURVIVED.

You can see how much we need you. :)