Journeys Unexpected

I've decided that I want to go back to school for fun - I'm going to do American Sign Language again. I took one semester of it years ago, and have used it in many of my Church callings! I want to take it again, though, and continue with it, so I can become fluent in the language. It's such a beautiful language and the only one I can honestly say I want to know as a second language! I've been given a deaf lady on my Visiting Teaching route, and saw her yesterday. When she saw me sign that I was her VT, she just lit up! She hasn't been to Church in a long time, because nobody signs. That's going to change! I was prompted by the Holy Ghost to go back to school for this, so I'm gonna do it! Some way, I'll have the money to do this!

In just over two weeks, I'll be going to Colorado to visit my aunt, cousin and mom. My mom still has no idea that I'm coming, which greatly pleases my aunt and I! My cousin is excited for my trip, and has done an AWESOME job at keeping it secret! I have tickets for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" - the midnight showing tomorrow night!!! I'm super excited! It will be the first midnight showing I've ever been to... as well as going with my friend, Matt! I didn't want to go alone, so I enticed him to come with me! It should be loads of fun! My sister and her little family have the "bug" that's going around. I had it Saturday and Sunday, MommaLady had it on Sunday, Dad has it today... not terrible, just uncomfortable. Little Star threw up in the middle of the night, so I got a phone call from my sister this morning asking if I'd do the laundry that was the result of said ickness. She told me she didn't know how to repay me, but I...

I'm feeling depressed, just a little, but it's there. I keep thinking about my old job and wondering about how Little Sparrow is doing. Not a day goes by when I don't think about him. Thought it would go away after almost 5 months... Anyway, I'm going to Colorado at the end of this month/into next month for two weeks! I'm excited! I leave on the 29th and won't see my mom until the 1st; it'll give me time to spend with my aunt and cousin. The last time I went to CO was in 2005, and I didn't get to spend more than an afternoon with my cousin and a lunch date with my aunt. NOT ENOUGH TIME! I remember when I was little and got to spend lots of time with my aunt. We look very similar and people would think I was her daughter. I sent her a picture I took with my phone, she sent one of herself and we still look alike! I'll be sure to take LOTS of pix and put them up on Facebook. Well, I'm off to listen to my iPod. I love music! & movies...

So, I got a phone call last night from a number I didn't recognize, that went something like this: Me: "Hello?" Caller: "Hi." Me: "Hi?" Caller: "Hi!" Me: "Who is this?" Caller: "Taylor." Me: "Taylor who?" Caller: "Your cousin! Taylor!" My 9 year-old cousin called me from his mom's cell phone she recently got! It was a nice little surprise! I got to talk with my aunt, too, and she does texting, so now I have another person to text me! I got a picture of her and my mom and am excited to see current pix! Then, this morning I got a phone call from my aunt with a proposal: she wants to pay for me to go to Colorado and spend time with all of them! And, it is to be a surprise for my mom! My aunt and I are very sneaky!! So fun!

My Little Star is sick this weekend and as she sat in my lap this afternoon, she fell asleep. Many nieces have fallen asleep either in my arms or in my lap, so this is nothing new to me. I asked Mom why this happens, that so many children fall asleep on me (am I so boring that they can't stay awake any longer!?) and she told me it is because I am comfortable (squishy in all the right places!?) and calm. She said I am that Mother-type that so few people find in their lives. She went to the Echo Hills Ward today and the lady that gave a talk spoke of the "Dance of Life" and how everyone's dance is different. For women such as me, I dance alone, watching from the wall at all the couples - some young and fast, while others are old and slow. This evening, Little Star was crying in her room at bedtime. I picked her up, sat in the rocking chair, and sat with her in my lap, whispering quietly that she should be calm and quiet, stroking her little head, when a great ru...

Well, life seems to be passing me by at an alarming rate... Since the jobs have been fairly slim in picking (there are 660 substitute teachers in the Hemet School District...) I've taken to playing Pokemon Platinum - I'm trying desperately to "Catch 'Em All!" but I'm not sure how I'll accomplish that in the end. I've also downloaded a program to play with photos (thanks, Brittanie!) called "Picasa 3". Though I'm not in love with all of it just yet, I really enjoy the "collage" setting. It also seems as though I need to learn a little more about adding pix to my blogs... Have a great day, all!

Life is looking up at the moment. I'm using my new computer now to sort all my documents and pix from what *used* to be three computers! Ugh! But I get to use it now for everything I own! Yay! All that is left for my brother-in-law to do is Ghost the computer so if it crashes, I can have everything back to this state without waiting two weeks (and losing all my documents...). :) Anyway, I've had two jobs from the sub-line for this pay period, so that's good. The fourth grade I did yesterday was slightly nightmarish! The kids were worse than first graders with their "She stole my (insert whatever you want here!)!" "I don't have a pencil" "When's lunch?" The list goes on! I was ready for duct tape by 10 am! Haha! Oh well. More money, so I can't complain too much!