So You Think You Can Sign

Like many people, I am starting to learn the art of trading stocks. One of my favorite columnists that I read on cnbc.com is Janice Dorn. Her latest column titled “So You Think You Can Trade” is suited to learning any new skill, including signing. Substitute the word “trade” with the word “sign” and there [...]

Learning ASL Through the Book of Mormon

It was one year ago when I decided to follow in the footsteps of our sweet return missionary interpreter, Rachel, who told me that the prophet promised that if we read the entire Book of Mormon in another language, we would have that language mastered. (See last paragraph of Awareness is Bliss.) Well, I have finally [...]

A Demonstration in Patience

The required reading for my second ASL class at the Salt Lake Community College is When the Mind Hears: A History of the Deaf by Harlan Lane. The first chapter is the story of Laurent Clerc’s early childhood. His parents, after discovering he is deaf and not knowing what to do with him, send him [...]

Bearing My Testimony in the Deaf Ward

Sunday, August 3:
I always know when I am suppose to bear my testimony in Church. I get the idea in my head sometimes days in advance of Fast and Testimony Meeting, and no matter how hard I try to put it out of my mind, it won’t go away. This time I not only want [...]

“Show and Tell” for ASL Students

This was my “Show and Tell” story for my first ASL class at the Salt Lake Community College. I received 88 out of 100 points for my efforts. I was docked for grammar (which makes sense since I am still in Signed English mode), fingerspelling clarity, and facial expressions. My instructor loved the story though.
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Even Old Ladies Can Learn ASL

This is my first vlog attempt. Patience is required.
My original post did not include subtitles or a transcript of the video because I wanted to know if people who use ASL understood me. They did, so on July 8 I modified the video to include subtitles for those who do not know ASL.
Since I am [...]

ASL Class

Ok, so we are canceling our little ASL class at the church at least for the duration of the summer. It was suggested we have the class twice a month rather than every week, but with only two people showing up, it did not seem worth it. I do not know if we will try [...]

Interpreters in Church

Our sister missionary is still interpreting for Steve until she heads off to school in January. She has decided to become a certified interpreter. A good friend of hers, who lives near us, just returned from a deaf mission and she will be taking Rachel’s place interpreting for Steve. We also still have Karen, the [...]

Awareness is Bliss

Sunday Morning – I am feeling mentally exhausted at the thought of going to church today. It seems that I should be feeling happy to go since Sister Marshall will be there to interpret for Steve. It would be another rare opportunity to sit in church and feel relaxed. But after the final letdown in [...]

How to Eliminate the Focus on Deafness

After several emails are passed back and forth between me, Steve, and the Deaf Ward counselor in the bishopric, it becomes clear that the LDS Church is severely lacking in ASL interpreters, and/or we are on our own. I still have faith that after Sister Walker feels ready to help, she will be more than [...]