The Journey

Have you ever read an article in a newspaper and it made you so mad that you start complaining about how it's wrong or the fact that nothing is being done about the situation? That is kind of how I feel. I will read an article online, then scroll down to the comments to see what everyone is saying. It is irritating that everyone can offer their "2 cents" but are pretty unwilling to do anything about the situation that it upsetting to them. What is worse is when you read a comment that says that all hope is lost. I refuse to believe that. Recently, my hometown has experienced some very unfortunate situations. Things that are not all that common in the small waterfront community. When something happens, word is spread like wildfire and everyone knows before the sun has fully risen. Everyone has something to say about it, myself included. Before you know it, you are consumed with opinions. I think every person on this planet has the power and capability to make a differ

During the week of August 6-10, I had the opportunity to do my very first interpreting job. I received an email from my mentor interpreter about accompanying a nine year old girl to summer camp. It seemed that the church that was going to camp was in need of another interpreter and she emailed me about a week before we were supposed to leave and asked if I could go. I was indeed excited that I was even asked to be an interpreter considering that I am still a student and I am still learning how to be an interpreter. When I read the email and realized it was during the week, my initial reaction was, "Oh no, I can't go - I have to work!" I texted my mom and a good friend of mine about the email I got, and my friend encouraged me to ask my boss if I could take my vacation early (I am not eligible until Oct for vacation). I was a bit nervous about this because how many companies would actually allow an employee take vacation early? I worked up enough courage to ask and surpris

I have been going to college (while working full time) since 2007, studying American Sign Language (ASL) in hopes of one day to become an interpreter. When I decided to go to college, move away from friends and family, and study this beautiful language, I had NO IDEA how tough it was really going to be. I don't know how other adults(30+) with families and children manage work, school, homework, soccer games, date nightes with the spouses, etc do it. I am a single girl living on my own. I have work and I have school. It really should not be this complicated. However, it is complicated and I have to deal with it all including not meeting my own expectations. I just finished my finals for the Spring 2012 semester and I thought that I did all of them well. Thanks to technology, I don't have to wait too long to get my results. Well, as unfortunate as it is, I did not do so well on one very important class; a class that I needed to get a B in to move to the next round of classes. R

So, it has been a year since my nephew, Chris, was killed in a car accident. It has been the fastest and yet slowest year of my life. There are days where my brain tells me that it didn't happen and that it is just a dream. Yet, even in denial I know it happened. My 25 year old nephew is gone... I think I have experienced this year much differently than most who have been going through the grieving process. Most of the year has been emotionless. I have been in denial and I have often felt that I was on the outside looking in. Every single time that I pass exit 19 on 695 I remember when I pulled over so my mom could tell me that he was gone. I sat there in the middle of rush hour traffic wondering what I should do. The 300 miles that separated me and my family might as well have been a million. At that moment I wish I had a Mr. Gadget helicopter hat so I could fly over it all and land in Crisfield. Obviously, it wasn't that simple and it probably was the longest three hours of

So, I just finished watching this movie called Courageous. It is about a man who is a father and a police officer. Adam worked hard and wad good at his job but when it came to his family he was good enough - not really taking time to spend with his son,15, and his daughter, 9. Until one day, his daughter was killed by a drunk driver when she was in a car with her friend during a sleepover. Adam realized just how mediocre he really is as a parent. From that moment on Adam began to search God and the Bible on how to be a better dad to his son. Anyone can be a dad, but it takes courage to be a father. This movie struck me in many different ways. It really is a movie to be seen by families and more importantly, fathers. I am not a man nor am I a parent, but a phrase in that movie really struck me. I haven't cried in about 10 months, but this movie made me cry. I know what it is like to lose someone tragically and suddenly. You have these feelings that you can't explain. Emotions