love...

Oh, how I treasure these moments...

live...

I'm biased I know, but I love this little piece by my daughter. If you can't make it out, it's "LIVE" spelled out in sign language. I've mentioned before our two oldest children are hearing impaired. DD17 started wearing hearing aids at 22 months old, and rebelled from the beginning. She never wanted to be seen as "different".

God has allowed some heavy crosses in her young life, this one not being the heaviest but nonetheless quite challenging at times.

It's hard to be a kid with hearing aids, which, several years ago she chose not to wear anymore, and we accept that. Now, it can be hard to be the only teenager in the group who has to focus intently on everything that's being said around her, to try not to miss anything. When people are aware of her hearing loss, most are understanding and considerate. Sometimes they just aren't, you would be amazed.

Our kids never required sign language for communication. Although, in their toddler and preschool years we did use some sign, before it was en vogue. It was something we did naturally and was never learned or taught, we just did it. Our daughter has a renewed interest in sign and would like, perhaps to take some classes in the future.

I see this little piece as an expression of self acceptance, that's why I love it. I see my daughter embracing who God made her to be, a little more each and everyday.

My sister told me about a book she is reading Calm my Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. I have just started to get into it but it is already worth the purchase price. I read my daughter a little quote from this book the another night...

"You will never enjoy other people, you will never have stable emotions, you will never lead a life of godly contentment, you will never conquer jealousy and love others as you should until you thank God for making you the way He did"

Thank you Lord, for making me, me. Warts and all.