The observance of Deaf History Month came to be due to some key events that took place in the time period it covers.  While many month-long observances cover a single month, this one spans two…the dates are from March 14th through April 15th.  The key events that took place that make that time period significant are:

• March 13 - On this date in 1988 the “Deaf President Now” movement succeeds, and Irving King Jordan becomes President of Gallaudet University.
• April 8 - On this date in 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a charter establishing a college for the deaf, so April 8th became known as Gallaudet Charter Day in honor of the start the first University for the deaf, Gallaudet University.
• April 15 - On this date in 1817, the first public school for the deaf is opened, the “American School for the Deaf”

For me, memories of having a brother who is deaf are first and foremost in my mind when I hear “Deaf History Month”.  Along with being deaf, he has other disabilities as a result of having Spinal Meningitis when he was a baby, only 6 months old while we were on a family vacation.  The impact that a disabled family member has on a family is dramatic, and can take many twists and turns, but I will tell you that God has been faithful in providing for us, and for my brothers needs in the past and for the future.

When he was young, there were no programs for what was referred to as “multiply handicapped” children, so he didn’t fit in a deaf school because of his other disabilities.  There is much more support for families with disabled children now, and I hope it will continue to be something that our government will support, no matter how poor the economic outlook is.

I share more about my brother in my post “My Special Needs Brother“, visit if you like.

Dad did the best he knew how to prepare for these things, and Mom, with a bit of help, has done a great job learning to do things she never had to do before as far as paying bills, handling medical papers, and so much more. I appreciate my parents, and am realizing that some old posts about my Dad and Mom have probably gotten “lost” in the blog over time, so let me give you some links to special posts about them done from as early as 2007 to the present:

An Old Fashioned Sunday Drive (w/ picture of me and Dad)

Dad’s Last Birthday

How Dad Taught Me to Buy Cars (my first Mustang)

October, Mom’s Birthday Month

Whenever I Garden, I Think of Mom

A Tribute To My Mom

This post is a mix of personal and sponsored information.

But there are many who love the sport, for them purchasing Pacquiao versus Mayweather tickets if you are going to be in the Las Vegas area on March 13th is a must. The event is taking place LIVE at the MGM Grand Arena in Vegas.

For me, boxing is something that brings up names from the past, memories, but for you, getting a ticket to the next big event may be a must!

Sponsored

This is the first day back to work for my husband,  who took a vacation week off.  We spent it at home, going out on a few day trips, eating out a lot, resting, and enjoying the holidays and a couple of family birthdays.

This year for the first time in a few years, I mailed Christmas Cards, including a Christmas letter that I do each year.  As I do the cards, I read all the letters from past years, which brings back many fond memories…have always wished that I’d taken up journaling, but this is the next best thing.

This morning I sat down with several cards that were still sitting under the tree and hadn’t been added to the pile we’ve received by mail over the past weeks, and started reading each one.  Some were to my husband, I don’t always take the opportunity to read his cards from our children, feeling at times like it’s something between the children and him, but today I did…and have to say I found myself in tears reading the wonderful things they wrote to and about him…and then reading what they wrote in my own cards.  It made me appreciate my husband more, looking at him through my children’s eyes…and myself more, as I often go through the “if only” kind of thinking…if only we had done this, my son would have a great job right now, if only we had done….and the list can go on.  But reading cards like the one my son wrote reminds me that we have given him the best thing he will need as he faces lifes challenges, a deep understanding of what the true meaning of CHRISTmas is all about, and the impact that can have on his life.

Then I went and gathered all of the cards received over the weeks, and put them in a basket where they stay throughout the year…all other cards received that year are added to the basket.  As I was doing this, I realized I was adding to last year’s cards as well, it seems like it wasn’t all that long ago that we received last year’s Christmas cards.

Related Posts:

Handel’s Messiah, A Christmas Tradition

A Charlie Brown Christmas, What It’s All About

Polishing the Silverware for Christmas

In recent years we have been going to hear a beautiful performance of the Messiah done by the Cathedral Choir at a church 1/2 hour away from us…the choir is made up of people like you and me who have a basic ability to sing, professional singers for the solo parts, a chamber orchestra, and organist.  This year’s performance was exceptional. 

I love the Messiah, the music as well as the Man Himself.  I always say it is what I want to be hearing as I pass from this life to heaven.  Here is a nice series of video’s explaining the meaning of the Messiah and playing well-known pieces from the Messiah using beautiful pictures and scenes. 

A man is explaining it in human terms, and some of the things he shares do not take into consideration the complete context of the Bible, I’d suggest you enjoy it, but also verify that what you are hearing is true in the Bible…for example (you’ll know why I’m explaining this after you listen), Jesus did not earn the position of sitting at the right hand of God when he died for the sins of mankind, He was God come down to dwell among man…fully God, fully man…a mystery hard for our human minds to understand.  See John 1:1, 2 - “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made.” and verse 10 “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him…” All of the gospel accounts of Jesus are good, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. 

Also, Jesus death was not a universal death for all of mankind as these videos seem to indicate, it was conditional, we know this because John 3:16-17 tells us ”For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Romans 3:23 tells us that “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”….what greater gift can one receive at Christmas than the gift of salvation and eternal life by repenting of our past sins and believing in what Jesus did on the cross for us…this is the reason Christ was born, so that those who believe in what He did for them may have a loving relationship with God, free from guilt and condemnation, because of the blood of Jesus, and why “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”.

Enjoy, and have a blessed CHRISTmas season!

Many tributes have been offered, a recent Entertainment magazine that arrived in our mailbox has him on the cover, and article that may be worth reading for a change.  ”Dancing with the Stars” did a tribute that I wasn’t aware of that was posted here for a while until it was taken down from youtube for some reason.   I liked the video posted below better anyway.

But as I’ve already shared, to me there’s nothing more attractive than a man that is devoted to his wife…and I don’t mean attractive in the sense of being attracted to the man, but being attracted to the way he has lived a very important part of his life.

My hope is that Patrick made peace with God before passing, and my prayers are with his dear wife, and those who love him that have been left behind.

From a comfortable spot on the couch I can tell stories, share memories, make money, read email, travel around the world by visiting websites, listen to music, view movies online or with my built-in DVD player…it’s something that I never would have believed I’d be able to do 20 years ago.

If my Hewlett-Packard laptop could talk, it would tell you that it’s on for many hours of the day, almost every day, and it’s been that way for almost 2 years. It would tell you that it doesn’t give me much trouble because it such a good brand…the second that I’ve owned (the first was an old used one, but worked great!). If it ever has a problem, it’s because of something that I, the owner have done that I shouldn’t have. It loves (and I love) the fact that it comes with everything I need built in…from speakers that sound great to a built in microphone and other fancy things that make it all that I need.

Are you getting jealous? Is your computer or laptop run down, slowed down, and lacking the features you’d both like to have, then take a peek at HP and see what kind of deals they have right now…I know from experience that you won’t be disappointed. I’m making great memories with my laptop, and you can be too.

Oh, I don’t want to forget to mention that there is a special… $30 off orders $150 or greater at HP Home Store. You’ll need to use coupon code SV2132. This deal is valid through 10/31 or while supplies last. Restrictions and exclusions apply.