ASL Beginners Have to Eat, Too

Really wishing I had a close friend whose first language was ASL or who was, at the very least, fluent in ASL. I know from so much experience with other languages that immersion is my best learning method. Luckily I have my kids as partners in this because they really want to learn too, but really this is the blind leading the blind. What I really need is the Deaf leading the Blind.   No? 

So, first of all, as resources, I love SigningSavvy.com and the book Joy of Signing. SigningSavvy.com not only gives it's user background on the language, it gives a "translation" which I love. Just like Google Translate, you put in what you want to say and it shows you how. It also gives you the explanation of each sign, which makes learning so much easier. On that note, that's exactly why I love Joy of Signing. Every sign's origin is explained making it so much more memorable for me. 

The kids and I have started by picking out words we want to know how to say. Then sentences that might be fun. Then moved on to categories (which is how Joy of Signing is separated out).

First few signs we are digging:

Peanut Butter

Cereal

Bacon

If you know my family, you know that starting with foods, especially BREAKFAST FOODS, is no surprise at all.  We have learned toast, butter, sandwich, eggs, apple, pear, milk, banana ... 

Well, you get the point. 

I plan, er HOPE, we get to a point where we can prep, make and eat an entire meal using ASL this month! 

Lots to Say ... But Let's Start Here.

One Step at a Time. 
One Day at a Time. 

So, hello my friends. 

It's been awhile, but it isn't that I haven't been Challenging. I just haven't been writing. 

Because life has been kinda rough lately and documenting the hard, the sad, the pain, the heartache is just too much for me. 

But I'm back. Tomorrow is the start of July, the 2nd half of the year. A big month in the life of my kids, a big month at work, a big month. And I need to tackle it with serious gusto. 

So, to start myself back into the groove of writing, I've chosen a great July Challenge that I think will lend itself to writing easily:

LEARN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

Using an ASL book that I have, my kids and I are going to learn the language. It's helps that both of the girls have taken/take Sign Language in school and have friends who sign because their parents and/or siblings are deaf. I'm really excited to learn it. 

Also, my son and I are going to try a 10-day juice cleanse starting this weekend - mostly because I have to gather the recipes and do the shopping and today I'm choosing to be necessarily lazy. 

As I said, I have a lot to say, but I just needed to get my feet wet and get back into writing.