Registration for ASL Classes Open NOW

Jennifer Gordon wrote a status in the Dauphin County ASL Meetup forum informing us she was going to be teaching ASL classes in the Mechanicsburg, PA Area. I asked if I could share her information on the blog because I get so many inquiries by people in that area looking for classes.

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My name is Jennifer Gordon. I am an instructor for this class. I have been doing this for the last 3 years now. I have taught ASL level at college level. I have also decided to do more with my home areas since I have been asked by many people about taking up sign language class. In my home area, I am teaching ASL 1 and 2. They both are being taught on Tuesdays night for 7 weeks. My next session of ASL 1 and 2 will be starting up on January 14th. If you are interested, please contact Liz (best to call or e mail her) right away and let her know you are interested in signing up for my class. The more the merrier it will be! I sure look forward to have you in my class in the near future!

Beginner I and II Sign Language Classes

Winter 2014

Mechanicsburg – Tuesday nights starting January 14–February 25

Beginner I   6:00pm-7:30pm   $80

Beginner II  7:30pm-9:00pm  $80

Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, 444 Silver Spring Rd, Mechanicsburg

Classes run for 7 weeks and the cost is $80 for each course for the entire 7 weeks plus the cost of the text book.  “Signing How to Speak with Your Hands” by Elaine Costello. The book is your responsibility and can be found in local bookstores or online.  Books can be used.

Classes are taught by a Deaf instructor

To register fill out the attached form and return along with payment to Liz Marvin

Make checks payable to Liz Marvin and mail to 314 Wendover Way, Lancaster Pa 17603

 lizzymarvin@gmail.com    717-203-0425

Name:_______________________________

Email:________________________________

Phone:_______________________________

Type of work you do:__________________________________

Why do you want to learn sign language:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

"A Student's Guide to the Deaf Experience"

Michelle Jay, ASL and Deaf Studies teacher of StartASL asked a number of us who are Deaf and hard of hearing to participate in collaborating our stories into a book to share our personal "deaf experience" with her students. It is a priviledge to have been asked to take part of this project and write a piece for this book.

Don't Just "Sign"... Communicate!

A Student's Guide to the Deaf Experience

An Intimate Journey into the Heart of the Deaf Community

Don’t Just “Sign”. . .Communicate! prepares you to interact with the deaf and hard of hearing – in a knowledgeable and respectful way – by giving you an exclusive glimpse into this rich and diverse community.

This eye-opening book will ignite your senses and eliminate any misconceptions you may have about the deaf community. Delve into this informative and entertaining collection of personal stories culled from the writings of talented Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing, and late-deafened people.

Experience the world from their perspectives and learn what questions and comments are best avoided and what common courtesies are most appreciated. By reading this book, you can immerse yourself in the textured world of the deaf community.  

Pulsing with vibrant stories, this carefully compiled anthology swings the door open wide and invites you in. Run with “Broken Ears,” a Chippewa native whose struggle to triumph over discrimination is compounded by deafness. “Touch the sound of snowflakes” with percussionist Evelyn Glennie. Experience the isolation of “Deaf Brown Gurl,” an exotic beauty yearning to fit in. And “follow the music through vibrations” with grand illusionist Sam Sandler. Get to know them and many others. Their stories will reach right off the page, grab you by the heart, and pull you in. . .

This book is meant as a guide to equip ASL students, but it is so much more. . . It is a book for the masses – to be read and reread, to be savored – for it will resonate with you long after the last page is turned. . .

Get your copy from Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984529470/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=startasl_djsc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0984529470

I'm looking forward to reading what fellow writers and bloggers have shared in this book!

I'm January's Featured Practitioner

First, I want to thank Rickie for promoting me as "January's Featured Practitioner". It is an honor to be part of ReikiSpace and Learning Place with Rickie and the other excellent practitioners.

Here is the latest newsletter with the promotional discount for a session with me and information regarding other events happening at ReikiSpace and Learning Place. There is something for everyone here:

JANUARY Happy New Year! January's Featured Practitioner Mentoring Program Monthly Meditation Evening Angel Card Readings Reiki I Class Connected Awareness ReikiShare HAPPYness Hour Mandala Workshop SHINE Program JourneyDance Reiki Lovers Meetup Positive Energy Breakfast DARE to Dream ! Upcoming Events Gallery Wall at ReikiSpace Gift Certificates LINKS E-Mailing List About Reiki Services   WAHOO ! Happy New Year ! 2014 WILL BE AMAZING ! Lots of Wonderful New and Exciting  Workshops and Events !  THANK YOU SO MUCH ! For all your Love and Support  as we move forwards, sharing even  MORE LOVE and LIGHT  with the World !   Joyce Edmiston  - January's Featured Practitioner -  "I am a compassionate Reiki Practitioner sharing my passion to put Reiki into the "hands" of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community"  "My future vision is to take what I learn practicing at ReikiSpace & Learning Place, under the mentorship of Rickie Freedman, and create an accessible Reiki Center on the West Coast" I share my Vision on the blog: Xpressive Handz Schedule with Joyce during January and save $10 on your 1st Reiki Session ! Act Now ! - Offer Expires 1/31/14   - ReikiSpace -   Practitioner and Mentoring Program Students/Practitioners: Reiki by Rickie Students and Practitioners are invited to share Reiki in the furnished, peaceful and beautiful ReikiSpace Lots of Reiki practice opportunities Contact Rickie HERE for details Mentoring Program: Expressly designed for Reiki Students & Practitioners ready to progress their holistic practice in a heart-centered way Contact Rickie HERE for details Monthly Meditation Evening Facilitated by Elizabeth Crowe-Joong Thursday 1/2, 7:00pm-8:00pm Reiki by Rickie ~ Learning Place Experience Various Styles of Meditation  with Different Facilitators Each Month First Thursday of each month at 7:00pm No fee - Love Donations accepted RSVP required - click HERE to register Angel Card Guidance Readings with Bonnie Schindler Saturday 1/4, 10:00am-2:00pm Reiki by Rickie ~ ReikiSpace  Discover what special messages the Angels have for YOU !  $35 for 30 minutes RSVP required - click HERE to register Reiki I Class with Rickie Freedman, Reiki Master/Teacher Saturday 1/4, 9:30am-5:30pm Reiki by Rickie ~ Learning Place Learn about and EXPERIENCE your energy Learn self-healing and and the ability to share Reiki with others Receive your Reiki I attunement, manual and personalized certificate RSVP required - your investment: $160 CE Credits available for Massage Therapists Future Reiki I classes: 2/17- 4/5 - 6/28 - 9/20 - 11/8 Click HERE to register for a future class NEW ! Connected Awareness with Magali Diskus Monday 1/6, 6:30pm-8:00pm Reiki by Rickie ~ Learning Place Diverse activities designed to: Inspire, Shine, Share, Discover, Experience, Feel, Connect, Support and Empower One Another ! A $5.00 Charity Donation suggested RSVP required - click HERE to register ReikiShare Tuesday 1/7, 7:00pm-8:30pm Reiki by Rickie ~ Learning Place  Share the Light and Positive Energy ! ALL Reiki Practitioners WELCOME Love Donations graciously accepted RSVP requested - click HERE to register NEW !  HAPPYness Hour ! - Artist's Reception - featuring Denise VanBriggle Wednesday 1/8, 6:00pm-8:00pm Reiki by Rickie ~ Learning Place Meet ReikiSpace Practitioner and Current Featured Artist Denise VanBriggle Learn about and explore her inspirational poetry and photography ! Enjoy a glass of wine, light refreshments and engaging social connection ! RSVP requested - click HERE to register Love Donations accepted  NEW ! MANDALA WORKSHOP   A Winter's Reflection of Your Sacred Self with Rhonda Hess  ("Fully Fit to Lead") Saturday 1/11, 10:00am-2:00pm Reiki by Rickie ~ Learning Place Learn, create and declare who you want to be in the Spring  Explore and develop your Personal Mandala No artistic ability required ! Play, meditation, imagery and movement Your investment: $35 includes materials and light refreshments Class limited to 14 RSVP required - click HERE to register  NEW ! The SHINE Program  Renew and Reveal ! withMagali Diskus Saturday 1/18, 9:30am-1:30pm Reiki by Rickie - Learning Place  Reveal to your Consciousness what  already exists within, through a Powerful  Transformation Visualization  Clear any blocks, raise your vibration, find your balance and fill with Light and Love ! Set re-holistic goals for 2014 Create your plan ! Your Investment: $75 Includes a SHINE charm necklace and 2 sample bottles of Magali's Original Essential Oil Blends  RSVP required - click HERE to register  JourneyDance™ with Denise VanBriggle Sunday 1/19, 2:00pm-3:30pm  or  Monday 1/27, 6:30pm-8:00pm  Reiki by Rickie ~ Learning Place JourneyDance™ is the blend of music and movement, weaving simple, guided  movement sequences and free exploration. JourneyDance™ reconnects you with your  innate state of joyous well-being  No experience necessary Space is very limited for this small and intimate group experience Your investment: $12 RSVP required - to register, click HERE or call: 717.986.0553 Harrisburg Area  Reiki Lovers Meetup Group Tuesday 1/21, 7:00pm-8:30pm Reiki by Rickie ~ Learning Place Planning and Connecting !  Time to Plan our new year together Let's share our ideas and inspirations ! Positive time for sharing connections and healing energy.  No Reiki training necessary RSVP Required - click HERE to register Your investment: $5 Positive Energy  Breakfast Gathering  Wednesday 1/22, 8:30am-9:30am City Line Diner 3302 Derry Street, Harrisburg Join together for a positive, loving, supportive gathering over breakfast We rotate restaurants each and every month No fee -  just the cost of your own breakfast RSVP requested - click HERE to register  NEW ! DARE to Dream Conversations with Vera Cornish Thursday 1/23, 6:30pm-8:30pm Reiki by Rickie ~ Learning Place Join Vera Cornish and Rickie Freedman in authentic, safe, and lively conversation. Open the Window of Possibility, and allow YOUR Light to Shine !  Enrollment Limited- Reserve your space ! Your Investment: $30 Includes prize drawings for Coaching with Vera and Reiki Sessions ! RSVP required - click HERE to register UPCOMING EVENTS 2/1 - Reiki ll Class Rickie Freedman 10am-5pm 2/1 - Angel Card Guidance Readings  Bonnie Schindler 10am-2pm 2/3 - Connected Awareness  Magali Diskus 6:30pm-8pm 2/4 - ReikiShare 7pm-8:30pm 2/6 - Monthly Meditation Evening Christine Baer 7pm-8pm 2/7 - PRIVATE Sound Healing Sessions Lana Ryder 2/8 - ReikiSound Certification Class Lana Ryder 9:30am-6pm 2/16 - JourneyDance Denise VanBriggle 2pm-3:30pm 2/17 - Reiki l Class Rickie Freedman 9:30am-5:30pm 2/24 - JourneyDance Denise VanBriggle 6:30pm-8pm 2/26 - Positive Energy Breakfast Gathering 8:30pm-9:30am Gallery Wall at ReikiSpace - Denise VanBriggle - Denise VanBriggle, JourneyDance Instructor and ReikiSpace Practitioner, Displays her Original Poetry and Photography. To Quote: "Each Piece Reflects My Love of Nature and Deeply Connects to My Own Spirituality" Please Be Sure to Savor this Newest Exhibit ! And Remember, ALL are Welcome to Feature Individual Creativity. Click HERE to Contact  Kelly M for Details Reiki by Rickie  Gift Certificates Unique, Beautiful and Always Available by E-Mail MasterCard, VISA and PayPal Accepted Click HERE to View Sample "PEACE"  It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work ~ It means to be in the midst of those things and still be CALM in your Heart Have a Peaceful Day ! Reiki by Rickie - ReikiSpace & Learning Place Sturbridge Business Park 2793 Old Post Road, Suite 10 Harrisburg, PA 17110 717.599.2299 www.ReikiByRickie.com

An Unexpected Twist

LOVE THIS. Did not expect this to end this way...LOL

Happy New Year!


http://fox43.com/2013/12/18/photoshop-of-a-woman-can-go-the-other-way/#axzz2nqckNwi1

My Christmas Gift

I love this mug Fabulous Husband created and painted by hand for me!

ASL and Captioned "The Night Before Christmas"

Here is a delightful signed and captioned account of "The Night Before Christmas" posted by Sheena McFeely.. Isn't she adorable? Be sure to check the second video for "9 Reasons This Little Girl's ASL Version is so Great" at the bottom of this post!

Happy Christmas!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdj4SybV4UE#t=22

9 Reasons Why This Little Girl's ASL Version is so Great:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/54306/9-reasons-little-girls-sign-language-version-twas-night-christmas-great

A Bottle of Love Floats Out to Sea

Last week, Daughter and I felt the two of us needed to do something by way of celebrating my mother and bringing closure to her life with us on this earth before I left to go back to Pennsylvania. Mom, Daughter and I were a trio of women spanning three generations who are more than daughters, mothers, and grandmothers ....we were blessed to have our familial relationships develop into friendships. My mother was my closest and best friend.

"We should write letters to Grandma, tie them to balloons and release them," Daughter said as we discussed what we wanted to do.

I loved the idea of writing a goodbye letter, but I thought putting our letters together into a bottle with a cork and releasing it into the ocean was just as nice. Daughter loved the suggestion. It took a few minutes to decide exactly from where we wanted to send off the bottle, Sunset Beach, Shore Acres, Horsefall or Bastendorf. After running through the list, we settled instead on the rocky banks of Coos Bay near Mom's home, not far from where she liked to take walks.

There were two criteria for what we wanted regarding the kind of bottle to carry our love letters to Mom. It needed to have a cork, and the glass was to be green. My mother was known for collecting green glass.

We settled on this bottle:

Our letters were written on the last day of my stay in Oregon. While most Coos Bay and North Bend residents were making their way out to Shore Acres for the holiday lights display featured each year at Christmastime, Daughter and I were standing on the banks of Coos Bay deciding which of us was going to toss the bottle out into its depths in hopes of catching a current out to sea. It really didn't matter who was going to do this, but we had  to figure a way to decide who it should be. 

The shadows were quickly deepening along the shore. We could tell we didn't have much time before the sun would be set for the night. The tide was slowly moving out. Turning to Daughter, I asked, "Do we have any last words?"

Daughter shook her head, "No. I think we said everything in our letters."

Poised on the shore, taking a deep breath, I tossed our hearts into the bay.

The bottle landed quite a few feet away. It bobbed a few times, then started drifting towards the currents that weave around the bend of the bay. Standing solemnly with tears brimming my eyes, I watched the vessel drift further away with our last loving words to my mother.

Suddenly, a tug boat came into view pulling a huge barge. Really? Right now?  I threw my arms up in the air and started laughing. I turned toward my daughter who was also laughing and we began to speculate the fate of the bottle.

We were certain it was going to be brought back to shore in the wake of the waves created by the barge and tugboat after they went by, but to our delighted astonishment, the bottle surfed over the top of each wave and continued to move outward and seaward, albeit slowly.

Satisfied with our mail being successfully sent off, Daughter and I turn away from the shoreline as a bottle of love floats out to sea.

The bottle is the speck almost at the very center of this photo, a bit to the left.

Hooked on Coffee?

 This drive up coffee coffee vendor has a boatload of caffeine just waiting for you:

Coquille Oregon Coffee Vender, "Hooked"

https://www.facebook.com/SueBHooked

#OregonCoast

"One Last Message"

Last night, I was asking my friend how her mom is doing. She told me she isn't doing well. I was so sad to learn this. Her mother is under excellent care while at John Hopkins, but they have done everything they could for her. They don't give her much time.

Elizabeth went on to say how this was good in one way, because they know what to expect and they have this time together.

I responded to Elizabeth that that is much better than having something like this happen unexpectedly.

This morning, my husband called Rickie at ReikiSpace and told her he was coming to meet me there shortly and to wait for him. I had just finished a session with a client.

When I checked my phone, I saw that my daughter had called while I was in the session. Usually she texts, knowing that I can't hear. I called her back using the relay. She asked if  Fabulous Husband had talked to me yet. I told her, "No", and she said that he would tell me when he got there. She just couldn't talk right now.

I mentioned to Rickie that something was up, something wasn't quite right.

When Fabulous Husband arrived, I could tell by looking at him that something serious had happened. We went into the Dragonfly Room and he held me and told me my mom had died.

I wasn't ready for this. This was so unexpected. I'm so thankful I wasn't alone. I am so grateful for this man I married. He had to make some phone calls and handle hard conversations.

I'm also grateful for the arms of a kind, gentle sweet friend. Rickie was so comforting with her support and kind words.

I drove home on a cloudless sunny day as if looking through a windshield covered with raindrops, only it wasn't raindrops. It was tears welling up in my eyes and splling down my face for twenty two miles.

I'm not sure which point of the journey I was hit with the instant replay of the conversation I had last night with Elizabeth. It played over and over in my mind all the way home. I told my Uncle Ricky about my conversation with Elizabeth last night and how suddenly this happened today. His response caught me off guard.

"Someone was preparing you for this".

I decided to tell him what happened earlier this evening. Most people don't know that my parents had a little girl who died of cystic fibrosis when she was 4 years old, a few years before I was born. Her name was Mary Marlene, but everyone called her "Marlene". This was almost 60 years ago.

I was adopted a few years later. My mom often talked about Marlene and shared stories about her. Though she lived a short life, my mom kept her memory alive.

I use my Iphone mostly for texting, and I seldom use it for phone calls. I use a relay, and call my mom mostly, and Fabulous Husband. My daughter and I prefer texting. Not many people have my "actual" phone number. The number I give out is a relay number.

Tonight, while waiting for my cousin to call, the phone rang. It wasn't my cousin's number, and it was from a number I've never seen before. I answered saying, "Just a moment, please". I handed it to my husband who answered it and told them they had the wrong number.

I asked him who called. "I don't know. It was a wrong number."

After I moment, I asked, "Who were they calling."

"It was a wrong number. They were asking for someone named Marlene".

....... Oh..... My..... Word.... "That was my sister's name!"

When I told Uncle Ricky about this, he said, "That was your mom sending you a message. She is with Marlene now. You know where she is. Your mother was an angel while she was on this earth. She is an angel in heaven now."

I have heard stories about loved ones sending "one last message" for the people they were leaving behind. What a tremendous gift to receive!

My mom was letting us know she is safe, we need not worry for her. We know she is happy to be with her other little girl, the one she had lost so many years ago.

While her soul has returned to God her maker, I know that one day, when I cross that great divide, my mom will be waiting for me, just like Marlene was waiting for her.

Excellent Piece About Language

Lauren of CCAC  posted this "Words to Live By" on FB this week. This excellent short about language is from Ireland. I like what the gentleman said about how it is the importance of "intention" behind what people say. There are very good and valid points made in this piece. Captioned.

Kanchi 500 Start the Conversation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luXI0n6lHkU#t=118