Comments on: My Life Is… http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2009/01/21/my-life-is/ Strong Enough To Be... Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:58:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Allison http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2009/01/21/my-life-is/comment-page-2/#comment-3703 Allison Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:13:16 +0000 http://www.signingtime.com/rachel/?p=1616#comment-3703 You inspired me to come up with a better way for me to look at my life. MY LIFE IS...Rich with blessings...Never dull!...Full...of love and a wonderful family...An Adventure...A Journey...Crazy...a good kind of craziness!...The Wild Kingdom...A Zoo!...and very Challenging! Thanks Rachel for all you do. My family loves you and can't wait to meet you one day! Keep up the good work! You inspired me to come up with a better way for me to look at my life. MY LIFE IS…Rich with blessings…Never dull!…Full…of love and a wonderful family…An Adventure…A Journey…Crazy…a good kind of craziness!…The Wild Kingdom…A Zoo!…and very Challenging! Thanks Rachel for all you do. My family loves you and can’t wait to meet you one day! Keep up the good work!

]]> By: JJ http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2009/01/21/my-life-is/comment-page-2/#comment-2161 JJ Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:40:51 +0000 http://www.signingtime.com/rachel/?p=1616#comment-2161 Dear Rachel' My phrase is "I hate my life" and I became more sinful as I covent over your life. You are a true tower of strenght to me and you are the one that "Shine"s. Maybe now I can learn how to "love my life" Thanks. Dear Rachel’
My phrase is “I hate my life” and I became more sinful as I covent over your life. You are a true tower of strenght to me and you are the one that “Shine”s. Maybe now I can learn how to “love my life” Thanks.

]]> By: Janna http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2009/01/21/my-life-is/comment-page-2/#comment-2150 Janna Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:34:19 +0000 http://www.signingtime.com/rachel/?p=1616#comment-2150 I guess i would have to say My life is an Adventure with many twists and turns. I never know whta to expect. My life is full of blessings. Even though things don't always go as planned I know there is an even better plan for me, I just need to wait. Thank you, Rachel for taking the time so many years ago to be my friend. You did not give up on me as I struggled to learn Sign language. Who knew that after all these years of not seeing you, that you would still inspire me. Thank you for sharing you thoughts, I learn so much from you and I apreciate your strength. I guess i would have to say My life is an Adventure with many twists and turns. I never know whta to expect.
My life is full of blessings. Even though things don’t always go as planned I know there is an even better plan for me, I just need to wait.
Thank you, Rachel for taking the time so many years ago to be my friend. You did not give up on me as I struggled to learn Sign language. Who knew that after all these years of not seeing you, that you would still inspire me. Thank you for sharing you thoughts, I learn so much from you and I apreciate your strength.

]]> By: Marie Smith http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2009/01/21/my-life-is/comment-page-2/#comment-2117 Marie Smith Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:57:58 +0000 http://www.signingtime.com/rachel/?p=1616#comment-2117 Well I have a new one...my life is ever-changing....we recently learned that Jack has become legally blind from the optic nerve damage. He continues to enjoys combining sign and speech. Thank God for our huge flat screen tv and our portable dvd player. He gets pretty close and still learns new signs. We will soon get to meet some other parents and children with visual impairments. I'm excited with how we can use this "new to us clueless parents!" information to help Jack better understand the parts of this world he does see. Jack is a trooper and has adapted so well that many many people were shocked by this revelation. And I know there are quite a few people thinking but how can he sign if he can't see? He began learning to communicate this way when his vision was much better. Now I sign right in front of [as in inches away from] his one "good" eye if I am doing fingerspelling and I stay close if it is a full body sign. Because he knows this is a way to communicate, he tries to see and tries to learn. Now we know why he does some signs a little off. For instance, he learned to sign I love you. [The long version. His lack of finger dexterity won't allow him to do the ILY hand sign. Anyway he used to just sign love (arms crossed over chest). Now he taps his chin for I because on his Elmo video he thought the girl was tapping her chin instead of pointing at her chest. He got the general idea but could not see the fine detail. He still doesn't do the you part and I think it's because the motion of the arm sticking out causes him to lose sight of that part. But you know when he means you and when he's means something else. He has a way that I can't describe.] It's an amazing roller coaster ride we're on and Signing Time is one of the most joyous parts! Well I have a new one…my life is ever-changing….we recently learned that Jack has become legally blind from the optic nerve damage. He continues to enjoys combining sign and speech. Thank God for our huge flat screen tv and our portable dvd player. He gets pretty close and still learns new signs. We will soon get to meet some other parents and children with visual impairments. I’m excited with how we can use this “new to us clueless parents!” information to help Jack better understand the parts of this world he does see. Jack is a trooper and has adapted so well that many many people were shocked by this revelation. And I know there are quite a few people thinking but how can he sign if he can’t see? He began learning to communicate this way when his vision was much better. Now I sign right in front of [as in inches away from] his one “good” eye if I am doing fingerspelling and I stay close if it is a full body sign. Because he knows this is a way to communicate, he tries to see and tries to learn. Now we know why he does some signs a little off. For instance, he learned to sign I love you. [The long version. His lack of finger dexterity won't allow him to do the ILY hand sign. Anyway he used to just sign love (arms crossed over chest). Now he taps his chin for I because on his Elmo video he thought the girl was tapping her chin instead of pointing at her chest. He got the general idea but could not see the fine detail. He still doesn't do the you part and I think it's because the motion of the arm sticking out causes him to lose sight of that part. But you know when he means you and when he's means something else. He has a way that I can't describe.] It’s an amazing roller coaster ride we’re on and Signing Time is one of the most joyous parts!

]]> By: Liz Schuster http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2009/01/21/my-life-is/comment-page-2/#comment-2114 Liz Schuster Mon, 23 Feb 2009 02:52:00 +0000 http://www.signingtime.com/rachel/?p=1616#comment-2114 The past year I have defined my life as exhausting...and full of miracles. This post has really made me think it through and now I define my life is...laughing until I cry, then crying until I laugh again. The past year I have defined my life as exhausting…and full of miracles.

This post has really made me think it through and now I define my life is…laughing until I cry, then crying until I laugh again.

]]> By: Jessica http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2009/01/21/my-life-is/comment-page-2/#comment-2104 Jessica Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:19:17 +0000 http://www.signingtime.com/rachel/?p=1616#comment-2104 My life is..inspired. I also have a child with special needs. He was born "typical" but was diagnosed with leukemia at 23m and on his 3rd birthday had a septic event and multi system organ failure. A month later he woke up in the PICU with a hypoxic brain injury. He has regain alot of abilities but still cant talk or walk. Our family has endured alot. I think of it as a battle most of the time. Its difficult and painful but the victories are sweet. My children are warriors along with my husband Robert and myself. They make life rich. Never easy but oh so worth while. Watching a child with special needs learn or relearn a task is one the of great wonders of the world. Precious little is worth more. Rachel, Your videos are one of the first items we found after his brain injury that changed our world for the better. We went about 6 month where we had NO way to communicate with our son. I broke down every day. Many times a day. This was a three year old who was "typical". He was awake talking to me one minute and then they put him to sleep and when he woke up he couldnt talk anymore. He was frusterated and angry and scared and sheer paniced all at once. Watching that was....no words can discribe that pain. I just wanted it to stop and him to get better. We had to sedate him alot because he would panic to the point that we were afraid for his heart. He finally gave up after about 3 months. That too was heart breaking. About 3 months after that we found your videos at our library. I had never heard of signing time. All three of my children LOVED them. Ethan learned so much. Then we went online and learned and Ethan came alive again. He could communicate! Its been almost 3 years now and he knows many signs and even has a dynavox communication device. When I read your blog I cried. I have felt exactly like that for a long time. This life is so hard. All I do is trudge through the day. I feel robbed of the last 4 years. We were supposed to be going to the park or plays or playdates or church or whatever else young parents do with their young beautiful children. But instead it was 3-5 days a week of doctors and therapists or counseling over and over everyday and homeschooling or dealing with difficult schools systems. I dont work outside of the home. That hasnt been an option. It has been hard, I dont even know what it feels like to not be tired. But I hate that. My children are amazing. Each very different and fun outgoing. They are just really cool kids. I want to say that I enjoy every moment with them or raising them. I feel guilty. I never want them to feel its their fault or that I resent this life. Ethan was a victim. He has endured so much. I am honored to be the one chosen out of all the billions of women on this plant to be the ONE mom he has. How awesome is that. He loves me so much. Nothing feels better than knowing that. My children give me the energy to go and go and go. They have inspired me. I am sorry this is so long. I didnt expect it to be. I just wanted you know that you and Leah helped give my Ethan his Helen Keller moment. My life is..inspired. I also have a child with special needs. He was born “typical” but was diagnosed with leukemia at 23m and on his 3rd birthday had a septic event and multi system organ failure. A month later he woke up in the PICU with a hypoxic brain injury. He has regain alot of abilities but still cant talk or walk. Our family has endured alot. I think of it as a battle most of the time. Its difficult and painful but the victories are sweet. My children are warriors along with my husband Robert and myself. They make life rich. Never easy but oh so worth while. Watching a child with special needs learn or relearn a task is one the of great wonders of the world. Precious little is worth more. Rachel, Your videos are one of the first items we found after his brain injury that changed our world for the better. We went about 6 month where we had NO way to communicate with our son. I broke down every day. Many times a day. This was a three year old who was “typical”. He was awake talking to me one minute and then they put him to sleep and when he woke up he couldnt talk anymore. He was frusterated and angry and scared and sheer paniced all at once. Watching that was….no words can discribe that pain. I just wanted it to stop and him to get better. We had to sedate him alot because he would panic to the point that we were afraid for his heart. He finally gave up after about 3 months. That too was heart breaking. About 3 months after that we found your videos at our library. I had never heard of signing time. All three of my children LOVED them. Ethan learned so much. Then we went online and learned and Ethan came alive again. He could communicate! Its been almost 3 years now and he knows many signs and even has a dynavox communication device.

When I read your blog I cried. I have felt exactly like that for a long time. This life is so hard. All I do is trudge through the day. I feel robbed of the last 4 years. We were supposed to be going to the park or plays or playdates or church or whatever else young parents do with their young beautiful children. But instead it was 3-5 days a week of doctors and therapists or counseling over and over everyday and homeschooling or dealing with difficult schools systems. I dont work outside of the home. That hasnt been an option. It has been hard, I dont even know what it feels like to not be tired. But I hate that. My children are amazing. Each very different and fun outgoing. They are just really cool kids. I want to say that I enjoy every moment with them or raising them. I feel guilty. I never want them to feel its their fault or that I resent this life. Ethan was a victim. He has endured so much. I am honored to be the one chosen out of all the billions of women on this plant to be the ONE mom he has. How awesome is that. He loves me so much. Nothing feels better than knowing that. My children give me the energy to go and go and go. They have inspired me.

I am sorry this is so long. I didnt expect it to be. I just wanted you know that you and Leah helped give my Ethan his Helen Keller moment.

]]> By: Claudia http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2009/01/21/my-life-is/comment-page-2/#comment-2102 Claudia Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:25:20 +0000 http://www.signingtime.com/rachel/?p=1616#comment-2102 Rachel, These posts and comments are so beautiful. I have to share something with you. I run a parent resource center and we have interns who are college students and volunteers who help us. A thirty-something autistic man wanted to volunteer. Because communication is very, very hard for him, he could not answer phones or help patrons, but he is good with computers and numbers, so he helped us re-shelve books and organize materials. Trying to talk to him took a lot of patience because you could talk to him but you would have to wait a long time for him to get one or two word phrases out to answer you. When he was finished with his tasks each day, he would take a Signing Time DVD off the shelf and watch it while he waited until it was time for his ride to come. He loved the signing time DVDs and watched them all and practiced his signs. One day I looked him in the eye and said, "Don, do you wish you had these when you were young?" There was a long pause, his eyes welled up with tears and he finally got out the word "yes." I could feel that in that one "yes" were years and years of wishing and hoping and trying to find a way to say what he was thinking and feeling. Rachel, your life is a miracle. All the people you have helped, you will probably never know, but they know you. Thank you, Rachel. Your life is an inspiration and a blessing. Rachel, These posts and comments are so beautiful. I have to share something with you. I run a parent resource center and we have interns who are college students and volunteers who help us. A thirty-something autistic man wanted to volunteer. Because communication is very, very hard for him, he could not answer phones or help patrons, but he is good with computers and numbers, so he helped us re-shelve books and organize materials. Trying to talk to him took a lot of patience because you could talk to him but you would have to wait a long time for him to get one or two word phrases out to answer you. When he was finished with his tasks each day, he would take a Signing Time DVD off the shelf and watch it while he waited until it was time for his ride to come. He loved the signing time DVDs and watched them all and practiced his signs. One day I looked him in the eye and said, “Don, do you wish you had these when you were young?” There was a long pause, his eyes welled up with tears and he finally got out the word “yes.” I could feel that in that one “yes” were years and years of wishing and hoping and trying to find a way to say what he was thinking and feeling. Rachel, your life is a miracle. All the people you have helped, you will probably never know, but they know you. Thank you, Rachel. Your life is an inspiration and a blessing.

]]> By: brian http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2009/01/21/my-life-is/comment-page-2/#comment-2100 brian Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:32:33 +0000 http://www.signingtime.com/rachel/?p=1616#comment-2100 my life is what i make it, no matter how bad things get or seem remember, someone always has it worse than you !!!!! live by that and you'll realize it's not as bad as you think. my life is what i make it, no matter how bad things get or seem remember, someone always has it worse than you !!!!! live by that and you’ll realize it’s not as bad as you think.

]]> By: Rachel Coleman http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2009/01/21/my-life-is/comment-page-2/#comment-2095 Rachel Coleman Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:25:15 +0000 http://www.signingtime.com/rachel/?p=1616#comment-2095 This may be the first time that there are SO many comments, that I am not sure I can respond individually to them all. I want you to know that I have read each one. You all continually inspire me. For that, I thank you~ Rachel This may be the first time that there are SO many comments, that I am not sure I can respond individually to them all. I want you to know that I have read each one. You all continually inspire me. For that, I thank you~
Rachel

]]> By: Stacie Cordova http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2009/01/21/my-life-is/comment-page-2/#comment-2086 Stacie Cordova Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:11:06 +0000 http://www.signingtime.com/rachel/?p=1616#comment-2086 My life is a constant educational opportunity...seriously I could be an honorary doctor :) My life is a constant educational opportunity…seriously I could be an honorary doctor :)

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