Deaf Rally - September 29

International Day for Deaf People and Sign Languages was September 29. The Deaf Community here, in Hampton Roads celebrated it by having a peaceful rally at the Norfolk City Hall. It was an amazing experiences! I was proud to be able to witness such a monumental event.



Dad and David joined me (Emily) at the Deaf rally. They were quoted on the website (www.vbdeaf.com) as, "Christians supporting us," since they wore their Awana t-shirts. Pretty cool, eh?



One of my favorite presenters was my classmate, Beth. She is currently in ASL-3 with me, as she is learning ASL with her deaf daughter, Lily. She presented about her support of the bilingual-bicultural communication method. This consists of using ASL as the deaf child's first language for the first 7 years, exposing the child to all aspects of the Deaf Community and it's culture. This gives the Deaf child a language and cultural foundation before encouraging the use of English. As a second language, they begin to learn English including written and spoken (if possible). Beth's dream is to create a charter school where she can educate, Lily in ASL and English. Giving her access to the Deaf AND Hearing World.



This is Star, my favorite teacher and the president of the Southeastern Society of the Deaf. She gave an amazing presentation at the rally!



Tria, Kathy, and Lela holding their signs to protest and refute audism.



Below is Jennifer signing the song Wind Beneath My Wings. She did an amazing job leaving most of us teary-eyed and very touched....



The rally was amazing! I had an amazing time and learned SO much! It was an honor to be able to witness this awesome event! I can't wait for next year!!! *smiles*

Yorktown

In September, we visiting Yorktown. I (Emily) thought Yorktown was the most beautiful of sites we've visited in compairson to Williamsburg and Jamestown. Yorktown was the place where the Americans and the French trapped the British. They finally surrendered. Below is some pictures we took on our trip to Yorktown:



DJ with a French cannon used in the attack on Yorktown.


The Americans and French build ramparts. They placed cannons behind them and fired on the British in Yorktown.


Below is a pretty picture I captured on the drive around the Yorktown encampment.


The road we drove down...this reminded me of the movie "The Patriot."


Of course the day we went to Yorktown it reached 100 degrees! Here I am cooling off in the little stream on the drive around the Yorktown encampment.


DJ loved Jamestown, the whole family loved Williamsburg, but I've got to say, Yorktown is on the top of that list for me. I don't need recreations to tell me what the trees and the wilderness speaks loudly of....that there was a war there, which is part of our history. I was abe to imagine what those men felt like long ago in the fight with the British over Yorktown...*wow*

Jamestown

We went to Jamestown, it was the 400th anniversary this year, from 1607-2007. Below is pictures we took on our trip to Jamestown:

This is me (DJ) looking at a recreation of one of the three ships that sailed from England to Virginia.


Can you believe that we got to see this church? It is the oldest church in North America! Impressive!


The statue of Captain John Smith looking out over the James River...I believe he said that the James River held so many fish, that you could *almost* walk on it. Of course, that was a figure of speech but imagine all those fish!


Here is my dad at the pulpet of the pastor's house in the recreated Jamestown...I can almost imagine him preaching a sermon right there!


In this picture I am holding a sixteenth century shield that is recreated. Now *this* is how I imagine the shield of faith. I also tried on the breastplate and helmet. It was very neat!


My mom wearing the recreated helmet from the sixteenth century...she looked the best in it compaired to all of us!

We really enjoyed our Jamestown trip! We saw some amazing sights and learned a lot!

Enjoy the pictures!
DJ

Concealed Weapons Class

In September we took a concealed weapons class....*interesting*

Our Cozumel Adventure

Wow! Time has speeded by since our last entry...here is some pictures from our SCUBA diving trip to Cozumel, Mexico in August.

The picture to the left is of DJ and I (Emily) swimming off the dive boat. The water was 80 degrees and so beautiful!!



We rented a classic VW Bug. Mexico still has the old style...Dad had the most fun driving it!


This is a picture of a sunset right off from our hotel...













San Gervasio temple pyramid


San Gervasio Myan arch...they use to lay offerings to their idol under the arch


A GIANT iguana...they had them all over San Gervasio, I couldn't help to take a picture of it!