Coffee CubBuster

I always assumed I'd be a frequent flyer for hospitals (I wish that really did exist. I'd have all kinds of reward points!) because I'm a mother of four boys, but so-far our frequency has had little to do with broken bones or death-defying feats. Instead, I'm merely serving time in hospitals and doctor's offices as part of my mission. The word "mission" has multiple definitions, including carrying out humanitarian work, faith-based service, and the act of being specifically sent. In all its meanings, I did not take part in any mission work until I was in my twenties. It was then that I saw a variety of needs in Haiti, Ecuador, Spain, and the United States. One thing all these trips had in common was the element of discomfort. Whether physical, emotional, or otherwise, attending a mission trip should never look similar to your daily life. It is an experience that erases your normal routine for the sake of serving others. Of course we all have seasons whe...

When I was probably about ten years old I was given a bookmark that had the alphabet in American Sign Language. I studied the positions of the hands and practiced daily until I could sign my ABCs without assistance from the bookmark. I was excited to learn that my undergraduate university also offered ASL courses as electives, which I snagged without hesitation. I probably would have double minored in both Spanish and Sign Language had I not had to stay past four years to accomplish it. Journalism was my intended major, so I was receiving the art of language from all disciplines at that point. I've always had a serious love for language in all its forms. I wish I had the skills to match my passion because I'm envious of people who are multilingual. Becoming a bridge for someone to gain understanding is invaluable. Yet, little Levi has again taught me something of the opposite. The art of silent speech proves equally priceless. Many in the Deaf community see American Sign Langu...

The word Trench corresponds to other words evoking less than idyllic pictures including, ditch, trough, rut, and  drain.  If you've ever watched a WWI film, you'll likely imagine a type of depression in the ground that is deeper than it is wide and narrower than it is long, not an optimal places to set up a camp. The claustrophobic side of me shivers at being called to those trenches, yet the very concept of a trench was meant for safety. Some would say leaving the trench meant imminent death, while others felt temporary insanity being forced to remain in one. Trying to get above ground without suffering physical or emotional turmoil was virtually impossible. I'm certain that more than one brave soldier celebrated a birthday, anniversary, or holiday in those trenches, making them all the more heroic. I dare not compare any portion of my life to that of World War heroes, but I'll speak to the expression that I'm "living in the trenches" right now. My birth...