Exactly 5 weeks ago, I started volunteering at Sardis Raptor Center. It's a little piece of heaven to me. Sardis is a bird of prey rescue and rehabilitation center here in Whatcom County. The people of Sardis rescue wounded birds of prey and give them the medical assistance that they need. Birds that can be, are released back out into their natural environment. Birds that are unable to care for themselves in the wild are kept at the center and used to educate the community about animal conservation. For more information go here. I have always wanted to do this, but felt that I never had the time. I have the same amount of time now as I always have, but I finally decided to go for it. And I am SO glad that I did.
I spend every Saturday morning up to my elbows in chicken guts and blood, raw cow livers, and occasionally even some things that used to be fish. The smells are... Beyond description. I scrub poop out of cages and wash bloody dishes. And I am SO happy. :D
The very first day, I got to walk into an enclosure housing 8 Bald Eagles and 1 Turkey Vulture. An enclosure housing a Barred Owl. An enclosure housing a Great Horned Owl... I put out food for them, cleaned out and filled their water dishes, and gathered the left-overs. It is truly breathtaking. I get to spend time with and care for some of God's most amazing creatures.
Since the first day, I have fed pretty much every bird in the center... Golden Eagles, Red Tail Hawks, Swainson's Hawks, Barn Owls, and even a Sea Gull! In a couple of months I will get trained on how to handle the birds on gloves! So exciting!!! Last week was huge... We were very low staffed as most of the volunteers were away on a show. There was only one volunteer there who was trained to handle the birds... We have an Osprey in the clinic who has to be hand fed. This other volunteer needed help, and I wasted NO time in offering! He caught her in a sheet and handed her to me! I got to hold her for about 20 minutes while he fed her then cleaned out her cage. I was ridiculously happy! Today, as he and I were the only volunteers in, I got to hold her again! I also got to hold an immature Red Tail Hawk while he gave it an injection. :D I was also graduated to feeding the birds in the enclosures on my own.
I can't really explain how happy I am every Saturday. Words are not enough. I spend each day anxiously awaiting the return of Saturday. I am brought nearly to tears by the wonder and beauty of these animals. I can't see me ever getting used to the feeling of privilege I experience in the presence of these phenomenal birds. If you get the chance, come out and see them. I would love to take you on a tour, and share my love of these birds with you. (We are open to the public on Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm.)
Have a blessed day. :)
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
God's Funny
As I stated in my last post, this has been a day of sadness... But good things are happening too!
For MONTHS I have been looking for ways to supplement my income. I have debts to pay, and I need to save for school. I have spent hours every day, looking for part time jobs and filling out applications. I don't relish the idea of holding down two jobs, but... You gotta do what you gotta do. But it was all to no avail. NOBODY wanted to hire me. But I keep trying... I sold an old keyboard, which was a HUGE breakthrough. I had been trying to sell it for months, and found that one of my coworkers needed it. Yay!
If you have ever read any of my previous posts, you know how much I love animals. Well, God's funny. He gave me a kind of head-smack a couple of weeks ago. I was sort of complaining, telling him how hard it all is, how I can't find work. That's when I got the "wake up" head-smack. It went something like this... "You love animals, right? And you have cared for ALL sorts of them for friends and family, right? You have experience with dogs, cats, horses, birds, and even piranhas, right?... Advertise as a pet sitter already!! God's pretty smart, in addition to being funny. I mean, what a great idea! Do something I LOVE to do, and get paid for it? Brilliant!
I started composing some ads... I posted on craigslist and facebook marketplace. As of this very moment, I have two paying jobs booked! One for a lady who saw my ad on craigslist. She has a whole variety of animals and wants ME to take care of them. Another for an acquaintance/friend of mine... She heard from our mutual friend that I was going into the pet sitting business and gave me a call! Not a bad start, eh? I am super excited! I get to help people and animals! I get to have fun! I get to make money doing it! Hooray!
God, thanks for the head-smack! You rock!
For MONTHS I have been looking for ways to supplement my income. I have debts to pay, and I need to save for school. I have spent hours every day, looking for part time jobs and filling out applications. I don't relish the idea of holding down two jobs, but... You gotta do what you gotta do. But it was all to no avail. NOBODY wanted to hire me. But I keep trying... I sold an old keyboard, which was a HUGE breakthrough. I had been trying to sell it for months, and found that one of my coworkers needed it. Yay!
If you have ever read any of my previous posts, you know how much I love animals. Well, God's funny. He gave me a kind of head-smack a couple of weeks ago. I was sort of complaining, telling him how hard it all is, how I can't find work. That's when I got the "wake up" head-smack. It went something like this... "You love animals, right? And you have cared for ALL sorts of them for friends and family, right? You have experience with dogs, cats, horses, birds, and even piranhas, right?... Advertise as a pet sitter already!! God's pretty smart, in addition to being funny. I mean, what a great idea! Do something I LOVE to do, and get paid for it? Brilliant!
I started composing some ads... I posted on craigslist and facebook marketplace. As of this very moment, I have two paying jobs booked! One for a lady who saw my ad on craigslist. She has a whole variety of animals and wants ME to take care of them. Another for an acquaintance/friend of mine... She heard from our mutual friend that I was going into the pet sitting business and gave me a call! Not a bad start, eh? I am super excited! I get to help people and animals! I get to have fun! I get to make money doing it! Hooray!
God, thanks for the head-smack! You rock!
A Large Dose of Reality
Today was a sad day. Do you ever have those? Days when the darker side of reality presents itself to you in a new way. A day when you thank your lucky stars that you have the blessings that you usually take for granted... Today was that day for me.
I came face to face with some ugly reality today. Reality in the life of a person I met for the first time this morning. Reality that cuts your heart up into little pain filled pieces, and sparks anger deep inside. Sadness and anger. Anger at the injustice and at my inability to go back in time and prevent the pain this person is going through. Sadness that I can't. Sadness that there is nothing tangible I can do to help, so I offer comfort and love and pray hard (which, I guess IS a lot of help, now that I think about it). Sadness that this kind of reality exists so often in our world and that it often gets overlooked.
So I ask this of you, my readers: Take some time today, and actively seek out things to be thankful for in your life. And look for a way that you can help change one person's dark reality. Even a genuine smile can change a person's day, change their life. Here are some ideas I had, to get you started...
Thankful For:
1. A loving God
2. A family who loves me and wants the best for me
3. Food to eat and a bed to rest in
4. Friends to share my life with
5. A job to help provide for my needs and wants
6. The ability to articulate my feelings (So many people can't)
Change a Dark Reality:
1. Offer a smile
2. Hug the children in my life more often
3. Find ways to be helpful to people I take for granted
4. Listen to a person's story and let them know I genuinely care
5. Pray earnestly for those I know are struggling
6. Befriend the friendless
It seems like a lot when I list it out. A lot to be thankful for, and a lot of things to do to help. I do have a lot to be thankful for, when I actually take the time to think about it, and this list just scratched the surface... And as for the things I can do to brighten someone's reality, well, it seems like a lot, but can be done easily throughout the day if I look for opportunities, and it WILL mean a lot to those you touch...
I came face to face with some ugly reality today. Reality in the life of a person I met for the first time this morning. Reality that cuts your heart up into little pain filled pieces, and sparks anger deep inside. Sadness and anger. Anger at the injustice and at my inability to go back in time and prevent the pain this person is going through. Sadness that I can't. Sadness that there is nothing tangible I can do to help, so I offer comfort and love and pray hard (which, I guess IS a lot of help, now that I think about it). Sadness that this kind of reality exists so often in our world and that it often gets overlooked.
So I ask this of you, my readers: Take some time today, and actively seek out things to be thankful for in your life. And look for a way that you can help change one person's dark reality. Even a genuine smile can change a person's day, change their life. Here are some ideas I had, to get you started...
Thankful For:
1. A loving God
2. A family who loves me and wants the best for me
3. Food to eat and a bed to rest in
4. Friends to share my life with
5. A job to help provide for my needs and wants
6. The ability to articulate my feelings (So many people can't)
Change a Dark Reality:
1. Offer a smile
2. Hug the children in my life more often
3. Find ways to be helpful to people I take for granted
4. Listen to a person's story and let them know I genuinely care
5. Pray earnestly for those I know are struggling
6. Befriend the friendless
It seems like a lot when I list it out. A lot to be thankful for, and a lot of things to do to help. I do have a lot to be thankful for, when I actually take the time to think about it, and this list just scratched the surface... And as for the things I can do to brighten someone's reality, well, it seems like a lot, but can be done easily throughout the day if I look for opportunities, and it WILL mean a lot to those you touch...
God, sad as this day was, thank you for reminding me how many things I have to be thankful for. And thank you that you know the best way to help the person I met today and that you are faithful to do so.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Poetry Corner
Misdirected Flight
Drifting
Looking for the path
Wondering
Searching for direction
I lift my eyes
Your face is all I see
My direction is set
The path leads to you
Do I follow?
Is this right?
Will my heart be broken?
But how to discover...
I take a breath
I lift my foot
The step is taken
I am falling
Lost in your eyes
Thanking God I found you
I am blind to all else
I fail to see
I am undone in love with you
My heart flies, soaring
But your eyes have changed
My heart loses altitude
I lay, broken
My flight ended
The crash unexpected
I am left here
I pull the pieces of me close
Try to put them together
Attempting to forget the pain
I find myself, once again...
Drifting
Looking for the path
Wondering
Searching for direction
_____________________________________
Trying
Working so hard
Longing for a reprieve
Wanting so badly
To start the next chapter
But imagination has run dry
Ideas stretch thin
No wise words offered
No light bulb flashes
Dreams long forgotten
Started stirring a while past
The next chapter beckons
But where to begin?
I need inspiration
A thought
A sound
A word
But I hear only silence and
My own heart beating
My own breath catching
As I try one more time
To step out into my life
Drifting
Looking for the path
Wondering
Searching for direction
I lift my eyes
Your face is all I see
My direction is set
The path leads to you
Do I follow?
Is this right?
Will my heart be broken?
But how to discover...
I take a breath
I lift my foot
The step is taken
I am falling
Lost in your eyes
Thanking God I found you
I am blind to all else
I fail to see
I am undone in love with you
My heart flies, soaring
But your eyes have changed
My heart loses altitude
I lay, broken
My flight ended
The crash unexpected
I am left here
I pull the pieces of me close
Try to put them together
Attempting to forget the pain
I find myself, once again...
Drifting
Looking for the path
Wondering
Searching for direction
_____________________________________
Trying
Working so hard
Longing for a reprieve
Wanting so badly
To start the next chapter
But imagination has run dry
Ideas stretch thin
No wise words offered
No light bulb flashes
Dreams long forgotten
Started stirring a while past
The next chapter beckons
But where to begin?
I need inspiration
A thought
A sound
A word
But I hear only silence and
My own heart beating
My own breath catching
As I try one more time
To step out into my life
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sigh of Relief
I know, I know! It has been ages. What can I say? I was overwhelmed by the tasks facing me. The stress of figuring out how to get my visa, how to get the financial side of things figured out... How to get it done in time... Well, it nearly broke me. The stress had been affecting my physical health as well as my emotional health. I was a wreck. I felt absolutely convinced that all my dreams were going to grind to halt, never to get going again... Eventually though, I snapped out of it.
It occurred to me a couple of weeks ago, that I could request a deferment, that is, see if I could keep my offer from the school, but start a year later in September of 2011. I also realized, that if they didn't grant the deferment, and I lost my offer, there was nothing stopping me reapplying next year, well nothing but myself... It all seems like such an obvious solution to all the stuff I have been stressing out about lately. The only defense I can offer for not seeing it sooner, is that it is never easy to look at a situation objectively, when you're right in the middle of it...
So, after much back and forth, I wrote to the Science Department admissions office at MMU. I explained that struggles I was having getting everything together in time and asked if I could defer my spot until next year. This morning I received this email:
"Dear Kelina
Thank you for your email. I have amended our and UCAS records to show you have deferred your application to September 2011. We will contact you during the Spring of 2011 to ask if you still intend to take up the place. In the meantime, please inform us if your contact details change.
Many thanks
Pat
It was as easy as sending an email... I could have skipped all the agonizing stress of the last couple of months by writing this email sooner. Clearly Iam as blind as a bat was under too much pressure to realize it before. Anyway, upon reading that email, I heaved an enormous sigh of relief.
So that is my plan at the moment. I am now thinking and planning with the idea of going to school next year, instead of in a month and a half.
________________________________________________
And now, on to a completely unrelated topic.
I love acting. I REALLY love acting. I have been told I have a talent for it too. Not just by friends and family, but by professional talent scouts. But when I was about 14 or 15, I started having very severe audition anxiety. Even when I auditioned for friends in a church play or something. It increased every year. The anxiety is crippling. My heart races, I sweat profusely, words get stuck in my throat OR rush out in an incomprehensible rush... I freeze.... Once I had a part, the anxiety vanished as if it never existed. I could go to each rehearsal and act my heart out, loving every minute of it. But the audition anxiety got so bad, that a couple of years ago, I gave up. It broke my heart to stop acting. I felt like a huge piece of me died.
Last week, while going through job postings on craigslist (I am looking for a second job to help raise money for school) I saw a posting for an audition. It was for a feature length independent film that is scheduled to start shooting in Washington this Friday. They were having open auditions in a town about 30 minute South of me... I decided to go.
Sunday, I asked all my friends on facebook to pray for me. All Sunday evening and Monday morning, I got drenched in support and prayer. When I arrived at the audition venue Monday (yesterday) morning, I felt nervous, but only in an excited way. I was amazed, as I stepped onto the stage, to feel calm and confident. I got all the way through the audition without even a hint of the crippling anxiety I had become accustomed to feel. I had a blast. Even though I was just reading one scene over a couple of times, I found my joy in acting again. I don't even care if I get a part. Making it through the audition AND enjoying it, was a GREAT result. I am so thankful for all the love, support, and prayers of my friends. I felt them all. Thank you.
It occurred to me a couple of weeks ago, that I could request a deferment, that is, see if I could keep my offer from the school, but start a year later in September of 2011. I also realized, that if they didn't grant the deferment, and I lost my offer, there was nothing stopping me reapplying next year, well nothing but myself... It all seems like such an obvious solution to all the stuff I have been stressing out about lately. The only defense I can offer for not seeing it sooner, is that it is never easy to look at a situation objectively, when you're right in the middle of it...
So, after much back and forth, I wrote to the Science Department admissions office at MMU. I explained that struggles I was having getting everything together in time and asked if I could defer my spot until next year. This morning I received this email:
"Dear Kelina
Thank you for your email. I have amended our and UCAS records to show you have deferred your application to September 2011. We will contact you during the Spring of 2011 to ask if you still intend to take up the place. In the meantime, please inform us if your contact details change.
Many thanks
Pat
It was as easy as sending an email... I could have skipped all the agonizing stress of the last couple of months by writing this email sooner. Clearly I
So that is my plan at the moment. I am now thinking and planning with the idea of going to school next year, instead of in a month and a half.
________________________________________________
And now, on to a completely unrelated topic.
I love acting. I REALLY love acting. I have been told I have a talent for it too. Not just by friends and family, but by professional talent scouts. But when I was about 14 or 15, I started having very severe audition anxiety. Even when I auditioned for friends in a church play or something. It increased every year. The anxiety is crippling. My heart races, I sweat profusely, words get stuck in my throat OR rush out in an incomprehensible rush... I freeze.... Once I had a part, the anxiety vanished as if it never existed. I could go to each rehearsal and act my heart out, loving every minute of it. But the audition anxiety got so bad, that a couple of years ago, I gave up. It broke my heart to stop acting. I felt like a huge piece of me died.
Last week, while going through job postings on craigslist (I am looking for a second job to help raise money for school) I saw a posting for an audition. It was for a feature length independent film that is scheduled to start shooting in Washington this Friday. They were having open auditions in a town about 30 minute South of me... I decided to go.
Sunday, I asked all my friends on facebook to pray for me. All Sunday evening and Monday morning, I got drenched in support and prayer. When I arrived at the audition venue Monday (yesterday) morning, I felt nervous, but only in an excited way. I was amazed, as I stepped onto the stage, to feel calm and confident. I got all the way through the audition without even a hint of the crippling anxiety I had become accustomed to feel. I had a blast. Even though I was just reading one scene over a couple of times, I found my joy in acting again. I don't even care if I get a part. Making it through the audition AND enjoying it, was a GREAT result. I am so thankful for all the love, support, and prayers of my friends. I felt them all. Thank you.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Just Writing
There has been a lot of craziness. Mostly because my nephew got quite ill and had to go down to the Seattle Children's Hospital. Poor baby! I love him so much! The good news is, he seems to be responding well to treatment and is on the mend. Thank you Jesus! Our prayers have been answered. :)
Yesterday I met with my friend Julie. She is a genius. She also knows a lot about student financial aid... We sat down at her kitchen table and opened up my laptop. She was a star! She helped me get started on applying. She directed me very well and saved me hours of reading through instructions and watching tutorials. When I got home I entered some more information into my application, then I got stuck. :( Sigh. So at work this morning, just as Julie was coming in, I pounced on her. She gave me a two word explanation that cleared everything up! Julie is my FAFSA hero! So after a bit more work, I finished my application! Yay! It is all sent in and now I am praying hard that God will provide the funds that I need.
My next HUGE project is to apply for my visa... I have spent several hours trying to figure it out... I still have no clue! If anyone has any experience that might help, please contact me!! And please join me in praying for the visa application process to become clear and go smoothly, and that FAFSA will work out.
And finally, love and prayers for my beautiful nephew and all of his family. I love you babe! Kisses from Auntie Kelina.
Yesterday I met with my friend Julie. She is a genius. She also knows a lot about student financial aid... We sat down at her kitchen table and opened up my laptop. She was a star! She helped me get started on applying. She directed me very well and saved me hours of reading through instructions and watching tutorials. When I got home I entered some more information into my application, then I got stuck. :( Sigh. So at work this morning, just as Julie was coming in, I pounced on her. She gave me a two word explanation that cleared everything up! Julie is my FAFSA hero! So after a bit more work, I finished my application! Yay! It is all sent in and now I am praying hard that God will provide the funds that I need.
My next HUGE project is to apply for my visa... I have spent several hours trying to figure it out... I still have no clue! If anyone has any experience that might help, please contact me!! And please join me in praying for the visa application process to become clear and go smoothly, and that FAFSA will work out.
And finally, love and prayers for my beautiful nephew and all of his family. I love you babe! Kisses from Auntie Kelina.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Overwhelming
I still can't believe it. It hasn't really sunk in. In a few short months, I'll be a student living in the UK. I'll FINALLY be "A Bellingham Yank in the UK." It seems unreal. I mean, as much faith as I have in God's love, goodness, and care for me, I'm not sure I really believed this was possible. I had gotten used to seeing other people's dreams come true, but me? I have had a few. I have stood amongst Roman ruins, taken a couple trips to amazing places, found friends that I know will be a part of my life forever, but as hugely important and life-changing as those things are/have been for me... I still didn't believe I was allowed to have more. This has caused a major shift in my thinking, in my faith. EVERYTHING looks a bit different now. A bit brighter. A bit more in focus.
On the heels of these overwhelming thoughts, come other overwhelming thoughts... I spent some time today, trying to figure out how to apply for my visa... It about did me in... Holy cow! I got dizzy, lost, clicking through page after page of confusing information... I'm really wishing I knew someone who had moved from the US to the UK for school and could walk me through the process. On top of that I have to start applying for financial aid. *Shudder!* VERY overwhelming stuff. And then there are the thoughts of everything that I'll miss here, while I'm there... That's nearly enough to stop me going. Nearly. I would be a level of stupid all my own to give up this opportunity. I don't want to be stupid. I also don't want to stay the way I am. I want to grow, learn, become more who God meant when He meant me...
So I ask this from those I love, who love me, pray please. Pray that visas and finances work out easily and swiftly. Pray that I don't crack up! Pray for peace.
Thank you.
On the heels of these overwhelming thoughts, come other overwhelming thoughts... I spent some time today, trying to figure out how to apply for my visa... It about did me in... Holy cow! I got dizzy, lost, clicking through page after page of confusing information... I'm really wishing I knew someone who had moved from the US to the UK for school and could walk me through the process. On top of that I have to start applying for financial aid. *Shudder!* VERY overwhelming stuff. And then there are the thoughts of everything that I'll miss here, while I'm there... That's nearly enough to stop me going. Nearly. I would be a level of stupid all my own to give up this opportunity. I don't want to be stupid. I also don't want to stay the way I am. I want to grow, learn, become more who God meant when He meant me...
So I ask this from those I love, who love me, pray please. Pray that visas and finances work out easily and swiftly. Pray that I don't crack up! Pray for peace.
Thank you.
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