The Tree Climb

When I was just a youngster, probably preteen, I used to climb up into the largest tree in my grandparents' backyard. One day I was inspired to climb to the very top, above the foliage, the highest point I could reach. In the process, a branch broke from under me and I landed perfectly onto another branch before my mind could catch up with the reality that took place. I remember being stunned and thinking how unlikely such an event could happen that a branch below could break my fall.

So, for a story for my storyboarding class, I chose to use this experience for my project.

The Tree Climb Storyboard

The Tree Climb Final

The final version is a more refined animation where all the assets are created in Flash. The story is foreshortened as per the decision of my instructor. The storyboard animation consists of assets that were created in Frameforge, the trial version of which I made screenshots to remove the overlaying black text generated by the trial Frameforge.

Jesus Stamp Popular in Bookbinding Class!

We were working on our accordion books today in class and using rubber stamps to decorate the pages. We had been asked to bring in rubber stamps to use and/or share with the class. I brought in several stamps and ink pads. Among my stamp collection were an assortment of butterflies and some Christian stamps. To my amazement, a very popular one was a stamp that was of a key with the name Jesus on it, and it says "The Key to your Heart."

The people I least expected to, went hog-wild over it and used it on their accordion books. I was happy to see Jesus get a lot of good press today. No pun intended. (Images to follow.)

He Cared Enough about Birdy and for Sophie!

I awoke on Valentine's Day with a heavy heart. I was depressed over my bad choices and my many disappointed hopes. As I laid in bed, I was hammered with memories of some cruel injustices done to me over recent years. I wanted to die.

Then, I sought escape and picked up my phone to look at the San Francisco Animal Care and Control website to see what's available for adoption. I landed on Birdy, a pied cockatiel. I took a screenshot of the ad and emailed it to several bird loving friends, and got an immediate response from one of them. I was asked to go fetch the bird for her and she would reimburse me. At first I didn't want to do it but I phoned the animal shelter to see if Birdy was still available, and he was. So I headed down there, though I was slow at getting out the door.

I came with carrier and brought Birdy home a couple hours later. I cleaned a cage to house him since his nails were overgrown and I wanted to make him more comfortable. I stayed out of the room I had him in because of my weakness of getting easily attached. My friend arrived later with her husband to pick up Birdy. It went smoothly.

Later, I got an update that they arrived home safely and clipped Birdy's nails, and changed his name to Valentine. I thought that was honorable and would help the bird to make the transition in his new home.

Then, the following evening I received a report via email that read something like this:

"I had Valentine checked at the Vet today. It turns out his wings are a lot more damaged than we thought. The left side is completely unstable probably due to a recent fracture. The right wing is all beat up and swollen but more stable overall. I don’t think he will fly anywhere anytime soon. His feces are normal. He has lots of dust and debris in his nose. Poor guy needs good showers. His blood is lipemic which makes me think he must have been on a seed diet.

"On a funny note – when we removed the leg band it clearly showed the year 1997 ! So, whoever made Valentine 4 years young has not paid attention in math class.

"I moved Valentine in with 3 mellow females who treat him well so he can recover. He started eating fine tonight, comes up to the front when I talk to him and is definitely more calm than he was this morning. We will give him time and TLC. I’m sure he will be ok in the long run."

My heart was broken as I read this but realized that this bird's life was saved on Valentine's Day and his name change marks a real turnaround, a new beginning for him.

Then, I realized that God orchestrated this event and He wanted to teach me something. He showed me how He cared for this precious bird in a wonderful way, and that He is ever so interested in caring for me, even the finest detail. That touched my heart!

 

Then later on Valentine's Day, I received word that Craig was reunited with his lost cat Sophie who was missing for over a week. I had prayer going up for him ad his missing cat, and God answered that prayer on Valentine's Day. So it was a wonderful day after all!

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An update on Birdy who was renamed Valentine:

He lived a short time in his new nurturing home and passed away due to heart complications. Now he is pain free and grief free in the presence of the Creator. For that only am I comforted. It is believed that he received a poor diet of just seeds most of his life which is a valuable lesson for pet bird owners. Birds need a wide variety of nutritious foods to provide a healthy life for them, besides lots of attention. For more information on birdcare I recommend you check out Mickaboo's site.

When I Thought Differently, I Acted Differently

Having a positive mindset had been so foreign to me growing up. I grew up with a spirit of suspicion, with a belief of hopelessness and failure and being punished for my actions continually. Still not sure how I developed that but I believe it was early on. I was used to being surprised with punishment and being led to believe I was different and inadequate and even inferior. So I only expected to fall short of everyone else, and still, from time to time, I'm plagued with these thoughts.

However, I recall my first experience with challenging myself to think differently than usual, at least if felt unnatural at the time, affirmatively about having the ability to do something that was a struggle for me. In this instance, I have always been the slowest hiker of anybody I was with. I could be out-hiked by anybody, and especially a group. I was always at the end of the group. It continually frustrated me and so I enjoyed hiking less as a result.

But on this one occasion I was hiking with a group up Mt. Masada. It was quite an incline. In fact, it was called the Snake Path. I felt weary, probably because of inadequate sleep to add to the load. I decided that instance to think to myself and not out loud, "I can do this, I can do this, I can do this." Then, I found myself looking up toward my destination. Every now and then I would revert back to the inclination of "I can't" and it would become difficult for me again. But when I tried to focus on "I can" the hike became easier. I even recall setting my gaze farther ahead of me as I climbed that steep incline. I still may have arrived later than everyone else, but I got up there in time for the sunrise without much feeling of weariness.

Then, surprisingly, and for the first time I can recall, I sprinted down the mountain like one of those sure-footed gazelles I had seen. I was down the mountain in a very short time and probably one of the first in our group. I usually hike slowly down a mountain because of not being sure of my footing.

It's funny to me now looking back now and realizing that this occurred in Israel, a land charged with God's presence, and I was there before I ever embarked upon a relationship with Him.

Forever Changed

I met a woman named Jill, another Jewish believer on AOL in a Christian chat room in the 90s. We used to visit over the phone. She was living in Knoxville, Tennessee, a single mom with two teens who were unmanageable. I used to tell her about the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. She would not buy it, saying she didn't think she needed it. Well, it's not a requirement for salvation but it sure adds to it.

Well, some time later, I spoke with her on the phone again and she told me of a peculiar incident that had just occurred while talking with someone on a park bench. She said that while she was talking, suddenly she began to speak in tongues. Wow, talk about a God-incidence!

I had never heard of anyone being filled this way before. I struggled with getting my prayer language. I had too much doubt in the way. I remember having prayer time every night with God and running out of words and almost going into a language I never learned but would somehow reason it away.

But for Jill, who was very intellectual, this was truly a miracle! She was a changed woman from that moment on, and God began to bless her and increase her since.

It's been years since I had last been in touch, but the memory of her has come back to me and I felt to share this. Someone else must needs this. This is your time, says the Lord. So enter in.