Jocelyn’s Journal

I came across this story recently and thought you might like it.

Freedom and I have been together 10 years this summer.  She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn’t open all the way even after surgery, it was broken in 4 places. She’s my baby.

When Freedom came in she could not stand.  Both wings were broken, her left wing in 4 places. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vet’s office.  From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lay in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight;
and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks.

This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn’t stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn’t stand in a week. You know you don’t want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn’t want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn’t bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her dowl cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle.  She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.

We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses (birding straps), and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington. We

Continue reading

Mom –

What a BLESSING and JOY it is to wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY today!  Where birthdays are normally a time where life is celebrated, today we shout joyful exaltations and REJOICE in your life.

You have truly been salt and light in my life, mom; and for many others as you have blessed all of our lives.

Today I rise and call you, Irene Dias, blessed.

Proverbs 31
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Thank you, Mom, for being a woman of Noble Character, who fears the Lord, and is irresistible to all who greet your smile.

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, jocelyn

Continue reading

I am so grateful that my mom is home.  The memory of her roughest day still haunts my mind from time to time, but I remain focused on Mom being healthy, renewed, healed by the Hand of God.

Her bright smile that lights-up any room, remains the same.  Right now due to the bilirubin her skin is very dark and her eyes are a yellow hue, but her smile remains bright white and shining, a toothpaste commercial grin, with the shining star on the left incisor *tink* – Brilliant.

It is so good to hug ‘little mom’ who, although is a ‘fall risk’ right now is still quite strong – and getting stronger every day.

Mom is home the words hardly feel real after some of the moments we shared at UCSF.  I REJOICE in the reality.

God has spared my mom for a PURPOSE, she, and our family, are forever changed.  I am eager to see what the Lord has ahead.

17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons [and daughters] of God to be revealed.
(Rm 8:17-19)

Continue reading