This Bird is Crazy!

My heart was racing, I was starting to sweat and I couldn't walk away fast enough. At one point I was even running. The first time it happened I just kept looking around thinking, am I imagining this? The second time I knew I wasn't dreaming. And the third time I didn't wait around to see what was going to happen.

Laura and I like to walk our neighborhood. It is pretty quiet most of the time, well until recently. A few weeks ago LB and I had just pulled out of the driveway and turned down our own street for an early morning walk. LB points out all the flags along the way. And I point out various other things of interest. Up ahead I see a bird and comment, oh look Laura at the bird. Next thing I know it is headed straight for us. Not like its crossing the street to the next power line, but straight for us. I had to duck to miss it. My first thought is that it is trying to land on my head - kind of like all the bird people you see in parks feeding the pidgins. This happens two more times. Heart racing. Did that really just happen??

One week later - same encounter! Two weeks later - same encounter again! This third time I almost saw the bird coming too late. I barely saw it out of the corner of my eye, coming at us from behind almost. Whew! That was a close one. We make eye contact. It is like a stare-down. I know its going to make another dive at us. Run!

This bird is crazy! I get one or two houses down before I turn around. The bird is watching us.

It's the same side of the street, at the same house every time. All I can figure is that this bird must have a nest with some babies close by and I'm threatening her little ones.

I can respect the momma bird protecting her babies. And I'd prefer not to be attacked anymore. I'll just turn the other way out of the driveway next time.

It's About You

Jon Gordon is an author and motivational speaker. He has several books out for motivating yourself and your employees. The only one I've read is The Energy Bus - a great read.

I signed up for his weekly newsletter and this week's is very touching, so I thought I'd share it. You can find out more at www.JonGordon.com.

IT'S ABOUT YOU

In Rick Warren’s mega best-seller Purpose Driven Life he famously begins the book with “It’s not about you.” While I understand his intention with this statement I think he should have begun with “It’s about you, however, it’s not just about you.”

Because I believe it is about you. If it weren’t about you, you wouldn’t be here.

You are not an accident.

You are here for a reason.

You have a destiny.

You have a purpose.

You have gifts and talents.

You do things that only you can do in the way you do them.

You and only you can leave your mark on the world.

So it is about you!

However, it’s not just about you. Because if it was just about you, you’d be:

Self-serving

Alone

Narcissistic

Empty

Unfulfilled

It’s about more than you. It’s about knowing you were made for relationships:

To love

To mentor

To learn

To serve

To create

To build

To dream

To work together

To change for the better

It’s about living for more than you.

For a bigger purpose.

For a greater cause.

For a deeper meaning.

For those who will become your legacy.

It’s about you knowing you are part of something much bigger than you.

You live in a universe.

Uni-verse means one-song.

Songs don’t happen by accident.

Songs are created by organizing notes into arrangements and patterns.

And so there is a Creator of the one-song.

You are an expression of the Creator.

You are a note in His symphony.

It’s about you!

It’s about you contributing to the one-song.

It’s about you playing your part to the best of your ability.

It’s about you lifting others up.

Its about you living the purpose God created you for.

It’s about you, the Creator, and the song becoming one.

It's about you and now what you do is up to you.

Lessons from the Weekend

• Only 2 packets of ranch dressing mix will fit in the container
• Don't rely on one application of sunscreen to last you all day
• Once mosquitos are in your shirt, bug spray won't keep them from biting you
• Corn dip can be considered its own mealtime
• The boat drifts away faster than you think
• It only takes 24 hours to start missing my little girl

Fun times at Compass Lake

Complain, Complain, Complain

Don't you hate it when people complain all the time? I do. And I especially hate it when I'm the one doing all the complaining.

It's almost like eating potato chips - once you start you can't stop.

• I'm not being productive at work.
• She's not napping.
• I got poop under my fingernails.
• complain, complain, complain

And to add to it - or maybe some of the source of it - I have a lot going on at work. So here I am, stressed, complaining like crazy, and then (what feels like from out of nowhere) God gives his grace and its as if a hush falls over the crowd. LB naps for over 2 hours (and is still going - praise the Lord); I have a hugely productive day with work; exercised this morning; and now I'm going to get in a quiet time on top of all that.

sshhhh - baby sleeping - no more complaining

New Kicks

Laura will find that she gets her love of new shoes from a long line of Ponder women.

Playing in the Sprinkler

It was like a blast from the past seeing LB run through the water this morning. When I was young, my sister and I loved to play in the rain, sprinklers, pool - anything that had water.
And while I was watering the pots LB walked back and forth through the sprinkler. It was hilarious. The first time the water hit her she lit up. Caught completely off guard. And then she giggled and laughed so hard that I found myself doing the same thing.

July Playdate

Sometimes when you don't know where you are going, you have more fun.

Saturday, Mikelyn and I had our July playdate. This month it was Mikelyn's turn to pick the destination. And Abbeville it was. It's a fun little town with shops downtown and a great little restaurant.

Before we hit up downtown though we were in search of JP's Country Store. A lady Mikelyn works with is from Abbeville and drew us a great map of places to go and things to see. JP's was our first stop. We followed her directions precisely and yet we found ourselves almost in Fort Gaines in GA! It was hilarious. Over every little hill we would say - oh this has got to be it. Or - well, she said it was a few miles outside of town, let's just go a bit further. We saw a beautiful house on a private lake. A couple of locals in Shorterville visiting on their lawn mowers waved as we passed by. We saw rolling hills and acres of pine tree farms as far as you could see. It was all beautiful.

At this point, we had gone a pretty good ways, so I pull out my phone and look up JP's. According to google maps we were headed in the wrong direction out of Abbeville. Oh well. It was a beautiful drive on Saturday morning nonetheless. So we turn around. On our way back into town - probably within a mile or two of the city - we pass JP's. Stop! We do another turn around, determined to check out this country store. Unfortunately, there wasn't much for our tastes in there expect for a diet coke and 3 musketeers, but we found it. A win in its own way.

Back in town, Mikelyn and I browsed the shops. Each time we left a store we were serenaded by the gospel singers on the courthouse steps. The city had come together for a community prayer. There was passion in their words and prayers as they prayed for their hometown. And rich, soulful voices in their melodies.

Our last stop was for lunch at Huggin Mollys. Cute and quaint, this soda shop is a great place for lunch or dinner. From the fried dill pickles to the brownie and ice cream, it was all delicious.

Next month it's my turn to pick our destination. You never know where we'll end up, especially when we don't know where we're going.

Kicked Off Our Shoes

Kicked off our shoes...relaxing for the evening.

Hanging Out

4th of July at Compass Lake

Dr. Ashe vacuuming the lake.



It was pretty windy!

"In-House" Date Nights

Grant and I had a great weekend - reconnected after a busy week. We cooked two dinners together for some "in-house" date nights. Friday night was his idea - pizza on the green egg. Fabulous! It literally tasted like a pizza from Mellow Mushroom.

Sunday night we cooked french toast. They were massive slices! We could only eat one before we were stuffed. Another delicious dinner in the Faulk household.

A New Addiction

I have a new addiction - fatwallet.com. Its awesome. You can find all sorts of coupons on there, as well as internet deals and freebies. Basically people send in promo codes or websites that are offering specials.

Yesterday I received a sample of Nivea's newest lotion scent. Very nice orange smell.

Today I received a sample of some shaving cream. I'm not familiar with this brand. And to be honest, I don't even use shaving cream - just soap. But hey, its free. And its fun.

I'm currently waiting (patiently) for 3 new freebies.

I'm completely addicted.

But here's the key - you need an old email to give them when signing up. Otherwise, you'll be inundated with unwanted emails.

Dad's article this week - My great-grandmother's 100th birthday

http://www.thepostsearchlight.com/news/2010/jul/06/her-name-was-catharine/

Laura Do It

Over the 4th we got to spend time with my nephew Henry. He is getting so big. About 2 and a half now, he can talk so well and comes up with the cutest things to say. This morning I was reminded of him saying so often, "Henry do it."

Just a few minutes ago I felt like Laura was telling me, "Laura do it."

We sat down for her morning bottle. With Laura in my lap, I put the bottle between her legs so I could put on the bib. She's a messy eater. Laura immediately picked up the bottle and went to town. She's tried before, but never for the entire bottle. She even managed to hold it with one hand so that she could rub her eyes with her free hand.

"Laura do it."

I love it!