November 09, 2016

A message from a little bird

I'm so glad the presidential election is finally over. It's sad seeing all of the hateful social media comments people make to others based on their vote. Especially this year.

Anyway, I have a nice story to share, and today is the perfect day to do it.

A few days ago, I was sitting in the living room with the kids when I saw a bird crash into our window. Instead of dropping to the ground, the bird fell and caught its toenails on the window screen. My heart sank, and I felt so bad for him. He wasn't moving, just hanging by his toenails, so I assumed he was dead or injured.

I went outside to check him out, and when I touched him to help untangle his nails from the screen, he started moving around. It took a couple of minutes, but I managed to unhook him from the screen, and as soon as I did, he hopped right on my shirt and sat there. I thought for sure he was injured and couldn't fly. I picked him up off my shirt and let him sit in my hand while I tried to figure out what to do with him. He didn't have any obvious injuries.


I was thinking I could just put him in the bushes, and hope that he was okay; and right as I thought that, he flew out of my hand and into the woods. Relief! He was such a pretty bird. I had no idea what kind of bird he was until I posted his picture on Facebook and Instagram, and I learned he was a Golden-Crowned Kinglet. Spending a few moments with him totally made my day!

This morning, I took the kids to school, and when I got home, I was walking up the porch steps and saw a bird lying on the porch, on its back, unmoving. I was furious, because Phoebe had snuck out of the house yesterday, and I thought she killed him. I reached down to pick him up and move him off the porch, when he jumped up onto my hand!

I was startled, but very pleasantly surprised to see my little friend again. I thought for sure he was injured this time, because what bird just lies on its back, "playing dead", and then allows itself to be held? I held him in my hand, trying to block the wind because it was chilly and very windy this morning. We sat on the porch for a few minutes, and I was dying to get my phone from just inside the house so that I could take a picture of him.

He actually fell asleep in my hand, and I very carefully opened the door and got my phone. Then I sat on the porch with him for about 15 minutes--again, trying to figure out what to do with this little (injured?) bird.

His feathers are a little ruffled from the wind ;)

I was freezing by this point, and really wanted to go inside, so I decided to make the bird a little nest out of leaves to block the wind. I walked, bird in hand, to the side of the house, and bent down to grab some leaves. Then he just jumped out of my hand and flew away. I was so grateful that he wasn't injured! Maybe he just likes me ;)  I feel like this little bird needs to make his rounds to bring cheer to everybody that needs it! Or at least to remind people to be gentle with each other.


Yesterday was Day 2 of MAF training. Like I said in my last post, I'm going to run at or below my MAF heart rate for 12 weeks straight and just see what happens. Yesterday was another 30 minute run. I covered my watch with my shirt sleeve, and just ran a three-mile route without paying any attention to pace. The heart rate alert is set on my watch so that if my heart rate goes over 146, it'll beep to let me know to slow down.



Average pace was 11:09, and average heart rate was 143. I expect my pace to vary (both faster and slower) day by day; but, over several weeks, the goal is to see a downward trend in my pace. Every couple of weeks, I'll do a graph of my pace at my MAF heart rate to see what's happening.


Now, I am about to spend the entire day doing laundry. How does it pile up so fast?!

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19 comments:

  1. I agree, I'm so tired of people being rude and mean on social media
    Thanks for sharing this story- pretty cool! I'm glad the bird wasn't injured

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  2. Love that bird....I always think of random chances (such as a bird in your hand) is maybe the spirit of a passed loved one showing you they are still here with you. Have you been thinking of anyone lately that has passed?

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  3. Your little bird story made my day!

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  4. Thanks for the bird story! I loved it and it totally made my day. :)

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  5. Awesome bird --- Snow White!! (Hehe) have you given him a name yet? I'm so excited to see u training again, especially since I find you so inspiring and motivataing. Thank you so much for the blog, Katie!

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  6. I loved your awesome bird story! It made my day!

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  7. nice story. thank you.

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  8. Look at you with your little birdies! It's like a Disney movie!!

    That would make you a princess!

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  9. those kinglets are very friendly and often will hop onto you, no idea why, we only get them in the winter here in KS.

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  10. That is so precious! I wonder if it's a passed on loved one that's sending you messages?? Such a cool story though! And you're very right, we need to send more love to one other <3

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  11. I love your birdy friend, he is sweet and adorable! <3

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  12. Wow, what an amazing thing! I've never heard of that happening. He seems to be comforted by you. I'm not a bird person, but that bird is beautiful.

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  13. I bet that bird was Mark saying hi :)

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  15. Thanks for sharing this story. I wonder if he'll keep coming back to visit you. :)

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  16. That's a sweet story, thanks!

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  17. how cool is that to be able to hold him in your hand.

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  18. I dont comment on your blog (or any blogs for that matter) but this was just too sweet. Thanks for the smile you put on my face!

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  19. You're so lucky to have a little bird sitting in your hand! I haven't experienced it even when I am extending my hands, inviting them to caress it.

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I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)

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