Follow Your First Instinct

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 37:4

1972-Kindergarten at Perry Elementary School-Shoemakersville, PA.

My first project:  What do you want to be when you grow up? That was the assignment and I was so excited because I knew exactly what I wanted to be. The teacher gave us all a big white piece of paper to take home and told us all to make a drawing that was due the following day. I remember that night after dinner asking my Dad if I could sit at his drafting table to do my homework. Mom was all about helping me draw what we both thought was going to be the best project in the class.

It is now morning and I am now sitting in class and the teacher asks us all to get our projects out. I am so anxious and I want her to start with me. Well, thank the good Lord that she didn’t. As she went around the room, one by one my classmates took their turn standing up to show the class what they had drawn, along with the reason to why they chose that specific career. It is now my turn, I am scared and I fill up with tears as my teacher prompts me to start. I can’t and I start to cry. My teacher then asks me to come to the front of the room with my drawing. As I approach her desk I am scared to death. She holds out her hand and takes my project from me, looks at it, smiles and then gives it back. She then stands up, gives me a hug and whispers in my ear that we were not going to get to everyone in the classroom today, so I can do it over and bring it back tomorrow. My first embarrassing moment, that I have carried with me all my life because I never wanted to go first for anything after that.
Now, I guess you all are wondering what I had drawn on that piece of paper. Well, it was a bird, a beautiful bluebird. As I journeyed through my younger years into high school my goal was to be an Interior Decorator but then life happened and my dreams had to be put on hold for some time. When the time came for me to pursue something I chose nursing , which was my second kindergarten drawing, but I then hit a detour that put me on the road to a business degree.
The reason for this story is because when I flash back to my first instinct in kindergarten, when the teacher asked us “If you could be anything in the world, what would it be?”  it was a bird. After 15 years of working in a non-rewarding career of being underpaid, overworked and unappreciated, I decided to pack it all up, take flight and leave it all behind me. Just like a beautiful bluebird. So my instincts were right.  Lol.   I am very grateful for all of the experience and especially the wisdom I have gained over the years but it’s time for me to fly. Of course, I am nervous but one thing I am sure of it is time for me. Time to be happy at what I do and work towards the desires of my heart, while glorifying my Father with the gifts He has given me.

What better DIY than my “Birdseed Wreath”

I make this wreath every year at this same time for my son, Jordan Tate (JT).  It brings such life to his place. I lost JT when he was 13 months old and I always had a hard time visiting the cemetery where he was laid to rest.  I struggle with this visit because I know he is not there and every time that I would go back what was last put on his stone was dead.  This would upset me the most because “ Is there not enough death there already?”  So one day after throwing out some bread crumbs for my little bird friends, I found much delight in watching all kinds of activity from this little act of kindness.  Then a thought came to mind, what a great idea, why don’t I put birdseed on JT stone?  That would bring life to his place while feeding my little friends during the cold months that are coming ahead.   What a joy it is to go back and see nothing but the ribbon that bound it together lying on the ground.  It brings great comfort to me and makes me feel like JT’s place isn’t desolate while I am gone.

What you will need:

1 cup of white corn syrup

1 cup of sugar

½ cup of peanut butter

Approximately 3 1/2 cups of bird seed

1 yd. cranberries – strung on double thread

2 1/2 yds. ribbon

Step One:  Bring 1 cup white corn syrup and 1 cup sugar to a boil for 30 seconds or until sugar is dissolved.  Remove from heat and mix in ½ cup peanut butter until smooth.  Then 1 cup at a time, mix in the birdseed.  As you mix it all together you will notice it will start to get stiff.  Don’t let it get too dry or you won’t get a good bond.   Use caution because it is very hot, so let it sit for about 2- 3 minutes before you start.

Step Two:  Place a piece of wax paper down so it doesn’t stick to your surface.  Now, pour it all out onto the wax paper and shape it into a ball.    Using your hand, push it through the middle of the ball to hollow out the center then start to shape it into a circle.  Remember it is very hot, so be careful.  As it cools it will take better form and will be easier to work with.  The tighter you shape it together the better it will be.

Step Three:

I have decorated these wreaths many ways, no two have ever been the same. So use your imagination.  For this wreath, I have ribbon woven around the whole thing and attached a bow to the top.  I then attached a longer piece of ribbon so I could hang it from the tree.  I strung cranberries and attached the string together so I could drape it over the top.

Over the years, I have molded  them into many different shapes and used everything from pretzels to cherrio’s to nuts to decorate them. I even made them out of corn for the deer, so as long as it’s editable it should work.  I have used “Bird Seed Wreaths” on many occasions and even have taken them to funerals.  They look great hanging outdoors in trees or tied on yard posts and are a wonderful gift for the bird lovers on your Christmas list. And lastly they are very affordable to make.    Blessings, th.