Each Halloween I try to include something crafty to give away with our treat bags. In the past it’s mostly been the typical decorated candy (like ghost lollipops) or hand crafted bracelets and such. This year I got an idea to include something a little different – Halloween bird treats. They are super cute, easy to make and most importantly a perfect little treat for God’s creatures. These cute bird treats can be hung right on a tree branch, bush or planter and the birds love them (squirrels too!)

If you missed this for Halloween, try it out as fall décor. A batch makes between 16-25 treats and you can decorate your tree with several of them!

You’ll need:

• ¾ cup All-purpose flour
• 3 tbsp. Light corn syrup
• 4 cups bird seed
• ½ cup water
• Cookie cutters (use the shapes you desire)
• Wax paper
• String, yarn or package ribbon
• Straw

Mix the flour, corn syrup, bird seed and water into a large bowl. Once mixed, spread out a workable amount (a few treats worth) onto the wax paper. I used a rubber spatula to spread the mixture and flatten it. Once flat, take your cookie cutters* and start creating your shapes.

I placed my cutters and then moved it to an open space, using my spatula to flatten the mixture inside the cutter again.

Once the shape has taken place, take a straw and push it into the mixture, creating a nice clean hole. Remove the cookie cutter and repeat.

*NOTE* I sprayed my cookie cutters with spray oil so that mixture didn’t stick. I also lightly sprayed the wax paper so that the mixture would transfer to the drying areas easier (since it can’t be picked up.) 

Allow the shapes to dry overnight (turn over once stable, if able). Once dry, all that’s left is to string them and then hang them (or bag them as we did.) The dried treats are easy to work with, more durable than one would think and they really do turn out quite cute!

I totally didn’t expect to walk into the restroom to see this little nugget…

I absolutely love fall!  Those who know me know that I also enjoy decorating our home to compliment the seasons – placing small reminders of God’s goodness all around!   Fall is one of my favorite seasons and I love creating a harvest home.  It truly does bring a home to life and my boys already love seeing the transformation from season to season!

Our home is filled with autumn colored leaves, beautiful pumpkins, harvest candles and festive fall arrangements.  I also make home-made messages on chalkboards to help complete the feel!  It is so nice to take heart in the simple things.

“October…the artist’s paradise of wonder and beauty. Harvest at its fullest. Getting in the corn. Stacking the wood for the long winter. The falling -leaves in a silent benediction, like blessings that have fallen upon us all year long”. – George Matthew Adams

Since becoming a mother, I’ve learned that some things aren’t as natural for some people as they are for others.

For the better part of my childhood, my family was classified as low-class.  Neither one of my parents made much money so what little money we had went towards necessities.  It wasn’t an easy life, but it did teach me a few things.  I understand what it’s like to go without and I also know what it’s like to rely on the giving of others. So humility and thankfulness come quite naturally for me.

Today, God has provided us with the means to give our children a different upbringing.  But we’ve learned early on that an overabundance of things doesn’t exactly mold a character of thankfulness or humility.

Our children are still young but that doesn’t mean we get to take the easy way out.  Their characters are being molded even now and we have to be the example.  So we teach our children to be intentionally thankful.  As they get older we’ll be able to implement other methods but for now we help our children understand that God supplies all our needs.  We are teaching them now that God gets all the glory and He takes care of us.

While Eric and I could easily make six figures each, we’ve chosen to bring in modest incomes instead.  While we could dress in designer clothes and purchase top-notch items, we choose practical solutions instead.

We are teaching through action, sending the message that just because we can doesn’t mean that we should. We are teaching our children to enjoy the simple and lovely things in life.  Together we are harvesting thankfulness and allowing the Lord to be the true comfort in our hearts.

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”  Psalm 27:13

I am stubborn strong-willed.  It’s not an entirely bad thing; in fact it can be an advantageous characteristic to have.  But it is a characteristic that has to be constantly checked, and by that I mean if not carefully guarded it can cause more harm than good.

Sometimes, I ignore forget this.

My husband is stubborn strong-willed too.  He has an amazing ability to succeed at pretty much anything he’s ever put his mind to.  Again, that is usually a very good thing but every once in a while our human wills focus on things of the world rather than matters of the heart – and of God.

Sometimes, he ignores forgets this.

In a union* made up of two stubborn strong-willed people, you can probably guess that there tends to be a fair share of battles.  Will vs. Will, so to speak.  In these battles no one ever wins, everyone loses… always.

Sometimes, we both ignore forget this.

*Did you know that a union is defined as “the act of joining together people or things to form a whole”?  In Mark 10:8-9, Jesus says, “and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

In February, Eric and I will be married for a total of 8 years. That means we’ve been in a faithful relationship for over 10 years now.  That is mind-boggling for me because in a way it makes me feel old and in another it surpasses the number of years my own parents were married.   But mostly, it’s just pretty amazing, right?

And while it would be easy to say that Eric and I have done everything right – we always talk kindly to one another, we always respect one another and we never ever put our own needs before the other’s – I can’t because that would be a lie.

According to the worlds standards, we had more than enough reasons to call it quits.  Since year one, there have been several occasions when we’ve contemplated giving up and there have been countless many opportunities to practice forgiveness.

So the other night, while thinking about that fact, I wondered how our marriage has lasted so long and I wondered if we’d actually make it.

After a while I came to the conclusion that there was no way I’d know unless I made a change. (*gasp* She did not just use the word “I” and “change” in the same sentence did she?!? Yes, I did!  Now let me explain how I came to this monumental, life-changing realization.)

Because we are mere humans, there are certain things we just can’t control.  The most important thing, when considering the scenario, is realizing we have no control over our spouses.   I can’t control my husband or his decisions any more than he can control mine.

I know I can only be accountable for my own actions.  All I have are the facts.  So as I laid there in bed, I started making a mental list of the facts:

• We love each other very deeply.  I have never ever loved someone the way I love my husband.  I adore almost everything about him and even though he is not perfect, I’ve learned to love accept the imperfections.  (While I can’t speak for him, I’d guess that statement is pretty much true for him too.)
• Deep down we only want what’s best for our family (and sometimes Satan tries to lie to us about what is best for our family.)
• We will always make mistakes.   We will both always need forgiveness because the opportunities and temptations will always be there.
• We are Christians. Which means a lot of things, but for purposes of staying on track, this means we must give forgiveness even though it is undeserved, unwarranted and most likely comes with the risk of being hurt again and again.  This also means that we serve a God who loves us and who comes to our defense.

Defense…Battle…?  Revelation!

If I compared my marriage to that of my parent’s failed marriage, immediately I know the main and most important difference – God.  Unlike my parents, Eric and I have built a foundation upon Him.

That means when I get fed up and I want to walk out the door… I fall to my knees first.

That also means that God comes to our defense.  And who is He defending us against?  My revelation is that the true battle is not against my husband (his choices, his actions, etc. or vice versa) but against Satan.

I had to decide that our marriage:

• Is worth fighting for.
• Is going to be attacked by Satan because he seeks to destroy all that is good and all that brings glory to God.
• Is a covenant between us and God.
• Is not something that can be dissolved, broken or separated.

With that change in thinking, I can now put all my faith in God’s promises, knowing that no matter what happens Eric and I are not battling Satan alone.

With that change in thinking, I can also give true forgiveness.   I can forgive myself for not always being the perfect wife and I can forgive Eric for not always being the perfect husband.  I can choose to focus on the facts and not entertain the uncertainties.  And let me say, it’s a rare yet powerful thing when you can forgive someone and that forgiveness doesn’t come with a list of stipulations.  It’s throwing out that “I forgive you but you owe me” mentality.

It’s forgiveness that comes with freedom.  It’s free to those who receive it and those who give it are set free.

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”  - Colossians 3:13

When my relationship with Christ is suffering, I often find that it negatively affects the other relationships I have.  Sometimes it’s just easier to turn away from God in anger, rather than turning to Him with my anger.

It’s like I’m screaming, “You know what God, I’m mad at you and you aren’t worth it.”

It might seem extreme, but it’s true.  When I’m already feeling broken, I don’t want to do “hard”.  It’s much easier to hold onto my anger and pride.

But it’s a great thing that God loves me enough to say, “You know what, you ARE worth it!”

God can handle my anger and just like any one who desires a lasting relationship, He wants to work through the ups and downs together.

While feelings are feelings, I still have the ability to choose how I’ll react.  I can either allow the anger and bitterness to impact my life destructively (and honestly, the life of others around me too) or I can choose to be open and honest with my brokenness and rely on God to pick up the pieces.  Sometimes He does it through a huge random act of kindness and sometimes it’s through several acts of grace but whatever the means, when I allow myself to be open, triumph over adversity soon follows.

I know the path is there to follow, but it’s my choice to take the journey.  I have to be willing to face my feelings and make a decision on how I will react to the situations I’m faced with.  It is the only way to grow and one of the most effective ways to build character.  A life that has no adversity might paint a pretty picture but it doesn’t tell much of a story.

I serve a God who is above all and if I truly believe that, then I also have to believe that there is nothing in my life that He can’t overcome.  I have to surrender my human-side and cling to the cross.  That is where I will find healing and grace.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8