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An Unexpected Gift Outside my Door & Lessons Learned

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“This thing isn’t working out too well,” declared Mr. OTN after being jabbed in the side of the face for the umteenth time by a wayward piece of faux lavender.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with it.  I keep pushing the flowers back in place and they keep getting all messed up,” my answer, as I once again began rearranging the floral arrangement on our front door.

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I loved THIS Spring Floral Arrangement.  I took pictures of it and blogged about it and lots of other people liked it too!  So what WAS wrong with it?

A couple of times I chalked up the mysteriously mutilated arrangement to inclement weather, high winds and rain . . . but then I would go out to the porch on a perfectly calm Spring day and find it all messed up again.

While fighting the daily battle with the mysteriously out-of-control flower arrangement, different people would stop by for a visit and when they did we would open the door really, REALLY wide so they could get through the opening without having to dodge around the wild branches sticking straight out from the door.  I would apologize, straighten everything up again and invite my friends inside.

You’d think I would’ve suspected something . . . the day I opened the front door and a bird whooshed right past my head into the dining room.  The bird was terrified and I wasn’t feeling too brave either (my first horror movie was The Birds) but after a chase and a scream and a lot of barking by the dogs, I opened the front door wide while we retreated to the back of the house, to wait for the bird to leave.  She did.

You’d think I would’ve suspected something . . . when I went out to clean up the front porch and it was littered with bits of dried leaves and twigs (in the Spring?), as well as a few birdy droppings.

Finally . . . there came the day when a very tall man rang the doorbell.  Hubby and I were expecting him so we went to the front door together and I did my usual thing of opening the door really, really wide so this stranger wouldn’t receive a poke to the eye as he came inside.

He didn’t step over the threshold though.  He pointed his finger at my once pretty floral arrangement (was he about to point out what an unholy mess it was?) and said,

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“Is that a bird’s nest?”

And yes.  It was.  A sweet little bird’s nest built right into my flower arrangement.  Hidden from my too-short-to-see view behind the flowers in front.

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We let it be after that and decided to wait until we were sure that the nest was empty.  I only hoped I hadn’t crushed any eggs in all my pushing and shoving and rearranging of flowers that would never stay in place.

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Finally yesterday, when I felt that any baby birds would by now have safely flown the nest, I carefully began removing flowers to reveal this precious little nest (and . . . PHEW . . . no evidence of broken eggs!).  If I was thinking of doing something new and different for my summer door decor those ideas flew right out of my head as I realized that this was the best door arrangement ever!

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I tucked couple of flowers back in to fill space around the nest and it was done!  It was enough.  It was and was PERFECT!

If I was a little impressed with my floral arrangement before this one far exceeds my own attempts at beauty.

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Lessons learned:

Sometimes when frustrations come into our lives and we keep trying to “fix it” to no avail, it might be that God is in the midst of building something new.

Sometimes our very best attempts, the things we take pride in, are overshadowed by that which is simple.
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Sometimes the best gifts aren’t the showiest or the most expensive, but those that are absolutely free!

Finally. . . don’t be short-sighted (look up, look down, look all around) and don’t miss out on the wonder that surrounds you!

Blessings,

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I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
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Saturday:
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Comments

  1. I love that! I had a bird that kept trying to make a nest in my mailbox. Over and over she tried but unlike you I couldn’t keep it. I have to get my mail, lol.

    Reply

  2. Patti,
    Such a s w e e t post, dear friend!!!
    I, too. .. am vertically challenged. . .”five foot nothing”!!!
    I use a ladder for most things above my head or I, too, would have missed this precious blessing!!!
    From my youth, I loved the story of the “wee little man” that climbed a tree to see the Lord!!!
    And the song,” every rung goes higher, higher”. . .as we are climbing Jacob’s Ladder!!!
    Thank you for the g e n t l e reminder to be observant in all our spatial views!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

    Reply

  4. Nests are my very favorite things to decorate with.
    I see that you now like them, too.
    You’re becoming right Southern there, my friend.
    Good lessons you shared, too. Simplicity is best.

    Reply

  5. Awww, how sweet… they loved your arrangement as much as you did! I love that you left it as your new door hanging, sometimes mother nature’s creatures are the best decorators! :o)

    Tania

    Reply

  8. Good Morning Patti ~
    A few years ago this happened to me as well, we were very careful going in and out the door ~ every morning my husband would go out the Mommy bird would chirp at him and he would talk back to her ~ I think they appreciated each other after her babies were born. We waited till the babies left the nest and watched them in their first flight.
    It almost brought tears to my eyes.
    Something beautiful from God ~ so true.
    Enjoy watching them ~ It is a gift.
    Have a wonderful day.
    Rose

    Reply

  13. Patti, I enjoyed your post very much! Thank you so much for sharing with us at VMG’s Brag About It!
    The bird nest arrangement looks truly lovey on your door!
    ~Laurie

    Reply

  18. Patti, it is so exciting! I had a Robin make a nest on the top of my Forsythia wreath this Spring. I was so excited when we saw that she had laid 4 eggs. A few days later our excitement was crushed when something raided her nest and all eggs were destroyed. 🙁 We think it was a Magpie. Last week I had hubby get my hanging geranium baskets down so that I could dead head them. As I was plucking off yellow leaves I noticed a small nest tucked way down inside. I think it had been built at the nursery. Poor bird that returned only to find it’s nest had been whisked away. I now have two sweet abandoned nests to decorate with, but still; I can’t help but feel bad. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply

  19. I think this is absolutely gorgeous Patti and a lovely reminder to appreciate the little things in life. Thank you for sharing at Shabbiiliicous Friday last week. I’m delighted to be sharing this post at tomorrow’s link party.
    Hugs ~ Kerryanne

    Reply

  20. I love this, Patti!! What a precious lesson God delivered right to your door. Thank you for having eyes to see and ears to hear–and for sharing the lesson with us!

    Thanks for joining Grace at Home. I’m featuring you this week!

    Reply

  21. Many a spring we have had to abandon the front door so the wrens can raise a family. And, yes, they always leave a delightful nest for the host! Beautiful feature on Shabbilicious.

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  22. Hi Patti, Maryanne, over at Shabbilicious, lured me over to visit. Once I read her tease, I knew exactly what the surprise was going to be and I just had to see it. I have a real things for birds and nests. Just this week I posted about a nest outside my back door. I would love to share it with you over at Heart Rocks in my Pocket. Please feel free to stop by and at take a peek at my nest and babies.
    Nice to meet you,
    Elaine

    Reply

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