Saturday, July 21, 2012

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!



I decided this summer that our front entry was in sad shape and needed some new curb appeal.  The first step was to trim back some unruly bushes that stand on each side of the front walk.  They had gotten so big over the years that I only cut them back part of the way for fear of sending them into shock if I trimmed them as far down as I wanted.  Since this summer has turned into a HOT one I decided to spare them the extra stress a second major haircut until the cooler days of fall.  At least, I am counting on fall being cooler around here but time will tell.

The second step in the makeover was to give the front door a new color to give the front of the house a new focal point.  I chose Sherwin Williams Naval after being inspired by the update Ann made to her front entry On Sutton Place.



After convincing my skeptical hubby that a blue door would look great on our house (Thanks for trusting me on this one, Hun!) I primed and painted just the outer side of our door leaving the inside the original wood tone.  I love the way it turned out.

You can see just a bit of the bushes that I am cutting down to size reflected in the side windows.


You can also catch a glimpse there of our new "Welcome" mat.

To add a touch of summer I hung a red, white and blue wreath.






I'm still on the look out for two great planters to set on each side of the entry.  And that could take a while because they have to be just the right ones and they have to be on sale or, better yet, clearance!!!  I can only hope that my plants will flourish as well as Ann's in my inspiration photo. (See the lovely ferns in photo above.)


Friday, July 13, 2012

You Is......

One of my favorite parts from the movie and book "The Help" is the encouraging words that the "Helper" Abileen shares with the little girl, Mae Mobley.  Mae is not appreciated by her momma in the story and Abileen steps in to lift her up and give her the positive message of:

"You is kind." 

"You is smart."

"You is important."

Abileen repeats the message to Mae at every opportunity hoping to instill uplifting and truthful thoughts in the little girl that will drown out the negative feedback that the momma keeps delivering. And she gets right down at Mae's level, looks her in the eye and with a voice that is almost a whisper tells her she is a person of worth.

As I was reading in Jude this week I heard a similar statement from God.  The very first verse of the book states:

"...to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ."

And although I'm pretty sure God's grammar is immaculate, I can just hear Him saying to us:

"You is called."

"You is beloved."

"You is kept." 

Thank you, Lord, because just like Mae Mobley, I need to hear truthful and uplifting words about who I am since the world is so good at delivering negative feedback.