America the Beautiful?

My heart is so heavy this morning, as is all of America's.  I want to offer up my thoughts on this tragic, senseless shooting in Arizona, but my deepest emotions sound too common . . .  too ordinary to be meaningful.  


I do hope that, as the lives of those lost yesterday are reported about, we will be inspired to live our lives to the fullest, to be the best that we can be to and for those around us.  


So, whenever I feel this way I go to the One who knows exactly what to say, whose thoughts are above ours and who holds us in the palm of His hand.  I lift my prayers to Him and hide in the shadow of His wings.  I am praying for the families and the victims of this tragedy and for America.  As I held my bible in hand and opened it up this is where it opened at.  

Psalm 50

The God of gods -- it's God -- speaks out, shouts, "Earth!"

    welcomes the sun in the east,

    farewells the disappearing sun in the west. 

From the dazzle of Zion,

     God blazes into view. 

Our God makes his entrance,

     he's not shy in his coming

Starbursts of fireworks precede him.

He summons heaven and earth as a jury,

    he's taking his people to court:

"Round up my saints who swore

    on the Bible their loyalty to me."

The whole cosmos attests to the fairness of this court,

    that here God is judge.

"Are you listening, dear people?  I'm getting ready to speak;

    Israel, I'm about ready to bring you to trial.

This is God, your God,

     speaking to you.

I don't find fault with your acts of worships,

     the frequent burnt sacrifices you offer.

But why should I want your blue-ribbon bull,

    or more and more goats from your herds?

Every creature in the forest is mine,

    the wild animals on all the mountains.

I know every mountain bird  by name;

    the scampering field mice are my friends.

If I get hungry, do you think I'd tell you?

     All creation and it's bounty are mine.

Do you think I feast on venison?

    or drinks draughts of goats' blood?

Spread for me a banquet of praise, 

    serve High God a feast of kept promises,

And call for help when you're in trouble -- 

I'll help you, and you'll honor me."

Next, God calls up the wicked:

"What are you up to, quoting my laws, 

    talking like we are good friends?

You never answer the door when I call;

    you treat my words like garbage.

If you find a thief, you make him your buddy;

    adulterers are your friends of choice.

Your mouth drools filth;

    lying is a serious art form with you.

You stab your own brother in the back,

    rip off your little sister.

I kept a quiet patience while you did these things;

     you thought I went along with your game. 

I'm calling you on the carpet, now,

    laying your wickedness out in plain sight.

"Time's up for playing fast and loose with me.

I'm ready to pass sentence,

    and there's no help in sight!

It's the praising life that honors me.

    As soon as you set your foot on the Way,

I'll show you my salvation."

As I began typing this I doubted and thought "maybe this isn't what I should be using", so I pick the bible back up and turned again and the next scripture that fell open convinced me that yes, this is something God wants to say because they are so similar.  

Isaiah 35

Wilderness and desert will sing joyously, 

the badlands will celebrate and flower --

Like the crocus in spring, bursting into blossom,

a symphony of song and color.

Mountain glories of Lebanon -- a gift. 

     Awesome Carmel, stunning Sharon -- gifts.

GOD's resplendent glory, fully on display.

     GOD awesome, GOD majestic.

Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees.

Tell fearful souls, "Courage!  Take heart!  GOD is here, right here, on his way to put things right and redress all wrongs. He's on his way!  He'll save you!"

Blind eyes will be opened, 

     deaf ears unstopped,

Lame men and women will leap like deer,

     the voiceless break in to song.

Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness,

     streams flow in the desert.

Hot sands will become a cool oasis,

     thirsty ground a splashing fountain.

Even lowly jackals will have water to drink,

     and barren grasslands flourish richly.

There will be a highway 

     called the Holy Road.

No one rude or rebellious 

     is permitted on this road.

It's for GOD's people exclusively --

     impossible to get lost on this road.

     Not even fools can get lost on it.

No lions on this road,

      no dangerous wild animals --

Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening.

     Only the redeemed will walk on it.  

The people GOD has ransomed 

     will come back on this road.

They'll sing as the make their way home to Zion, 

     unfading halos of joy encircling their heads,

Welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness 

     as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night.

America, God bless you and keep you.  Fellow Americans hold on tight to the promises of God, know Him and His Word.  Just as the scripture says in Psalm 50, when your in trouble tell Him and He'll help you and that will bring Him glory.  And one day, we will find each other on the Holy Road with unfading halos of joy encircling our heads, gifts of joy and gladness as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night. 

Christmas Greetings

For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given...

and his name shall be called 

Wonderful,

counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Wishing you joy everlasting,

wishing you peace evermore,

Wishing you love ever constant...

all things His coming was for.

Merry Christmas,

Jerri Ann

aka 

Salty Sister

The Gift

This Christmas is awareness of the gift of Jesus is settling in deep.  I can't seem to stop crying shameful, thankful, joyful, tears.

This video says what I can not.

For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given . . .

and his name shall be called 

Wonderful,

counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Wishing you joy everlasting, 

wishing you peace evermore, 

wishing you love ever constant . . .

all things His coming was for.

Thank you all for your prayers and support this past year.  I wish I knew you in person, I would hug your neck, look deep into your eyes and tell you how much you are loved.  An then I would give you some fudge.

Christmas Open House

Hi everybody, welcome to my Christmas open house.  I've been working really hard to put everything up just right.  Each year I do something different with the things I already have, so I never know where things are going or how they're going to turn out.

Check out this post for my table vignette and this post for my fireplace mantle Christmas decorations.

This wreath was new last year, this year I added the wooden white Christmas tree, the rusted bells and I used one of my favorite ribbons to make the bow.

AS you enter my home I put a small sampling of my Santa collection on display and added some of my favorite stuffed animals, sorry no picture of them.  I wanted to convey a warm and friendly welcome.

Just across from the front door is the dinning room.  I kept this room simple, and featured my woodland Santa and some beautiful candles.

You know, I have fought with this room all year.  It is a beautiful room, I know that, but there is something missing.  It reading a little cold to me here.  Maybe I should put the dining room chairs back around the table, or maybe I should go ahead and paint the wall some dark, rich color.  Hmmm???

I love this table but I can not tell you how many times I walk by this thing and think, "I wonder what this would look like painted"?  I'm getting dangerous.

A little something on the stair landing.  The turquoise Christmas balls were a new find.  I was visiting my daughter this weekend and while we were at her Wal-Mart I spied three boxes left on the shelf.  I grabbed them up PDQ.  Maybe they will begin to set the tone for next year.

In the living room, I wanted to feature the color blue, so I used as much as I could in here.  This year I decided to use what I had and not buy anything new however, I would love to shop the after Christmas sale and pick up a smaller tree and some new colors for my Christmas decor, and maybe add more blue for next year.

The decoration in the kitchen kept evolving and you know how I said I wasn't going to buy anything new this year, well the chandleir features some new decorations and I added the black and white check table runner.

This is the half bathroom just off the kitchen.  Sorry, the lighting in here seems very yellow.  I used a door swag that fits on the outer corner on the chair.  It looks kind of unique on there.

Here is the only crafting I have gotten around to.  I made two of these and one of them went to the white elephant Christmas party we went to the other night, tons of fun.  We had to take a present each, the other present was a re-gift.  I bought this woodland Santa face ornament thing, ugly I tell you.  And the funny thing was the man who picked it said the same thing.  I said, "Yep, that sure is" and no one traded him for it. lol.

So, there it is for the most part.   I tried not to do too much but I'm sure that when it comes time to take it all down I will be thinking I put up a lot.

Oh yea, this is the second year that I have not put up a Christmas tree.  Not because I am anti Christmas tree, but because mine is huge and I don't want to lug that big thing around.  It takes two days to put it together and get the decorations on.  Or maybe I'm just slow, and I am slow I've proven that many times, but anyway, this year I came really close to buying a new smaller tree and some new decorations in turquoise but decided I didn't want to spend the money so maybe a little after Christmas shopping is in order, when everything is half off.  I do miss my Christmas tree, though, my daughter, KP, is not happy with me.  Also, Sarah and Caleb will be here next week and they might have something to say about it too. We'll see if Nanoo goes shopping for a tree and lets the kiddos put it up.   Hmm, that would be fun.

Linking with The Nester

and Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life - Christmas Tour of Homes, and Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for her Holly Bloggy Christmas Home Tour,

joining Julia on her Hooked on Holiday House Tours. 

and the ever so talented Kara at Elements Interiors

Seriously if you haven't made to Kara's place you really need to go, she is beyond talented and her Christmas decorations are amazing.  And she's fffuuunnnnyyyyy with some of that sweet Texas spirit, so ya'll go see her.

Merry Christmas everyone.  :))

See ya.

Kitchen Mantle Makeover - Reveal

Ingredients and tools, I once used a Styrofoam plate to paint with so I brought that back out, it does work but on small scale projects the best and smooth surfaces.

I used the joint compound to adhere the burlap fabric and then put two to three layers on top and around that.   I found that I fought the burlap through the whole process so I probably would not use that again.

Then I put on a base coat of paint, I used what I had, so the base coat was a light yellow color I had mixed from SW Ivoire.  Next, a layer of metallic glaze I picked up from the craft store, the color was Medieval gold but it looked coppery to me.  Coppery, that's a word, right?

Then I added brown, probably would have been best to have gone to the paint store and had some colors mixed but alas, no . . . . .  I used a heavy texture acrylic paint and again hard to work with.  Sorry no picture of the brown layer but you can see it here.

Then I decided the burlap I left showing was not working, so I decided to cover that up.  I brought the joint compound back out and smoothed some on, sanded, painted and basically started over.

This little guy will never be the same and the nails either, I've washed and washed and still not good.

I just kept adding paints and smoothing them out.  The real tool of the day was a damp rag, I used it a lot.

In the end I think it may be too dark, so we'll see, I need to live with it for a while.  It seems really strange looking up there and seeing it so dark.  The picture above shows it to be darker than it really is.

There is no washing of dishes when I am engrossed in a project or cooking of food, poor honey.