HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARY JANE

Mary Jane and Mike

David and Lindsay Dianne, My namesake.

My precious nephew, Phillip, and I.

Lindsay looking at my painting.

Barry Thomas' incredible work.

This piece is incredible--sorry I don't know the artist's name. I will try to get that to give proper credit.

This is a photography entry--one of my favorites.

Today is my baby sister's birthday. Yesterday she and her husband, her daughter, Lindsay and boyfriend, David, her son, Phillip, Jeff, Kim, Kendall and Erin, Larry and I went out to celebrate.

Happy birthday, baby sis--Hope it is a good one. My, my, 57. You are getting old!

After lunch, we all went to the Fellowship Art Show. I am including a few pictures from it.

FELLOWSHIP ART SHOW

My canvas--The Prodigal Son--it sold!! My first "sell" ever. See the little tag that says purchased? My inspiration statement is unreadable in this picture but it says: "The original design for this canvas included phrases from the whole story representing the elation of the Father upon the return of his son. However, as the canvas progressed, the focus seemed to be the place in the story where the son is in utter despair wishing he could even be fed the food that was given to the pigs. The canvas story stops at this point--will the son choose reconciliation and feast of the soul or will he choose a distant land and famine? All of us at different points in our lives are left with choices and decisions, the greatest of which is: Have I been reconciled to the Father?

This picture was done by a high school student at Little Rock Christian.

Amy Hill-Imler, one of my favorite people. She owns the art studio where I paint from time to time. A really sweet gal!

A canvas by Sandra Newberg--she paints at the art studio where I go some Thursdays.

The picture Kailey took in Africa--click on it and get a better look--it is quite poignant.

Cynthia Schanik


Tonight Larry, Kim and I attended the awards ceremony and presentation of the art slides set to music at Fellowship Bible Church.
My canvas was chosen to be the "title slide" for the segment of Luke 15 dealing with the prodigal son. And there was a "purchased" tag on it so that was another blessing. That was the first thing I have ever sold so I don't know if that makes me a professional artist now or not. I will have to ask someone who is "in the know" more than I.
From my earlier posts, you have probably detected that I love the Word of God----SO to be able to declare His Word on canvas and share it with the general public where hundreds of people will view it, is my wildest dream come true. God says He will give us the desires of our hearts, I really didn't even know that was a desire of mine until it had come true. God not only gives us the desires of our hearts, he deciphers what those dreams are. What a magnificent God! My heart is full to overflowing with gratitude to Him for caring about my deepest and most heartfelt dreams. He fulfilled a dream and a desire far more meaningful than anything a bride doll could ever have meant to me. (refer to previous post) And He knew in the 1950's that He was going to do it. My, oh, my. I stand in awe once again.

BEHOLD YOUR BRIDEGROOM COMETH!

A couple of years ago, Larry and I took some of our granddaughters to Build-A-Bear. While they were custom dressing their dolls, memories from the past started flooding my mind. Memories of scant Christmases as far as presents, especially baby dolls, were concerned. For a few Christmases, bride dolls were the rage during the '50's. Since the only real dreams I ever had consisted of growing up, getting married and having children, I wanted a bride doll more than I have words to express.

Needless to say under our financial conditions, a bride doll was never "in my stars." All of my friends and relatives eventually got one and yes, I had a major pity party for some years over that. As I was sitting there at 60 years old in Build-A-Bear thinking all these thoughts and how blessed my grandchildren are and don't even realize it, my husband came over and asked me what was wrong. I think a few tears began to flow as I related as quickly and briefly as possible what I was thinking. He insisted that I build-a-bear. So the precious little bear above is my bride doll--some 50 years late.

What didn't come late for me though was my precious bridegroom, Jesus. As a little girl, I was introduced to Him and He has fulfilled every dream that I ever had and more.

When asked to teach a Bible study lesson some years ago, I decided to write a lesson on BEHOLD YOUR BRIDEGROOM COMETH! Remember when you fell in love for the first time. You couldn't spend enough time with that person, you couldn't talk to them enough--and when you weren't with them or talking to them, you were writing love letters.

Thinking of this and how much importance God put on the written word in the Bible, I asked the ladies to write a love letter to Jesus. If I remember correctly, we took some time to write these and then we all shared what we had written.

Exodus 34:27
27 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel."NIV
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. NIV
Proverbs 7:2-32 Keep my commands and you will live;guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers;write them on the tablet of your heart. NIV

I was also remind of this scripture in Revelation:

Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. NIV

Speaking of bridegrooms and love letters, isn't it interesting that we are promised a white stone and a new name--things you get when you become a bride.

Are there any desires or dreams that have gone unfulfilled in your life? I just want to encourage you today to let Jesus fulfill all of them--not only is He "in our stars," He is the great DAYSTAR.

Revelation 22:16
16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star ." NIV

THE CRAVING PLACE!

In David Wilkerson's book GOD'S PLAN (to protect His people) IN THE COMING DEPRESSION (c. 1998) he spoke of "his craving place."

The book had nothing about prohibiting reproduction so I am including a page from it.

Some years ago, a craving such as David describes started growing in my heart. I set the alarm a little earlier so that I could have this time of communion with the Lord every day. My craving time for many years when I lived in Oklahoma was the right end of my living room sofa. Where I live now, it is the left end of my living room sofa.

My time consists of this:

I read (meditatively and prayerfully) 5 chapters from Psalms most days.

On the first day of the month I read Psalm 1, Psalm 31, 61, 91, and 121. On the 2nd day of the month I read Ps. 2, 32, 62, 92, and 122. I add 30 to the number each time. By the end of the month I have read all the way through the book of Psalms.

I also read 1 chapter from Proverbs--the day of the month coordinates with the chapter I read.

Many times I read something from Isaiah because of its many promises to me.

I like to read something in red--Jesus' words--and I like to read something from the epistles.

I pray for my children, grandchildren and extended family and for prayer requests from friends and things God lays on my heart. Sometimes I sit and just enjoy the presence of the Lord. I always pray for protection for my family but my main prayer for all of us is that we would be drawn closer to Jesus each day. However, the Lord chooses to answer this, I trust Him. And there have been some hard knocks along the way. Some we have brought on ourselves, some, I am sure, the Lord allowed to help us look to Him for sustenance, growth, and strength.

This has become my lifeline. Whenever I lose my craving to do this, I know for me that something is wrong and I start asking God to put the craving back in me.

If I don't crave for God as the "deer pants for water" then I am concerned that my priorities are out of whack. This is for me, my own personal experience--I am not judging anyone who doesn't do this. I just want to take the opportunity to encourage you in this quest, if this is something your heart desires.

UPDATE: Just a few days ago, I started reading the Bible through. I have never read the Bible through before. I am on Genesis 10 and am doing a 3-year plan. Also, I read where it is a good idea to read each epistle through about 20 times before proceeding to the next so I am on my second reading of Philippians.

I know that it is our hearts that God wants and if I spend all of this time in God's Word and He doesn't have my heart, then it is all in vain. So my prayer is that I would let God speak to me daily through His Word and the fruit of His Spirit would be evident in my life.

To Tie or Not To Tie

Well, I wanted to tie up loose ends yesterday but mostly ended up giving a review of the day so I will try once more. I never got to write about my birthday so here goes.

Jeff's family came to visit me for my birthday on September 9th and brought a beautiful cake. Also, Michael's family came over on Wednesday, the 10th and brought me some great windchimes with a stained glass Christian fish symbol that dangles from them--really nice. Caroline and Kennedy really put on a show, singing several songs including "Happy Birthday" and "Amazing Love" with the Clavinova, guitar and microphone.

We laughed at how good Caroline can make a guitar sound without knowing a single chord--I'm sure she must have some God-given talent for it. Jeff learned how to play when he was older so maybe she will someday get to play.

SOME TRUST IN HORSES!

I had a dream one night several years ago that I was riding a mighty horse--We were flying through the forest at an incredible speed, the horse's hooves barely landing on the ground before accelerating into mid air again--the feeling of exhileration was like being on some kind of an endorphine high and I felt as though the horse and I together were one and could accomplish anything. It is really hard to describe how I felt especially since I have always been uncomfortable around horses--not actually afraid of them, just not comfortable.

After a time the horse pulled up short and I knew something was terribly wrong. I jumped off to examine the horse and where the breast of the horse joins the legs, the horse was bleeding terribly and all the skin was torn back exposing bone and raw flesh.

I didn't have a clue as to the meaning of the dream until after waking I read the verse I have included at the bottom of this post. Was I or am I trusting in something besides God? Anything I trust in apart from Him will never bring true security. God is my refuge and my strength--a very present help in time of trouble.

This morning during my devotional time I read this verse again and was reminded of that dream. May we only place our trust in the One true and Living God!

Ps 20:77 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. NIV

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATELYN ELIZABETH!

Katelyn Elizabeth was born 4 days after I turned 50 so I can always keep up with my age, LOL, by knowing how old she is. Katelyn is 5 months old in this pciture and you can see her hair hanging out from under her hat--!

This is Katelyn and Kendall working a Christmas puzzle and snacking at our rental home in Hot Springs Village in December of 2004 right after we moved to Arkansas.

One of my granddaughters' favorite places to go--Build a Bear!

Katelyn snuggled in under the covers on a cold December night with snow in the forecast--and it did snow--



This was right outside our rental house backdoor--the house we rented from Charles and Terry, a couple from Chicago--They have retired and will be moving to their home in HSV in 2009.

I'm so glad you got to be dedicated at our church in Tulsa. What a special occasion!

I love this little snuggly bear--the one with the dark hair that is!!

How blessed can one grandmother be?! My second-born granddaughter out of six. Katelyn, you have always been such a joy and we love you so very, very much.

CALLIGRAPHY GUILD!

This is a picture of my precious calligraphy friend, Paula. Shortly before we attended a calligraphy workshop in Eureka Springs in May, Paula found out that she had cancer. Some weight loss later, and many chemo treatments later, Paula is sporting her new non-hairdo. What an uplifting person to be around. Paula credits God with helping her through all she has had to bear these past few months. Please pray for Paula. She will soon run in the Race for the Cure and she will find out this coming week whether or not she will have to have surgery.

Kerry's (another founding member of the Calligraphy Guild of Arkansas and an awesome Spencerian calligrapher) daughter got married recently and Paula and I are modeling the antique kimonas that she ordered from Japan to wear at her daughter's wedding. She liked them so much that she ordered two more and they are beautiful. I am also "showing off" my calligraphy canvas I painted this past week. It is not finished but I am fairly pleased with it. I figure I will never get better unless I "go for it." I don't really know what I am doing but it is fun to try.

Travis, Teresa and I will start meeting every Thursday this coming week to do calligraphy together. I can hardly wait!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

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This soldier leaning against a tree thinking of home and family so faraway has always made me so sad and nostalgic--it is a perfect reflection of my dad's personality at times. He was really sentimental.

One of my most treasured mementos is a card I received from him that year. I love the little box where he signed it--"Many happy returns, Danny! Daddy--His handwriting is the "Danny" and the "Daddy." By the time I was a year old, my 2 year old brother had started calling me "Danny" instead of "Dianne." Seven years later, my little sister, Mary Jane, was born and a year or so later, I became "Ninny," because she couldn't say "Danny."

Isn't it odd how most dates are just that --Dates-- but the date of our birthdays are so special and just the mentioning of them can almost give us butterflies.

By the way, I was born on Sunday. That has always seemed special to me. In the Jewish culture, it is considered a very great honor to die on your birthday. Corrie Ten Boom, a Hollander, who helped saved the lives of many Jewish people during WWII, died on her birthday when she was 83 years old. Just thought I would throw that in--I love Corrie and I love interesting trivia such as that.

The second paragraph makes reference to my birth or lack of knowledge thereof.

This was an early 30's birthday--maybe 32--not sure --when we lived in Tulsa.

One of my favorite birthday cards I've ever received.

Have you ever worked your whole life long on a project, a relationship, a goal, a dream? When I received this birthday card yesterday, I broke down and cried because it was the validation of a relationship, a goal, a dream. All of my life I have tried and wanted to be to my sister exactly what this card says and when she sent it, I was stamped, validated as genuine, the real deal--a sister my sister could depend on. I have made many mistakes through the years but she saw through them and knows how much I love her, how much I want to be there for her. Thank you, Mary Jane, I love you with all my heart.

And last but not least, my card from Larry. Now folks, my husband has his faults, although not many people really believe that he has any because he is perfect out in public, LOL, but when someone can know the very worst things you've ever done in your life, the worst thoughts you've ever had, and see you at your worst and STILL loves you, the way Larry loves me, well--let's just say, he is a keeper. Thank you, Sweetheart, I and only I know just how deep your love for me goes and I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. You are my knight in shining armor.

If you sent me a card, called me, thought of me, or prayed for me, thank you. You have made my day so blessed and I love you all. You know who you are!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOTHER!

The sweetest woman who ever walked the face of the earth was born 88 years ago today. She died almost 11 years ago and heaven is richer for her presence but we here on earth are poorer for her absence. She was first and foremost a prayer warrior. I KNOW that she prayed faithfully for me. My consolation when she died was knowing that she would be right there beside Jesus interceding still for me and my family.

One of my first and favorite memories of her is her cool hand on my brow when I was sick and hot with fever. Oh, the comfort in her touch. I remember her giving me castor oil and gagging with me.

I remember her squeals of delight when we would awaken to a white frozen landscape. Of course, in those days there were no meterologists (that we knew of anyway) and no forecasts of snow so it was a total and complete surprise.Mother would have been an artist had she had a chance to be. I loved for her to draw pictures of beautiful young women and she was really good at it. Another of my favorite memories of her is making wall plaques from plaster of Paris. She was so anxious to see the finished product that it was seldom we let them dry long enough and we never seemed to learn our lesson. We ended up with many broken wall plaques that had to be thrown away. Patience, at least in that area, was not one of her virtues.

Mother loved to garden, wasn't too much on housekeeping although she did the daily basics of making the beds, tidying up (as she called it) and doing the laundry. She was an awesome cook and turkey dressing was her specialty. NO ONE in the world could make it like she did. In fact, the only thing that we fought over (good naturedly) when she died, was her dressing. She died between Thanksgiving and Christmas and had put some in the freezer after the Thanksgiving meal. There wasn't enough for all of us and I remember my sister-inp-law, Gay, wound up with it. I don't know how that happened. LOL

I remember her affirming words when I had my first child. She would say things like, "You are the best mother. I would give anything if I could go back and be the mother to you kids that you are to yours." She was definitely an encourager. How blessed I was to have her in my life and how sad I feel when I hear people speak of mothers who are judgmental and fault-finding.

Mother had a heart as big as all outdoors. She was always doing something for someone--cutting someone's hair, giving someone a permanent, sewing and hemming for different ones, taking people to church. I remember one night when she had our little Studebaker crammed to the gills with a family who had about 6 or 7 children. She started to drive off from the church parking lot and Margaret, a deaf girl who was somewhat limited in her abilities, started yelling really loud from the church porch. You see, my mom was driving off with a loaded down car but her own child, my little sister, Mary Jane, was not in the car. We have gotten a good laugh remembering that event on many occasions.

My mom was my confidant and my best friend. I will never forget my first real date. I had a mad crush on this guy who went to our church and my mom thought he hung the moon. When after about a year of her knowing I was wild about him, he called and asked me out, I thought she was going to hyper-ventilate. I think she may have been more excited than I was.

My mom was there for me through every heart break, through every triumph. How I thank you, Lord, for the memory of the righteous.

Mother never wanted her picture taken and as a result, I have very few pictures of her. She was beautiful though. Years ago there was a picture of Grace Kelly on a magazine cover and I've kept it because it looked so much like my mom. People who knew her "way back" when say that she was the prettiest girl for many miles around.

One of my sons gave me this poem for Christmas a few years ago and it is the perfect description of my mom.

THE WARRIOR

This morning my thoughts traveled along

To a place in my life where days have long since gone

Beholding an image of what I used to be

As visions were stirred, and God spoke to me.

He showed me a Warrior, a soldier in place-

Positioned by heaven, yet I saw not the face,

I watched as the Warrior fought enemies

That came from the darkness with destruction for me.

I saw as the Warrior would dry away tears

As all of Heaven's angels hovered so near.

I saw many wounds on the Warrior's face,

Yet weapons of warfare were firmly in place.

I felt my heart weeping, my eyes held so much

As God let me feel the Warrior's prayer touched

I thought "how familiar" the words that were prayed,

The prayers were like lightning that never would fade.

I said to God, "Please, the Warrior's name"

He gave no reply, He chose to refrain.

I asked, "Lord, who is broken that they would need such prayer?"

He showed me an image of myself standing there.

Bound by confusion, lost and alone

I felt prayers of the Warrior carry me home

I asked, "Please show me Lord, this Warrior so true"

I watched and I wept, for Mother . . . . .

The Warrior was you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEEMAW!

Meemaw's senior high school picture. She graduated from North Little Rock High School.

Meemaw and Larry in 1943.

Meemaw and Larry.

The house where Meemaw lived for 55 years.

Meemaw and Larry--not sure of the year, probably winter of 43-44 or 44-45.

Owen Mary Radnedge Hogue was born September 2, 1913. She would have been 95 years old today.

I owe a great debt to Meemaw in many ways--she (along with Peepaw) conceived, bore and raised my husband, she made many sacrifices for us when we were newlyweds, and many of the things I post on my blog, I would not have if it wasn't for her--she was a saver, of cards, pictures, mementos--and she was the queen of gadgets. She loved a gadget more than anyone I've ever known and used them often.

She was organized and was on top of every little thing that went wrong or broke around the house. I loved going to her home at Christmastime because of all the special touches--all the little things that she kept from year to year. She was a fantastic cook--I hated any kind of liver until I tried hers. Some people would rave about her chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies, others about her custard or Sunday roast--I just loved it all.

She faithfully served and attended Baring Cross Baptist Church for many, many years. I can remember like yesterday her beautiful, fragile, vibrato soprano voice as we sang songs of worship. She was loved and as was evidenced by the overwhelming response we received with cards and memorials when she died. We loved you so much, Meemaw, and today's blog is in your memory.