The Men of Renewal Ranch

First of all, I just have to say that I was NOT the photographer for these pictures. I got one of the residents, Josh, to take them for me. He is an incredible photographer having sold some of his work in the past.

Oops!  Looks like I lost one in class today.

Ummmmmmm............let's see now, Chase, would you just kindly lean over a little bit and

tap Bro. Loy on the shoulder?

Good job--now back to the lesson!
I didn't really say that but it seemed to go well with the pictures--smile!
He is also a very good sport about getting kidded--Love you, Bro. Loy!

And in his defense, he is one of our older residents and has had some sleep problems.  He is so kind and soft spoken--all the guys love him and look up to him so much.  He was due to graduate last Saturday but his daughter had some serious health issues and had to be hospitalized.  Of course he wanted to postpone his graduation to a date when she would be able to celebrate with him.

Michael, Dave, Shawn, Paul, Jordan and Tanner--

Bill, Michael, Dave and Shawn--

Doug, Billy Ray, Bill and Michael--

Cooper and Stephen--

Stephen, Ryan, Loy, and Chase--

and Trevor--somehow we missed Dustin but he got baptized this past Sunday night so I will put a picture of him then.  Sorry, Dustin.

I love the way they hang around after class messing with my stuff (sunglasses, etc.) and just generally having lots of fun.  This is Josh, Chase and Michael--

Our bunkhouse was built for six guys--then we decided to double them up in their bedrooms and we had twelve--Now the chapel, also the classroom that you see in this picture has now become home to about four and we have two sleeping on the sofas in the living room.

If you look to my right in the pictures above, you will see "mattresses."  That is what they are sleeping on and they are grateful for that.  Our program is FREE to all the residents--Jesus paid the price.

You can read more about Renewal Ranch here.

If you are a millionaire and would like to build a new bunkhouse for us, just email me and I can arrange everything or get someone who can.❤  Or if you just have $5 and want to share it, your gift is just as important❤❤ OR if you want to read about our guys and pray for us, your gift is the most valuable of all--the gift of prayer--thank you!❤❤❤

Love these men more than words can say.  Thank you Lord for the privilege of getting to share Your Word with them.

Would you like to share your thoughts or your heart with me? My contact information is listed in the upper right of the sidebar. Please feel free to email me. I love hearing from you and cherish the friendships I have made through blogging. 

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

The Force Is With Us!

I've had the most wonderful last few days.

Spent it in Tulsa with my youngest son and his wife and two daughters.

Ashton and I taking "selfies."

I got to go to doctor's appointment with my DIL and see the baby's ultrasound. It is so hard to believe what you are actually seeing--baby in the womb playing with his toes in front of his face, etc.

 These are his 4-D pictures from a few weeks ago--we only did 3-D when I was there.

That night we celebrated Noelle's 8th birthday at Zio's-

My husband worked three days on the nursery--painting it, putting up molding to highlight the baby's name which is James.

We went to Ricardo's--the best Mexican food place in the world--

watched our first Christmas movie of the season--

went to Russell Stover's candy store--

went to their church for Imagination Celebration which is their fall celebration for the kids.  The theme for this year was "SPACE."

Looks like some of the adults decided to participate.

I am probably the only human being in the Western hemisphere who hasn't seen the movie Star Wars.  I did a little research on Darth Vader and it looks as though there is a conflict of evil and a little bit of good in him.  Don't know if I have that exactly right so don't judge me please.

Anyway, I am so glad that the Force that is on my side is God--

We had a glorious time and came back by Conway to see one of our guys, Dustin, get baptized. That was a special treat.

We see great forces coming together over the northeastern portion of our nation today.  They cannot compare to the Force of God--Let us remember to call out to God for His mercy and grace and to save our nation once again.

We saw what the forces of nature did to New Orleans--our nation has been hit with some tremendous forces the last decade or so--911--we seem to turn to God for a short while and then when we turn away or get our minds on other things, we seem to turn further away from Him than we ever have.

God, help our nation to turn back to You once and for all and to remember that You are the Force of all forces, the Name above all names, the Lord above all lords--there is none like You--no, not one.

Loving all of you and missing you,
Dianne

Would you like to share your thoughts or your heart with me? My contact information is listed in the upper right of the sidebar. Please feel free to email me. I love hearing from you and cherish the friendships I have made through blogging. 

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

Good Morning, Sunshine!

My daughter-in-law, Traci, and I went out of town this weekend to see her daughter, my granddaughter who is a student in her first year of college.

We had a couple of hours to spare Saturday morning while Katelyn was busy with some other obligations, and decided to run up to Bella Vista to see the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel.  It is so quaint and beautiful.  If you are familiar with Holley Gerth, you might be interested to know she got married there a few years back.

I featured the chapel in a post a few years ago and in a comment she related that her wedding had taken place there.  It is a gorgeous place to get married.

This is right above the doors to the entrance.

Just after we entered--

 Believe it or not, Traci and I were standing at the end of a pew when this picture was taken.  The green teeth--Pay no nevermind--it was the quiche florentine we had for breakfast!

This picture was taken looking up and back towards the front entrance.

Looking back towards the entry doors--

My beautiful, inside and out, DIL, Traci, broke the rules--I almost couldn't talk her into it--and hopped over the red velvet thingie, like they have in movie theatres, to keep people off the platform.  She is standing in front of a glass panel.  Traci is a former school teacher and the Children's Minister at Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock, so she is a "rule follower."  lol  but I will break a few to get a really good picture.  No harm was done in the making of this picture and we were the only ones in there at the time.

Although on the way out we met a lady who told us she was getting ready to perform a wedding ceremony.  There were going to be two there that day--one morning and one afternoon. 

I was sick once again that I did not have my good camera with me and only had my IPhone to use.  Where is Anita when you need her?  I would have never done that a few years ago.  I'm slipping!

This was what greeted us on the way out.  Good morning, Sunshine!

Isaiah 18:4
This is what the LORD says to me: “I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place, like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”

Hope your week starts out with much sunshine, especially sunshine of the soul.

Love,

Dianne

 Would you like to share your thoughts or your heart with me? My contact information is listed in the upper right of the sidebar. Please feel free to email me. I love hearing from you and cherish the friendships I have made through blogging. 

 © all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

What a Wonderful Wedding There Will Be!

And there was! Kailey and Josh got married September 15

in a country outdoor venue. It was pouring down rain

so we ended up under a pavilion that had been set up 

for the reception. There were mason jars and sunflowers 

all over the place--so pretty!  Hope to have more pictures soon.

 Would you like to share your thoughts or your heart with me? My contact information is listed in the upper right of the sidebar. Please feel free to email me. I love hearing from you and cherish the friendships I have made through blogging. 

 © all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

Stay the Course

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Joshua 1:7 NIV

This driveway belongs to my husband's cousin and his wife, Kathy.  In fact, she posted the picture on Facebook (they live in Michigan) and I begged her for permission to use it.  I loved it so much.

It reminded me of a scripture from the Bible--the one I posted above.  The road to John and Kathy's house is laid out plain before me.  The destination is clear.  I should not swerve to the right nor left to reach their house in the most efficient manner and with the least obstacles.

God has laid out a path for us--the destination is Him and His glory--the way may not always seem clear to us but the directions from God are.  Our part is to trust Him.

Dear Lord,  The way before us doesn't always seem clear but we know we can trust You.    Please give us wisdom to make the right choices, to live our lives to glorify You, and to always seek You with our whole hearts.    Teach us what it really means to seek You.  We love you, Lord and give You all praise.  In Jesus' Name we pray.  Amen

Would you like to share your thoughts or your heart with me? My contact information is listed in the upper right of the sidebar. Please feel free to email me. I love hearing from you and cherish the friendships I have made through blogging. 

 © all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

Sunday Afternoon Drive

Last Sunday afternoon after church my husband and I drove out through the countryside. And even though we don't have the incredible colors that some places have right now, it was still beautiful. Won't you hop in the backseat and take a little trip with us?

Even the weeds were beautiful!

I took all of these pictures with my phone camera--makes me wonder what it would have looked like with my better camera.

Hope you enjoyed the ride,
Dianne

Would you like to share your thoughts or your heart with me? My contact information is listed in the upper right of the sidebar. Please feel free to email me. I love hearing from you and cherish the friendships I have made through blogging. 

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

The Teaching Trees

And whatever is not from faith is sin. 

Romans 14:23b

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 NIV

You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12

The trees of the field stand before our great God and declare His glory--they stand in faith believing that He is who He said He was and will do what He said He would do.

They stand in glory in Spring as they are clothed in crocheted lace and tulle, don their Easter frocks, and celebrate new life.

In Summer they stand in awe before Him as they do His bidding, providing cooling shade to the drought-weary.

Knowing soon they will be stripped and naked, they stand before Him in majesty in the cool crispness of early Autumn.

And in great faith they stand in winter's bare garb trusting the Father will soon clothe them again with His righteousness and new birth.

As I listen to the wind whipping through the brittle leaves, I hear choruses of applause.

They do what they were created to do.

Do we do what He created us to do?

Do we trust Him?

Do we choose to place our faith in Him?

Do we faithfully "hear" His Word, thereby enhancing our faith?

Do we earnestly seek Him?

Do we stand?

  

Great peace to you,

  Dianne

Would you like to share your thoughts or your heart with me? My contact information is listed in the upper right of the sidebar. Please feel free to email me. I love hearing from you and cherish the friendships I have made through blogging. 

 © all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted