When I started blogging several years ago, I promised God that I would blog for five years.
I had a couple of goals at that time.
I wanted to someday put together a daily devotional book. I figured if I could write a quality blog post once a week or so that maybe after a few years I would have enough posts to pick 365 and would have my book.
I have posted between 1200 and 1300 times I think and I doubt that I have 50 truly book worthy devotionals--writing a true quality post on a daily basis or even a weekly basis is not an easy task.
I will never again take lightly a good daily column.
My other goal was to write so that my descendants could read my stories someday and feel as if they knew me even if just a little bit.
I would give anything to have stories that my parents and grandparents wrote but I realize not every one is like me.
So, none of my descendants may ever read a word that I wrote and I am okay with that--NOW!
To those of you who have "got me" and what I am all about, I want to thank you so very much.
To the encouragers along the way, oh, there is no way I can begin to tell you how much you helped me. I think you know who you are.
I promised God the five years for a couple of reasons. I had started and stopped so many things in my life and did not want to be a quitter.
I also wanted to give God time to grow me into the kind of blogger He desired.
My five years will be done in May. Well, that's what I thought until I noticed the other day that I actually started in late April.
So one week from today my five years will be up. It has passed so fast.
I have made some incredible friends. And even had the privilege of meeting five of them.
Karen from Mississippi--Her blog is
Places of My Heart and if you knew her and ever visited her home and met her family, you would certainly understand the name of her blog. The problem with it is this--the places of her heart very quickly became the places of my heart also and I will always miss her.
Karen's mother-in-law, Marilyn, from Louisiana--Marilyn is not actually a blogger but she reads my blog. Actually I spent about 8 straight days with Karen and Marilyn and we had an absolute blast. (Does anyone say that any more--blast?--referring to a great time) We attended Nancy's prayer retreat in N.C.
Mary B. who lives in Pennsylvania and hosts
Me, Myself and Mercy--I only got to spend a couple of hours with Mary but they were oh so wonderful and I feel that our friendship has just kept on growing. Mary almost always writes about God and His Word.
Nancy from
Created for a Journey--Nancy lives in North Carolina--We got to spend about two days with Nancy and through the laughter, tears, walks, talks, and her teaching feel like I got to know her really well.
Nancy's family has been through some really tough times in the year since I met her.
But God is seeing them through and their lives are certainly a testament to that.
And Sandy who also lives in North Carolina.
Her blog is Faith Hope Love--Sandy and I have been emailing each other regularly for several years now.
We only got to spend about an hour with her but it was the culmination of a dream. We had become such close friends that it seemed impossible that I could go through the rest of my life without meeting her. Now I know exactly what she looks like--I can picture her in her sweet home and oh my, her yard is just beautiful.
Through us following one another's blogs and our often emails and feeling free to share from the depths of our hearts, Sandy and I have become lifelong friends.
She and her family have also been through some incredibly tough times and she shares some of that on her blog. You will love Sandy's insight into God's Word.
So I say all that to say--I don't know how much I will be blogging from now on. I don't think it will be nearly as often. Blogging takes a lot of time and I want to devote more time to my photography, art and to my preparation for teaching at the Ranch.
I am also mentoring two precious women right now and I want to be available to mentor more if that is what God wants of me.
Hopefully I will be stopping by here often to post some prayers under "Pray With Me" and some gratitudes under "Counting My Blessings."
I am expecting that I will post once or twice a week but I am just going to let it flow naturally. If I don't have anything of value to share with you, I probably won't post.
Maria (my very first follower), Debbie B, Anita, Elizabeth, Sarah, Nancy K--all of you have been such a special blessing to me--
Update: I knew if I tried to list everyone I would leave someone out and sure enough I did--
Susy @ The Feathered Nest--I am so sorry I left you out--you have been an incredible blessing and encourager to me. Please forgive--
To my precious followers--I appreciate you so and thank you for coming along on this journey--I hope that you don't go anywhere--I will miss you if you do when I check in from time to time.
I do sincerely love you all,
Dianne
I took this picture this morning--do you know how hard it is to pose while holding a IPad? In case you are interested, I used an App called moreBeaute2 to take out lots of wrinkles and had a "glow." --smile--
Oh and this is most important--did you know that wrinkled collars and no ironing are now in style. Today was the first time I had ever worn a blouse that needed ironing and didn't get it--It was a magical experience--well, for me, a lazy one!
© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted
photo of a painting I did on Friday, April 18, 2013--the scritpure reference should be Psalm 139:1--sorry for the mistake--
