Delaney Looks Back So She Can Look Forward

Every time I start one of these ladies I wonder what in the world she will turn out looking like.

Just one little shadow here or there can make them look totally different than they would otherwise.

It makes me cognizant of the way God made each one of us--the fact that he was there in our mother's womb when we were knit together (Psalm 139)--the same hands that hurled the planets into space, that set the earth on its axis, and crocheted billions of stars into exquisite doilies that light up the night sky, these same hands knit us together.  Just a little purl stitch here, a little slip stitch there and we all are different and unique.

To me Delaney has a far away look in her eyes--I like to think that this verse is what she is thinking about-- Psalm 91:3-6 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.  He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.  You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

So looking back over our lives--the things He has done for us--the way He has seen us through every trial and tribulation that tried to consume us--the looking back and seeing His faithfulness is our shield and rampart.

Only when we look back and see His steadfast love, mercy, faithfulness and goodness do we have the courage to forge ahead into an unknown future.

Be encouraged today, my friend, and take a gentle look back in the rearview mirror of your life and I am sure you will find the memory of faithfulness you need to break the barrier of tomorrow's fears and doubts.

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

Delaney was started as a watercolor and enhanced in Photoshop

 

Every Good And Perfect Gift

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

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

Linking to

Backyard Tour

We've had a fairly mild summer this year and we are finding that it sure helps the lushness.

We transplanted this Dusty Miller this year and it has grown so much I can't believe it--and even has little yellow blooms on it--we've had it several years but this is the first time we've ever had the yellow blooms.

The green foliage to the right is a white lily--it is so delicate and pretty--blooms in early spring.

This grass (not sure what variety) is getting huge.

The Shade Garden--azaleas, hostas, camelias, and ferns are located here--

The Butterfly Bush and the potting bench--I think I've showed you this one before--

I love Asian jasmine--

Clematis

Knock-Out Rose bush that is overtaking the area.

Solomon's Seal--love, love, love it--

We planted a couple of little plants a few years ago and it just pops up here and there in the beds.

Starburst lilies and windchimes

We had hundreds of gardenia blooms this year--I took these pictures after they had finished blooming.

Hope you enjoyed the tour of our backyard.  To be in the middle of the city, we are blessed to have a beautiful backyard.  It is very private and had good bones when we moved in but we've done a lot of work to it--transplanted more bushes than you would ever want to know about.

We live on a fairly busy street but here in the backyard you can hardly hear a car going by--I don't know how that can be except the house acts as a barrier, I suppose, and our lot slopes up from the street and that may help some also.

My favorite backyard would be to live on a coastline but this will do in the meantime--we are blessed.

Thank you, Lord.

Linking to Friday Finds

and to Wow Us Wednesdays

and to

Common Ground (Be Inspired)

I Love Wednesdays--

Ipromise I won't make a steady diet of the collages but wanted to share this one with you.

 This is what my day consisted of today--driving the 45 minutes or so to the Ranch and teaching for an hour and then visiting with the guys.

 God is so good, so awesome, so faithful.

 When He shows up in all His glory, it is so awesome.

 I love to hear what the guys have to say about God.

 It blesses me so much I can hardly stand it.

 Today they spoke of His faithfulness, His love, His Worthiness. and His plans--

yes, plans for us to succeed--

plans for us to have a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

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

View From the Hammock

Just a fun Instagram photo I posted.

 Wrinkles--please don't judge--ha--the texture I put on this magnified 'em a whole bunch although I have plenty to go 'round.

 Love you all. Have a great day.

I love Psalm 84

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

Hope, A Sweet Aroma

D
on't you just love to be around people who are full of hope?


 Me too!

 My hope is in God alone.

 For me, His answers to all my questions and fears are the only thing that gives me hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that 

by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:13

I'm linking today to Texture Tuesday

photo was textured with Kim Klassen's total grunge and musiclovin'

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

Genevieve

Genevieve is singing for joy today. She is marveling at the wonders of her God and the work His hands have done.  This phrase is from Psalm 92:4.

As you can see, I've become somewhat obsessed with painting these young ladies.  It has been a good outlet for me the past few weeks--sure hope you have something you love doing as much as I love painting.

Just a couple of updates here--

I told you recently about a young man who had a very serious diving accident--he was a former basketball player for one of my sons--he has been moved to Atlanta, Georgia where there is a great spine clinic.  He is paralyzed from his chest down.  He can breathe on his own.  His name is Jon David Bruning and here is his page on Caring Bridge.  I know they would appreciate your prayers so very much.

I just got word a few minutes ago of another very serious disease of a friend of my sons.

I would certainly appreciate your prayers for these two young men.

There are several of you I am praying for.  I hope you know who you are.

We must always remember to look up--our redemption draws nigh.

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

Meet Mary Catherine

Mary Catherine has been reading 1 Corinthians and wants to remind you of this great scripture.


A scripture that reminds us of just why we should not lean on our own understanding and our own thinking.

1 Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

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

Mary Catherine started as a watercolor that I edited digitally in Photoshop Elements.

Linking to:

Belong-Five Minute Friday

Joining with the others at Five Minute Friday to write for five minutes and five minutes only using the prompt "Belong."

When I think of the word belong I think of the old song

Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me, 
Not for the years of time alone But for eternity. 

Belonging to someone not for just the "years of time" but for eternity is a great feeling.

And I love that phrase "years of time,"--

What does it really mean--?

Time will have no meaning in eternity.

There will be no tomorrows and no yesterdays--

Not even a today--

I suspect that even "here and now" will have no meaning.

So, I simply belong to Jesus--

So, I simply belong.

So, I belong.

I belong.

Simply Truth

I am posting a link today to an article with the most truth I've seen on one page in a long time.

 I wish every newspaper and magazine in America would post this.

Sure hope you read this.

Foundations and Boundaries

A beautiful butterfly captured on our Russian sage bush yesterday afternoon.

Summer Dawn

Her name is Summer Dawn.

One of her favorite scriptures is Jeremiah 32:17.

This summer has been a hard season for her

but her faith is still strong.

She knows that God, her personal God who created the heavens and the earth,

has everything under control--everything that she gives to Him.

And she gives it all--freely--

knowing that His arms are outstretched to her,

beckoning her to come and rest in Him,

calling her to the comforts of his royal robe which will hide her

from the enemy.

She need not be afraid for He is her Hiding Place.

The dawn of each new day,

each new season,

will burst forth with His love.

And with that, she is satisfied--more than satisfied.

She is alive and excited to live a new day in Him.

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.  Jeremiah 32:17

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

 

  

IMPORTANT MESSAGE!

I received a most important message yesterday--one of the most important I've ever received.





 And I didn't deserve it--I really, really didn't.





 It made me feel really, really good though.





 Actually, it really, really made my day.





 And, well, it was from someone very, very--I mean really, really important--yes, it was.





 This special person has many talents and gifts from God--





 Not the least of which is writing tremendously encouraging letters to people he knows.





 Quite a few of the residents at the Ranch have letters from this important person hung on their bedroom walls.





 Well, I guess I've left you hanging long enough.





 Are you ready for this?





 Are you really, really ready cause it is gonna knock your socks off!




As we were finishing up our time together yesterday, the six year old son of the young lady I mentor came around the corner with a hug and this:

God uses such simple things to encourage others.


Have you encouraged someone today?


This six year old did--and I will NEVER forget it.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.  Hebrews 3:13

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


Linking to


Tell His Story

I Will Sing

Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice, be in high spirits and glory with all   your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem. Zephaniah 3:14 My heart has been very heavy lately because of some situations beyond my control.  But today when I read some scripture from Zephaniah 3 on my friend's blog (Susy at  The Feathered Nest),  It was just what my heart needed.  So I will put a flower in my hair and sing of His great love for me and mine.   I will choose to be in high spirits and glory with all my heart for  He is faithful to His own. He cares for you my friend. Enjoy that love today.

linking to

Adorned From Above

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

Dream A Dream Hold It Close

Hope your dreams today

are filled with pure sweetness--

Hold it close and pray a prayer

Believe for a miracle.

Linking to Kim Klassen at Texture Tuesday

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

Precious Memories

Cousins relaxing on the hammock together.

Katelyn and Noelle

Sisters and cousins--Noelle, Ashton and Kennedy getting anxious for dark and fireworks.

Sparklers-Ashton

and Noelle

Kennedy and Ashton

Our neighbor put on an incredible fireworks display--this picture does not begin to do it justice--

On the way to movie--Despicable Me 2--there were nine of us--

It was a really cute movie--so wonderful when Hollywood makes a movie

that the whole family can see together.

pool time--Noelle's grandfather caught this action shot of her coming down the slide at our neighborhood pool--

Just some portrait shots--Ashton

Noelle

Katelyn

Baby James

and Kennedy--

We enjoyed smoked beef tenderloin, racks of ribs, and ham during the long weekend-
fresh tomatoes and corn, hot rolls and butter,
baked potatoes and fresh green beans,
creamed green peas and black-eyed peas,
potato salad, an asian crunchy salad as well as regular salad,
Karo nut pie, apple pie and birthday cake and ice cream
for Ashton, Caroline and Boompa--

We ate too much!

We also enjoyed
card games,
funny family memories,
sitting outside most of the day on the 4th, the weather was incredible--
very unusual for Arkansas--

Thank you Lord for precious times together to makes memories that will enhance our future times together. Our hearts are so grateful for all of your blessings to our family. One of our son's former basketball players suffered a severe neck injury in a diving accident this weekend.  Would you please lift the Bruning family to God in prayer?   Thank you sweet prayer warriors.

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

I took the portrait shots--

most of the rest were taken by my DIL, Dree