Exciting News!

Okay, I am so excited I can hardly stand it. My awesome friend, Nava, is starting a blog today. The picture I am sharing here is from her first post. Please hop over HERE and check her out.

 I think you will absolutely love her photography. I have shared quite a few things of hers in the past but she is getting better and better all the time. It seems that she has an incredible ability to capture God's most intricate beauty. Two favors I would ask of you--would you kindly consider becoming a follower of hers and would you kindly consider giving her a little "shout out" on your blog?

She is a wonderful person who loves Jesus with all her heart and I want her to be encouraged in this endeavor today. Thank you for your beauty.

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

Good morning dear friends, hope your holiday was everything you dreamed it would be.

 We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Just one person missing--my DIL, Kim, was in bed sick. She did get to cook with us all day on Thursday but had to miss Friday, the day we actually celebrated together.  To us the particular day doesn't matter so much--it is when we can all be together--and that was Friday.

 Before we ate, we formed a circle--14 strong--and told what we were thankful for. Of course with it being the first Thanksgiving since the death of my nephew, it was a very emotional one--many tears--but good tears--and the smiles and recollections of all our blessings certainly trumped the tears.

After lunch our whole family went to Michael's house to watch our precious piggies from the University of Arkansas play LSU. We got beaten, badly, and our hearts were broken about that but it is just a game and there will be other years.

 I usually mess something up (recipe wise) every year but this year everything was really good. My dressing was especially good--I bought new spices this year--I think I will do this from now on--I usually keep my spices at least 2 or 3 years--and the flavors were out of this world. It was the best I've ever made in my humble opinion.

I used a recipe for my cranberry sauce that called for orange juice instead of water--it was terrible at first and I spent the whole day trying to rescue it cause I had used two whole bags of cranberries. In the long run, I think I did save it because I ate quite a bit of it and normally I barely touch the sauce--ha ha--no pun intended. To try to overcome the orange juice taste, I added tiny bits of allspice and nutmeg and apples, pecans and celery. After it set for a day or so, it was wonderful.

I tried Paula Deen's homemade mac' and cheese and I did not care for it. Some of the others really liked it but not me. I used sharp cheddar with some pepper jack. Loved the pepper jack but will replace the sharp with colby or some other kind next time.

I didn't make turkey this year--we had Petit Jean peppered ham. And if you have never had a Petit Jean peppered ham, let me just say, I'm feeling sorry for you about now. It is incredibly wonderful.

We also had corn pudding (from the Cotton Country--Monroe, Louisiana, cookbook), green bean casserole, creamed potatoes (yum-in the crock pot with sour cream and cream cheese added), yams, pecan pie, lemon ice box pie, and rolls.

The yams were the best I've ever had also--got the recipe from a friend--I baked them in the oven a day ahead (baked them-- not boiled-- so they would carmelize)--made a sauce of 1 cup sugar, 1 cup butter and 1 cup karo nut syrup. Cooked them in the crock pot for several hours with the sauce.

Our kids from Tulsa stayed until Saturday morning and helped us get the tree up and decorated. They had to drive through quite a bit of heavy rain but got back to Tulsa all safe and sound.

Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful time with family and for your hand of protection over all of our children and grandchildren. We do not take this lightly, Lord. Our hearts are full of gratitude to you.
© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

A Poem for the Prisoner

The post today is dedicated to all of you who have someone who won't be spending Thanksgiving with you this year because of imprisonment of one sort or the other.

The day I wrote this poem, my heart was hurting for an acquaintance who had gone to prison. I had just driven over the top of a hill and the steeple of a beautiful white church was draped against a blazing autumn sky.

The steeple pointed my mind straight to the God of the Universe who cares about my every thought. These are the words that came to me. I realized later that this poem could just as well describe the person who is locked in spiritual, mental, emotional, addictive situtations, or as one reader pointed out in a comment on the original post, even in their own neighborhoods.

 As I topped the rise this late Autumn morn, 

 I saw a sight—my heart stood still 

 For there in majesty rose on that hill 

 A church, a steeple, a life reborn. 

 How does a person walking free 

 Express in words the colors seen 

 The blazing reds and fading green 

 To a person behind bars who cannot see? 

 I want my eyes to see for all, 

 My heart to express in words the artistry, 

 The myriad hues of God’s tapestry, 

 To see for those who saw before their fall. 

 I want my heart to feel for those 

 Who barbed-wire now a prisoner makes 

 I want to comfort for Jesus' sake, 

The broken-hearted one who feels enclosed. 

 Please know that if for just one day 

 I would give my eyes for you to see 

 I’d give my liberty for you to be 

 Among society—walking free! 

 The sights you’d see, they would astound, 

 And you in words could portray to me 

 In vivid scenes that I could never see 

 Just how beautiful your life—now found!

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted
comments off for the weekend
relax and enjoy
comments will be back on next week

I love you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I think this will be the third year in a row I have posted this--guess it will become a tradition!

Fighting the Good Fight of Faith

Shortly after my mother died thirteen years ago, my husband told me he was going out of town for three days.

Seeking to know God more intimately and the consolation of His Peace, I chose to take off work for three days in order to sing and pray, fast and study God's Word. I needed additional strength. For by that time, I had been praying for my sons--and then my sons and their wives--and then my sons and their wives and families for thirty-two years.

But while I was doing that I also knew my mom was involved in my life-long quest of faithful prayer for those I love most. When she died, some of my strength seemed to die with her. I say "seemed" for it really didn't--that was just my perception, my weakness, my grief and mourning taking hold robbing me of faith and spiritual stamina.

Over the course of three days, I kept praying for a "Word from God." At the end of that time, the Words that kept coming to my mind, to my heart, to my Spirit were "take up the mantle."

The only thing I could interpret that to mean was to "take up the mantle of prayer" that my mom had lain down upon her earthly passing.

It is seldom that I miss a day praying for my family, but it seems for quite sometime--months I will guess--I haven't been as fervent in my prayers for them--I knew I was letting up on my "watch." The nights can grow cold and long for watchman. If they are not prepared, sleep can descend when they are least expecting it. I did not and do not want to "go to sleep on the job."

 Saturday night my husband and I went to a Chili Cook-Off to benefit Renewal Ranch, the new FREE ministry my husband and I are involved in, to benefit men with addictions.

I did not know I was going to be working, but I ended up working the T-shirt sales booth. There I met a man who was looking for a t-shirt for his son. We didn't have his size in stock but the man would not give up on finding one to fit him.

 In the course of our conversation, he told me all about his son, a very sad situation. He got tears in his eyes as he talked and made this statement, "Don't ever give up praying for your family."

I took that, and told my new friend so, as a direct Word from God. Not that I didn't already know it, for in fact God had hammered home this point to me years before. But, it was a fresh Word, a new Word, validating what He had placed upon my heart many, many years before.

"Do not grow weary in your well-doing, for in due time you will reap a reward if you faint not." Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  Galatians 6:9 

In this month of thanksgiving, I want to share a note I found today. I haven't seen or read this in many years, probably about ten because that is how old the sweet daughter is to whom my son is referring.

When God promises us reward, I think something like this could be part of what He is alluding to. He knows we need tangible results to our labor and chooses to reward us with those at times. I would not trade this card and sentiment for anything in the world.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16b (Our righteousness comes by exchanging garments with Christ--His spotless snow-white robe for our garments of sin, sorrow and despair)

But more than these tangible, earthly rewards, we have eternal rewards stored up in Heaven for us that angels are singing about at this very moment. Someday we will have the privilege of laying them all at the feet of Jesus, for He deserves all the glory.

He is the ONLY reason I have been faithful in even the smallest areas of my life. I can take no credit. The fact that I was close to fainting in my well-doing was no news to God. He used a man at a Chili Cook-Off to speak encouraging words to me. He meets us right where we are when we are serious about His Kingdom.

It is my prayer that God will meet you right where you are today, that your heart will be encouraged and your will renewed to fight the good fight of faith and prayer for your family.

edited repost from past pages

Wearing Forgiveness Like A Crown

Would you take a moment and consider this: A person, any person, wearing a crown--whether it be an 18 year old newly crowned Miss America, a 70 year old queen of a country, a newly crowned 30 year old king of small nation, a 6 year old celebrating her birthday, or a 100 year old queen of the nursing home who has outlived all of her peers and celebrating a century of life--

 What is the demeanor?

 What is the posture?

 What is the expression on the face?

 When considering this, I could not think of one instance where there was a sad demeanor, dejected posture, or a hang-dog expression on one's face. All I could recall in my mind's eye was a cheerful, gracious demeanor, posture that spoke of self worth and a beautiful expression of life on a contented face. I'm sure there are exceptions but I don't remember any.

I trade these ashes in for beauty,                                              And wear forgiveness like a crown, Coming to kiss the feet of mercy, I lay every burden down.

Sunday in church as we sang the song above, the second line hit me hard.


How often have I sinned, asked forgiveness, God forgave me and yet I have moped around dejected because I had failed once again?

From Clarke commentary on the Bible we read:

As far as the east is from the west - As the east and the west can never meet in one point, but be for ever at the same distance from each other, so our sins and their decreed punishment are removed to an eternal distance by his mercy.

Have you let a grievous sin from years ago (that has been forgiven) continue to dominate your thinking and your actions?  I would encourage you today to accept the freedom that only comes from God.  Satan is a dream thief but God is a dream maker.

When we delight in Him, our wildest dreams will be rooted in what He wants for us.  He wants us to realize those dreams, to walk in fullness and wholeness, holding our head high in humbleness, wearing His forgiveness like a crown that we will one day lay at His feet. 


Please join with me today in kissing those feet of mercy and laying every burden down.
© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted
Photo taken at Renewal Ranch by one of "our guys."