From My Heart to Yours
Rayla Stewart Hogue is a native of Dexter. She is a wife, mother, and minister of the UCC (United Church of Christ). She seeks to recognize and embrace the unending hues of God's ethne and religion, and commits herself to living and expressing this inclusive diversity through Sacrament and the spoken, written, and sung Word of God.
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Best Laid Plans
Posted Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at 10:23 AMNew Year's resolutions . . . promises, hopes, dreams for perfection to come. Bah Humbug! Let's see this year, I resolve to lose 20 pounds . . . but have to finish off all the Christmas cookies, candies, fudge, and New Year's party food. Sigh, well that's an extra few pounds. Forget that... -
New Year
Posted Friday, January 1, 2016, at 9:55 AMA news alert popped up on her phone . . . flash flood warnings were being issued. She ignored it and went on with her tasks of the days. A news item popped up on her computer . . . I-40 at her former home in NM was closed due to heavy blizzard conditions, icy roads and no visibility from Albuquerque to the Texas state line. Pictures started filling her timeline from friends in Eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle. She prayed for their safety and went on... -
Christmas Love
Posted Saturday, December 26, 2015, at 9:39 AMThe day was filled with hustle and bustle of trying to get everything ready for Christmas. There were still presents to wrap, food to prepared, places to travel . . . oh and work to be done. Bustling through the day, each member of the family had their assigned duty... -
Joyful Blue
Posted Friday, December 18, 2015, at 1:14 PMThe phone rang. The vet was confirming their appointment later that morning, but . . . a pup had been found on a ranch outside of town and brought to the no kill shelter. The mother had been killed. The pup was healthy, but couldn't be kept there . . . she was "different." Could they possibly adopt her?... -
Peace
Posted Friday, December 11, 2015, at 9:25 PMSitting at her desk reading the news, reading social media, listening to the television in the background the emotions of life overwhelmed her. An entire school system was put on lock down because a student brought a home-made project--a clock or a bomb? People joining together for Bible study and prayer welcomed a stranger into their midst who then turned on them and shot them. ... -
Hope
Posted Friday, December 4, 2015, at 1:32 PMStanding at the kitchen window she looked out over the open land and dormant hay field to the wooded hills beyond. It was a foggy morning with the feel of winter wrapping the land. Watching the woods she thought of all the hunters over the last few weeks harvesting meat for their families from the deer population... -
Thanks
Posted Friday, November 27, 2015, at 8:39 AMDriving in pouring rain out of the city in rush hour traffic was no fun! She though surely the cars would slow a bit or at least not tail gate . . . think again. With wind whipping the rain, it slashed across her car so that she could barely see. Finally creeping along in the bumper to bumper traffic she could exit the highway... -
Surprise
Posted Friday, November 20, 2015, at 10:45 AM"Honey, I can't find my key fob for the truck! Get the flashlight." With a sigh. She grabbed the flashlight and went in search. . . again for his key fob for his truck. The loop that kept it on the key ring had broken and he carried it in his pocket these days. ... -
Sisters
Posted Friday, November 13, 2015, at 8:19 AMShe had always wanted to drive. The freedom of getting behind the wheel had always appealed to her. Finally she convinced her sister to teach her to drive. Off to an empty parking lot they went to begin her lessons. Fortunately the car was an automatic. ... -
Gods's Masterpiece
Posted Friday, November 6, 2015, at 2:22 PMLooking out the windows over the valley below, my eyes are drawn every fall to the circle. The light green of the aspen has turned to the color of spun gold. On the mountainside beyond the town lies a copse of trees forming a circle of gold with green ponderosa pine in the center, like a golden ring on the mountainside. It always turns gold before the rest of the aspen. When the circle is complete is when I love to drive to the surrounding towns and admire God's painting of the world... -
Blink
Posted Friday, October 30, 2015, at 10:08 AMThe sound of the phone woke the sleeping family. Realizing the time, they finished the call quickly, gathering their things and rushed out the door. They had a "thirty minute" drive and only twenty minutes to make the rehearsal. Arriving only a few minutes late, they concentrated on the rehearsal for that evening. ... -
The Web
Posted Friday, October 23, 2015, at 1:46 PMThe days were changing so quickly with the season. They had finished their meeting later than expected and it had turned dark outside. Not even thinking about that it might be dark when they finished, no on turned on the outside lights that lined the sidewalks. So instead of walking home along a lighted path, it was dark . . . no moon dark . . . and of course the light over the door burnt out as well... -
God's Waterfall
Posted Saturday, October 17, 2015, at 10:56 PMThe morning was crisp with just a hint of the oncoming winter. Leaves scuttled across the yard in the ebb and flow of the wind. The world seemed to be holding its breath as it waited for the first warming rays of the sun to break over the mountains. Slipping on a jacket, she stepped out into the cool morning, sipping her hot tea and settled to watch the break of day... -
Buzz Kill
Posted Friday, October 9, 2015, at 12:13 PMSuch a beautiful cool day was perfect for them. The air had the feel of autumn in it yet the sun was out with rays playing over them, kissing them with warmth. They were curled up on mom's lap, napping. Hearing the buzz of a fly going through the room, he opened one eye slowly and watched it traverse the room... -
Rock or Leap
Posted Friday, October 2, 2015, at 2:41 PMThey had been out of town for a couple of days. The cats had been "home alone," but left with plenty of food, water, and clean litter pans. Walking in the door, she didn't know whether to expect to be possessed or ignored. They are cats . . . either or both were probable... -
A Walk in Time
Posted Friday, September 25, 2015, at 9:40 AMThe poles were raised in the air and set in the form of a tripod. Quickly other poles were placed until the circular support structure was in place. The canvas skin covered the poles enclosing the tipi into a cozy home. Working with speed and experience, the inner lining was soon in place, a fire pit dug in the center and the items of primitive life set in place. With a small fire in the pit, the chill of the autumn day was quickly dispersed as their home for the next week took form... -
The Race
Posted Friday, September 18, 2015, at 1:30 PMIt was a glorious morning to be outside. They were having so much fun running through the fields with the sun warming them as the slight breeze kept them cool. Seeing mom near the gate they raced toward her. As they came to the gate, they were neck and neck as they raced to be the first to her. ... -
9/11
Posted Friday, September 11, 2015, at 5:14 PMAir traffic was backed up. They were flying a holding pattern waiting for their turn to land at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. As they circled, she watched the city below her. It felt so far away and yet evoked such strong emotions. Neighborhoods passed below, traffic patterns could be seen, familiar places made famous through the lens of cameras for television--and tragedy... -
Ooze Cat
Posted Friday, September 4, 2015, at 5:18 PMWalking through the house she noticed the shadowing in the window. There, on the window sill, between the curtain and the glass sat the cat. Stately, sitting tall, his silhouette was perfectly reflected through the lace curtains onto the wooden floor below. She couldn't resist and snapped the photo before he detected her proximity and moved... -
The Storm
Posted Friday, August 28, 2015, at 5:38 PMThe wind blew so hard she thought that the window beside the bed was about to break. Lightning flashes came so rapidly the sky was light as day for long periods of time. The rumble of thunder shook the house as it filled the air with constant movement and sound. ...
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