The Beauty of Small Victories
JOURNAL ENTRY #44
MONDAY, JULY 27, 2016
Over the last couple of months, I’ve slowly begun to regain some of the strength I lost before moving to The Union House of Hogarth.
As my heart, vein, and artery conditions progressed, I noticed my muscle strength declining much more quickly than I expected. My work had become increasingly sedentary, and my body simply wasn’t getting the movement it needed. Since settling into our new home, however, I’ve been encouraged to see small signs of improvement. My days are beginning to have a little more energy again though I still experience days when my body reminds me to slow down.
Today was one of those slower days.
The gesso and sanding I had planned for today didn’t happen, and that’s okay. Tomorrow is a new day, and I’ll simply try again.
Even so, I made sure to check on and water the new plants growing around the property, and before the day was over, the Dodge Ram pickup truck officially sold.
Sometimes progress doesn’t look like checking every item off a to-do list. Sometimes it’s listening to your body, caring for what has been entrusted to you, and celebrating the small victories that come along the way.
Today was a good day.
Finding Beauty in the Everyday.
‘Til next time…
LHogarth
Building a Creative Rhythm
JOURNAL ENTRY #43
SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2026
I did it!
Today marked a milestone that may seem small to others, but it felt like a big step forward for me. For the very first time since I began writing these daily journal entries, I completed an entire week’s worth of posts and entered them into the draft sections of both my website and social media.
It was part of the schedule I had hoped to establish, and seeing it finally come together filled me with excitement. The words are written, the drafts are waiting, and all that’s left is photographing the artwork and scheduling each post throughout the week.
Tomorrow begins another exciting chapter — gesso and sanding day. The canvases will be prepared for the Live By Series - A Journey in Seven Parts, bringing me one step closer to placing brush to canvas.
Progress doesn’t always happen in giant leaps. Sometimes it’s found in quiet routines, faithful preparation, and simply showing up one day at a time.
Today was a good day.
Finding Beauty in the Everyday.
‘Til next time…
LHogarth
Preparing My Heart for a New Week
JOURNAL ENTRY #42
SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2026
Today I spent time reflecting on self-improvement and what it truly means to lead by example.
I want my light to shine as brightly as it possibly can — not for recognition, but so that others may see kindness, compassion, and hope reflected through the way I choose to live. Each day is another opportunity to become a little more like the person I believe I am called to be, while preparing my heart for the Wonderful World Tomorrow.
Today was also a much-needed Sabbath of rest.
After a full week, it was a gift to pause, to renew my spirit, and to simply be still. Rest has a way of refreshing not only our bodies but also our hearts, allowing us to begin a new week with gratitude and purpose.
May this Sabbath bring peace, renewal, and hope to all who observe it.
Happy Sabbath.
LHogarth
A Day of Rest, Laughter, and Simple Joys
JOURNAL ENTRY #41
FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026
Jim got me out of the house today and took me into Greenville.
On the way, we stopped in Simpsonville for breakfast at Eggs Up Grill — one of our favorite places to enjoy a good meal together. From there, we spent time browsing through 2nd & Charles before heading over to Planet Comics and Borderlands so Jim could enjoy exploring a few of his favorite comic book stores.
By the time we finished our little adventure, it was time for an early dinner. On the way home, we stopped in Woodruff at Claudio’s Bistro, another wonderful place we’ve enjoyed visiting before. If you’re ever in the area, I highly recommend it.
Today was exactly what my heart needed.
After carrying the weight of this week, spending a quiet day with my husband was the medicine my soul needed. There were no grand events or remarkable accomplishments — just simple moments, shared conversations, and the blessing of being together.
Sometimes healing doesn’t come through extraordinary circumstances. Sometimes it comes through breakfast at a favorite cafe, wandering the aisles of a bookstore, and sharing a meal with someone you love.
Today was another good day.
Finding Beauty in the Everyday.
LHogarth
Taking a Breath
JOURNAL ENTRY #40
THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026
Today was one of those days where I simply felt emotionally drained.
The past couple of days have carried more weight than I realized, and by the time today arrived, I could feel it settling into every part of me. There wasn’t one single event that caused it — it was simply the accumulation of responsibilities, decisions, emotions, and the quiet burden of trying to carry everything well.
Some days don’t need grand accomplishments to be meaningful. Sometimes the greatest accomplishment is simply choosing not to give up.
Today, I reminded myself to stop…to take a deep breath…and to pray.
There is something comforting about laying our worries before God. Prayer doesn’t always change our circumstances immediately, but it has a way of changing our perspective. It reminds us that we were never meant to carry every burden alone.
So today, I chose to breathe.
I chose to pray.
And I chose to trust that, even when I can’t yet see how everything will come together, God already can.
All shall work out in His perfect timing.
Sometimes faith isn’t found in moving mountains.
Sometimes faith is simply taking one more deep breath and trusting God with the next step.
Finding Beauty in the Everyday. 💚
‘Til next time…
— LHogarth
Finding Beauty in Ordinary Days
JOURNAL ENTRY #39
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2026
Today brought a small disappointment, but not every opportunity to is meant to work out — and that’s okay.
The person who had planned to purchase the Dodge Ram pickup truck never showed up and didn’t respond to my messages. Rather than dwell on it, I’ll simply remove the pending status and move on to the next person in line. Sometimes the best thing we can do is keep moving forward.
The rest of the day was spent catching up on a week’s worth of journal entries that had been patiently waiting to be added to the draft sections of my website and social media. I had fallen a little behind, so it felt good to make steady progress and get everything organized again.
One unexpected adventure came when I relocated a female Southern house spider. Thankfully, the capture-and-release mission went much smoother than I expected — especially considering her rather intimidating size! 😄 Despite that, she was actually quite beautiful in her own way, and I’m happy she found a new home outdoors.
Some days aren’t filled with grand adventures, but even the ordinary moments remind me that progress often comes one small step at a time. Whether it’s crossing tasks off a list, adjusting to unexpected changes, or showing kindness to one of God’s little creatures, there’s still beauty to be found in the everyday.
‘Til next time…
— LHogarth
Preparing the Way
JOURNAL ENTRY #38
TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026
Today was one of those days that seemed to quietly fill itself with little tasks, each one needing attention before the next could begin.
The morning began with something I had been meaning to tackle for a while — finally posting the Dodge Ram pickup truck for sale on Marketplace. I wasn’t sure what kind of response I would receive, but it quickly gained attention. Before long, it sounded like I may have found someone interested in purchasing it. If all goes well, he will be stopping by tomorrow after work, and we may be closing this chapter.
After hearing that he was interested, I made sure everything was ready. I gathered the title, prepared the paperwork, and created and printed a Bill of Sale so that everything would be in order if the sale goes through. There was something satisfying about having those details prepared ahead of time — a reminder that sometimes progress happens through simple acts of preparation.
Before I knew it, the day had moved along, and it was time to head to the grocery store to gather what we needed for dinner. After returning home, I prepared our meal and took care of the everyday rhythms that make a house feel like home.
Later this evening, I returned to another part of my journey — sharing my story. I worked on releasing Journal Entry #31, “The Little Wren’s Lesson” on my website and social media, along with creating an image to accompany it. This particular entry feels especially meaningful because it connects with something I have been creating behind the scenes: my upcoming “Live By Series — A Journey in Seven Parts.”
The image I created became a small breadcrumb along the path… a quiet little hint of what is to come. I love the idea that not everything has to be revealed all at once. Sometimes we are simply invited to follow the trail, one step at a time.
Looking back on today, it may seem like an ordinary day filled with errands, paperwork, cooking, and computer work. But maybe those are the very moments where life is quietly being built.
A home is created one detail at a time.
A dream is created one step at a time.
A journey unfolds one breadcrumb at a time.
And today, I found beauty in preparing the way.
🌿
‘Til next time…
— LHogarth
Making Room to Flourish
JOURNAL ENTRY #37
MONDAY, JULY 20, 2026
Some days seem so ordinary that it’s hard to imagine there’s anything worth writing about.
This evening, I found myself wondering just that.
The day began with a visit to the dentist. My faithful partial, which had served me well for more than twenty years, finally gave way back in May. I’m now beginning the process of getting a full upper denture, pending clearance from my cardiologist. Until then, I’ve found myself quietly stepping out of the camera’s view. Sometimes life has a way of reminding us to embrace seasons just as they are — even the less glamorous ones.
Afterward, Jim and I treated ourselves to breakfast at Waffle House. It may not have been the most heart-healthy choice, but every now and then, sharing a simple meal together nourishes more than just the body.
The rest of the day unfolded quietly. I spent time in God’s Word, uploaded Journal Entry #30 to my website and social media, and continued taking small steps toward building something I’ve come to love so deeply.
Then I wandered out to check on my little herb garden.
Today was the first time I thinned my lemon balm seedlings and gave them their very first haircut. As I carefully snipped away tiny leaves and gently removed some of the crowded seedlings, I realized I wasn’t harming them — I was helping them.
Left to grow crowded together, they would all compete for the same sunlight, water, and nutrients. By making a little room, the remaining plants now have the opportunity to grow stronger and healthier.
Standing there in the garden, I couldn’t help but wonder how often our own lives are much the same.
Sometimes growth doesn’t come from adding more.
Sometimes it comes from making room.
Making room for peace instead of worry.
Making room for rest instead of constant striving.
Making room for faith instead of fear.
Even letting go of good things so that the best things have room to flourish.
As I gathered the tiny cuttings in my hand, I paused before tossing them aside. My first thought wasn’t whether they should be discarded, but whether they might still have a purpose. it reminded me that value isn’t always measured by where something ends up. Sometime what seems small or insignificant can still bless another corner of the garden.
Perhaps that’s true of us, too.
By the time I came back inside, I realized something.
I had started the evening believing I didn’t have anything to write about.
Instead, I found another reminder that beauty often hides in ordinary moments, patiently waiting to be noticed.
Maybe that’s one of life’s sweetest lessons.
When we slow down enough to pay attention, even a handful of tiny lemon balm seedlings can become a gentle reminder that sometimes the healthiest growth begins by making room for what truly matters.
And perhaps that’s one more way of finding beauty in the everyday.
‘Til next time…
— LHogarth
Timbrels and Brushstrokes
JOURNAL ENTRY #36
SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2026
Today, I leave you a song.
Timbrels and Brushstrokes
In the quiet of a canvas, a whisper calls my name,
Colors dance like echoes, no two brushstrokes the same.
From heartbeats to horizons, a story starts to weave,
A journey born of courage — in every line, believe.
The timbers hum and bodhrans sing,
Threads of life through every string.
Hogarth’s halls where dreams take flight,
In painted light, day turns to night.
This house holds whispers of those who came before;
Its walls now cradle dreams once more.
Timbrels chime like echoes, ancient and divine,
A fusion of my heartbeat with history entwined.
Ancient winds through gardens play,
Rhythms of ages guide my way.
In every brushstroke, every song,
The Union House of Hogarth, where I belong.
The timbers hum and bodhrans sing,
Threads of life through every string.
Hogarth’s halls where dreams take flight,
In painted light, day turns to night.
May every heart that enters here
Find beauty waiting, year by year.
‘Til next time…
Finding Beauty in the Everyday.
— LHogarth
Grace Builds Bridges
JOURNAL ENTRY #35
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2026
Today’s Sabbath gave me time to reflect on how each of us is walking a journey uniquely our own. No two paths look exactly alike, and perhaps they’re not meant to.
I found myself thinking about how easy it can be to look at someone else’s way of doing things and quietly compare it to how I would have done it. Sometimes, without realizing it, those comparisons can become criticism. Yet what comes naturally to one person may be difficult for another, and what works for one life may not fit another at all.
The more I reflect on it, the more I realize that my greatest responsibility isn’t correcting someone else’s path — it’s tending to my own heart. It’s much easier to notice what we believe are faults in others than it is to recognize our own. And sometimes, what we see as a fault isn’t one at all. It may simply be someone walking a different road than ours.
I’ve been learning that encouragement builds stronger bridges than criticism ever could. A kind word, sincere praise, or simply allowing someone the space to grow in their own time often accomplishes far more than pointing out what we think should be different.
We all have opinions, but opinions aren’t the same as truth. They’re shaped by our own experiences, our own lessons, and our own perspective. That’s why I’ve been reminding myself to hold my opinions with humility and extend grace wherever I can.
I want my life to be one that speaks louder than my words. Rather than trying to convince others, I’d rather live in a way that quietly reflects hope, kindness, patience, and love. My prayer is that, if someone notices something different, they might simply ask, “How?” and perhaps, in that moment, my own journey can encourage theirs.
I hope you had a peaceful and restful Sabbath.
‘Til next time…
Finding Beauty in the Everyday.
— LHogarth
