He called her Hephzibah

Welcome to our blog, my friends!  I say our blog because several friends and family members have contributed to the words on here!  I want to introduce myself in case you're new! Hell o New Readers! My name is Emily and I love to paint.  In 2021, I experienced a traumatic brain injury that significantly altered my quality of life.  Two years later in 2023 I experienced a "stroke event."  Then in August 2025 I had a stroke.  All three events affected my body in different ways and each has been its own learning curve.  I experience a wide variety of symptoms that vary in intensity.   If you are here because a calendar or other item from the shop , I want you to know that 100% of the proceeds go toward my medical expenses.  Right now that looks like physical therapy and occupational therapy happening multiple times a week.  Thank you for your support!  There will be a blog post at the beginning of each month that dives deeper into...

The 2026 Calendar is now available!  Click here to learn more! Let's do something different this month: let's start with the song this painting is based on.  If you can, take a deep breath and press play.  Focus on the words.  What do they say?  What do you think they mean? Historians call it the "Intertestamental period."  It was the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament that stretched about 400 years.  For reference, America has been a country for 249 years.  So we are just over halfway through that period of silence that marked the difference between Old Testament prophets and the coming of the Messiah proclaimed through Gabriel and then through John the Baptist. I struggle with insomnia as a result of my TBI.  It's currently 4:30am and my eyelids have yet to close.  Night is long when it's just you, the ceiling and nothing else.  I've tried to pray, paint, clean, and do a number of other things during that time....

  "Come to Me all who are weary and burdened & I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28 I must ask for grace this month as it is going to be really short.  I've had a lot going on recently and I'm not able to dedicate the time to this devotion that I would like.    I need this verse right now.  I need to know that Jesus can carry these heavy burdens.  They are not too much for Him. When I painted this, I was thinking of things that bring me comfort in the fall.  What is something that brings you comfort? Lately, these things have not brought their usual comfort- my brain and body are too overwhelmed by a heavy heart.  I'm too tired to paint or light a candle or even make a cup of tea.   I'm having to take extra steps to help my body get through the day- and it is exhausting.   If you find yourself exhausted this month- take some time to just breathe.  I have a bad habit of holding my breath when I get stressed.  Thos...

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace." Her name was Helen Howarth Lemmel.  She was born in England in 1863.  She loved music and studied under the best vocal teachers of the time in both America and Germany.  She married rich, but in the middle of her life she lost her vision and her husband abandoned her.  She grew older and ended up living with government assistance in a single bedroom.  She initially didn't find the words of this beloved hymn to be a song, but the Holy Spirit worked to bring it to life.  This song was one of nearly 500 hymns that she wrote during her lifetime.  She died blind and in love with her Jesus just two weeks shy of her 98th birthday. (Morgan, 2011) When you hear the phrase, "turn your eyes upon Jesus." what comes to mind? When you think of Jesus, what do you see? I'd like to press you on that second question- don...

  For Katie My brother Noah was still living at home.  He would go and walk the neighborhood with "this girl named Katie."  Before I even met you, Katie, I knew Noah was completely smitten.  I knew if things didn't work out when you were dating, Noah would never have gotten over you.  He loved you and it was obvious to everyone who knew him.  I am so thankful for you, sweet Katie.  You bring so much light and joy to our family.  You are an excellent match for my brother.  Thanks for loving him so well.  I am so thankful to call you "sister."  I love you lots!  Thanks for sharing your heart with us here on the blog.               "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you."  - Isaiah 26:3 "When I was working night shift at the hospital when my husband and I were first married, there was a period of time where I dreaded going to work. The hours were ...

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. - Genesis 1:1 If July was the most personal painting of 2025, August was the most challenging.  This painting has 26 rainforest animals in it.  Can you find them all?  Last year I spent a lot of time on animals in my artwork - I studied their shapes and colors.  I was particularly fond of the animals in the rainforest at the time, thus this painting came to life.  As I painted different animals, this hymn kept going through my mind. All creatures of our God and King Lift up you voice with us and sing Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou burning sun with golden beam Thou silver moon with softer gleam O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! It is said that this hymn was originally written by St. Francis of Assisi in 1225.  The story goes that one day he came across a flock of birds.  The birds didn't fly away and so St. Francis told them the gospel.  As if in response to hearing the goo...