Dianna Buchwalter

Within the next few days, many of us will participate in dying Easter eggs, egg hunts and eat a few Cadbury eggs.  While all of that is fun and great traditions, Easter has nothing to do with an egg.   I looked up the definition of holiday out of curiosity.  Merriam-Webster defines it as a special day of celebration: a day when most people do not have to work.  We view holidays as a free day away from the office. A time to overindulge on ham and the fixin's while surrounded by family. Those are all great as well, but, the reason we have a holiday, in this case, Easter, is because it is a holy day.   Most of us know the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. It is the ONLY reason we celebrate.  If we aren’t careful, we can hear it so much, it impacts us less.  That’s why it’s important to know and remember the details, as best we can, of what happened on those few days that would change our fate, for those who believe. ...

Once upon a time there was a beautiful, kind young girl who lived in a faraway land.  She lost her mother at a young age and was raised and adored by her father.  She led a happy life… until …the wicked step mother and step sisters entered the picture. The poor girl was then suddenly dealt a hard blow when her father died and she was left living as a servant to three horrid women.  Of course, most of us know I’m speaking of the timeless tale of Cinderella.  After taking my children to see the newest version of the Disney classic, I couldn’t help but let my mind wander a bit. Cindy had a hard life.  Both of her parents died while she was still young. She became a slave.  And, her best friends were rodents. The story took a twist when the prince, whom she didn’t know, caught up with her after he saw her swiftly riding a horse through the forest. Let’s stop there and read that last sentence again.  The prince caught up with her . S...

For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7) There are moments when the impact of life’s brutal blows will hit so hard we feel the wind has been knocked out of us. Last Sunday morning, my family woke to the devastating news of a close family members passing.  It was sudden and gut- wrenching. We gathered at his home where his body lay as the coroner gave us a chance to be together.   I watched as my grandmother said goodbye to her son and as my dad kissed his only brother on the forehead to say he loved him. One of the most touching moments of my life came when I sat beside my pain-stricken grandmother as she sang the chorus of “It is well with my soul” just minutes after. In the days that followed, family and friends surrounded as we told stories, looked at old photographs and remembered my uncle.  Distraction seemed to help from the reality of what happened. Eventually though, th...

“Just give me ten minutes please” I said in an elevated voice to my two children as one would call out "MOOMMMYYYY" and then the other.  It was 8:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning.  How could they bicker already I thought to myself. I cuddled up under my blanket, anxious to dive into the word and get lost for a moment with Jesus.  Two minutes later, one barges in my room followed by the other.  All I wanted was a few minutes alone with my Daddy.  I knew I wouldn’t get the study time I needed or wanted, so I waited.  As a single mom, it’s common for me to forego my quiet time for later in the day or at night once I know I can concentrate.  If you’re a single parent to smaller children, can you relate?  They require so much of our time that it’s hard to find solitude.  In an attempt to sneak in peace and quiet, we tiptoe around our home while they sleep, whisper long winded prayers like Lord, give me strength and play hide and seek,...

The clock read 3:09 a.m. Oh no, I’ll never go back to sleep I thought, as I felt the velvety touch of my three year old’s hand rubbing my arm. Without much sleep the night before, I was exhausted. She began softly singing as her body flailed from one side to another. As much as I liked having her lay beside me, I knew no rest would be had. So, I picked her up and carried her to her big girl bed. She quickly nestled in under her safe, warm blankets as I told her to go back to sleep. My feet felt like they were 500 lbs as I lifted one foot in front of the other, fumbling my way back to my own room. My head hit the pillow and bing! My eyes were wide open. And so began my racing thoughts, tossing and turning and staring at the clock. Then, I heard God say: “Go back to sleep”. And so for the next two glorious hours, I slept so soundly, I don’t think I moved. Many night have been broken up in segments by the sound of my daughter’s tiny trampling feet or cries from my son after ...

Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!  You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. -Deuteronomy 30:19-20 As I quieted the voices in my mind, the voices on the outside of the gate grew louder. “You don’t have to do this,” one man said. “There are other options.” I walked swiftly to the door, trying to block out the sign that read Stop Abortion Now and the voices that cried out, “Jesus loves you.” My mind was spinning, as I sat down in the waiting room.  I went from second guessing my decision to rationalizing it was okay.  After all, I was only a few weeks pregnant and the baby growing inside of me was smaller than a half dollar. It hadn’t had a chance to develop yet, is what I...

Divorce is like death, only it doesn’t kill you. Sometimes, it comes like a thief in the night. Other times, it’s years in the making. When reality hit that my marriage was at the end of its rope, I felt lost. No matter how bad it became, it was familiar and all I had come to know. But, the end arrived. And with it came feelings of heartache, hopelessness and insecurity. So, I found myself at the beginning of a new life as a single mom. Not only did I carry the emotions of the dissolution but I had new feelings to throw in the mix. Worry. Uncertainty. Fear. Over time, my new life became familiar. As my heart healed, I began to look to the future with anticipation. There’s a line in the movie Hope Floats that has become a favorite. “Beginnings are usually scary, endings are usually sad, but it’s what’s in the middle that counts. So when you find yourself at the beginning, just give hope a chance to float up. And it will.” As we are approaching the collision of one year’s end...