Dianna Buchwalter

  "Flip the cushions to the good side," is what I said to myself while in preparation for many houseguests that are to arrive in two days.  Our patio furniture has been put to good and frequent use. We keep the cushions cruddy-side up to make sure it's brother, sunny-side stays clean for visitors.  Our home is never as clean as it is before we have guests. Can you relate? Why is it we feel the need to give an appearance of a spotless home and perfect life?  Could it be we want to impress others with an illusion that we have it all together? You know, the joker-sized smile on Sunday morning.  Children perfectly posed on our latest Facebook post. A successful career that affords lavish trips. No one has to know that the smile we wear is to hide the tears from a fight with our loved one. That it took 20 takes before getting the one good picture of our kids. That the 5 day beach trip came after 360 days of a high-stress, unrewarding job.  We seem to worry more ...

I took a walk today and stopped to sit on a bench facing the water (pictured above). Behind me is a lot of traffic and noise but in front of me lies beauty and calmness. With my earbuds in and current favorite song on, I closed my eyes and there it was, what I wanted to feel...His presence. It can be challenging to stop. I wondered how many times I had actually taken time out at midday on a Monday  to be still with God. The answer is I cannot remember. I'm sure this is often the case with most of us because we don't have the time. And we have other priorities. But the thing is, we do have the time. We just have to make it . It may take creativity or taking time away from something else but can we afford not to? My answer is no. Our God in Heaven longs to have a relationship with us. Relationships grow stronger when time is invested. The song I was listening to has a chorus that goes something like "I see the evidence of your goodness all over my life." I've never ...

The picture above is a present-day photo of my son,  Jeremy, who captured my heart 14 years ago. The picture below is who I still see.  A toddler - my baby. A cute, orange haired bundle of joy who first gave me the name “Mom.” In two weeks, he will be a freshman in high school. Deep breath. Gulp!  I remember swaddling him. His first steps.  The look of amazement at his first trip to the movie theater.  It’s hard to be prepared for your first child. We can read all the books, buy the best baby products and have the nursery decorated to a tee. But, when that child enters the world, everything changes. We’re scared and excited all at once.  And, somehow, with a little help from those who’ve already been there, prayer and guidance from our Heavenly Father, we eventually figure some of this parenting thing out. Yesterday, after getting advice from a friend, I bought my son an alarm clock. I realize I’m probably behind...

The phrase “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” was coined by Muhammad Ali. He is thought of as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Now I’m not much of a sports fan, but, boxing intrigues me. I’ve watched many matches through the cracks of my fingers as my hand covers my eyes. It’s strange how something so gruesome can be so appealing. One punch seems hard to take and yet these fighters endure blow after blow. The bell dings and each person proceeds to separate corners. They both get a short reprieve as their trainer imparts wisdom, offers encouragement and cleans up wounds. The bell dings again and they are back at it. One of the most thrilling parts is watching someone who we think is completely done, rise up from the ground they once lay on, look at their opponent, and say with their eyes “oh, it’s on.” Life can be so much like a boxing ring. A few months ago, our family faced one battle after another. After our faces met the fist a few times, instead of sa...

“I need more sleep,” I said to myself as I begrudgingly got out of bed last Saturday morning. Two of our kids had a function that morning, another wanted to go to a festival, our pantry was screaming for more groceries, the youngest child wanted to go wherever I did, I promised to take the girls to the mall weeks prior and my husband and I had a meeting that same day followed by our date night. I had no quiet time with Jesus and coffee wasn’t cutting it. By noon, broken sleep plus a tight scheduled equaled exhaustion. My husband is a very active father and loves to help in whatever way is needed, but, sometimes, there’s a part of me that wants to be able to do it all. I want to be Superwoman and look like I have it all together. Chauffer the kids, clean the house, buy the groceries, work a full-time job and   try to look half-way presentable by throwing make-up on my face.   Because of our season of life and my need to control, I end up feeling more Supertired an...

The loud annoying sound blared in my ear. “It’s 5:50 already?” I asked myself. I felt 83 instead of 38 as my body snap, crackled and popped after a few steps were taken from the bed to the bathroom. I woke one child, followed by the next three, made breakfast, fed the dog, brewed coffee and paid a bill online. Then, I remembered I needed to shower. I breathed a sigh of relief as, one by one, the kids safely made their way from our front door to the bus stop. I poured my cup of joe and sat down to meet with Jesus. Shortly after I thanked Him for the day, my mind wandered to the other bill I forgot to pay and if I washed the conditioner out of my hair. Ever been there? Where the thought of a calm, peaceful day or morning is a memory you seem to recall but is a little fuzzy. I sat down on my chair at work where I flipped my daily encouragement calendar. I grinned as it read “Be still and know I am God.” A few moments later, the same verse appeared in an article I read. “Ok...

I saw a woman engulfed by the roaring waves of the ocean. Her arms frantically moved as her head bobbed in and out of the water. She gasped for breath and wanted nothing more than to be on shore. People swam out to rescue her as others stood on the sand waiting for her to be pulled in. In the people’s effort to help, they too were being pulled down and couldn’t reach her. The woman felt hopeless as she cried out to God. “God, why won’t you save me?” A few moments later a white life ring floated beside her. She grabbed it with every ounce of strength as she pulled her body through the hole. She heard God say: “Be still and know I am God.” At first, she wondered how she could be still when she was in the middle of this vast sea until she realized she didn’t have many options. There were no boats or life guards. Just her and God.  She laid her head back as a calmness swept over her. The very same waves that crashed on and almost swallowed her were the same ones that propelled ...