Dianne Miley's Blog, page 6

Heat of Summer

"Then the Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion and all who assemble there. He will provide a canopy of cloud ... covering the glorious land. It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain."Isaiah 4: 5-6It's the heat of summer and you haven't heard from me in months!Where have I been, you ask?I've been a little busy rearranging my life.Oh, no worries.I'm still married to my high school sweetheart.We celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary on June 4th.And we da...

Rules for No Reason

“How horrible it will be for those who make unjust laws and who make oppressive regulations.” Isaiah 10:1When my daughter, Melissa casually mentioned going to the grocery store three times in one day, I was surprised. She is hardworking and efficient, and every bit as OCD as her mother. I spouted off, “One time I forgot something and had to go twice in one day--” and here are the words I can’t take back – “and I felt like an idiot.”Thinking back, I worried that my daughter felt like I was cal...

I'm Dreaming of a "Light" Christmas...

After two weddings and a root canal, we're enjoying Christmas "light" this year. Yes, enjoying.How freeing to visit Bed Bath & Beyond the week before Christmas with one item to buy - no list needed. I was in no hurry, but everyone around me was. Unencumbered, I nimbly maneuvered past two ladies with carts blocking the aisle. I overheard a snippet of their conversation. They were glad to see one another but had no time to chat. They had long Christmas lists and very little time, you see. I smi...

Bird on a Wire

I woke up at 4:35am. Nature called. More than that, the words called. I went back to bed, warm and cozy. But the words wouldn't stop. I had to see where they'd take me - and write them down.They started with birds on a wire. Where does that come from in the wee hours of the morning? Rested, but not yet fully awake, this is where a writer's mind goes. Writers are strange birds.After dragging myself out of bed to write, it became clear this poem was not about birds plural, but a single bird - a...

5 Fences of Freedom

Do you imagine freedom as wilderness, free-spirited and unencumbered? Certainly you don't imagine freedom hemmed in by fences. Yet fences are necessary to protect our freedom. And don't worry -- I'm NOT talking about a wall on the Mexican border.So what is freedom, exactly? According to Webster, freedom is: "1. the quality or state of being free: such as. a: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action. b: liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of anot...

Of Weddings & Weather...

Today I'm waxing poetic with lessons on life, making adjustments, and going with the flow. My daughter got engaged last Christmas. For nine months, we talked about her wedding day.We had a lovely wedding planned.Our daughter and her fiance, With some help from their parents,Spent nine months of researching All wedding variants.Visiting venues,Choosing flowers and food,Selecting decor To set the right mood.Making decisions,Hashing it out,Paying depositsWith nary a shout.Schedules, time lines,A...

Divided Loyalties or Multi-Purpose?

Last night I went to a friend's book signing/dinner party. (Fun!) As a fellow author, I knew several other authors at the event. When catching up with a successful friend, I told her I'd resigned from my job to dedicate my time to writing - AND building a nonprofit, SOUL, to encourage pregnant women and provide maternity housing.She was wowed by the nonprofit idea, but then I sensed a disappointment that I still won't be fully dedicated to a writing career. Frankly, I struggle with that too....

Creating a Life You Love

The Good Life -- that’s what we all want. Yet sometimes the Martyred Life feels like the only way to be spiritually obedient. Is that what God really expects of us?“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8Righteousness, mercy and humility are God’s expectations. Our Lord always wants what is best for us, and when we follow His way of living, we are creating our best l...

6 Ways to Enjoy The Best Summer Ever

It's summer and the living is easy! Well, not always...  I have my swimsuit and flip flops and Southern sweet tea, but no, the living is not always easy. Actually, you can see raindrops in the photo!  And no, a photo of me in that swimsuit is not going public, either. One piece or not.But I do plan to enjoy this summer. Here's the strategy:1. Forget Perfection. Enjoy your home, and let friends visit without going crazy cleaning. Sure, do the dishes, a quick sweep and straighten,  and wipe dow...

3 Secrets to a Lasting Marriage

My husband and I celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary on June 4th. Yeah, we got married in 1983. The same year my friend Christel was born. She reminded me with a sly giggle that I've been married longer than she's been alive. Okay, okay, I'm old enough to be her mom - and many of the rest of you who are reading this. Including the young woman at my chiropractor's office who asked, "What's the secret to staying married that long?"Here's what I told her.1. COMPROMISE. Find ways to turn a co...