About Finding Harmony Blog and (the now defunct) Another Way Newspaper Column
About Finding Harmony Blog
Why finding harmony? How can you find harmony or have more peaceful relationships?
Someone once wrote this wisdom to me: “I love your name [Melodie]. Does it challenge you in a special way to be the note in life that makes harmony out of the diverse tones that often don’t make sense–until the melodic line is played with them?”
I’d never thought about that but for many years, I kept that quote about making harmony topmost on my bulletin board, and in my life. So that’s why I chose Finding Harmony for the theme of this blog. My purpose for Finding Harmony is offering insights (including from others) on how we can all find peace, harmony and all that grand stuff in our daily personal, community and wider world. Maybe. Whew. (The logos above show some of the blogger groups that sometimes use my posts.)
I am or was a “Jill-of-most-media” writer: book author, columnist, editor, producer, script writer, websites, Facebook, Twitter—almost everything except novels, electronic games or apps. I have one husband, three daughters, three sons-in-law, five grandsons, one granddaughter, and a dog. I also enjoyed serving as the editor of Valley Living (quarterly tabloid) for Media for Living, a smaller organization for over 20 years.
My most recent book is Whatever Happened to Dinner: Recipes and Reflections for Family Mealtime, (with 100 recipes). Even though my children are grown, my husband and I usually sit down for a meal together almost every night. So this blog also shares recipes, food adventures, and encouragement to keep family mealtime which at our house were not always harmonious, but that’s ok.
About Another Way Newspaper Column
I wrote the weekly Another Way syndicated newspaper column since 1987 to about 2024 . For over 43 years my primary occupation was as a writer, producer, editor for MennoMedia and Herald Press, and earlier, a writer for radio and videos and documentaries at Mennonite Media. As the name implied, I tred to look at life and issues “another way,” whether in the realm of personal issues, family, work, church, community, nation, or world. Subscribing to this Finding Harmony blog now gets you a merry mix of both Another Way and Finding Harmony posts.
So how were the blog and newspaper column different? Blog entries are far more personal, often interacting with readers, and using many more photos. The audience of Another Way was newspaper readers who enjoyed looking at daily topics we all encounter “another way.”
Faith background. I’m a Presbyterian who was raised Mennonite who married a Lutheran (talk about finding harmony) and worked for the Mennonite church ever since graduating from a Mennonite college after serving in a Mennonite VS program. I helped curate content for Third Way website for many years, with a boatload of information on Mennonites, Amish, and more. Our Presbyterian church is a peacemaking congregation. So I’m a merry mix still trying to follow Jesus’ way for my life.
That’s a little of where I’m coming from. Welcome.
Yes, this photo is about 20 years old now. But I still have the blouse and still wear it!
findingharmonyblog 
Hello Melodie
I have been a subscriber to Another Way for many years and have always enjoyed your writings.
I have subscribed to your Blog site and will look forward to reading your messages there as well.
Thanks for following and connecting in this way. I’ll be happy to hear your comments. Blessings to you.
We are Clayton and Ruth Steiner. We met you at the International Guest House. We enjoyed meeting you and have always enjoyed your writings.
Hi!! Good to hear from you, I remember you well (the video helps; we just used it at our church again the other week). Anyway, nice to meet up here too, thanks for your comments. Hope you are doing well and enjoying yet another phase of your retirement.
Thank you for telling us about George McClain’s new book. He had already given us the news and we’ve purchased a copy. RisingHope.org
Hi Melodies, years ago I edited a small publication in India called Encourager. You had graciously allowed us to use your articles. The magazine ran its course in 2003. You have always inspired me to write regularly, and it was about a decade later that I started a weekly blog barnabas.in focused on “Living Your Potential.” I just recently saw this blog and quickly subscribed to read what you’ve been writing these days. Thanks Melodies.
Melodie, sorry for the wrong spelling on my comment. My computer just tries to help me too much. Please do correct before allowing it…better than that, I’ll write another.
Hi Melodie, years ago I edited a small publication in India called Encourager. You had graciously allowed us to use your articles. The magazine ran its course in 2003. You have always inspired me to write regularly, and it was about a decade later that I started a weekly blog barnabas.in focused on “Living Your Potential.” I just recently saw this blog and quickly subscribed to read what you’ve been writing these days. Thanks Melodie.
I’m writing to invite you to join the new Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (BG²). If you’d like details, email me. Thanks.
I was working on more family history research today, and just came across your blog. Well, cousin, nice to meet you! One of my great, great grandfathers is Daniel P Miller ( brother of Moses). He is in the photo on the right side of the picture. I live in northern Indiana and have been excited to find many of my great x 2, 3, and 4…all in this Shipshewana area. I also tracked down Joseph (Moses and Daniel’s father’s) grave in a tiny church cemetery in Missouri. But we can’t find Anna Nancy, his wife, in Indiana. Sad, but true, some of the old stones are gone. I just retired so am happy to have free time to do this research. Thanks for sharing. You never know what we will learn each day.
Love, love love finding my cousins here! I think I’ve heard that before about Anna Nancy. My daughter has enjoyed doing family research in her spare time. Thx for commenting!
Janet, I’m a descendant of Daniel P. Miller. Actually, my great grandfather is Orie O. Miller. I’m working on my family genealogy and would appreciate any pictures that you might have. Which picture of Daniel P. Miller are you referencing?
Hi. I’ve nominated you for the Premio Dardos Award. Here’s the information. http://wp.me/p54xZT-AI
You have a wonderful blog!
Please let me know how to get your blog.
Go to the home page for the blog: https://findingharmonyblog.com/ and then scroll down the right hand side. There should be a place to enter your email and you will receive the posts every time I put them up, about once a week. It should be right under the long list of blogs I follow regularly. Let me know if you don’t see it. Or have someone help you (perhaps someone who knows their way around a computer really well and online. Thanks for finding this!