Three granddaughters so far. Being their "Nan" is nothing short of amazing - a high privilege, a cherished role, utter joy. Hazel, the oldest, is curious, kind, and watchful. A helper already. She understands so much these days and has a charming lilt in her voice when she asks, "Why?" She has a confident, gentle... Continue Reading →
Hope: On Ringing the Bell
In the elevator lobby on the fifth floor of Duke University Hospital, someone has painted a bird and part of a poem on the windows. The poem is Emily Dickinson's.“Hope” is the thing with feathers -That perches in the soul -And sings the tune without the words -And never stops - at all In the... Continue Reading →
This Is The Life!
Can you remember the first time you heard (or said) this phrase? I remember a much younger me imitating a scene from a movie - flopping on a poolside chaise lounge in a beautiful backyard, enjoying a fun celebration with loved ones. "Ahhhh. This is the LIFE!" Lately, I've been repeating the phrase with a... Continue Reading →
On Obedience: Lessons Learned
I recently followed through on something God called me to do years ago. While the process was slow and often confusing, I am grateful for the lessons learned along the way. Firstly, God lit each next step AS I WAS TAKING IT. Part of the reason I was confused and seemingly slow in my obedience,... Continue Reading →
Lessons in Truth Telling
I’ve been a Jesus follower for a long time. There are many lessons that I have learned and relearned, forgotten and then discovered anew. Sometimes in the middle of an “aha” moment I think, “But I already knew this! How did I get tripped up again?” Each time, there is a new bit of wisdom... Continue Reading →
Pandemic Lessons
Now that my vaccination card has both doses recorded, and guidelines suggest it is safer to resume more and more "normal" living, I am enjoying getting re-acquainted with the feelings of freedom once (unknowingly) taken for granted. I believe I'll be mindful of and treasuring these freedoms for the rest of my days. Things like:... Continue Reading →
Jesus and the Mess in My Kitchen
I love baking. There is deep satisfaction to be found in turning measures of simple ingredients into something delicious for my family and friends. Having my hands busy in my familiar kitchen frees my mind to process the things that I’ve been learning and talk to God about them. One of my go-to recipes is... Continue Reading →
Impact: On Being True
Every day, I'm getting older. I am not so bothered by it as I am amused and entertained. I'd like to think this is because I'm also getting wiser. I don't want to go back in time and I am not afraid of what's ahead (though certainly some of it will be unpleasant, painful, and... Continue Reading →
New Gratitude – Easter, 2020
I've been thinking about The Grinch a lot lately. How he tried to steal Christmas, but couldn't. Seems like there's been a new "Grinch" in town, taking a lot of what we had, (or thought we had). As a civilization, we've lost much. People have lost their lives, or a loved one to COVID-19. To... Continue Reading →
Hang in There (Another Life Lesson from the Garden)
I'm no farmer. I'm not even smart enough in the area of growing plants to be called a "gardener." The most that can be said about me in this arena is that I have bought plants to put in the ground and have only killed some of them. While parenting feels natural and intuitive to... Continue Reading →
Kim Perry Writes 