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 →
Lessons from the Wheel.
When was the last time you were bad at something?I have wanted to learn to throw pottery for years. As a young girl, I was intrigued by dad’s pottery wheel. He built it himself - a kick-wheel. He kept it spinning and controlled the speed by kicking the base. I was about 8 years old.... Continue Reading →
Laughing Over Spilled Beans
We celebrated the life of my friend, Debbie Riebesehl, today. She was a bright light, a person whose commitment to the Lord and her family inspired everyone who had the chance to know her. She is also one of the best storytellers I've ever met. She wrote about her life in a way that encouraged... Continue Reading →
Meatballs and Jesus. A Faith Story.
I have friends whose faith stories contain dramatic contrasts between before and after deciding to follow Jesus. I'm always inspired and encouraged by their stories. For many years, I believed my story was too boring to inspire. I've also been tempted to believe that my story disqualified me from sharing with people who are not... 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 →
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 →
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 →
Solid Christmas
I love the holiday season, but now that it is over, I'm thinking about things that last.
Kim Perry Writes 