Erik Erikson coined the term “identity crisis”, saying that the environment in which a child is brought up is critical in the formation of personal identity and self-awareness. Makes sense, right? Obviously, the way we were raised significantly impacted who we are now. Imagine how different you might be if all the “moving parts” of […]
Category Archives: PEACE FULL HOME
Seven years ago a devastating tornado struck Joplin, Missouri. I read about a family of five who lived through that twister—the deadliest one that our country had seen in over sixty years. One of the children was separated from the rest of the family when the tornado set down. I cannot begin to imagine the […]
One morning, I woke up long before the sun was rising. I walked into the bathroom, closed the door and flipped the light switch. Nothing happened. Then I realized there were no lights anywhere. The programmed lights outside weren’t on. The little light on the electric toothbrush wasn’t flashing. Hmmmm….no instant gratification light going on here this morning. […]
What beliefs, which you hold in your core, seek expression? Are you willing to give voice to them? It’s okay if that voice starts as a barely audible whisper….really it is. When you make a decision to connect with yourself on a soul level, you are making this BIG statement: “I do matter— even if […]
The prince crouches behind a merlon on the battlement observing the carnage, silent, afraid to move forward. He peers through a crenel and watches the dragon slayer pull arrow after arrow out of her quiver as she selflessly defends the castle. Knights stand on either side of him protecting the asset: the person who—in spite […]
Sometimes, God speaks to us in the bright light of day. Sometimes, God whispers in the still night—when we’re alone or scared or unable to take one more step forward. Sometimes, it’s really tough to hear God’s voice above the clanging gongs. And, sometimes, we have to invite God into our silence. Silence Is Golden […]
When I was a child, my parents owned a black and white television. The three channels were ABC, CBS and NBC. By the time I was ten years old, we could watch shows like: My Three Sons, The Beverly Hillbillies, I Dream of Jeannie, The Mod Squad (I thought they were so cool) and, one of […]
I open my eyes to the darkness that envelops the room. There are times when I’m fearful of what lurks unseen. I’ve had too many nightmares to feel comfortable in the anonymity of dark. I take a breath. It is often in these moments, after sleep free of demons, that I am most in touch with […]
About a decade ago, my daughter, Sara, and a man named Tim met at the daycare both of their sons attended. They started taking their children on outings together and after many years of laughter, and shared experiences, realized that they were more than good friends. Their relationship had evolved into love. Every once in […]
When I was in my late twenties, I was the assistant controller in a successful company. One day, the owner shared this with me: “There are givers and takers in this world. My wife is a giver. I am a taker. And, you, Kay, are a giver.” I recall the words clearly because they were […]
Loneliness is on the rise, and the impact can be staggering. Feelings of isolation are real, in spite of the fact that we live on a planet with more than seven billion humans and have a myriad of ways to connect with each other. It’s rare to find several generations of family members living together. We often […]
I woke, early this morning, to the sound of torrential rain pounding against the windows. I got up and walked out to the dining room and sat at the table watching the sun slowly rise, illuminating the drops that washed away the remaining snow. It was as if the world was being given a fresh start. […]
I stood near a table, in the country club, and watched them walk into the room. He was dressed, as usual, with a jacket and tie, his back bent a bit, but his energy evident as he starting greeting his guests. She was next to him, beautiful and radiant, her hair perfectly coiffed, her smile […]
Today—having lived 21,915 days on our planet—marks the end of my first six decades in this life. This morning, I woke up to a beautiful card from Larry. I had breakfast with one of my dear friends. My grandchildren and daughter called to proclaim “Happy 60th Birthday!”, and I’ve received beautiful serenades left on my […]
Happy New Year! Those three words often hold so much hope for a fresh start, don’t they? For many, “New Year’s Resolutions” are a typical part of the winding down of one calendar year and moving onto the next. For others, resolutions have never been a part of their lives. For a lot of us, it’s haphazard. […]
Twas the day after Christmas and all through the place, the chatter gave way to a quieter space. The presents are stacked, although all now unwrapped, and Vero, the puppy, is taking a nap. The children are playing with new games and toys, remembering gladly the fun and the noise. We sat with our hot tea and […]
“Look up.” That was the message I was clearly given on a very early, October, morning as I sat at my desk writing. I did as instructed and saw that the cathedral ceiling was, literally, falling down! Fast forward to the second week in December. Over the past eight weeks, the library had to be […]
The Salvation Army I went to a Salvation Army location, with a box of items that we no longer needed/used/loved. I pulled into the DONATION DROP OFF line and opened the trunk. A young man took the box—with washed and folded clothing, books that had been “outgrown”, household items that were unused, and a music box that […]
A woman, standing in a checkout line on the Friday after Thanksgiving, is mumbling about how “ridiculous these lines are”. By the time she gets to the register, she’s yelling at the (likely) minimum wage person moving as quickly as he can. The young man stops (just for a moment) and tries to regroup. He […]
This was only the sixth “peace full home” post I wrote, when I published it back in November of 2013. There are now over two-hundred stories, and I love to “look back to look forward”. Often, when I reread an old post, I recognize the true circle of life, and how truly blessed we are. […]
