A Tree House Tapestry: Vignettes, Life Lessons and Reflections for Settling into the 60S, 70S and Beyond

By Kathy Oades-Kelly MS LPC NCC

Growing older often catches us by surprise! This is a book for “grown-ups” who want to embrace their aging – not fear it. All of us make choices every day about how we look at the tapestry of our lives. Do we focus on it from the picture side? Or do we focus more on the underneath side and all the crisscrossing threads and knots? This view will look confusing and feel discouraging. This side also hides the true life-giving potential of all things. A grown-up who is “real” is one who looks at the tapestry of their life from the picture side now. Gradually, and gratefully, what I have grown to understand and better define about myself, John Kelly, and my parents, and other family members and friends is aging is a special part of the cycle of life designed by our God. God invites us to embrace aging, not fear it. I am offering an opportunity for you to reflect on and honor both sides of the tapestry of your life. I wrote my book of vignettes, life lessons, reflections and prayers for all of us who are grown-ups now, and, who also remember being children. My hope is that it will bless each reader helps you reflect, and remember, with tender compassion and loving acceptance. My dear parents are 94 and 97 as 2020 closes. They transitioned so well from and independent into an assisted-living apartment. They truly have become two of my best role models! I dedicate this book to them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Mar 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9781982262280

Kathy Oades-Kelly MS LPC NCC

As a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor, Kathy Kelly has had the privilege of meeting and working with clients in a rich variety of settings. Her professional life has included working as a counselor in a social service agency, two elementary schools, as a parish counselor, and since 2006, exclusively in her private counseling practice, The Ministry of Wellspring, LLC. Her mission and goals have always been to support healthy living and healthy relationships. She believes that each of us have a wellspring within that can restore balance in our lives, empower strengths and inner resources, and encourage healthier living and healthier relationships.

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 Kathy Oades-Kelly, MS, LPC, NCC.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.balboapress.com

844-682-1282

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-9822-6227-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-6228-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021901094

Balboa Press rev. date: 03/03/2021

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Vignette 1The Holy Ground of Living in a Tree House

Life Lesson 1Life-Changing Events Deserve to Be Honored

Vignette 2 Honoring the Feelings of Change With Children and Adults

Life Lesson 2Using ABCs to Verbalize Deep Feelings

Vignette 3Grief Hurts for Children and Adults of All Ages

Life Lesson 3Honoring the Living Death of a Divorce

Vignette 4What Does to Die Mean?

Life Lesson 4Processing Grief With Children

Vignette 5Reconnecting

Life Lesson 5Finding Closure

Vignette 6School Counseling Creativity

Life Lesson 6The Power of Our Words

Vignette 7A Gift of Perspective About Death

Life Lesson 7Finding Ways and Words to Help Make It REAL

Vignette 8Processing Grief and Honoring Questions

Life Lesson 8Remembering the Promise of Isaiah 46:10

Vignette 9Only Seeing the Underneath Side of Your Tapestry of Life

Life Lesson 9A Divinely Orchestrated Friendship Changed Everything

Vignette 10A Direct Message From Heaven

Life Lesson 10The Gift of Closure

Vignette 11An Intentional Purpose and God’s Plan for Your Life

Life Lesson 11Trusting God Will Help