Lessons from my sweet sister.

“I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, 
life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. 

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. 
I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, 
you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. 
I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." 
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. 

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; 
you need to be able to throw something back. 
I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, 
I usually make the right decision. 
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. 
I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. 
People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. 
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. 
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, 
but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 

― Maya Angelou


You always make me feel loved. 
Happy 50th Birthday, my darling Karen Sue.

Forgiveness.

(Part 6 of 12 series)


BILL.

When I think of my Uncle Bill and his impact in my life, “F” words come to mind. (I know this reference would just thrill him!) There is the obvious “F” word: Faith. Anyone that knows him, knows how strong his faith in God is. There is Family. Another obvious. Also father (substitute), fantastic and favorite (wink, wink). But the “F” word that best describes his influence in my life is: Forgiveness.

I think forgiveness is something we all struggle with in our lives; the world is full of people who see things in only black and white. They define people by the things they do, and once a person fails or falls short they wash their hands of them…FOREVER. (Oh, look there, another “F” word). End of discussion, their high moral ground won’t allow them to admit that we are all FLAWED. (See, I just can’t stop with these “F” words).

What Uncle Bill has taught me, through his strong faith, is that we are all just that - flawed human beings. We all make mistakes, we all have weaknesses and we all will FAIL (yikes) something or someone. But at the end of the day we have this uniquely human capacity to forgive. Uncle Bill reminds us that God forgives, so why can't we?

Life is too short NOT to forgive. 

Believe.

Part 5 of 12 in a series.

JAMES.

The fourth child in the Routley clan was my father, Jim. 


Initially, I thought finding one word to define what he taught me was going to be difficult, since all of who he was is a part of all I have become. But, it really only took me a moment to know the word, because it is the one word I've always shared with my own children. BELIEVE.


Believe in who you can be. Believe in what you want to achieve in life. Believe in making your life better, and the lives of your children better.


My dad believed that all his daughters could achieve anything and be anything they chose to be, he gave us the ability to imagine what those goals in life would be and he gave the financial and emotional support to reach for them. He never wavered from this mantra, even if he had to go without to help us.


In reaching and believing in yourself there was also the lesson of hard-work. And that striving for a better life and believing in yourself didn't come without effort, sweat and sacrifice. That is indeed a lesson I try to carry forward with my children.


Like my father, I believe my children are the most glorious creatures who ever lived. My belief in how amazing they are and their abilities to achieve anything is without limits. They just need to believe in themselves...and work hard, because your dreams are within reach.