Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all.

Make It Count from Casey Neistat on Vimeo.

I'm 50 PLUS 3.

So okay, I can't lift my leg quite this high...but in my mind I do. Age is just a number, and I will always be a kid at heart.

Every day is Valentine's.

Something strange happened yesterday.
My husband yelled to me from the other room, "Kathy, come here and bring your camera with you."
I thought he wanted me to take a picture of something out the back window. He has done that before. He has left new fallen snow un-shoveled and un-plowed because he thought it was beautiful and knew I would want to get a few pictures of it in crisp morning light.
So as I hurried into the back room with my camera, I asked what he wanted me to take a picture of. He said, "I want you to take a picture of her hand in mine." He was holding our granddaughter on his lap, amazed at this new game she was playing with him.
I was equally amazed. My husband was asking me to take a picture of him. Was this the same man I've known for the last 27 years? The one who H.A.T.E.S to have his picture taken? He who leaves the room if a camera comes out? The one who yells at me to put the camera down?
It seems silly now, but that sentimental moment had tears welling up in my eyes. I quickly regained my composure and started shooting.
Her hand in his, his face cuddling hers.
When you are in love, you want to remember and savor every moment.
She brings him Valentine's Day everyday!

Happy happy. Joy joy!

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; 

that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth" 

- Charles Dickens, 1836

Wishing you a happy Christmas and joyful New Year. 

May 2012 mean you never miss the opportunity to make snow angels, 

jump in puddles and skip along the flowers. 

May the only fights you ever have be of the pillow and food variety. 

And, oh, may 2012 bring you the fun of chasing rainbows, blowing bubbles, 

cookies with milk, snuggling warm puppies and love. 

LOTS OF IT!

Today we visit Norway.

Last Walk Around Mirror Lake - Boom Bip (Boards of Canada Remix) from FroschYankee on Vimeo.

NOT on my bucket list. And NO it will NEVER be. I will have to see Mirror Lake from the tourist locations. Thank you very much.

The college grad.

"Don’t ask what the world needs. 

Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. 

Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
--Howard Thurman

Go set the world on fire Gussie! I am so proud to be your mother!

What makes a family?

Put this on your list Gussie!

dagdraumar from Allan Wilson on Vimeo.

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.

Strength.

(part 4 of 12 series)

MARY.
Even before the events of this past summer, I had already picked the word "strength" to describe my Aunt Mary. And after watching her struggles over these past months, it is THE word that truly defines who she is to me. It isn't the physical definition, but the internal one: mental power and moral courage. Strength is what she has taught me about living.

As a role-model to the younger Routley women, she taught us to never wither; to attack each day with courage and to to never waste a moment. Always soldiering on, she greets life with a calm, internal strength and an amazing sense of humor.

This past July, I was reminded of her fearlessness.  Aunt Mary suffered a fall that resulted in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). At 74, such an injury could have been detrimental, even deadly, to someone her age, and someone with less internal fortitude. But she battled back, one small step (figuratively and literally) at a time.

The first time I saw her after her accident, she sat in a wheel-chair quietly looking out a window, hardly speaking. The next day, she had the strength to sit on the edge of the bed, willing her feet to touch the ground. Two days later, she was making small steps with the help of her son. Two weeks later she was headed home. A month after her accident, she was attending a baby-shower for my daughter with the help of a walker.

It was an incredible reminder of how to overcome overwhelming obstacles or achieve lofty goals; face these tough moments ONE DAY AT A TIME and with focus, determination and pure WILL you can DO IT.

"I think women are amazing creatures. They are tough when they know how to be tough, brave enough to be tender and have the courage to laugh at themselves." -Author Unknown

Fifi - Day 10

The third time was the charm. After peeing all over everything twice, her majesty finally slept through Grandma's picture taking session. Already she rules our kingdom.

Life Changing

And just like that, changes come screaming into our life. 


After the 20 year old in me got done screaming "I am too young to be a grandma", the maternal instincts kicked in and all I could think was "look at the most beautiful baby in the world". 


In this single moment our lives have changed, our next generation has arrived and life as we know it will never be the same.

Stunt Poetry

Stunt Poetry from Rishi Kaneria on Vimeo.

Maybe more like Zen-Stunt Poetry. Breathe deep, take off, then float. Repeat. Love it.

Girl Power

“It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens, but we, the whole people, who formed the Union … Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less.” – Susan B. Anthony. 

Today marks the 91st anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Today, I never take this right for granted...or lightly.

It is hard to believe both my grandmothers were born without the right to vote? And their mothers did not earn the right until they were in her twenties. Sometimes I wish my own children had experienced some level of this struggle, so they would value this more. (Along with a few other rights!)

And while Susan B. Anthony may be the poster girl for the fight, the battlefield was led by many, many strong women for decades. I thank those women, the Suffrages, who fought like warriors for more than 40 years to earn our great-grandmothers and daughters these rights.

I raise my fist in solidarity. Girl power!

 

Photo credit: http://acelebrationofwomen.org/?p=19665

"MOVE"ING.

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

1 of a series of 3 short films. One of my longings is to see more of this wonderful world we live in. This film "moves" me, I oohh and aahh at the beautiful videography. Enjoy 11 countries in 1 minute.

Live your dream, share your passion.

Thank you to my friend Lauren Weber for sharing this on Facebook. I don't know her source for the original art, but I thank the creative person for the image. What a wonderful reminder. Lauren's positive attitude and mommy experiences can be found at: www.mrswebersneighborhood.com

Spiritual Emptiness

The Paradox of our Age.

We have bigger houses, but smaller families;

more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees, but less sense;

more knowledge, but less judgements;

more experts, but more problems;

more medicines, but less healthiness.

We've been all the way to the moon and back,

but have trouble crossing the street

to meet the new neighbor.

We build more computers

to hold more information,

to produce more copies than ever.

but have less communication.

We have become long on quantity,

but short on quality.

These are times of fast food,

but slow digestion;

tall man, but short character;

steep profits, but shallow relationships.

It is a time where there is much in the window,

but nothing in the room.

-His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama

Fly Your Freak Flag

"Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." Psalm 34:14

My internal hippie loves this silo. It represents to me what the 4th of July stands for. While our founding farmers didn't have tractors, I think this still falls under their ideals of the "pursuit of happiness". 


Hippies and their liberal cousins have fallen under criticism and mockery for more than 40 years. But their ideals truly are the most in line with the likes of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and the other brave members of our original colonies' congress. 

Our founding fathers could have easily given in to tyranny, to fight among themselves, to take the easy road. They could have shrouded themselves in conservative notions of fear, greed and power. Instead they chose the unpopular and more dangerous path.

None of them entered into independence or war lightly. They came to America because they wanted a better life for their families, and to live in freedom with a common purpose. They didn't believe anyone should stomp the rights of others, and every person had the right to live in full happiness.

That is what being a proud American means to me: to be good and do good and do it freely in peace, love and happiness.

Let's challenge ourselves to break free of the need for conformity and popularity. Let's remind ourselves what truly matters and live more liberally and less controlling of others.  Let's remember what our founding fathers fought for.

Go on,don't be afraid. Let your freak flag fly!

Peace Out America.