Category Archives: Gratitude

My Recipe For Life

Posted on May 11, 2012 by russtowne

I believe that most people feel that life is very complex and complicated. That is understandable. There is so much information, regulation, conflicting needs and priorities, entities telling and selling what we need and should do, partisanship and rancor, choices, … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Friendship, Generosity, Gratitude, Growth/Learning, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Praise, Random Thoughts, Relationship Lessons Learned | Tagged attention, care, Caring, coach, comfort, confidence, contentment, energy, friends, fulfillment, grateful, gratitude, grow, guide, Happiness, Inner Peace, joy, keeping it simple, kindness, learn, Life, Love, passion, peace, people, recipe, recipe for life, share, shine, simplicity, slow learner, support, teach, time, truly matter, Zen | 3 Comments

Staying Young

Posted on May 6, 2012 by russtowne

“A man is not old until his regrets take the place of his dreams” –John Barrymore In that case, I’m still a young whippersnapper for my ripe age and grandfather-hood. As they say, “It’s never too late to have a … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandparenting & Grandkids, Gratitude, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Quotes I Love, Random Thoughts | Tagged a man is not old until his regrets take the place of his dreams, age, child, childhood, dream, dreams, fondest hopes, grandfather, Grandpa, Grandson, hopes, John Barrymore, young, youth | Leave a comment

A Knock On the Door

Posted on May 5, 2012 by russtowne

About nine years ago our 25th wedding anniversary was coming soon and I wanted to honor my wife and celebrate our anniversary in a special way. What I had in mind was to have some men help me to surprise … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Generosity, Gratitude, True Stories I've Written | Tagged "My Girl", a knock on the door, anniversary, audience, celebrate, cheek, clapped, cool, dance routine, dinner, door, families, gift, groovy, honnor, hug, hugged, kind, kindness, kiss, kissed, knock, long-stemmed red roses, memorable, men, Motown, neighbors, pleased, roses, special, special gift, special wife, special womean, surprised, Temptations, wife | 3 Comments

The Beach That Love Built

Posted on May 4, 2012 by russtowne

About six years ago our young teenage daughter was stricken with an “incurable” disease and nearly died. She spent about a month in the hospital, much of it intensive care fighting for her life. She had to deal with an … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Friendship, Generosity, Gratitude, Healing, Humor, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged alive, beach, bonfire, chemotherapy, cried, cry, dark, darkness, daughter, disease, Dog, Friend, friends, hospital, ICU, incurable, intensive care, little dog, Love, night, party, sand, sand water, sign, steroids, sunset, the beach built by love, the beach that love built, Tiki torch, Tiki torches, well | 2 Comments

Rusty

Posted on May 1, 2012 by russtowne

When I was in the hospital recovering from lung surgery many years ago, a friend gave a teddy bear to me. He knew that I’d long outgrown such gifts, but seeing how miserable, drugged-up and helpless I was, he decided … Continue reading →

Posted in Friendship, Generosity, Grandparenting & Grandkids, Gratitude, Healing, Random Thoughts, True Stories I've Written | Tagged bear, child, children, comfort, comforted, Family, Friend, grandchild, hospital, ill, ilness, kindness, Love, lung surgery, Rin Tin Tin, Rusty, stuffed animal, teddy bear | Leave a comment

The Eyes of a Child

Posted on April 28, 2012 by russtowne

I was just reflecting that many people say they feel old when they become a grandparent, but I’m feeling young again. This will be the fifth time that I’ll get to experience and explore life through the eyes of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Family "Fun", Grandparenting & Grandkids, Gratitude, Inspiring | Tagged child, eyes, eyes of a child, grandchild, grandfather, Grandpa, Grandson, kid, leaf, looking at life through the eyes of a child, playground, puddle, rain drop, raindrop, rock, walk, walks | Leave a comment

What A Great Idea!

Posted on April 27, 2012 by russtowne

I am often touched when I see “Welcome Home” video’s of mlitary servicepeople coming home from long deployments. I’ve just discovered a blog/site that is devoted to sharing such joyous moments with the world: WelcomeHomeBlog.com. What a great idea! To … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Dogs & Other Wonderful Creatures, Fun Vids, Gratitude, Humor, Inspiring, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, daughter, deployment, Dog, dogs, family reunion, father, Marines, military, Mother, Navy, reunion, service, servicemen, servicepeople, servicewomen, soldiers, son, touched, Touching, videos, welcomehomeblog, welcomhomeblog.com | Leave a comment

My First Grandchild Was Born Yeserday

Posted on April 27, 2012 by russtowne

My first grandchild was born yesterday. Everyone is doing fine. I spent most of the day at the hospital yesterday to let an exhausted new mommy and daddy sleep and to spend as much time as possible holding and beholding … Continue reading →

Posted in Family "Fun", Grandparenting & Grandkids, Gratitude, Inspiring | Tagged bon, dad, daddy, father, grandad, grandchild, grandfather, gransdon, grateful, happy, hospital, lucky, mom, mommy, Mother, yesterday | 2 Comments

I P O Y

Posted on April 11, 2012 by russtowne

I occassionally write the letters “I P O Y” on the bottom of emails and other written communicationss to one of my sons. The reason for doing so takes a little explaining but involves Fred Rogers of “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Friendship, Gratitude, Healing, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Random Thoughts, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged anxieties, anxiety, Audiobook, author, better world, Caring, children, childrens', compassionate, confidence, confident, death, empathetic, fear, Fred Rogers, Friendship, gentle, I P O Y, IPOY, kids, kind, letters, Life, loving, making the world a better place, Mister Roger's, Mr Roger's Neighborhood, Mr. Rogers' Neigborhood, safe, safe space, self-worth, show, son, sons, television, their world, troubling, TV, world, writer | Leave a comment

The Day Girls Saved Me

Posted on April 9, 2012 by russtowne

Many years ago I was in a high school Marine Corps JROTC program as the Vietnam War was coming to an end. It was not a real popular time to be in uniform. It was a turbulent time. One of … Continue reading →