There’s a Light in Every Child’s Eyes

Posted on January 28, 2015 by russtowne
 I watched the short video linked below and and was deeply touched. CASA is a wonderful organization and service. The  song was written by a dear friend, Denis Loiseau. I’ve co-written several songs with him. He is the “CASA Volunteer” in the video. Mike Lounibos is the singer and “Bus Driver”. Mike, Denis, and I co-wrote a song together a while back.
This song (which I had no part in creating) touched me deeply and warmed my heart. I invite you to take a mental break to enjoy and allow yourself to be touched by this song, video, and message.
I dream of writing such a song some day.
Russ
Posted in Children, Compassion, Love, Making the World a Better Place, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Opening Doors, Minds, and Hearts

Posted on January 19, 2015 by russtowne

The video linked below touched and inspired me. My hope is that it does the same for you.

Love Russ

Posted in Authentic Living, Bullying, Challenges, Choices, Courage, Kindness, LIfe Lessons | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Please Hear What I’m Not Saying…

Posted on January 8, 2015 by russtowne

I love this post and am reposting it. The message powerfully speaks to me. Thank you for your acceptance and love for what you’ve seen behind the mask.

With love,
Russ

misifusa's avatarMisifusa's Blog

Please Hear What I’m Not Saying

This poem was sent to me by a friend and it struck such a chord with me that I knew I had to share it with you. ♥  Does it remind you of anyone?

Don’t be fooled by me.
Don’t be fooled by the face I wear
for I wear a mask, a thousand masks,
masks that I’m afraid to take off,
and none of them is me.

Pretending is an art that’s second nature with me,
but don’t be fooled,
for God’s sake don’t be fooled.
I give you the impression that I’m secure,
that all is sunny and unruffled with me, within as well as without,
that confidence is my name and coolness my game,
that the water’s calm and I’m in command
and that I need no one,
but don’t believe me.
My surface may seem smooth but my surface is…

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A Day in Paradise

Posted on January 1, 2015 by russtowne

I’ve just completed creating tables of contents for the five non-fiction books I’ve either written or compiled. They’ve been sent to my layout person. Once she’s done, all future copies of the books will include a table of contents. Going through each book was a fun project that brought back many memories. I came across the following in From the Heart of a Grateful Man and wanted to re-share it with you. May it remind you of your own special times, people, and places. With Love, Russ A Day in Paradise

A while back, My Beloved and I spent a day in paradise. We walked in an ancient redwood forest along a large creek with clear flowing water, small waterfalls, and deep pools. All around us towered ancient majestic redwood trees as we walked among large ferns. Redwood sorrel that looked like giant clover leafs carpeted the ground. My Beloved, a Special Ed teacher for a mixed Kindergarten/ First Grade class, had just completed an exhausting school year the day before and badly needed a nap, so we stopped for a while in a secluded glen.
I sat on a fallen tree near the creek and My Beloved sat on the soft forest carpet leaning against me with her head resting on my chest. The water tinkled with a soothing music that is sweeter than any wind chimes, and in no time she was asleep. A warm but refreshing breeze gently caressed our skin as it enticed the trees to sway to the tune of the water and the wind. It looked to me as though the wind and trees were ancient dance partners swaying to a primal song, ever changing yet ever the same. The sun and shadows were not to be outdone as they danced among the trees and plants and on the forest floor. I thought their dance seemed a bit hurried, perhaps because they knew that when darkness fell at the end of the day their fun would end until morning, but the wind and trees could continue dancing and playing all night. I wondered if the sun and shadows cursed the unfairness of it all.
Our secret glen was full of spirit and magic and majesty. As I sat in reverence to the awesome beauty all around, my senses came alive with the sounds of the wind and water, the rough feel of the fallen tree and the softness of the wind, and the smells of the forest that are so unique and pure and earthy. Watching the water do its own dance among the stones in the stream brought me back to the many times as a child my friends and siblings would race leaves or twigs on the surface of creeks, or just sit and watch in curiosity and amazement as water skeeters raced along in calmer sections of the stream.
For a while, I was a child again. As I sat in reverie, my back, behind, arms, and legs began to ache as I tried not to move to avoid waking My Beloved–my body reminding me that while my mind can be any age, my body sometimes has other needs and ideas. But an even stronger feeling came to me as I sat in silence letting the soothing rhythms of nature refresh my spirit in that glorious masterpiece of nature with the woman of my life in my arms: This wasn’t merely paradise.
This was home.
Posted in Beauty, Contentment, Joy & Happiness, Love, Making Memories, Marriage, Peace | Tagged , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Great News for the New Year

Posted on January 1, 2015 by russtowne

Happy New Year! Our daughter Stephanie just became engaged. She and her beau were at Disneyland at night standing in front of the castle which had been lit up for the holidays when he got down on one knee, pulled out a ring box, and popped the question. She said yes. He said she couldn’t stop crying. My Beloved and I are pleased, proud, and happy for them. May they be blessed with much joy, good health, and peace.

Here’s a link to a shot of the happy moment:

 photo.php
With Love,
Russ
Posted in Children, Family, Joy & Happiness, Love, Making Memories, Marriage | Tagged , , , , , | 29 Comments

Posted on December 29, 2014 by russtowne

I love the story at Misifusa’s blog that is linked below. I’d have re-blogged it if it wasn’t already a reblog.

I am inspired yet saddened by what Anonymous must be going through to write such a letter, and for the suffering that such people manifest and spread in the world.

I love that the author is spreading light and love. May all such messages reach into the dark places of of cold hearts and lighten and warm them.

http://misifusa.wordpress.com/2014/12/29/dear-anonymous/#comment-14220

With Love,

Russ

 

 

 

Posted in Acceptance, Adversity, Anger, Authentic Living, Beauty, Bullying, Challenges, Choices, Compassion, Connection/Connecting, Growth/Learning, Healing, Illness, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Stories That Touched Me, Suffering | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

In A Day

Posted on December 28, 2014 by russtowne

I love this so much I’m reblogging it. When I’m mindful as to the power of each day, I’m far less likely to waste weeks, months, and years.

With love,
Russ

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

The True Story of Rudolph (The Red Nosed Reindeer)

Posted on December 25, 2014 by russtowne

What a great story! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

With Love,
Russ

Chris The Story Reading Ape's avatarChris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

This was emailed to me by a friend:

A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night. His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob’s wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer.

Little Barbara couldn’t understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad’s eyes and asked, “Why isn’t Mommy just like everybody else’s Mommy?”

Bob’s jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob’s life. Life always had to be different for Bob. Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he’d rather not remember.

From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit…

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“Thomas! Don’t Lick the Dog!”

Posted on December 21, 2014 by russtowne

Our 2-1/2 year old grandson Thomas stayed the night at our house on Friday.

When I was out of the room, I heard My Beloved say, “Thomas! Don’t lick the dog!” After I stopped laughing, I asked her what happened. She said one of our dogs had licked him. Of course! It would be the polite thing to do and completely logical to him that he should return the favor!

When My Beloved opened the car door so Thomas could climb into his  car seat, I heard her say, “Need some help, Thomas?” I turned around to see he’d put head was where his behind belonged in the seat and his backside stuck straight up where his head was supposed to be!

We took him for a ride to see Christmas lights and mentioned we’d have hot cocoa when we returned home. He said, “Coo Coo?” I replied, “No, cocoa.” Then that train-loving little tyke asked, “Choo-choo?” I tried only partly successfully to keep from cracking up as I patiently repeated, “No, Cocoa!” Next time I’ll tell him we’re having hot chocolate instead.

When we asked him why he took off his Spiderman slippers, he replied, “Spiderman tickled me.”

We had bacon and homemade waffles for breakfast. I looked up to see he’d taken a slice of bacon, placed it in a U-shape between his thumb and fore-finger, and was opening and closing the “mouth” he’d created with his hand. Without missing a beat “My Beloved” looked at him and said, “You better eat that Bacon Monster before it gets you!” Thomas laughed and chomped on the piece of bacon.

I’m trying to recall what we did for entertainment before our grandsons came along…

With Love,

Russ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Children, Family, Family "Fun", Fun, Grandparenting & Grandkids, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

The Power of A Human Touch

Posted on December 19, 2014 by russtowne

May we all experience the love of an “Old Anna” when we need it the most.
With Love,
Russ

Coach Muller's avatarMy Good Time Stories

Vinoth ChandarI was reading the following story, written by Henry Libersat on lifeofhope.com, and found it to be a very interesting tale. How people in today’s world are alone, sad, and really hurting? How encouraging and uplifting would it be, that if we would take the short time to give that friend of ours, a simple hug, a pat on the back, or just hold them and let them know how much they are loved and cared for. After reading this short story, I think that you will know what I mean.

During the first two decades of this century, a great number of babies under one year of age wasted away in hospitals and children’s institutions and died from unknown causes. In some institutions it was customary to enter the condition of all seriously sick infants as “hopeless” on admission cards.

Among the doctors who were confronted with infant…

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