Hello and Welcome! I'm Jude.

Grab a coffee or snack - my story is a journey.

I was born Judith Marie, a name I hated, so everyone called me Judy from a young age. I changed the spelling to Judi, to try to be cooler after high school, where I was far from cool. Over time, those closest to me started calling me Jude. Which I think is pretty cool. Ironically, I like the name Judith Marie now, as an adult.

Funny, how our perspectives can change over the years.

A year after a serious horse-riding accident, just before turning 60, I found myself in the hospital, confronting multiple injuries. The incident flipped my life upside down and forced me to let go of a lifestyle and lifelong passion for horses. Despite the horrors, I discovered incredible blessings I would never have known without hitting the ground that day.

During that year of loss and healing, I also discovered women my age often found themselves at crucial crossroads. Which can be disarming, especially during a season of life when we expect to have everything figured out.

One moment, we’re fine, and then, suddenly, we are staring at a stop sign, stuck in a fog, unsure of which way to turn.

Or whether to turn at all.

Ever been there?

Well, that was me - lost and in pain—emotionally and physically, and beyond discouraged.

All while trying to breathe without pain and to walk without fear of falling.

Restoration came. But it took time, intentionality, and a lot of physical therapy.

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My age influenced healing and decisions. While both humbling and humiliating, facing harsh realities brought surprising gifts and unearthed new personal truths.

A voice inside said it was time to pull the plug. The inherent risk of riding horses no longer held the attraction it once did. My injuries weren't life-threatening, but they left me with ongoing health issues and forced me to prioritize my emotional and physical well-being.

With my identity tied to the horse world for decades, I now faced a blank slate at sixty. On the couch. With ice packs and pillows. 

Talk about starting a new chapter – I had to start a whole new book.

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In my search for inspiration, I found most blogs aimed at women my age focused on fashion and beauty. Looking good is great, and I certainly could use all the help I could get. A year of recuperating had packed on pounds, caused unexpected muscle loss, and accelerated the aging process. Ugg.

The mirror can be brutal.

But I needed something deeper.

What I needed inspired this blog for Silver Routes and Linings.

I want to explore how we truly feel and want to feel on the inside.

I won’t defy my age and refuse to grieve for yesterday’s youthful years.

I am choosing to embrace this next stage of life with awareness and joy. Sometimes multiple times a day.

I’d love to share my journey with you.

I believe we are created uniquely. Some of us are natural sharers meant to help heal the hurting in this world. Sharing lightens the loads we carry, sheds light on our paths, and sparks flames in each other. Whether it’s stories around a bonfire or a table, with coffee or cocktails, laughter and epiphanies usually show up hand in hand.            

My journey has been a quest for meaning. It has led me down many paths. I would not have the hope and peace I do if it had not been for my accident.  A crazy truth.

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Not only has this journey led me back to God and strengthened my faith in a way I would have never EVER expected, but that tough event taught me more about myself than I could have learned any other way. It illuminated gifts and resources I can now tap into regularly. Resources that give me strength, hope, understanding, and peace.

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Funny how our perspectives can change over the years.

As I embrace the silver in my hair and navigate new routes, I look forward to what lies ahead, like noticing silver linings along the way.

Pull up a seat. I have extra candles and flashlights to help you find your own Silver Linings.