Silver Routes & Linings
Welcome to Silver Routes and Linings
Where kindred souls connect to find peace, and
insight grows into wisdom.
No matter how dark it may seem,
brightness can be found at the edge of every storm cloud,
assurance that the Sun always shines behind it.
There are Silver Linings along every route you find yourself on.
Always.
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."John 1:5
About me
After a horrible horseback riding accident, my world changed drastically.
I came to see, in time, that there were many Silver Linings on this
new route my life had taken.
What I thought would ruin me has rebuilt me
in ways I never would have imagined.
As I continue to discover, understand and seek truth,
I hope to inspire others who find themselves
in a new season of life,
and to show that beauty truly can
rise from ashes.
My Story.
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. That was okay, because everyone called me Judy anyway. Later, I changed the spelling to Judi to try to be cooler after high school—an experience that was far from cool.
Over time, those closest to me began calling me Jude. Which I think is pretty cool.
Ironically, though, I now find Judith Marie pretty cool as an adult.
Funny how our perspectives can change over the years...
A year after a serious horse-riding accident, just before turning sixty, 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 noticed that women my age often find themselves at crucial crossroads. It 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’re staring at a stop sign, stuck in a fog, unsure of which way to turn.
Or whether to turn at all.
Ever been there?
That was me—lost and in pain, emotionally and physically, beyond discouraged.
All while trying to breathe without pain... and walk without fear of falling.
Restoration came. But it took time, intentionality, and a lot of physical therapy.
My age influenced both healing and decisions. While humbling—and sometimes humiliating—facing harsh realities brought surprising gifts and unearthed new personal strengths.
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.
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.
But a year of recuperating had packed on pounds, caused unexpected muscle loss, and accelerated the aging process. Ugh.
The mirror can be brutal...
But I needed something deeper.
That need inspired this blog: Silver Routes and Linings.
I want to explore how we truly feel—and how we want to feel—on the inside.
I won’t deny my age or grieve yesterday’s youthful years. Instead, I choose 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 is a quest for meaning. It has sent me searching many paths.
I wouldn’t have the hope and peace I do now if it hadn’t been for my accident—a crazy truth.
Not only has this journey led me back to God and strengthened my faith in ways I never expected, but it has taught me more about myself than I could have learned any other way.
It illuminated gifts and resources I now tap into regularly—resources that give me strength, hope, understanding, and peace.
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—always noticing silver linings along the way.
Pull up a seat. I have extra candles and flashlights to help you find your own silver linings.
