Simplx Sponsors The Komets

 Simplx again sponsored the Komets Hockey team in Fort Wayne.  We went to several games and always had a blast!!

ESTA Conference in San Diego

 Nate & I joined ESTA, a security company association where we can collaborate, share ideas & advice with other similar alarm companies across the country.  We traveled to San Diego to meet these other companies and participate in 4 days of conferencing and vacationing.  We took the 3 youngest boys with us and we had a really fun time.  We stayed at the Catamaran Resort (which we stayed at with Jaxton when he was 9 months old).  We spent time swimming in the bay, visiting the beach, going to the San Diego Zoo and much more! 

Kaylee's Middle School Track Season 2025

Track season for Kaylee was a blast.  She had many personal best records and broke the record for the school for the 800 Meter.  Her favorite events are the long distance runs.  She does the 400M, 800M & 1600M mile.  I'm so proud of her efforts and her dedication to the sport.  She can feel very proud of herself this season!!

 

Easter 2025

 For Easter we wanted to again serve the community.  We felt like that was the best use of our Sunday.  I truly feel that rather than sitting listening to a sermon about service and love, we can actually get out there and serve and love our community in action.  We worked at the Rescue Mission for a couple hours on Easter Sunday to make and package meals for the homeless.  The Rescue Mission made and packaged about 4000 meals in one day.  There were so many meals that they actually drove into smaller towns to deliver meals that we had leftover.  Our family helped sort and load the packaged meals to be delivered and handed out.  It was nice to work as a family. 

Our family Easter celebration was a nice meal at Mike & Kim's house, followed by some fun games put on by Melissa Owen.  The marching in place with a blindfold game was a hit.  Somehow, nobody can stay put in their square when they are marching in place blindfolded!! 

Since the Routsong Family in Fort Wayne does not have many small children that want to do an Easter Egg Hunt, we invited some of the kids' friends over to have our own egg hunt.  Kaylee & Dawson hid the eggs and a bunch of kiddos went searching.  Fun times for Easter!

Master Swim Ladies - Lane 1 & 2

 

Barb, Janalee, Lynn, Cara & Me!

A few summers ago, a friend invited me to try out the masters team. I could tread water and get across the pool, but I had had no real swim training in my life. I wanted a good workout but I wasn’t sure how swimming would go.  With her encouragement I showed up. I showed up at 5:45 AM wearing a noncompetitive style swimsuit, no cap, and no idea what I was doing. With kindness and encouragement the coach informed me that my goggles were on upside down. I could hardly make it 25 yards without huffing and puffing. I’m a runner, and I learned that the way you breathe in the pool is opposite to the way I breathe on a run and that was a whole new skill I had to figure out.  I was spotty with practice for a couple summers and then decided to stick with it year round last August.

Every swim practice morning for many months my anxiety was at an all-time high just getting myself to the Y, but I had a group of people expecting me to show up and to try again and again. The coaches worked with me individually till I could keep up with the others. It has become one of the biggest mental and physical challenges I have been able to overcome for my own personal growth and confidence.  I have six kids at home who consume most of my time and energy every day, which leaves very little time for myself.  5:45am Masters (while the kids are still asleep) gives me an opportunity to learn a new skill at 40 years old, find a new social group of friends, and grow a new found confidence I never imagined I would find in the pool.

I CAN do hard things.  I CAN learn a new skill at any age.  I CAN do anything I put my mind to!

Hope's Harbor House

 Service in the community is one of my favorite things to do with my family.  Here, we served a meal at Hope's Harbor House at Dupont Hospital.  Many NICU parents and family stay in the Harbor House while their infant is in the NICU or a family member is in the hospital.  I'm glad we could serve.  

Kaylee's Passion Speech

 Kaylee prepared a passion project speech.  She had to create a persuasive speech for something that she was passionate about.  She chose to speak about hosting a 5K at Oak Farm.  She shared the benefits of running from her own experience and how the event could benefit the school both financially and mentally and physically for each individual that participates.  She did a fantastic job!!

Kleiman Creative Writing Contest

 Nathan and his whole class at Oak Farm participated in the Kleiman Creative Writing Contest.  He was able to attend a convention where an author from the local area spoke about a book his class had been reading.  He got to submit his creative writing, a story about Caston the Snake, and was honored for his work.  Congrats Nathan!