The End of the Endless Summer

It's August 1st, it has been a long hiatus from blogging as I have started my new career path here in Tennessee. My plans to write my book while on my break have been waylaid by life being overwhelmingly busy with the processes of starting again here in Tennessee. Traditionally August is about music, blogging and celebrating life so I decided time to write again about our life and the happenings here in Vol country.


Sometimes we hide what is going on instead of being honest with others outside our inner circle. I have found being truthfully honest as an open book works better. People come to you, they share with you willingly because you can understand life isn't easy all the time.

This summer I have put in over 200 hrs at work, this has been a huge blessing and really kind of exciting for me. For seven wonderful years, I was a stay at home mom whose husband worked 80 plus hours a week supporting me and the kids as he faced major health issues. There were times he barely made it to work, passing out and being rushed to the hospital with blood pressures over 200/100 while waiting for his transplant.

I was raised in a family of working women, I watched my grandma take her nap on the floor each day during One Life To Live, fix her hair and go off to work the swing shift. My aunts Maggie, Patty and Jeanette all went to work and worked hard for their families. My mom has worked since I was fairly young, first as a pre-school teacher and then in her current role for the last 27 years. My grandpa's worked, and my Dad is the hardest worker anyone knows even technically working on his days off to help others. I was raised to be a hard worker, I know no other way. I never dreamed about being a stay at home mom until I had two kids and they needed me. I always knew, it was for me to work.

Marty and I moved to Tennessee for many reasons, we felt called here and without a doubt it was for me to have the current job I have. It is the perfect fit for me, helping others who are in a role that I have spent years in myself. I am really good at what I do daily and this is the job for me.

Marty has a job where he is off for the summer with no pay. So my job this summer was to work as much overtime as possible to try to fill in the gap. Moving took our entire savings until he got a job and we have been slowly re-building this past year. Marty looked for a summer job but in the south, things don't move quickly and his summer job started this week.....he goes back to school on Monday!

Marty has a lot of faith in God's provision and it has been truly amazing for all of us to see God working it out. We have made it through and our bills have been paid, we have eaten and still lived fairly normally with a few small edits to the normal budget ie. no vacations or grand eating out adventures, no shopping for non necessities etc.

Why am I sharing what most people hide? because sometimes people need to hear the real truths in peoples lives. Sometimes they need to know they aren't alone in struggling. I had a wise young man tell me,'' when people see the ''perfect'' family they aren't seeing the whole picture.''

Summer was so fun, my mom, aunt, uncle  came to visit. We went to Dollywood, traveled to see some of our Cherokee history and just enjoyed being a family together. It was so nice to see my aunt and uncle, who I hadn't seen in a few years. It was nice to have my mom here and see family.

We also traveled to my cousin Ben's wedding,  he married a beautiful girl brought a new member into our big family. It was so nice to share in their day, it was very emotional, I cried numerous times. Ben and I danced together crying wishing our grandparents could be there too. I love my uncle's family and being with people who I look like is nice.

Then July, the Tour de France, my favorite event of the summer. It was tough because I worked and couldn't really watch the race. Thankfully my friend Dot drove seven hours to spend the weekend with me watching the finale of the race. Even though I missed a lot of racing, I think this tour will be memorable to me forever because of some really special reasons that have to do with the people of the cycling community in general.

Now August is coming, Marty is heading back to school and life is returning to normal. The kids will both be in high school this year and we have a lot of work to focus on with that. Conner has two jobs, Elizabeth is baking up a storm and making new friends.

One thing this summer, we have been grateful for those friends who have supported us in prayer as we trusted God. So many were there for us, lifting us up and making the effort. As we make new friends in Tennessee, Elizabeth and I have been learning to look forward instead of looking back. Sometimes we get disappointed things aren't the same with the friends we left but then we remember life is moving forward not back. We are thankful for those who make the effort to come visit, to check in and listen to us.

We have enjoyed the beautiful summer weather, lots of really good family time, laughter, happiness and joy. One of the things that happened was Debbie, our donor Jerry's mom sent us a video of Jerry's life and bracelets. I look at my wrist with Jerry's name on it every day, I realize how good our life is because of their gift and how Marty not getting paid is NOTHING compared to where we came from. We are blessed and grateful for our life now, we are really loving our new jobs and life in Tennessee.

As tradition, August is the month I do my ''Music that Takes Me Back'' series.  Summer is always about the Beach Boys. So I will share something Marty has said to me all summer:





PSI have been working on memorizing Matthew 6 this summer:

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Tennessee or Bust 2013:Controlled Chaos

We are very simple people who live a very simple life. We are homebodies who love being at home with our family occasionally traveling to visit family or friends. We love when friends and family come to visit us and have been told they love coming to our peaceful home.

Lately life has turned into controlled chaos. The kids are teenagers loving to bicker, Max our eleven year old neurotic dog is anxious because we are packing. I am packing, making phone calls, keeping on top of homeschooling, making appointments and trying to make arrangements for our move. On top of all of that, Marty and I are both working full time plus to fund the move. Life is really chaotic.

My parents barely saw me at Christmas, I worked their entire visit. My cousin Sarah came to visit and I had to work the whole visit. This weekend our friends Lindsey and Rob came to visit, I had to work around their visit. I think everyone now can see, it is time for us to move and simplify once again.

Really looking forward to the actual move itself. Taking the kids on a cross country road trip is a dream come true. I grew up making them with my family and cannot wait for Marty and the kids to have the experience. We are making a couple of stops along the way to see friends and some important sites.

Most of all I am just ready to be done with it all. The move will seem like a breeze compared to the planning stage. Excited to finally quit talking about it and just be done with it.

We got some great news two weeks ago, just so happens that my friend/new boss Lee found a rental for us. His Dad's renters are moving out just two weeks before we are moving to TN. It is a great location and exactly what we were looking for! On top of that, we got a notice that our Landlord here has been foreclosed upon and we are getting paid to move out. The amount was the cost of our moving truck! Everything is just falling into place. I have stopped worrying because I know everything will work out and so far it has!

Now the hard part begins, trying to see our close friends and family before we leave. Saying goodbye to our church family and co-workers. You can guarantee that I will have a very teary next three weeks saying goodbye to everyone. We will never be ready to say goodbye and particularly E is sad to leave her friends behind. We even took a farewell trip to the Sequoias with our friends Lindsey and Rob.

So much going on, little time to blog, call friends or even text. Bear with me this next month or so, if I seem distant it is just because I am overwhelmed.

Looking forward to a simple kind of life in Tennessee!

Whatcha Been Up to Jules??

That's a question that has been posed to me quite often lately. I've been extremely busy with little down time and that has caused lots of things to suffer. Not as much time to meet with friends, blog or keep up with phone calls.

First of all, after seven years of not working outside the house, I got a job and went back to work. My swim coach was looking for someone to work in his restaurant and I took him up on it. It's been fun learning a new skill and working again. I love being around people and especially working our special events. Lots of baby showers,bridal showers, wedding rehearsals and birthday parties. Really fun to help decorate, serve and make someone's day special. You can check out there website here

The kids have been busy playing water polo, Marty has been working and we had company from France for  11 days. Fanette, Vincent and David came to visit us and see California. We had a great time showing them around our town and state. We made four trips to LA and back by the time we were through. We went to Universal, Sea World, Disneyland and the Sequoias.

We loved seeing Fanette and her boys in person, showing them the state and just being together. I even skipped watching the first ten days of my beloved Tour de France to spend time with them. Between working and site seeing, I had no time to do little else. It was worth it and I caught up after they left.

Now I am back to work and tour watching. I've got some great updates on my weight loss journey to share but that is another blog and another day. Just lots of busyness and stuff going on. I am looking forward to settling into a routine soon. 

Happy Birthday Sarah!

A few months ago, I decided that I will write each cousin a blog for their birthday this year. I decided to start with my cousin Sarah. In our group of 14 cousins she is number four in birth order after myself,Carrie and Brianne. She is my Dad's sister Patty's oldest daughter and one of my best friends in the entire world.

Carrie, Baby Sarah and myself. I think I asked Aunt Patty to name her Cookie Monster.

Growing up Sarah was the quiet, good one. She always was good, never getting into trouble or causing trouble. She was always the quiet one unless we were doing something bad and then she refused to go along with our hair brained ideas. Sarah was and always had been the "good one" of the bunch. She was a excellent student who has met every goal she ever set for herself and beyond.

Right to left, Sarah,Brianne, and Julie on Grandpa's lap. Truly my all time favorite picture.

Sarah has always been there for me. We share a common bond of one of the worst, most scary experiences of our life that only we can really understand together. Growing up, we spent a lot of time together and at one point even lived together. We grew up spending most weekends and weekdays during the summer at our grandparents house. We truly had a unique bond as cousins growing up. We spent almost as much time together as we did with our siblings.

Christmas morning at Sarah's house

As we have grown into adult women, our bond is the strongest it has ever been. She is one of my best friends in the entire world. She has been a sister, friend, aunt and supporter to my family. She is always there for me when I need her and truly one of the best people I know. We can cry together, be each others confidant, supporter, and friend. She has let me cry on her shoulder many times and is usually on of the first people I call in my times of need.

Sarah and I on the day of Rissa's wedding

Marty isn't close to many people and so that is what makes his adoration for Sarah so big. He adores my cousin Sarah and is always asking me about her. They get along so well because they are both quiet people who observe the outside world in a unique way. When Marty was sick, Sarah made many trips to see our family and was truly our saving grace. She brought family to us when we couldn't get to them. We will always be forever grateful for the support she gave us in our time of need. She drove seven hours two ways to bring our kids to us at Stanford!

My kids adore her and she is really the aunt they have never had. She is more than just a cousin to them and they love her dearly.

Left to right; Sarah, Conner, B-Annie, Elizabeth 2010

She is a amazing teacher with a amazing career in a highly specialized field. I can only imagine the huge impact she makes on her students life by teaching them to speak after cochlear implant surgery.  I know she has made a difference in the world.

My hope and prayer for her is that she finds a wonderful, deserving man to share her life with someday. Anyone would be lucky to have her for a wife someday! I know it will happen and I cant wait for that for her.

I could go on and on about Sarah. My life has been blessed by her and I am so thankful to have her in my life. Wishing you the best of birthdays and the best year ever!

After giving Grandma a makeover!

Sarah with Marty and Brianne 2010

The Easter Weekend Blessing

A few weeks ago, sister of the heart Andrea told me she needed me. She was racing her second half marathon in a the span of two months and wanted me to come watch. I immediately told her no because I had no plans to travel to So.Cal and it was Easter weekend. Then I remembered back to several occasions over the past few years where I desperately wanted to come to things she invited me to and couldn't because of Marty's health. During that time Marty had promised us both that when the next occasion arose and he was well, I could go. Little did I know what blessings would await because she asked me to do this. In the end, I was the one blessed by this trip.

 I messaged her back later and told her, "Okay, I am coming" and called my family to tell them I would be there for Easter. It was a tough decision because this is most likely our last Easter in California and at our church. So I was waffling for that reason alone. Last weekend as I raced my triathlon, I realized how nice it would be to have a friend at the finish cheering me on. If I hadn't run the tri, I may have thought about doing the race with her.

Fast forward, After watching my friend Heidi's son on Friday, we left town at 5:30 and got there at 10pm. I quickly tried to get to sleep for my three a.m. wake up call. I arrived at Andrea's house at 4 a.m. and found a very nervous Andrea. Immediately the effort was worth it. Seeing her cross the finish line was truly a wonderful moment, probably the best ever in our friendship. As we drove home, a joy came over my heart and I thought, "This is what true sisterhood is like. These are the kinds of things sisters do together." then I got to go spend some time with her family at her house. It was truly a blessed day, a day that made my heart full of joy. Later as I ate a late lunch with Marty, I told him, " I am so glad I came. I am the one who ended up blessed. My heart is overfilled because I got to have a day with my sister. Something that is special and just for us." I had also gotten to spend time with my SoH Heather earlier in the week at the park. So I was feeling very renewed and refreshed already, so twice in one week was icing on the cake.

I stopped by my high school friend Jenni's house to see her and her Mom Irma. Irma recently had a heart attack and I wanted to see them both. It was nice to catch up and see another sister of the heart.


Later that night, I went to my cousin Marissa's house for a BBQ. Rissa recently became a mom and this was the first time I was able to see her baby Drew. What a wonderful moment to sit and hold my cousin's baby. I held her for close to two hours straight, just looking her over and snuggling. My cousin's are my first sisters of the heart, they are my lifelong best friends and everyone knows they mean the world to me. I was able to spend time with family and catch up. Doubly blessed!

I had made plans with my Mom to go watch cycling and have breakfast on Easter morning at the crack of dawn. That way we could have a few hours together before my other family had their celebration. We sat ate a wonderful breakfast and watched cycling. I had forgotten that my ex-brother in law lives with my mom and that my nephew Blake may be there. So when Blake emerged from the bedroom and did a double take at me, my heart just burst. He ran up to me, climbed on my lap, put his head on my shoulder and was crying. We were both so overjoyed to see each other and I was crying too. I sat and rubbed his back as he told me he loved and missed me. It's the kind of moment you want to remember forever. So special and moving, I really can't describe the emotion. I told him the story about his birth and how I asked God to let him be born on my anniversary. It was fun to share that with him and not have to wonder anymore if he even knew who I am?

Later in the day, I got to go spend time with my cousins, aunts and uncles at my Aunt Maggie's house. We played games and laughed together. It was a beautiful weekend and such a amazing blessing for me. I am grateful to Andrea for asking me, little did she know the impact it would have. I am grateful to Marty for enduring running around all weekend non stop.

I often feel a deep sense of shame about my relationships with my blood sisters. It's a deep hurt that I carry and work very hard to overcome. It's something I have no control over and that will more than likely never change. Something I talked at length about on the car ride home from Saturday's race when Andrea asked if I would see my real sisters. I even had mentioned how it hurt I never got to see my nieces and nephews. I may not be able to change things but God has blessed me beyond measure and shown me reality. I am so blessed and have more sisters of the heart who are my real sisters. What a joy to experience that this weekend. I came home so uplifted and overjoyed, its a amazing feeling.

" I've been waiting fourteen years for this day"

Fourteen and a half years I have waited for this day. 
One of the fondest memories I have of my wedding shower, was a gift you gave to me.  You wrote me a note and reminded me that,I was growing up.  Our childhood days have gone and now it is your turn to be the bride.  It has been years since we “put on” a show, played “When Johnny was dead” or Kids Incorporated.  Summers spent together, day in and day out, endless sleepovers and swimming until we were prunes.  Truly not many people know their cousins at all, not many people have cousins who are like sisters.  I am passing on this gift, from me to you, a little inside joke of sorts, maybe even a tradition from here forward.

Here is a little gift to remind you of our childhood days gone by. I may not be close by, but I am never far away.

I love you more than you may ever know, Jules

too tired to post, translates " My stomach hurts"

Let me introduce you to my new great nephew Avien, he is 3 mos old. He is my nephew Chris's son, they stopped by for a visit tonight. Isn't he a cutie? spitting image of his dad when he was a baby. Time flies.

Cute cousins

Conner and Elizabeth with their cousins Alex and Randon. Actually Alex and Randon are my cousins too and they both came to visit us last month.

Nice surprise

Yesterday I got a knock at the door and it was Katie and Casper. I was so excited I missed them so much. Casper has grown and is not so newborn any more. He is cute with lots of coo's and he gives kisses too! He looks just like his daddy as a baby it is strange looking in the face of a child and it takes you back to the day when their parent was a baby. We had a great visit and I put the pics up under the photo section. I missed you Chris and wish you could have been here too!

winter vacation

We went on a trip this week to the old hometown. We had a good time seeing the family and going to Knott's and Disneyland. It is so fun to watch your kids experience new things. Disneyland was great truly a happy -homecoming the fireworks are great and I got to see to old co-workers. It was fun catching up and seeing all the 50th decor. It was great to see my Grandma and Grandpa but hard to see them getting old and having a hard time. Glad to be home and relaxing!!! See the pics I loaded up.