Over the summer Bob & I became "host mom & dad" to a couple of Latvian orphans. For a season, Marija & Gvido became part of our family through a wonderful ministry called Project One Forty Three. It was by far the most challenging thing we have ever done but we were so blessed by having done it!
While we are praying about what God's next step is for us, we know our continued involvement with this ministry will most likely be a life long thing. We want to continue to be part of the "domino effect" & help advocate for older orphans who need forever homes. www.projectonefortythree.com
Over the summer we took a trip to Cape Hatteras, N.C. to visit Bob's parents. Anytime we visit it feels like being at a bed & breakfast! I love my mommy & daddy in- law, they are wonderful folks & they have a beautiful, comfy home!
Most of the time we fly but this time we drove with 2 kids & 2 dogs & yes, it was an adventure! Normally, Cape Hatteras is a peaceful haven that feels far, far away from the rest of the world & all it's chaos...only this time we brought the chaos with us! Ha! :)
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| Gracie & Miss Pookerdoo |
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| Boat harbor in Hatteras Village |
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| Over looking the bay side in Hatteras |
With fall officially beginning this week & the weather cooling down, Bob & I have started a list of fun things we want to do together before our schedules become really busy...at the top of the list is spending more evenings together on the patio grilling out & sitting by the fire...no TV, no computers, no
cell phones! We also plan to make better use of our botanical gardens & zoo memberships.
I'm amazed at how easy it is to be distracted by all of the things that keep us busy in this life. It's so easy to get caught up in "working" for the future that we miss enjoying the here & now moments. I'm guilty of never saying no to work & trying to squeeze one more demo session or writing project into an already full schedule... Bob has been gently encouraging me to change this! Ha! He's so good about not bringing his work home with him! When he is home, he is ready to relax & spend time with me! I need some improvement in the area of putting proper boundaries around my work! Maybe that comes from being able to make my own schedule & not ever really having to answer to a boss...or maybe I'm just that stereotypical "undisciplined & unorganized artist type!"
This past spring we spent much of our weekends working in our yard. I love gardening & working in the yard with Bob...feels so relaxing & very therapeutic. The children loved playing in the yard & picking all of the tomatoes, even the green ones! They were thrilled anytime they spotted a hummingbird or the cute little frog that moved into our pond over the summer! We're still reaping the benefits from the garden with an abundance of tomatoes & fresh herbs!
Come November, things will become busy for both of us. Bob will be leaving for a Mexico mission trip to help finish a house that has been standing vacant for 3 years. By the time the team leaves, a woman & her children will able to move in! Praise be to God! www.casadelpastor.com
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| Working on one of the houses for Casa Del Pastor |
Soon after Thanksgiving, I will be leaving for Denmark. I'm so excited about the upcoming Christmas tour as well as shooting a couple of Christmas videos. I'm especially excited that my husband & I will get to work together on the videos! Some of the footage will be shot in Nashville & some in Denmark.
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| Early Christmas decorations on a famous Danish landmark street in Copenhagen |
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| Soro, Denmark |
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| The Christmas Market in Copenhagen |
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| Castle in Tivoli, Denmark |
I'll be posting the Denmark tour itinerary soon & more pictures! Thanks for stopping by! :)
Love this Julie. As I was reading this I felt like I was almost right next door to you there in Nashville. I honestly don't know if I know anyone who shares and gives more of themselve's as you do, and Im sure Bob, to make this world a better place. I think about you at least once every single day even as the years continue to add up since I've seen you. And even though I didn't know you all that well, I always thought and trusted you like you were my own flesh and blood sister. When you were in pain, I grieved, and when you were happy, I prayed, for it to continue.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do notice, not always right away, how you find a way to add me to your new projects in some way. And when I do notice, this always brings a tear to my eye's when I think of how many thousands of people you have met since we last saw each other and how you still somehow remember that I'm still around. I could not ask more from any friend.
Julie you are one of the most beautiful spirits that I have ever known and I will always love and miss you!
Thank-you Bill! Your post made me cry "good tears!" As I read your comment,1 Cor 12:9 came to mind, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me." You have seen my weaknesses for sure! Without God there is no good in me! If you see good in me then to God be the glory!! Thank-you! I cherish so many wonderful memories with you...our years at The Marriott & Atlantic City...I'll always be grateful that you gave Gypsy the loving home she deserved! Thank-you for your friendship! You are a gift to be treasured! I Love You! :)
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