About
“I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance” (John 10:10).
If we’re honest, we’re all searching for the abundant life. A life filled with purpose, worth, standing, love, happiness.
Who doesn’t want every one of those?
But where is that kind of life? How do you get it?
My Story
Long ago, I thought I knew.
I believed abundance rested with the way my days played out in this dance of life. A “good” life—as defined by an enjoyable job, adorable family, comfortable home, relative health—was an abundant life.
Yet it didn’t take long for that definition to be shattered and for me to be left grasping for something that made sense.
Because as a young wife, my dance through life was interrupted when my husband and I experienced the first of five miscarriages. Pain and grief engulfed my heart.
And any pretense of an abundant life quickly disappeared.
Life became a roller coaster of emotions. Gratitude at the birth of each live child; bitterness at the loss of each unborn.
Then our third child and only daughter was diagnosed with significant lifetime disabilities.
The music died. The dance ended.
That is until God used Rachel, my little blessing in disguise, to point me to the source of all true abundance.
It was then I started letting the God of grace take the lead in my life’s dance and become the well-spring of my joy and peace.
An abundant life began to make sense in a new and exciting way.
Your Story
Your story likely looks much different than mine. But since you’re here, I bet you struggle with stepping into the abundant life as well.
Because even when we know what it looks like, it is difficult to live it out.
It seems our day’s blessings too easily get lost in its happenings.
But through the years I’ve discovered that God’s “mercies never end” (Lamentations 3:22) and His “grace is sufficient” (2 Corinthians 10:9). He is enough for anything we face.
You see, a life of joy and peace and meaning really does exist.
It’s just not found where we often focus. A bountiful life of meaning is not found in what we have or do or what we are walking through.
Having life in its fullness is only found in the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Your Life-Dance
No, life in this broken world is not always easy. But God will be faithful to you as He has been to me.
As you welcome His love and truth, the Lord will lead you through your life-dance in the power of His grace.
I know: typing this line is easy; living it out is anything but that.
That’s why you’re here: to receive the tools, insight, and encouragement to help you live a life of abundance, no matter how your days unfold.
I pray that in the midst of the messiness of your life, you waltz in closer step with our Lord; discovering a life full of peace and purpose in Jesus Christ.
Be Encouraged
Take some time to check out my site. There are many encouraging posts. I don’t say that in pride, but in all humility, because the encouragement I write is the encouragement I need.
God has been faithful to provide me hope and healing. I’m blessed by sharing it with you.
Here are a few of my most popular posts:
Important Lessons Learned From Vacation Bible School
What Makes Mothers So Special?
What If Problems Are Really Plans?
Fully Alive: A Journey that Will Change Your Life by Ken Davis {a book review}
How To Complain Less {and enjoy life more)
Sometimes I Lose Sight of Hope, but He’s There {A Prayer}
You Only Have One Life to Live {How To Make It Count}
Five Strategies for Managing Surface Emotions
And I’d love to connect with you in a more personal way. Need prayer or want to share your story? Enter a comment below or send me an email through my Contact Page.
My Biography
I praise God for molding me from a young lady “in control” to a more seasoned woman learning to rely on His guidance. Growing up, I lived a carefree life on my parent’s farm, pitching in when needed and roaming the hills of northeast Iowa.
I graduated from college with a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and then went on to obtain my teaching degree in biology and mathematics. I taught for a short while before leaving the education system to be with my children.
Following years of working as a freelance editor and writer while being a full-time mom and homemaker, I felt God’s leading to write and speak about my experiences of loss and raising our precious daughter; to help others discover that the abundant life isn’t about your circumstances but about the One who loves them.
My Family
I have been married to my husband David for more than 25 years. We have been blessed to raise our three sons (Daniel, Zachary, and Joseph) and one daughter (Rachel) in Iowa state parks. We are now in the process of launching our children, with the older two currently in college.
In my free time I enjoy knitting, reading, photography, and just about anything outdoors.
I’d love to encourage you and be encouraged by you. Stay connected: Enter a comment below, send me an email through my Contact Page or
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By His grace ≈
Julie
Beautiful family. Interesting because the blog I wrote today that linked with FMF has pictures from a state park in Arkansas that I have been too “a thousand times” in my life. It is so familiar too me and I felt like a park ranger when I went there a few days ago with my sister because everyone on the trails were “newbies.” Ha!
God bless you as you serve him and encourage others along life’s path.
Your 5 Minute Friday post is lovely, Deanne–as are the photos. Blessings to you.
Congratulations on being nominated for the Candle Lighter award! Shalom
Thank you, Jeanne. Congratulations to you for your nomination as well. Blessings.
Thanks for stopping by my post on (in)courage Julie. I have really enjoyed reading your latest post, and hearing about you. Isn’t it wonderful when you can reflect and see how God has changed you?! Blessings.
Yes, God is the author, the molder of our lives, growing us in ways we often are not aware of until much later. What adventures! I’m enjoying reading about your adventures. May rich blessings be yours this day, Pauline.
Lovely. Enjoyed reading through several pages of your blog. I’m looking forward to having you lead our Writers’ Critique Group!
Thank you, Sallie! Can’t wait for it to begin.
Julie, thank you for coming by my blog yesterday and leaving a comment! I also grew up in Iowa (Northwest), but my grandmother lives in Mason City as well as some close friends. I have many family members who are Iowa State graduates as well! Are you still in that area? We are now in Cleveland, OH, but I am always a little homesick for my home state and get a little too excited when I meet others who live there!
So nice to hear from you, Tyanne. My grandmother also lived in Mason City, near East Park, until she died in 1992. We would go visit her for a week every summer–sweet memories. We live in Backbone State Park in northeast Iowa now. My husband is the park ranger here. I grew up on a farm near Dubuque, and my husband, Dave, grew up about a half-hour north of Mason/Clear Lake area. Both Dave and I are Iowa State alumni. So nice to “meet” you. If you ever head west on Highway 20 through Iowa, drop me a line–maybe we can meet in person!
Hi Julie,
As I read about you and your experiences here, my heart knew an immediate sense of delight that you are writing and speaking, to be an ambassador of Christ. God bless you, your family and your ministry.
Teresa
Teresa, your words are such a blessing to me. Thank you!
Hi Julie,
What a lovely one. The new look is wonderful and adorable. Well narrated about page with lovely pics.
May God Bless you and your family. Our prayers to all especially to the little Rachel. May God help her.
Love and Prayer
May you have a blessed weekend
~ Philip
Thank you, Philip! Your kind words and prayers minister to my heart.