Jim Jullie's Blogspot: September 2015

Hello All,
I have hit a mile stone (no pun intended) with the marathon training. I did 18 miles this morning. I say that and still can't believe it. It was tough towards the end but not unbearable. I only survive this and actually am finding the joy in it through the grace of God! Only one more long training run to do (20 miles in 2 weeks time) and then the big day (Oct 11). A friend asked me about it a few weeks ago and I said it was the craziest thing I have ever done! He commented that if that is the craziest thing, then he would be sure never to attempt it! I don't know, I think my other adventures in life have been a bit more sane:

Moving to Italy when we had a one year old and 2 houses, 2 dogs and 2 horses,
Jumping off a bridge in New Zealand with a rope around my ankles,
Riding a horse over huge jumps through the countryside,
Heading off for 3 weeks into the Colorado wilderness with a bunch of strangers
Sailing a boat from Bermuda to the Jersey shore with some crazy sailors,
Moving to Germany with 2 kids and 2 houses to sell and 2 horses to find homes for,
Moving to Kenya with the family to work the hardest we ever have!

These things don't sound as hard as running 26.2 miles! If you would like to donate towards my running and Oasis for Orphans, you can link to my donate page here. Just search by my name. Please keep praying that no injuries will come and that I continue to find the joy!

Me in Mackinaw City in a moment of peace

We have been here in our home for over a year now. It is really nice living here. We love this house and the ease of living! When I step into the shower everyday, there is hot and cold water that runs clear! We now have a refrigerator that has ice (it was broken for about 6 months and it never dawned on us to get it fixed). I have a kitchen that I absolutely love to cook in and it has a dishwasher. We have cars that we don't have to spend a gazillion dollars on in repairs due to being shaken apart. But, all the luxury aside, it is nice to be here and near family. We spent a great day yesterday with Jim's parents just visiting. Love that we can do that.

Trevor had a great summer working at Spring Hill camps near here. He worked the hardest he ever had. We didn't see him much as they kept him to "be on call," but it was good to see him on and off. He is back up at Mich Tech now continuing in Computer Systems and Network Admin. He is really enjoying it and is living in an apartment where he can test his skills at living on about $10/day for food! He will do great!

Trevor playing one of his favorite games with a cousin

Timothy started in 9th grade at the local school (yep, that's right, no more homeschooling at least for now with him and Sallie). He is in the band playing a Mellow (short for Mellow phone). He is enjoying it and is thinking about getting into the political arena (student counsel).

Sallie started in the 6th grade at the local school too. She got to ride a bus for the first time in her life! She has always been fascinated by the bus - especially the doors. Now that she has done it for 3 days, I think the excitement has worn off! Only 177 to go! She and I have been horse shopping this summer to find something that she can ride. It has been an extreme challenge and we have just about given up. Now we have changed our focus and are looking for just a safe trail mount. Hopefully, something will come along so that Meeko is not alone all winter.

Sallie discovering "popcorn!"

Jim and I celebrated our 29th anniversary last Friday (actually, he wasn't here so we are heading out to dinner tonight). That is another crazy thing to think about that many years. We really can't be that old! But, he is the best thing that has happened to me outside of finding how much God loves me! Hopefully, we will have many more.

I went to Arizona this summer to visit my mom and help her with some remodeling. We had a great time and worked hard. I had to travel through the Chicago airport and really felt like an ant there. So many people were scurrying to get to where they needed to be! It was definitely a mass of humanity. It really made me think of how we can all become so distracted with the "busy." There are so many things to get done that we loose the why - "To honor Him."

Mark 12:30-32
30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' 31 "The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

NASU

It is so hard to keep the focus. When you come across someone who has the joy of the Lord in your day, don't you really know it and can tell? And the opposite is true, when you come across someone who is bitter and angry with the world, don't you know it? I ran by someone today on the trail that just seemed angry with the world, what a shame not to enjoy the world he has given us and show that joy to others!

I am working now too. With the kids in school I have more time and feel like it was the right fit. I am working for a friend with his construction company. I will be doing estimating and other paperwork so that he can hopefully be in the field more. It should be fun and keep me out of trouble!

Jim is still enjoying his job and is glad to have it. He is in Louisville now for another 2 weeks. After that, 2 weeks off and back to Louisville (we think). With this job we are working on the mortgage for the house and after we pay it off, then what?? God has the plan, He just isn't letting us in on it as of yet!

Thanks so much for listening to my rants today. I haven't written much but is sure is fun to catch up! Here are a few more fun photos: