About

Julie’s Corner

Hi, my name is Julie.

Here is the section where you can learn a little more about me.  I actually had a “Julie’s Corner” in our local community newspaper in Indiana, where I grew up.  I was in 4th grade and wrote articles.  My picture on the article showed me a huge smile full of crooked teeth, but all I cared about was my name on the article. I was famous! That is the mind of a 4th grader. 

To start off, on my birth certificate, I have no middle name.  My dad, Jack Herbert, didn’t like his middle name and didn’t want me to have to live with a middle name I may not like.  Thanks, Dad, so thoughtful of you!  I love this, because I really can choose to have any middle name I want.  My Great Uncle Fitty gave me the name, Bertha.  Yes, he never called me Julie, just Bertha. Families are full of stories.

I was raised in Indiana and love to share that with everyone. Family is everything to me. My mom and dad raised me with my two sisters and one brother. For college, I moved far away to Arizona and attended Arizona State University. My post-college jobs include Accountant, Youth Director, and Teacher.

As miracles would have it, I met my husband Kurt at a happy hour while out with my friend Terri in Phoenix. He had just moved to Arizona for a new Engineering job. Guess where he moved from? Yep, Indiana! We share a blessed life in sunny Arizona with our children, Jack and his wife Alexandra, and Ryan, Maggie, and Evan. Together, we enjoy hiking, biking, traveling to the beach, watching Christmas movies and home movies, and competitively playing games.

I began writing this blog in April of 2015, after 1 1/2 years of hard work on grief.  I lost my sister Tammy.  My best friend who I laughed and cried with, shared our struggles, celebrated our victories.  She was taken from us because one man was drinking on a Sunday and hit her.  I hate saying this, you guys.  I hate all of it.  But it happened.  And it shook my whole life.  And my family.  I was fragile.  I cried daily.  I shook until I didn’t know if I could even breathe.  I miss my sister like you cannot even imagine. 

My siblings and I come from good stock with our dad and have lived out an adventurous way of life. I knew somewhere within me that joy must return. I pushed through, demanding that I will not be overtaken by the horrible circumstances.  I not only regained joy, but I got more JOY than ever.  Why?  How?  God is so good!  He held me, rocked me, soothed me, guided me, and healed me.  I also had unbelievable support from friends and family.  And my counselor, Dawn, I couldn’t have made the progress with that unwanted guest called grief without her.  I read so many books on grief.  I studied it.  I went through two Grief Share recovery group sessions:  that is 28 weeks.  

With my love for writing, and also Tam’s, I began putting my journaling into a blog.  Here it is…. Julie’s Blog for Hope, the original title, and now Hope Follows!  I want you to feel the hope that does come out of being in the pit.  I want you to know that God loves you and will carry you.  Go beyond where you are now to experience immeasurably more JOY.