• Motivation

    Get Yourself Some New Knowledge

    It’s a new year and what a great opportunity to start new traditions, create new memories, forge new hope.  I have found myself wanting to engage in some kind of education or training program.  How I long to learn and grow my “hope”.   Give me something new!!  My family…

  • Conquering

    TALKING to Your Mountain

    ​Keep your eye ON the mountain – sometimes you need to tell that mountain it will NOT take you down or defeat you.  Sitting on the lanai outside our lovely condo bedroom in Kauai, Hawaii, this past summer, I was captured in the moment of such an unforgettable view of majesty…

  • Hope

    My Special Number….

    Well, I couldn’t resist posting this picture as a fun highlight of 2015 – Go Cubs Go!  HAPPY NEW YEAR…2017….just kidding, but seriously, for some reason I keep saying this number.  I wrote it in a Facebook post; thankfully, my older son’s sweet girlfriend spotted it for me!  I…

  • Hope

    Back home again in Indiana…healing visit

    Today is a tough one.  Today, two years ago, I received the gut-wrenching phone call that my dear sister Tammy did not survive a tragic drunk driving accident.  Adding to this devastation was the verdict in the trial nearly one year ago: offender was found not guilty.  So, I…

  • Hope

    Hard work, fun times – having a buddy to do these with.

    Being a “Northwest Indiana & Chicagoland” native, I have a deeply rooted love for that Windy City.  Moving to Arizona to attend ASU in 1987, I still could easily go back to visit family and friends.  Of course, as the years went by, I start working, get married, change…

  • Hope

    Making room for “summertime” anytime of the year

    “Back to school” season is in full swing for our home…middle school, high school x 2, and college. Our summer was filled with a family beach trip, summer jobs, summer school, an internship and mission trip, baseball, trying to get my kids to read, church camp, late nights and…

  • Hope

    Summer adventures and memories….

    Happy Summer!!  Where have I been with my posts!?  To begin, my youngest son, Evan, was honored to be on our Little League All Star baseball team this summer.  This meant three weeks of practices, team building activities, and then the games.  Now, for my non-AZ friends, this is…

  • Hope

    Waves….a whole new meaning.

    Summertime greetings!  How blessed to have our family vacation right at the start of summer break.  Typically, we travel in July, but this year we tried something different.  Two days after the children finished school…we were outta here!  Straight to Encinitas, California.  And what else do Zonies do?!  Go…

  • Hope

    Start again….and again…and…

    “Start Again”….a song by Rob Simonsen & Faux Fix Ft. Elena Tonra, played in the movie “The Age of Adeline.”  I just went to see the movie after my 15 year old daughter told me it was now one of her favorite movies.  First of all, how did my “Maggie girl”…

  • Hope

    A little yard work doesn’t hurt anyone…

    My name is Julie and this is my blog.  The theme…well, it’s about life’s journey and the many lessons we can glean from situations for our lives to grow and change … all for the better.  I had to look up this word “glean”.  I thought it was gleem, but that…