About Julie

Life didn’t exactly turn out the way I planned. Or the way my parents probably planned. Life turned out to be messy. Really messy. And what I found in the mess is all of the wonderful, beautiful things that make life so worth living and living fully, authentically and JOYfully.

So let’s just be real from the start…because that’s how I like it. I dropped out of my prestigious 4 year college in the midwest, came home one summer and found a cute boy at my summer job. A year later, I gave birth to our daughter who rocked my world in the most wondrous ways I could have ever imagined. We were young, the relationship didn’t last, but together we created this incredible little human. A few years later, I married a man that would father 3 of my children and would also turn my world upside down in a very, very bad way. I was about to find myself in a place so deep and dark only the love of Jesus could find me and pull me out. 

We are survivors. We are survivors of domestic violence and child abuse. We are thrivers. We are resilient and determined to heal and to help others to also live a joy-filled life regardless of the trials and hurts.

Stuff I love:

I love fitness and nutrition. I have been a fitness professional since 1995. After the birth of my twins in 2006, I quit my corporate job to stay at home and raise my children and decided to try my hand at bodybuilding, specifically the ‘figure’ category. I loved it and competed 20 times over the course of 6 years. As it turned out, competing helped me cope with the challenges I was facing in my personal life with divorce in 2009 and then fighting to protect my children from child abuse a few years later. It was a good distraction and allowed me to pursue my passion while helping others get healthy and feel great. It was a win-win.

These days, I have given up competing for a more balanced life. I am still passionate about fitness and nutrition, but in a way that is maintainable and moderate and I am passionate about helping others do the same. 

I love my kids. Let’s face it, parenting is no easy task and some days I want to pull my hair out but nothing gives me more joy in life than seeing my children grow and thrive. I have 4 kids ranging from age 20 to 10. I have the full spectrum of parenting…the “AP kid”, “the special needs kiddo”, the sensitive kid, the easy going/low maintenance kid. Each is rewarding in a very unique way and I feel blessed (most days…kidding!) to be chosen to be their mother.

I love Jesus. In the darkest time of my life, I found Jesus (‘course he was there all along). Raised in a Lutheran home, I had rejected religion in my adult life. God strategically placed His people around me and worked through them to carry me through during the times I could barely lift my head. Jesus was always there and He shone through these amazing people He sent to me. I was baptized on Easter 2015 and love telling people how my relationship with God has changed me and filled me with joy and purpose. 

I love authentically messy people. People who are broken and aren’t afraid to let you see their brokenness. My circle is filled with imperfect, messy people who screw it up big and love fiercely…just like me. I love cultivating friendships with people who are truly authentic and connect on a very real level. 

I love to write. I have been passionate about writing from a very young age. It’s how I process information and emotions. Words are powerful and life-changing and I love to use my words to help others, to share the love of Jesus and to teach people.