This Woman Is A Mover And Shaker And I Love Her! You Will Too…

My friend Julie is a mover and shaker, and I love her tenacious dedication to what she values. She’s just a wee bit ahead of me in life, just enough that her example inspires me every step of the way. I’ve watched her navigate hard times and good times. And she’s pretty impressive.

Neither one of us has trouble talking…about almost anything. And we are both avid readers and attend the same church. Plus we both love to travel, and Julie has taken some fabulous trips.

And oh, yeah, we both love chicken salad. She’s one of those friends who will bring you a tub of Cass’s chicken salad at just the right time! How could you not love her?

Her Favorite Reads

Julie gave me a list of her favorite books, which are in no particular order after the Bible “because aren’t all good Jesus girls supposed to say that?” (Did I mention her sense of humor? It’s a good one.)

 So, here they are:

1. The Bible (She really is a good Jesus girl. She’s not bluffing!)
2. The Nevertheless Principle by Marion Bond West (special story here, watch for a future post)
3. The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments, anything by Margaret Atwood
4. The Woods by Harlan Coben (first of many HC books she’s read)
5. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
6. What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman

Vacay in Style

I would love to go to every single place Julie has enjoyed. She’s a discerning traveler (Is that a thing? Well, it is now.)

When our book club…This is the other book club I started. Yes, I have two. What did you expect? That I would settle for one? Uh-uh.) ANYWAY, when our book club read The Great Blue Hills of God, Julie was able to bring a personal touch because she had been to Blackberry Farm more than once.

Her other favorite trips include biking in France, NYC at Christmas, and the Grand Canyon.

Sweet Music to My Ears

Julie loves music and considers it one of her ministries at our church. For a hot minute, I sang in the choir with her. (We’re both altos in case you were wondering.)

Her favorite songs, again, in no particular order are:

1. “New York, New York”
2. “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” by Paul Anka
3. “You Are My Special Angel” by Bobby Vinton
4. “One in a Million” by Larry Graham
5. “Is He Worthy” by Andrew Peterson
6. “The Way We Were” by Barbra Streisand
7. “Welcome to Our World” by Michael W. Smith
8. “Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)” by Chris Rice (This song is actually playing in the background as I write this!) You can listen to it here.
9. “Chances Are” by Johnny Mathis
10. “Even Now” by Barry Manilow

This MeMe Hasn’t Settled into a Rocker

Julie is a FUN grandmother. I’m talking air gliding, white water rafting, horseback riding, bike riding, PJ’s in the pool kind of fun! Yes…THAT level of fun!

She’s got three grandkids and one granddog. Just look at some of the adventures she’s taken with her family…

And I Haven’t Even Mentioned…

Julie worked for 33 years at Computer Services, Inc.  “Best career, best company, best work family for which anybody could ever ask,” she says. She was an Account Manager, then Documentation Manager, then retired as Vice President of Corporate Communications.

While working there, she received one of the best pieces of advice ever from John Williams, the founder of CSI:

“Never bring up a problem unless you’re prepared to offer a solution.”

We’d all do well to follow that nugget of wisdom. And, when someone like Julie is involved, if a problem does arise we can count on some creative but practical solutions…yet another thing I love about her! She’s a problem-solver. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating: I have the smartest friends!!

In my next post about Julie, you’re going to find out even more about this “fabulous woman over fifty.”

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