Okay, so this is actually my second shot at the About Me blog. Yes, you heard right. This is, in fact, About Me blog Take Two.
I thought about this blog for days before I wrote it. When I finally posted it, I kept re-editing it. The more I began to re-edit it, the less it looked like Julie.
You might think writing a blog about yourself would be easy- but it isn’t! It's hard to translate who I am into blog form. Then I thought, "Hey Julie, there may be people reading this blog that you have never met before," {Hi! Nice to meet you! I am glad you’re here.}. I want to give everyone a good idea of who I truly am. So, I did what any normal person would do… I blog stalked. But, that didn't really help.
There I was, back at square one {well, technically square two} and no closer to the perfect About Me blog. I really started thinking about who I am and how others would describe me. If you ask my mother, she would say I procrastinate everything and I have a really big heart for others. My father would say I am a princess and I'm sure the word diva would be tossed around. My brothers, Justin and Jonathan, would probably talk about how much I've grown up and then tell really embarrassing stories about me. My sister-in-laws, Megan and Clarissa, would come to my defense. And my friends would probably say I'm weird, different , loud and should stop buying over-sized men's sweaters from Goodwill. {Those sweaters are a fall necessity y'all}
And I'd have to say all of the above things are true. Here are some more things you should know:
I was born and raised in Kingsport, Tenn. surrounded by beautiful mountains! I was a really quiet kid and I've alwaysfelt like the black sheep of the family, even though I'm not. But, that tends to happen when you're the only blonde in your family and your brother tells you the mailman brought you. {Which I believed until I was 10. Thanks Justin}
I moved to Murfreesboro in 2008 to attend MTSU. I graduated with a degree in Public Relations with minors in Leadership Studies and Entrepreneurship.
I currently reside in Nashville, where I do freelance work for a local non-profit, whilst looking for a second job to pay off my student loans pre-World Race. I spend my free time volunteering, listening to music and hanging out with my lovely friends. I also found a great church, got involved and have met so many wonderful people. {Shout out to Cross Point!}
I have always considered myself to be a bit different. Free as a bird, a wanderer, a vagabond, a ragamuffin soul {my favorite blog}. But, I tend to get strange looks when I describe myself that way. Then, I realized for some people those words might have a negative connotation attached. You say wanderer and some people see hippies traveling across the US in a VW van.
But that isn't what I see. I see, someone traveling from place to place, meeting new people and pouring love into the loveless. I see someone who reaches out to the poor, needy and downtrodden. I see someone who loves people that society might deem as unlovable. I see someone who wants to make a difference in the world, no matter what the cost. And most importantly, I see Jesus {the ultimate wanderer}. He spent his life traveling from place to place, sharing the love of God and sacrificing himself for the undeserving.
Matthew 10:5-10 (ESV) says, "These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food."
So, shouldn't we all want to be wanderers?
17 of my FAVORITE things:
Family time
Mountains {Specifically the East TN and Blue Ridge kind.}
Banjos/acoustic guitars
Coffee with soy milk and ½ a pack of stevia
Antique shopping with Dad {Yard sales and flea markets are a Saturday favorite.}
Dancing
The Pugglies {aka the Lane family pugs: Roxy and Alfred}
Laughter
Coffee dates/Lunch dates with friends
Books {Best when accompanied by a fire.}
The Farmer’s Market
Driving down back roads {Windows down. Music up.}
Helping others
Live music/concerts {Especially when they are outside.}
Multiple daily phone calls with Mom
My {amazing} record collection
Thrift store shopping
If you're reading this- I hope you will stick around, friend! I am blessed and excited to get to share this incredible journey with you.
