17th Wedding Anniversary

17 Years from Julia Hull on Vimeo.

The gift that didn't cost any money but cost a considerable amount of time!

The Guest Book.

When Greg and I married, we received a gift from a woman named, Wilma Glass.
I barely knew Mrs. Glass but I think Greg knew her for years, maybe all his life.  Mrs. Glass was a member of Highland Baptist Church, where Greg's family attended church for nearly 30+ years.  Mrs. Glass was probably somewhere in her 70's when I met her and what I remember most about her is a note that she wrote to us.  Mrs. Glass gave us a Guest Book for our Home and the note reads:

"Julia_Greg

I have this "thing" that I believe a guest book in your home is a real pleasure.  I like to look back and see who came to see me through the years.

Now with this wide gap in our ages you may feel entirely different.

I wish you love and happiness and just wee problems to make you appreciate the good things that will come your way. 

God Bless,

Wilma Glass"

I still recall the moment I read this note..that single sentence in the middle of the note made me sad.  Mrs. Glass didn't know that I was as nostalgic and sentimental as a person can be! So despite her doubts that someone of my age would appreciate this bygone tradition, I vowed we would fill The Guest Book and make it a priority in our home.

In every home we have lived, The Guest Book has been out for all our friends and family to sign.  In our current home, it has taken a bit longer than usual to get settled and all things put in their place but as I reworked a bookshelf the other day, I picked up The Guest Book.  I read through the pages and wonderful memories came flooding back...which house or state we lived in...the people who visited us...favorite entries that still make me laugh...favorite people that I rarely see anymore...some people that I don't even remember, haha! The Guest Book that Mrs. Glass gave us has been filled and I'm so thankful for such a thoughtful gift given to us 15 years ago.

Now, the beautiful irony.  About 10 years ago, my friend Robin happened across a Mary Engelbreit Guest Book.  Robin being very familiar with signing The Guest Book at our house understood that one day we would need a replacement, so she gave us our next Guest Book. Here's what I love; Robin, who is my age, gave us our next Guest Book, to keep this practice going. Mrs. Glass, you would have been pleased to know that though there is a very wide gap between our generations, some of us still respect and love the old customs! : )

Since our last move, I haven't been as diligent in reminding folks to sign our Guest Book but after revisiting some great memories that I may have otherwise forgotten, it's time to get back on that train.  So when you come by, please don't forget to make a note of the time we spent together!

 The Guest Book awaits your entry.

 

Thank you Wilma Glass and Robin Snyder for giving such a priceless gift oh so many years ago!!

I don't have many Heroes but Gary is one of them.

You know when you get together with friends and you begin to walk down memory lane and reminisce the years history you've shared?  You remember the funniest moments, special occasions, the tough times.  Then someone recounts an important detail but they get it all wrong  and those who know the facts pounce on the one in error to correct them?

This happened a couple of weeks ago as we were having dinner with friends who I lovingly refer to as the 'other Nortons'.  As the four of us talked, Dave casually mentioned that if it hadn't been for our close friendship with his sister & husband 12 years ago, we would never have connected with his entire family, the 'Nortons'.

Greg was very quick to correct Dave, it was not our friendship with his sister & husband that created the connection, it was Dave's Dad! I was dumbfounded at Dave's remark, how did he not know this?  I recalled a post I'd written a few years ago for Gary's birthday and read it aloud so the facts were set straight.

In conjunction, we are often asked 'How do you know the Nortons?'  To keep it brief we have a nutshell response but the truth is...its much more.  In answer to this question and in honor of Gary's birthday this year, I am borrowing from the post I wrote to commemorate Gary's birthday then and now. :)

This is Gary.  He is my Pastor.

He doesn't have a church building.

He doesn't speak in front of a congregation.

But he is my Pastor.

We first moved to Arizona in 2002 and while it was exciting and adventurous, we never felt more alone or disconnected.  We had no friends, no family, not even a church to speak of.  After visiting numerous churches, we both felt comfortable at Superstition Springs Community Church (now Mission).  The church was still meeting in a school and at the time was about 500+ people.  We attended for a brief time, less than a month I think, before we met the Pastor. Gary.  In our brief meeting, he suggested we get together for lunch.  And we did. We ate at Fuddruckers and I could even tell you the booth we sat in.  I don't know if Gary remembers this lunch, but I do. 

The Thanksgiving holiday was just a few weeks away and days before, we received a message on our answering machine from the Pastor. Gary.  He said he remembered we didn't have family in Arizona and wanted to invite us to Thanksgiving dinner at his home.  We couldn't attend because our family came to Arizona that year but the gesture meant so much to us.  I don't know if Gary remembers that invitation, but I do.

As time passed, we continued to receive invitations to special holidays, then family events and eventually to just their regular Sunday night dinners.  I don't know if Gary knows the impact this had in our lives, but I do.

Later, we up and moved to Texas.  And we found ourselves in trouble.  Our Pastor, Gary and his wife, Elaine flew in for a weekend.  And we were able to get our lives back on track.  I don't know if Gary realizes how life-changing that trip was for us, but I do.

When we decided to move back to Arizona and we needed a place to live until we could purchase a home, it was our Pastor, Gary and Elaine who opened their home to us and had us LIVE with them for as long as we needed.  I don't know if Gary understands how significant that was, but I do.


I've attended numerous churches, held member's status at many of them but there is only one person, I call my Pastor.  It is Gary. Because he is the only one, that has truly been a pastor - a shepherd - to me in all senses of the word.  He is a remarkable Pastor to this day. I don't have many heroes but Gary is one of them.

Happy Birthday to my friend, my Pastor. Gary.  You are a hero to me and many, many others! :)

Pumpkin Chiffon Recipe Revisited

In November 2010, I wrote about the Pumpkin Chiffon recipe that has an adverse effect in my life at the end of every year.  This is a revisit to the original post with updated pictures:

The last 2 months of the year, I am making this recipe at least once a week at the request of my husband who finds a way to work it into every conversation we have.  Here's some real-life examples that I kept track of this month:

Greg: I have a surprise for you
Julia: What is it?
Greg: Now if I give this to you now, you have to make a pumpkin chiffon for me today, ok?

another example:

Me: I want something to snack on.
Greg: Like Pumpkin Chiffon?  Hmm?

last example:

Greg: I've had a headache since this morning.
Julia: Did you take any Excederin?
Greg: No, but I think Pumpkin Chiffon would help it go away.

Finally, my husband has escalated his game to leaving cryptic messages around the house:

That being said, I am sharing the recipe so that someone else can share in my misery and his joy!

Pumpkin Chiffon 

1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened

2 eggs, beaten

3/4 cup sugar

2 (3 3/4 oz.) package vanilla instant pudding mix

3/4 cup milk

2 cups cooked, mashed pumpkin (Not Pumpkin Pie Mix)

dash of ground cinnamon

2 (8 oz) cartons Cool Whip, thawed

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1. Combine first 3 ingredients; press into a 12 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish.  Set aside.

2. Combine cream cheese, eggs, and 3/4 cup sugar; beat until fluffy.  Spread over crust.  Bake at 350 for 20 mins; set aside to cool - critical, crust must cool off before proceeding!

3. Combine pudding mix and milk; beat 2 minutes at medium speed.  Add pumpkin, cinnamon and one carton of Cool Whip; mix well. 

Note the difference between these 2 cans.  Can on the left is Pumpkin Pie Mix, do not use this.  Use the can on the right, 100% Pure Pumpkin. 

4. Spread pudding mixture over cooled crust & cream cheese layer. Spread last carton of whipped topping over pumpkin/pudding layer.  Sprinkle top with pecans.  Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving.

 

Recipe published in 1982 by Jacqueline Dorn of Leesville, South Carolina. Thank you, Jacqueline, the end of year just wouldn't be the same without the heckling of my husband to make your recipe.  Perhaps you could send me your number and my husband could call you to make Pumpin Chiffon every week. I hate you sometimes. So anyway....Yuletide and Happy Hullidays Ya'll!

This Guy.

I've been asked many times by different people, "Is there anything he can't do?" speaking of Greg.
My answer is always, "No." As in, there is nothing This Guy can't do. Let me me tell you about him.

This Guy can fix anything.
When our washing machine would only spin periodically...This Guy fixed it.

When our sprinkler system needed a repair...This Guy handled it.

 When the 'coil' needed to be repaired on the lawnmower...This Guy took care of it.

When the 'regulator' needed to be replaced on the grill...This Guy replaced it.

When our pool pump cracked and started leaking...This Guy replaced the damaged part of the pool pump.
Furthermore, when the skimmer door on the pool kept getting stuck...This Guy fixed that too.

This Guy is mechanical.
When we have a need for a mechanical repair...This Guy takes care of it.

This Guy can build things.
When he needed a custom stereo set-up in his car...This Guy created it.

When we needed to close in a room in our house...This Guy built a wall.

 

When I showed Greg a picture of a little bench I liked...This Guy built me the bench.

When we decided to do our backyard in our last house...This Guy did it all from installing flowerbeds to sprinkler systems.

This Guy can make home improvements. 

In our last house, when we decided we needed tile...This Guy installed tile.

In that same house, when I needed cabinets in the laundry room...This Guy installed cabinets.

 

When we decided to section out a room with wood flooring...This Guy did it.

Install a ceiling fan...This Guy could do it in his sleep!

This Guy is ridiculously athletic.
It doesn't matter what the sport is, This Guy can play it well.  One time, while watching Greg at bat, a fellow team-mate told another, "Man, he's got a sexy swing." Another man said that! And it's true. haha!

This Guy can play some music.
Drums, keys, guitar, trumpet, spoons, fiddlesticks, whatever!

This Guy is a computer geek.

From building or fixing a computer to messing around with servers...This Guy does it all.

This Guy is truly extraordinary in all these ways and so many more and that's why This Guy is my hero.