As you roam about Blogland you’re bound to run into some beautiful blog designs that were created by today’s interviewee. She is an incredibly creative and talented friend. I’d like to introduce you to Jules from Everyday Mommy.

Me: Hey Jules, can you tell our readers how long you’ve been blogging?

Jules: I began blogging in 2005. I took a sabbatical at the end of 2007, but am back at it again.

Me: Glad to hear it! As a veteran blogger do you have any advice for beginners?

Jules: My advice to beginners would be: 1. Don’t take yourself too seriously 2. Be content with small readership. 3. Never post in an overly emotional state. When in doubt, sleep on it. 4. Don’t gripe too much. Everyone’s in the same boat and contrary to popular opinion, misery does not love company.

Me: Oooo, how true?!

So, what are some good things blogging has brought to your life?

Jules: Some eternal friends whom I would not have met otherwise. I treasure them more than I can say. And, a renewed relationship with my cousin, Jill who is one of my most beloved friends.

Me: Do you think there are pitfalls?

Jules: I don’t think people realize how time and life consuming the maintenance of a blog can be. Keeping up with the correspondence can demand quite a bit of time and it can become more like “grooming the beast” than an enjoyable pastime.

Me: Tell us about your blog name and if you ever think of changing it?

Jules: I was very careful in choosing my blog name so I’ve never thought of changing it. My favorite novel is the western, “Lonesome Dove” by Larry McMurtry. The primary character’s name is Gus McCrae. In one chapter he is speaking to someone who is very discontent. He tells them, “The only way to live, as I see it, is to learn to love the little everyday things…” I believe that contentment is a real challenge in our saturated culture. I’m just an ordinary, everyday mommy trying to learn the art of contentment.

Me: I’m glad I asked, I never knew that.

Knowing what you know now, do you think starting a blog was a good thing for you?

Jules: I think it helped me keep my sanity during the toddler years with our son. Those adult connections during the day were a source of encouragement during a time when most parents brains tend to turn to oatmeal. It has also stretched me mentally, made me more of a critical thinker, which is a good thing and my faith has grown tremendously through the many solid, Christian blogs that are available.

Me: How do you think blogging, bloggers, or the blogosphere has changed since you started?

Jules: It’s a lot more crowded! Everyone has a blog now and there’s really no limit to the topics you’ll find. I’m lovin’ the foodie blogs. The technology has also improved. The blogging platforms available now make it easy to have your own blog.

Me: Tell us something about the blogosphere the bothers you.

Jules: I’d have to say that some of the vicious, political blogs get under my skin. I think strong political opinions are great and we should stand up for our convictions, whatever party we support. But, when bloggers cross the line into ad hominem and forget that “politics are politics”? Democrat or Republican, spewing vitriol which aren’t directed toward one’s political positions should not be tolerated. For instance, some readers of the far left liberal Huffington Post took great pleasure over the news that 86 year-old former First Lady Nancy Reagan had fallen, possibly breaking a hip. One commenter said, “Like her evil husband she has lived far too long..Here’s hoping the Hag suffers for several weeks then croaks in the tub.”

Simply put, it’s time to raise the bar.

Me: I heard of some of those terrible comments. [shakes head] It’s the anonymity that allows for such stupidity, I think.

Ultimately, what would you like your blog to accomplish?

Jules: I used to have lofty goals for my blog. Then I took a much needed blogging sabbatical and realized that the world moved along quite nicely without me thank-you-very-much. So, I’m quite tickled if I can give someone a chuckle or a recipe that their family will enjoy or a new blog design that makes them smile.

Me: Seeing as there is life outside of Blogland, let’s talk real life shall we? Anything in real life that bothers you? We want your unfettered opinion.

Jules: Unfettered? Really? I’ll get in trouble for this, but here goes…I’m deeply troubled by the johnny-come-lately trends which Evangelicalism continually embraces. Every new thing that comes down the pike is embraced by the Western church which has an insatiable appetite for all things trendy. If it feels good then it must be good. Christian book stores are teeming with books that aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. So much error passes for sound teaching and the majority of American Christians don’t know the difference because they’re Purpose Driven by their Velvet Elvis and feeling really Blue Like Jazz from working on their Spiritual Disciplines. They wouldn’t know a heresy if it walked up and spit in their face because the one book they don’t read is The Bible.

Me: I have to agree, this world needs a hunger for God’s Word. So, if you could change anything, anything at all, what would it be?

Jules: I’d close all the Christian bookstores in the United States. We need to be hungry for God and we’re not.

Me: What is your true passion in life? What is the one subject that makes your heartbeat race when you discuss it?

Jules: God’s Word. I’m deeply passionate about encouraging Christians to get off their hineys and study to know God’s Word for themselves.

Me: Can you tell us about one of your best childhood memories?

Jules: As a young teen I saved my babysitting money all year so that I could fly to Ft. Lauderdale, FL to spend Spring Break with my grandparents. I loved them dearly and who wouldn’t love Florida after a long, cold winter? They doted on me tremendously.

Me: Have you experienced something that changed you forever? Could you tell us about it and how it changed you?

Jules: The birth of our son. The single best day of my life. It was the tiniest taste of how God feels about His children.

Me: Describe your perfect day.

Jules: Waking on a sunny morning in our pop-up camper, seeing smiles on my family’s faces and knowing we have the whole day ahead of us to enjoy just being together.

Me: Any sunny morning sounds good to me. Is it warm too? It needs to be warm!

Do you have hobby, Jules?

Jules: I really do love to cook. I won a trip to Europe when I was 22 and fell in love with the different regions I visited. When I returned home I realized that I could once again experience different cultures through their foods. I also learned that cooking is inherently something you share. I cook to bring joy to my family and friends. When I see how they love my BBQ baby back ribs it makes me smile. My favorite sound is the smacking of lips.

Me: Tell us the best or the worst thing about being you.

Jules: I’m much too opinionated and I have lots of gray hair.

Me: Ummmm, so which was the worst and which was the best? Just kidding.

Okay, so through a strange turn of events, who’ve just been elected President of the United States of America. Congratulations! Tell us what’s your focus and what changes you’ll make.

Jules: I would restore our government to adherence to the Constitution, beginning with the Tenth Amendment, “powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Simply put, the Federal Government has their fingers in a lot of stuff that’s none of their business. I would also put a stop to the unrestrained judiciary who are operating outside the constraints of the Constitution and see themselves as the supreme branch of government. I would abolish the IRS and remove the United Nations from American soil. That’s what I’d do…for a start.

Me: That was a busy first day, Madam President.

What’s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you? We want all the details.

Jules: Before becoming a work-from-home mom I was a cemetery & funeral director. A woman was in the office inquiring about a permanent resting place for her husband’s ashes. He had died ten years previously. She repeatedly asked me which option was cheapest. I showed her the least expensive option repeatedly, and she persisted in asking, “Is this the cheapest you have?” After using every synonym for inexpensive that I could think of, I let slip with…”Yes, ma’am, this is the bare bones.” Yep. I really said that.

Me: And on that note, let’s get your vital statistics.

How old are you? 46
Married? Yes
Children? One son
If so, homeschool, private, or public? Homeschool
Favorite season? Spring
Favorite past time? Cooking, theatre & photography
Favorite color? Red
Favorite movie? The Sound of Music
Favorite song? Moonlight in Vermont
What kind of car do you drive? Kia Sportage
Mac or PC? Exclusively Mac
Dog or Cat? Dust bunny
Salt or Pepper? Pepper
Vanilla or Chocolate? Chocolate baby!
Diet Coke, Sweet Tea or Evian? Dr. Pepper
Steak, Chicken or Shrimp? All of the above!

And lastly, here are five words. Type the first word that pops in your head after you read each one.

Water – Fresh
Light – Jesus
Time – Fleeting
Sofa – Replaceable
Run – Not!

That was awesome, Jules. Thank you so much for your time!

Categories: Interviews
Tags: design, everyday, interview