Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Vasquez.
Hi Julie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a native-born Californian. I was raised by my mom and occasionally saw my father. I met my husband when I was just sixteen, in the Southern California Mountains. We both grew up in those mountains. He is eight years older. We raised our six children for the majority of their lives there, except for five short months when we lived in Carpinteria. We absolutely loved living in the mountains of California but knew that was not going to be the place where we could truly live out our dreams.
With the cost of living in California and the heated political climate, it caused us to seek out other places where we could have our dream farm and bless our children with a heritage. A place where there was more freedom to grow and seek the pursuit of happiness. We prayed for direction and after about seven years, God opened the door to East Tennessee. My husband made the decision at that time to retire early from a six-figure income and to leave California in the rearview mirror. His job caused much strain on him and the family as he was a Fire Chief.
We sold our two-acre ranch in the San Bernardino National Forest. We moved our large family, three horses, reptiles, barn kitties, and labradors across the 2,200-mile journey to reach Tennessee in July of 2021. It took us five and a half days to finally reach our rental house and 10 acres of land. We were exhausted but knew we made it HOME, home to Tennessee. A land of freedom with the opportunity to live out our dreams as a family.
Since arriving we have faced many challenges and setbacks but continue to reach for our goals. We recently bought some cattle to add to our homestead. This is one more step toward our dream of becoming self-sufficient. We search daily for a home and land of our own. It is out there and all in God’s perfect timing.
I also have the dream of becoming a midwife and opening up my own birth center in Tennessee. I am a birth doula and studying midwifery.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. We have faced financial difficulties, loss of a baby in 2007, a marital strain which nearly came to divorce in 2004. We have had more trials and setbacks than most people are open to talking about. We are open and transparent in our struggles though, especially with our children, as God has pulled us through them all.
I was molested as a child, rejected by my father as I’m a girl. I never wanted my children to experience what I went through. My pain motivated me to be the best mama I could be.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As far as “career”, I am a birth doula which is a woman who helps women find their way through labor and delivery. She is a support person and an advocate.
I am studying to become a midwife. A midwife helps a woman throughout her pregnancy, labor, and delivery but in a medical way. I will help women in their reproductive health as well.
I am a new blogger as I love to write and inspire and encourage others. I am a farmer and cattlewoman. I believe we should be self-sufficient as people and reliant on all our food from the grocery store. We don’t need to grow everything but if everyone grew something, we could all help each other out with good, whole foods. I also teach young children how to ride horses and develop a bond and love for animals.
I volunteer my time in helping mamas homeschool their own children as well. Our children are our own responsibility and therefore we have a duty to train them up to be equipped for this life. To be good citizens as well.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Write down your dreams and aspirations. Don’t waste your time doing things that aren’t fruitful. Set limits on those things that waste your time like social media. Grow in good things.
As a Christian, I need to spend time reading and praying and asking God for direction, it makes all the difference. Help others in their journeys instead of fearing them as competition.
Don’t sweat the small stuff and be okay knowing you’ll make mistakes along the way. Life is too short to keep looking back.
Contact Info:
- Email: sharpenyourownarrows@gmail.com
- Website: inthedayandlifeofanordinarywoman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/in_the_day_and_life/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justanordinarywoman
Image Credits
Anna Stolz and Julie Vasquez
