Today’s Women of Grace: Meet Julia McNair Chatwell, 56. Julia is wife to Richard, mother to Richard, Jr. (Rocky) and Sarah, and grandmother to Emma. She lives in a beach house in a small town on the coast of Texas. Instagram provided me with the opportunity to discover Julia. Julia truly fits the profile of a Woman of Grace.
It looks like I am on a roll with the Women of Grace series. I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you of other women featured: Blogger Jeannie, Gracefully 50; Lady Liz Jones, who overturned her diagnosis of diabetes with weight loss and exercise; fellow blogger, Etsy business owner, and my BFF Cynthia; singer, actress, and blogger Lesley Wolman; and just last month, blogger and Minister of Style, Cathy.
I started the Women of Grace series when I launched The Age of Grace blog in 2013 to highlight other women I applaud. These ladies all have that je ne said quoi that makes them stand out— that certain something, an indefinable, elusive quality. More importantly, they fit the Women of Grace profile, being over 50, maintaining a healthy size, and living a faith-filled life that is evident in themselves and how they inspire and encourage others.
You shared that as a child, you were chubby and suffered from an eating disorder. Share how you overcame that condition and how you maintain a healthy size.
I was a high-spirited and chubby child who loved to eat. What can I say? Momma was a great cook. In my teen years, I suffered from what is now known as “classic anorexia.” After years of suffering from the eating disorder, I had low self-esteem, poor body image, and a constant need to be perfect, look perfect, and try to please everyone; that led me to be a reader of every self-help book— enough to open a small library, only to realize the one book I ever needed was the book of life… the accurate word of God, the Holy Bible.
As for maintaining my size now, I got into cycling several years ago & it helps with my thighs, which has always been my problem area. Riding a bike is also a great stress reliever. I also work on my treadmill at home, do light ab work, and tone my upper arms with small weights. Nothing too extreme. My main concern is to be healthy, toned, and balanced.
Julia’s natural beauty secrets are essential and so important at this stage when one is north of 50:
I am a simple, old-fashioned woman, not into the high-end or high maintenance. I have found that through seeking my authentic self, a natural look works better for me. Natural fits my active lifestyle better as I generally am outdoors most of the year. However, with that said, I do feel that hydration is the most essential key in any beauty regimen. You must hydrate your skin and your body from the inside out. Drink that water! I can not say it enough. Sunscreen is also a must.
As far as makeup goes, I’m pretty simple. I like drugstore cosmetics, like Physicians Formula Super BB Powder and /or a Mineral Wear type of powder. Heavy base makeup is out for me because of our intense humidity. I love all different eyeliner colors and always use basic black mascara. Lip gloss gives my face a pop of color because of the silver hair.
I admire silver-haired beauties! You mentioned your dad’s platinum-gorgeous hair. I like your Dad’s advice when you found your first strand of grey hair at the age of 18.
My daddy had gorgeous silver platinum hair. Premature gray ran on his side of the family. He forever told me to ’embrace the authentic me,’ but I still fought it. I decided to go natural in 2013 as I was fighting a losing battle with the silver hair. I think you and I talked about that one day! It’s been an incredible journey. I wish I had handled the transition better, but I’m happy with the natural outcome. It’s humbling to embrace my natural hair.
Your bio not only included information about yourself but your precious memories of being a stay-at-home mother that home schooled her children when it wasn’t the norm, sounds to me like you’re a trailerblazer.
After thirteen years of being childless and because of my husband’s shift work, I was able to be a stay-at-home Mom. When my son Rocky was 16, he became a professional kiteboarder. Rocky had several sponsors & I was blessed to travel the entire globe with him, competing at a professional level with a Pro Tour. He ranked 4th in the nation and still holds the title of North American Kiteboarding Champion.
This was an insanely busy time for me as I globe-tripped beaches on almost every continent with Rocky, living a vagabond lifestyle, lugging gear all over creation. Only to arrive home just in time to glam up my look and take my daughter Sarah to a photoshoot or beauty pageant! Sarah won the Miss Corpus Christi Teen, USA 2007 title and competed at the State level for two years.
Julia’s children have Black belts from years of Tae Kwon Do from their home school physical education. Both Rocky and Sara learned confidence, self-discipline, and so much more.
I love that your family has a bluegrass band and that you donate the profits to local charities.
I needed to keep the kids home so they could have family time with their dad when he was off. I do not recommend homeschooling, as it was tough, but it was a blessing for us. As part of our music curriculum, they played guitar and mandolin in our family bluegrass band. We dedicated all our music proceeds to local charities and regular nursing home visits in the Coastal Bend.
In your bio, you shared how God’s divine intervention has played a mighty role in your life. Please share that story again about how God rescued you two different times.
Eugenia, I am a compassionate, intuitive soul. I have felt the presence of God—all my life. I’ve often called out to God in prayer, in bad times, and thanksgiving. I have had what I would call a divine intervention with God twice in my life. Once when I was deathly thin, suffering from anorexia to the point where my hair was falling out by the handfuls to once, just recently. I had what I can only say is a “near-death experience (NDE).” It happened the first night home after I body slammed the curb, pavement falling off my speed bike, breaking my shoulder & cracking three ribs. This NDE came at a very dark time in my life when I was in a very dark place with God. I was angry and bitter. I had given up on God, but HE never gave up on me! That’s another story… but God once again saved me, and I’m changed forever. Our God is incredible!
Julia’s final words ring true. She is a woman of profound simplicity that only comes from within your heart and soul. Remember that the term means “the quality or condition of being easy to understand or do. A thing that is plain, natural or easy to understand.” Based on what I shared, that’s Julia.
Julia, thank you for being so transparent about your life. Your story inspires me, and I believe it will encourage many women, whether north or south or over 50.
Have a fabulous week!
