Imagining a Dream

“As I wake up this morning on beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene, with gorgeous clear water and majestic mountains surrounding us, I think back on the hectic life we used to live in southern California—up early, home late, seventy hours per week, seven days a week. We couldn’t even imagine the dream we live today. We often wonder how we were so blessed to have a business that allows us to live anywhere we want in the world. Our dream is to have other people realize a lifestyle like ours so they can enjoy serene surroundings, beautiful mornings, and peaceful days,” explains Jim. “The biggest part of our day is deciding what to do with it. This life wasn’t even a dream before, and now it’s a reality.”

Life Was a Routine

After growing up in Southern California and having his own surf-band, Jim went to college and worked with his family in the mobile home business. While in college Jim met Judy and they were married in 1969.

Within a few years, life had become routine: go to work, go home, go to work, go home, and so on. Jim and Judy lived on a private golf course, drove new cars, and took vacations abroad: “We looked successful to our friends, but I had no freedom and, after ten years of marriage, no long-term security. Everything we had was based on my ability to perform.”

Simple but Great

Then an old elementary school friend showed them the business of a lifetime: “I couldn’t believe something so simple could be so great! He told me about a meeting in Portland called Free Enterprise Days, and on total faith, Judy and I went. Seeing Ron and Georgia Lee Puryear, and twenty other very successful couples speak gave us new dreams. We KNEW it was going to work for us. We believed! I saw men and women who had what I’d been searching for: God, family, and country.”

Never a Dull Moment

Judy also grew up in southern California. She came from a Christian home with two sisters (both involved in the business) and a brother. After high school, Judy was modeling and going to cosmetology school. Then she met Jim. Judy says, “When Jim came around, there was never a dull moment. He had dreams for the future, and I knew he would accomplish them. He was so full of life and energy.” “But he was working as hard as he physically was capable. Even pushing himself so hard he was having health challenges. As his wife, it was hard to watch his dreams begin to fade and frustration and weariness take their place. For me this business was truly an answer to my prayers.”

Living in Dreams

“Our property on Lake Coeur d’Alene is over 190 acres with approximately 2,000 feet of shoreline. There is a guest cottage on the property that was built in 1935. A Thomas Kincaid painting couldn’t reflect the charming atmosphere that welcomes visitors.

"We’ve had a great time redesigning the guest cottage. French antiques were used for the kitchen cabinets and stone floors give the feel of a French countryside cottage. Each room is designed from memories of our trips to France. This property is a dream come true, a retreat, a place where family and friends can gather and share summers and holidays away from the routine of their daily lives. It’s a place where there is time to visit and an atmosphere of peace and restoration for weary souls. On the property there is a separate home for Jim’s mother and a third house for our son Jim and our two grandchildren: Taylor and Ashley.

We built a seventeenth-century styled barn so unique for the area the local paper wrote an article about its design.

Wave-runners, a twenty-four-foot Warlock Euro boat, a 47-foot Meridian Yacht, and bonfires on the beach await our guests!”

Lucky vs. Blessed

“A lot of people say we’re lucky,” explains Judy, “but we don’t feel lucky. Rather, we feel blessed that God allowed us the opportunity to see this business and be rewarded for the time and effort we put into it.” Jim says, “This business has given us the freedom to live anywhere we like, and the income to do just about whatever we wish.” Judy drives an H2 Hummer. Jim can be seen in his “Harbor Blue” ‘57 Chevy convertible, a 39 Ford Woody, or his H1 Hummer.” It’s exciting to have a legacy to pass on to our children and grandchildren.”

Achieving Goals

Jim and Judy have achieved many of their early goals, as well as expanded their dreams. “Today we couldn’t be happier than we are watching the people in our organization achieve their own dreams,” says Jim. “We knew we were going all the way, but our biggest dream has been to have lots of true friends with us. We’re not naive,” Jim concludes, “We know there are other businesses that can produce a high income. In Lake Arrowhead California, for example, many of our neighbors were rich and famous, but we hardly saw them; they weren’t rich and free. This business has given us both time and money to raise our children and to smell the roses along the way.”

Believing in People

Today Jim and Judy’s heartfelt desire is to help Ron and Georgia Lee Puryear fill coliseums throughout the world to celebrate the free enterprise system and help people to achieve the success that they believe God wants them to have. Their mission statement is “to believe in people more than they believe in themselves, until they believe in themselves more.”

“We give all the glory to our Lord! Our initial goal still stands: to have six Diamond legs! Of course, twelve will be great too!”