Day 9 - Mis Amigos

So for Day 9 of the blogging challenge, I'm supposed to post a picture of my friends... Well, that's a tough one. Not that I'm Miss Popular or anything like that, but it's just that I've had so many friends that mean so much to me. So, while I have a ton of people that I would love to list and include their pictures, there are a handful that have stood by me through some great times and some not so great times, who know enough about me to hate but still like me anyways, or who have really just withstood the test of of time.

First, there's Anisa. We met in 1st or 2nd grade (I don't remember which). If you want to know what all she means to me, refer to this post. She definitely wins the award for the most resilient friend of mine. There was never a time that we spent together that didn't result in a great story. Seriously, though, as different as we are, I know that she was put into my life to teach me so much and to make me a better person. I don't get to see her very often, but she stays near to my heart. She's a truly beautiful person - it's obvious on the outside, but her spirit shines even more.

Next, is Anisa's husband Albert (Bert to everyone else in this world). There was a time when I lost many of my good friends due to divided loyalties, but Albert had my back. He was my clown when I needed to laugh, my friend when I needed to cry, and my big brother when I needed protecting (mostly from myself). From his forcing me to watch baseball and other stuff I didn't like to our just hanging out listening to music or going to the Refuge, he was a Godsend at that point in my life.

It stinks to have to admit that when these two friends came together - while I should have been happy that my oldest and dearest friend and my current best friend had both found love - selfishly, I felt like I had lost both of them. Thank goodness, I grew up a little and was able to realize that the friendships that I had with them weren't only God's gift to me but were His way of bringing these two together (isn't it cool when you can look back and see how He started working from the beginning?). They are both very special, and I really can't think of two people who deserve each other more! (But I'm really hoping that they never compared notes on me... There is such a thing as one person just knowing too much about another).

 The next friend I have to mention is Michelle. We met in college and were basically inseparable until we graduated and she had to move off for her job. She's an amazing person with more strength than anyone else I know. She now has a beautiful family of her own, and, even though I only get to see her maybe once a year, we seamlessly pick up right where we left off.

Finally, there's my boys. I won't post a picture because I don't have one that hasn't been posted on here already numerous times. They are my life now, and, honestly, the best friends I have. I can't wait to get home every night to see them and just hang out.

I thank God for these blessings - my friends :)

Day 8 - A Place I've Traveled To...

I'm not exactly a jetsetter, and most of my trips haven't been to places very exotic. I've made the obligatory Destin beach trip, Gulf Shores beach trip, Disney World trip and multiple trips to Memphis, New Orleans, etc... Basically all the same places that most everyone in the South travel to that are convenient and not too tough on the wallet (well, with the exception of Disney World).

However, I did get to go to Whitefish, Montana, one summer for a mission trip when I was in high school. Whitefish is a beautiful town in and of itself, but while we were there, we got to go to Glacier National Park. That has to be the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life. Since I didn't own a digital camera and all of my photo albums from that time are stored away in boxes that I don't want to go through, I just borrowed a picture that is similar to one that I took.

You couldn't take a picture in Glacier that didn't look like it belonged on a postcard!

So, on another note, I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! Mine started Wednesday and ended Saturday, but it was good to see all the family. My mom and stepdad came Wednesday night; we went to Ronnie's family's Thanksgiving Thursday, I visited with my dad and stepmom Friday, and then we all went to their house Saturday.

Thanksgiving with the Jones' side

 Anyway, so now it's back to work for three weeks before another two-week break :). I'm pretty sure I can make it!

Day 7 - My Favorite Movies

On a drizzly cold day like today, it would have been a prime opportunity for couch time with my favorite movies. Unfortunately, I had too much to do at work to be "sick". I actually like A LOT of movies, and I had a hard time determining which were my favorites, but I narrowed it down to the ones that I know almost every word to or can actually sing the entire soundtrack. So, here's the short list.

Random... I know. I actually had a really hard time with today's challenge. I'm sure as soon as I post this, I will change my mind.

Just in case you need a laugh today...

I was watching Dancing with the Stars last night, and I noticed Trent getting a little dancy. So, I got my camera ready. Boy, am I glad I did! Make sure you have your volume turned up so you can hear the music. (And, yes, that is a batting glove on his hand. No, I have no idea why it's on there.)

Something That Makes Me Happy

Ok.. after a short break (last week got really busy), I'm back with Day 6 of the Blogging Challenge: A picture of something that makes me happy.

This makes me happy:

There's nothing quite so beautiful as God's artwork, is there? This is actually the view through the windows in front of our kitchen table. The sunset makes me happy, but, even better, it makes me think of my home, which makes me the happiest of all. As much beauty as lies outside my windows, the love in our home is as beautiful as it gets (Cheesy, I know, but I'm so serious).

Speaking of love - I L-O-V-E J.J. Heller's new album When I'm With You. I absolutely fell in love with her last one Painted Red, but this new one is awesome! Here's one of my favorites (that always brings tears to my eyes).


For those of you with little ones, she has a lot of songs that she's singing to her little one(s). Here are my two faves!

When I'm With You


Keep You Safe


Hope you enjoyed! Check out the rest of her songs, too. (All I Need, Your Hands, Kingdom Come, and Painted Red are SUPER great, too...)

Happy Monday!

Day 5: My sibling

I only have sibling - an older sister (she's 4 years older, but you could probably never tell because she's tiny). Her name is Brandi, and she is basically the antithesis of me. We're both short (though she has me beat at about 4'10"-4'11". She may claim 5', but don't for a second believe it), and we sound a lot alike on the phone. Other than that, though, we're just not that much alike.

The smile on Brandi's face makes me think she might be responsible for the frown on mine.

Growing up, Brandi was always the more outgoing, creative, and pretty one. I was the well-behaved, "smart" one. In actuality, Brandi is probably twice as smart as I am, she just found a few different outlets for her smarts - such as not getting caught in her mischief. She also told me that because I started out making good grades, I ruined it for myself. See, she had it all figured out that if you consistently make bad grades, no one expects too much, and you won't disappoint. She proved it to be true when she barely passed Trig (not for lack of smarts - she just didn't like it) and got an awesome graduation party because my parents were so happy that she graduated! See how smart she really is?!

I think someone should have clued me in that her chair was not built for the likes of my chubby little self. To this day, I hate being in the same picture as Brandi because the comparison ALWAYS made me look bigger than I really was.

Like all of us, Brandi's had her ups and downs, but she always came out of them with more determination and confidence than I've ever seen. We've had times we've been super close and times where we would go months without talking to each other. She's currently in Texas with her handsome family, working at a church, and looking to go back to school in Spring.

Brandi, her husband Byran, and her son Josh

This is my sister, and despite all the quarrels, "borrowed" clothes, and competitions that we kept going throughout our lives, I will forever love her and do anything in the world for her because she is the one who God gave me to share my life from the moment I was born until my life ends. We share the same parents, the same genetics (even the crazy ones), many of the same life experiences, and the same love for family. Plus, she's one of the only people in the world who can make me feel tall.

3 things...

Roll Call!


Just because I'm curious - If you're reading this now, leave me a comment and let me know. Other than those who leave me comments regularly (thanks, Anisa!), I really have no idea who reads this. So, if you have time and don't mind, holla at a sista!

Blog Challenge Day #4: My Parents

Get ready because I have half a dozen - No, I mean it!

First, meet my Dad &my Stepmom, Charlie and Robin, aka Granddaddy & G:

They are complete opposites, but that seems to work so well for them! They just celebrated their 20-year-anniversary! So, yeah, Robin has been a part of the family just a little over 66% of my life. That makes her a pretty big influence. So, from them, I've learned responsibility, independence, how to fall asleep in the middle of everyone and convince them all that you were "just resting your eyes", and the importance of that occasional guilty pleasure TV show :)

Next, meet my mom & step-dad, Susan and Mike, aka MeMaw & PawPaw:

These two are so much alike, it's not funny, but that's what works for them. They are currently working on their 7th year of marriage. Mike's relatively new to the family, but he fits in just right! From these two I've learned beyond a shadow of a doubt that nothing is impossible with God on your side!

Finally, meet my Father-in-law & Mother-in-law, Glynn and Jean, aka Pop & Gran Gran:

These two took me into their family and have made me feel welcome ever since I stepped foot in their door the first time! They know what it takes to make a family work, and they know what it takes to make a family fun. They never offer me unsolicited advice (even though I'm sure there have been plenty of times when they probably really wanted to because I needed it), but they usually give pretty sound words of wisdom when I come asking! (That's right - I have in-laws I like! How cool is that?!)

So, there ya have it, I'm pretty lucky to have all these people in my life, aren't I?

My Guys

Finally, I got the camera out this weekend, and just look at how stinkin' great my guys look!

Happy Monday, y'all!

Blog Challenge Day 3: My First Love (Oh, boy!)

People who know me and see that Day 3 of the Blog Challenge is "My First Love" are either laughing or shaking their heads. So, it's no big secret that I'm not exactly good in the love/relationship department. After I got my first boyfriend (Jeff Carter in 6th grade - Yes, I remember... I believe it lasted 2 whole weeks, and, no, I'm not claiming that was my first love), I was rarely without one. I had a couple of long-term boyfriends - the longest being a 4-year on-again/off-again thing with a guy from my church (who was very nice, and I liked him a lot - thought it was love, but was wrong). Long story shortened (by A LOT), I was engaged three times and married twice by the time I was 25. I had a lot to learn...

One of my favorite musicians, Jason Mraz, wrote It takes no time to fall in love, but it takes you years to know what love is. That was the problem - I kept "falling in love" without ever knowing what it means to truly love. I have said that I loved many people throughout my life - students, friends, significant others; I'm just not sure how many times I said that in the true meaning of the word.

I now know that to love someone is to love every little thing about them, to always put their needs in front of your own, to never be truly happy unless you have made them happy, to never ever settle for "good enough" when it comes to pleasing them. To truly love someone, you must constantly want to make your relationship with that person better. When you love someone, you're willing to give your last dollar, the coat off your back, or your last breath for that person. Most importantly, unless God's love is holding you together, it's not love.

It took me multiple tries to finally figure out that I was the problem. I had no idea what it meant to love someone. It took God completely breaking me and allowing others to build me up to help me realize that without a relationship with Him, there could be no true love in my life. So, after He finally got through this hard head of mine, he gave me my very first true love, Ronnie. Then he gave me Carter Lane, and then Trent. I love them more each day and would gladly give everything I have in order to make any one of them happy.

So, here are my very first real true loves (make sure your speakers are on b/c it has a great song on it, too):

Make a free slideshow design

Happy Friday!!

Blog Challenge: Day 2

Day 2: What's the meaning behind your blog name?

Well, I'm not extremely creative so it's kind of self-explanatory. Basically, my blog is just a way for me to share glimpses from my everyday (or once every 2 months) life - pictures, funny little stories, or just something that struck me as meaningful for one reason or another. So "Images of My Life" is exactly what you get.

On a side note - how was your Halloween? We were Spiderman (again) this year. I did tell him that he couldn't be the "red and blue" Spiderman again so we were "sweet black" Spiderman. (Apparently, "scary black" Spiderman has fangs, just in case you weren't up on all the Spiderman goings-on).

We went to one of my friends' house, and I told him to show her his muscles (speaking of the ones built into the costume). I continued to talk, and the next thing I knew, Trent was stripped down to his underwear flexing and showing everybody his "situtation". Good times!

Basketball season for Carter Lane begins tonight with a game against Heritage. They don't actually have a coach yet because the basketball coach is also the assistant coach for football, and they're going to the playoffs. So, the girls' coach is filling in for the boys' coach right now. Carter Lane's a little concerned because they don't have any plays ready. I told  him just to scream random phrases like "Your Mom" or "Cutie Patootie" like they're calling plays and then run really quickly against the opponents while they are still in shock. Don't know if that will work - If it does, maybe they'll ask me to coach...

Going for a 3-pointer last year

Anyway, hope you all have a great Thursday!!

Since all the cool kids are doing it...

That's right, I'm talking about the 30 Day Blog Challenge that everyone's doing. I know I've been neglecting my blog (again) lately. So, I thought it might be fun to try. Let's hope that I'm more successful than the previous 30 Day Shred challenge - Otherwise, I won't get past Day 6. (Just in case you were wondering how my resolutions ended up - I did manage to stay out of Dirt Cheap for a month, but that was the only success I had).

So, here it goes: Day 1: Introduce yourself, include a picture, and list 15 interesting facts about yourself.

Hi, I'm Julie... (Ok, so I'm not sure what more an introduction would consist of - especially since I'm about to reveal 15 random facts. So, we'll just leave it at that. As far as I know, anyone who actually takes the time to read this blog knows me anyway.)

That's the  most recent picture I have of myself... I'm not big on having my picture taken (the only picture I've ever really liked of myself was on my first driver's license. I don't have it anymore). But I guess, with the exception of the weird face I was making when Ronnie took that picture, it pretty much looks like me. So, it'll do.

Ok, here it goes, 15 facts about moi:

1. Despite my impressive use of it in the previous statement, I do not actually speak French. I only know some Spanish - basically enough to get me to a bathroom or library or let you know that any household pet is on fire. Ya know, basic survival Spanish.
2. I am 1/16th (I think) Native American. Since I have light hair (not at the moment, but I'm talking naturally), pale skin, blue eyes, no sense of direction, and absolutely no physical prowess, one would probably never guess. However, I read one time that Native Americans picked up a lot of things with their feet since they were often carrying large amounts of stuff in their hands while gathering, and I can spread my toes really far apart and pick things up easily with my feet (even though I fall down due to lack of any kind of balance or coordination). So, I guess I did inherit something.
3. I LOVE music.... lots of different kinds of music. I can't peg one genre that I like the best. I've just found that there's a song for every mood and every emotion that I've ever felt, and that's so stinking cool. Please don't ever make me name my favorite song - you will get a list a mile long. I just can't do it... I hope that's not one of the days for this challenge. Maybe I should have read ahead.
4. I'm a hypochondriac. Seriously. My friends at work have banned me from WebMD. I have diagnosed myself with nearly every disorder known to mankind. I recently attended an ADHD conference that also dealt with the common comorbidities (I hate that word - it's sounds so, well, morbid). I returned from it convinced that I have ADHD, Depression, Anxiety Disorder, possibly Bipolar, with a touch of Asperger's. That's in addition to the melanoma, gout, and early onset menopause with which I had diagnosed myself before we went to the conference. My friends seem to think I have nothing that a few days in a padded cell might not cure.
5. I record shows on my DVR that I'm embarassed to let anyone know I watch. (That's right people, we're getting into the deep, dark secrets here). On the living room TV that everyone sees, I record the good ones like The Office, The Biggest Loser, Outsourced, The Next Iron Chef etc. However, in my room, is the list that only I see (and Ronnie if he gets bored, but even he's so embarrassed by the list that he rarely pulls it up). It has included Jerseylicious, Dancing with the Stars, Tough Love, Rob & Big, Dating in the Dark, Melissa & Joey, iCarly, and Hannah Montana Forever. It also has Super Hero Squad, but that's for Trent, I swear! I'm a dork - I know.
6. I wear heels nearly everyday just so I don't have to hem pants.
7. I don't like talking on the phone, and will frequently "not hear" my phone ringing in the hopes that the person calling me will just text instead. I will spend 2 hours texting someone back and forth rather than hold a 5-minute conversation. I have no idea why I'm like this.
8. I often do a weird thing with my eyes where they kinda roll upward and the eyelashes flutter (it apparently looks like I'm doing a very dramatic eye roll), and I have no idea when I do it. I guess it's kinda like a tic (Yes, I might possibly have Tourette's as well... when I get away from the people at work, I will look it up on WebMD and see what other symptoms I have). I think I've offended a few people with this eye roll thing, and if I've ever done it to one of you, I'm so sorry! I swear I have absolutely no idea when or why it happens.
9. I love scary movies - not blood and guts, kill everybody around movies - the ones that get into your head and REALLY scare you. Suspense movies, ghost stories, etc. However, I also let these movies freak me out and still refuse to face a mirror in a dark room. (That's just scary!)
10. When I get bored, I count things - bricks in my office, tiles on the floor, the number of lines on a piece of lined paper, number of books on a bookshelf, etc. I then have to go back and count from the other way (top to bottom vs. bottom to top, left to right vs. right to left, etc.) to make sure that I counted correctly the first time. (You're right, I'm adding OCD to my list, too). I don't freak out or anything if I get interrupted, but I will start over the next time I start tuning out.
11. My real name is not Julie, it's Julia... I don't like being called Julia because it makes me think I've done something wrong because - just like every other mom in the world - when I got into trouble, my mom would yell my proper name "Julia Susanne!", and that meant I took off running  was in trouble.
12. I am not name after the Sugarbakers... It's just coincidence. I'm named after my great-grandmother, my mom, and my aunt (Julia, Susan, and Patsy Anne).
13. I don't wear a watch. I went to a retreat when I was in college, and, as part of the experience, they took your watch. I haven't put one on since. However, I have to pull my cell phone out whenever I want to see what time it is, and that's distracting when I'm observing or teaching anything. So, I might need to reconsider this whole watch thing.
14. I am a proud Mississippi State Bulldog! (That's right, #20 this week!) I am not a fair weather fan and have claimed them through every loss, too, but I love the fact that we're doing well right now! We had a few several rough years, but we've figured it out. In the words of the great Christopher Walken, we need MORE COWBELL!
15. I have a celebrity doppleganger (No, I didn't get that from WebMD - it's not a disease, it's a look alike).

That's not her...

That's her - Elizabeth McGovern. She's not a huge celebrity, but she's been in a couple of movies.

Ok... so there are more random facts than anyone ever cared to know about me. I will try to actually complete this 30 day challenge - it won't be in done in 30 days, but it might be 30 days worth of stuff :).