Oklahoma Trip Part 1

Happy Thursday Y'all!

I am posting from Oklahoma today!

My brother in law is graduating from basic training tomorrow!

Fair warning there might be a ton of pictures!

So today we all loaded up and went exploring. I never knew Oklahoma could be so pretty. Sorry to anyone from Oklahoma reading this :)

We started out by going to see a wildlife refugee park but ended up going up on Mt. Scott and seeing God's beautiful creation.

The mountain behind us is where we were headed. 

I mean really! 

Look closely and you can see a very cute lizard 

B & her aunt 

The graduate {plus the lizard}

#selfiefail 

Me and the soon to be grad 

Don't look down 

Me & B

Cause I'm on top of the world Hey! 

B

We were tired 

So that was just beautiful! 

We then came back to the hotel rested then went out to Texas Roadhouse #YUM! 

Then this: 

Braum's and my Spurs! 

Let's hope they get it together and close this out. 

I hope y'all have a great night! 

XOXO ~ JulieAnn 

Waiting On Wednesday: Rejoice in HIS Power

Hey guys!

This post is being posted late due to traveling to Oklahoma this afternoon to see my brother in law graduate from Boot Camp. YAY!

Today I am linking up with Holly for Waiting on Wednesday.

And what do you know I was a feature blogger! 

WHAT?!!? I know it is crazy. 

Never ever in a million years did I think this little blog would be featured on anything. 

THANK YOU HOLLY! 

So today I had more planned but as I was sitting here reading over my Bible Study I came across a certain verse that I feel I need to share. 

A little back story here. The very first day I went to the gym (which I was sooooo nervous about) one sweet lady invited me to a Bible Study with some other ladies in the community. I was nervous about it at first because I did not know any of them and I honestly was not in the best place in my daily walk with God. 

This is so hard to write because I grew up in Church, I have always had a strong relationship and just over time I became a slacker. My thirst and hunger for the Lord was not as strong as it was and should be. It is embarrassing but I feel as if we all go through ups and downs in our walk. 

So I got up the nerve to go to the Bible Study that first Friday and left feeling better than I had in a VERY.LONG.TIME

It is so funny how the Lord works. If I didn't get up and go to the gym, who knows if I would have found a great group of women who make me laugh, cry, and help me in my walk. 

We are working through the Chase study by Jennie Allen. 

" Chasing after the heart of God" 

You can find more out HERE

I am LOVING this study. It is based off David and his life. 

I have felt so much better since I started going. It is funny how one thing can change your prospective on things. 

Today I was reading and the verse that lead to this post was: 

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power, is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 

2 Corinthians 12:9 

We all have weaknesses and we all struggle at times but to know we have an AWESOME God out there and that just by HIS Grace we are saved. 

I don't know how many times I have read this verse and each time I read it I get something new out of it. 

I have always struggled with my self confidence. It would be a weakness of mine and it is something I have to work through daily. 

Instead of feeling bad about the "weaknesses" I see in me, maybe I should rejoice that no matter what God loves me and He is the one in control. 

Why is control so hard to give up!?!?!?! 

Why should I worry so much?!?!

Why can't I just trust in the Lord and rejoice in HIS power?!

This is something I will be making a true effort on daily. When I start doubting I will start rejoicing. 

No one on this earth is perfect and we all have weaknesses but with HIM we are saved, weaknesses and all. 

Did y'all get all of that? 

Sometimes when I get preachy I don't make sense.

That is maybe why when I was in 7th grade and it was my first time to read a scripture in front of the congregation at Church I wrote a paragraph and "preached" for a little bit. Ha Ha 

I hope we all can join together and rejoice in our weakness because we have the Power of Christ upon us. 

Today this verse spoke to me and some how this post happened! 

Sorry if it didn't make a ton of sense :) 

Come back and see my adventures out in Oklahoma! 

Thanks! 

XOXO ~ JulieAnn 

Friday Favorites

It is time for this weeks Friday Favorites.

This week has been a hectic week!

Today I am linking up with Andrea, Erika and Narci for Friday Favorites. 

This week Ty and I made some yummy banana pudding! 

Cooking with her has become one of my Favorite things. 

Jason Witten is by far my Favorite Dallas Cowboy! 

This was my Favorite gift I gave my BFF for her little girl

These girls are my Favorite 

My Favorite project of the week 

By far my Favorite guy! 

I am one of the biggest San Antonio Spurs fan that you will find. 

I love them and I have been a big supporter of them since I was in elementary school! 

Yesterday Kawhi Leonard won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year. 

He was award a new car from KIA and donated it to Respite Care in San Antonio. 

You can find the article about Kawhi's gift HERE

I am very passionate about children who have been abused/ neglected and for one of my favorite players to do something for an organization that is so needed for children who have suffered abuse/neglect just makes me love him even more. 

You can find more out about Respite Care HERE

I posted about what Sports means to me here and I understand that the world does not revolve around sports. However, sports give a HUGE platform for others like Kawhi Leonard to bring attention to organizations that do so much for those who need it most. 

We have a very busy weekend planned and I cannot wait to share what we have been up to :) 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

XOXO ~ JulieAnn 

Thinking out Loud Thursday: District & Area Track

Hey guys!

I am posting this late due to just getting back from the track meet. It has been one long day!

Today I am linking up with Vanessa and Penny for Thanking out Loud Thursday.

First off did y'all see the Spurs game last night?!?!?!?!?!?! 

OMG I stayed up and watched the whole thing which meant I went to bed around 2:30 am. 

I love the Spurs and let's hope they can keep it up. 

Anyway.........

Today was the district and area track meet. Thankfully it was great weather! I didn't get there until after work but it was perfect timing because that was when the running events started. 

Somehow I took this picture on accident 

Love the sky

Just the hubs doing his thing

:) 

It was a good day and a lot of the kids advanced to Regionals! 

The boys got 2nd as a team in points and I could not be prouder of them. 

This school year is winding down so fast. I feel like yesterday I was getting ready to head to a football game. These kids have put in so much hard work all year long. 

Next weekend is regionals then {hopefully} State. 

We are all tired here and headed off to bed early. 

Happy Thursday! 

XOXO ~ JulieAnn 

Waiting on Wednesday: Track & Testing

Today I am linking up with the always sweet and inspiring Holly at While I'm Waiting from Waiting on Wednesday.

As I type this my husband and his 22 8th graders are taking the Science STARR test. 

Please say an extra special prayer for them!

As much as I talk about my husband being a coach he is a teacher first. He tells everyone that when they ask what he does. He will say " I am a teacher and then I am a coach" 

I am a worrier by nature and even though I know my husband has done a great job teaching his kids I still get nervous. 

This post is not about my like or dislike of the Starr test but about the importance of making sure the kids and the teachers feel encouraged and supported. 

If you have visited my blog before then you know that sometimes I get crazy ideas at all random times of the night. 

So at 2 am I decided that I would be making treats for Ad's 8th graders this morning. 

Thanks to Holly I found this cute idea

Source

I then found the printable Here

Thank you Holly for finding this! 

Here was my take on it: 

I printed them off then cut them out and put them on black card stock paper so they could "pop"

I get this clear sacks at Wal-Mart for .98 

They come in a pack of 25 and I just get one more each time I go so I always have some. 

This ribbon I bought at the beginning of football season and I still have a ton of it left! 

Then I added Smarties into the bags

Then add the saying and ribbon 

{You can see the other sacks I am working on for the HS track team for tomorrow}

All 22 of them ready to go. 

Tomorrow is the High School District and Area Track Meet. 

I am working on treats for them and I am not sure what all I will do yet. I have some hard candies in there now. 

I have oranges to put in there as well. 

I normally go to Pintrest for any quotes I can add to the bags. 

If you are looking for some things to make the sports teams in your life you can follow my Coach G board on Pintrest HERE

I look forward to reading what everyone else is waiting on! 

Have a great Wednesday. 

XOXO ~ JulieAnn