Julia grew up near Turkey, Texas. She met her husband Mark while attending Wayland Baptist University. They now have five children – Elora, Caedmon, Lily, Cedric and Violet. Julia attended a Life-Giving Saturday at Harvest early in 2019 and loved it so much that she and her family chose to visit Harvest more. They became members in the fall of 2019. Mark and Julia are both passionate about family, music, and teaching. Mark is a band director, and Julia gives piano lessons and teaches preschool.
Who is your hero? And why?
This may sound really cheesy, but I honestly consider my husband Mark to be my hero. He has helped me process a lot of hurt, and he is willing to listen to me when others won’t. I am deeply grateful that God brought him into my life. We often joke that Mark is my psychiatrist/therapist/counselor. He is also my best friend, and I love spending time with him.
What one event in your childhood had the greatest effect on your life?
When I was twelve years old, I had a dream about being baptized. I dreamed that there was a large stucco room filled two feet deep with water. It had large windows. I walked into the room and was lowered into the water. When I came up, I saw a dove fly across the room, and I felt a sense of peace in the depths of my soul. That dream led to me accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior and being buried with Him in baptism. While I had many misconceptions about my salvation in the beginning, I feel that God was leading me to make the most important decision of my life through this dream.
If you weren’t doing what you do today, what other job would you have?
This is a difficult question for me. I have wrestled with who I am and what I am supposed to be doing for many years. Sometimes I wonder if the enemy feeds my self-doubt to make me think I shouldn’t be doing what I currently am. If I had to choose something other than teaching, I think I would seek a job that allows me to serve others – perhaps as a secretary or receptionist or missionary. I love being around people.
What “lesson from mom” do you still live by today?
The first thing that came to my mind is actually a lesson I learned from my great grandmother. We called her “Bigmama.” She would often say that she didn’t feel like she had started her day until she had made her bed. I think of her now every time I make my bed. The lesson I gleaned from her was this: Take the first step to making your day successful. One right choice leads to another. Live with excellence.
Women's Ministry 