We have some awesome kiddos at Joy Ranch. It is our privilege to walk alongside and help them heal, grow, and mature into the amazing people God created them to be. You know them through the photos we share, but we’d like to introduce them to you individually over the next several months through an interview. Although this barely scratches the surface, hopefully you’ll see their fun-loving personalities shine through their responses. So, without further ado, I’d like to I introduce you to Julia.

What is your favorite food?

“Hot wings.”

What is your least favorite food?

“The gross cheese in lasagna.” (After listening to her describe it, I realized she was talking about ricotta cheese).

What is your favorite game?

“Monopoly.”

What is your favorite animal? What is your favorite animal on the Ranch?

“Horses! I love to ride. On the Ranch, my favorite animal is the new little pygmy goat, Smoke.”

What is your favorite thing to do on the Ranch?

“Playing games on the field. I like having PE with everyone.”

What is your favorite Bible story?

“David and Goliath. I like how Goliath was this giant and this tiny little guy was able to take him out with just a rock.”

What is your favorite thing to do outside?

“Playing games, but my favorite is soccer.”

What has been your favorite activity over the past year?

“Going to the beach last summer. I miss not going this year.”

Tell me something about this past year that you never want to forget.

“That time Mr. Gene lost his keys at a restaurant and looked under everything. He even climbed under the table and they were in his pocket the whole time.”

What has been your favorite thing about quarantine?

“Going to school on campus. It’s more fun and not so stressful. There’s a whole bunch of drama in middle school and I get in trouble because I sometimes get sucked into it.”

What has been your least favorite thing about quarantine?

“Having to stay on campus and if you do leave having to wear a mask.”

Would you rather go to school or have school on campus? Why?

“I want to do school on campus but be able to see my friends. If there was a way to do both, that would be perfect.”

What is something you’ve learned since coming to Joy Ranch?

“I’ve learned how to take care of stuff, like doing laundry. I like knowing how to take care of myself. I like having clean clothes but hate to fold clothes. I wish there was a way you could wash clothes, but they could fold themselves.”

Is there something you would like to do or a place you would like to go in the next year?

“I want to go back to Baltimore sometime. I really want to go to another baseball game and stay with Ms. Irene and Mr. Patrick.”

Do you have any special talents/skills/crazy things you can do?

“People say I’m really good at art. I don’t know if I’m as good as everyone says, but I do love arts and crafts and making things.”

What’s your favorite part of the day?

“My favorite part of the day is in the afternoon when everyone plays outside together.”

What’s your favorite item/toy in your room and why?

“My giant Slinky. It’s the biggest one I’ve ever seen and can stretch down the entire hallway.”

What is your favorite memory verse?

“John 14:6. Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” (And yes, she immediately quoted the verse.)

What is your favorite dish or food that you can make?

“Cereal!” (She then proceeded to tell me how she makes the best bowl of cereal on campus.) “If I have to pick a food to cook, it would be oatmeal on the stove, not in the microwave.”

Do you have a favorite thing to say?

“Oh, my word!”

Is there anything you want to share about yourself?

“If I had to pick right now what I will do when I grow up, I would be an artist or soccer player when I grow up.”