reserve national western champions.

what a crazy last couple of days.. 

We only got a few pictures because of the fast-paced schedule but here are a few from our week.  Losing the champion title by 11 CLOSE points in a tight run for 1st and 2nd place, we came home with Reserve Grand and a national title at National Western Round-up for Meat Judging! Thankful for my team (Sydney, Taylor, and McKayla) and hundreds of hours of intense studying that bonded our meats family together.

thankful for the sunsets that remind us
to take a deep breath even when there is a ton
of pressure and stress.

thankful for the fun times 

of the fellowship of friendship.

thankful for the relief after finishing a mentally exhausting
day of judging and coming back to a hotel filled with
people that we got to know. 
for a fantastic fitness room in our hotel
where we ran on treadmills next to each other
talking..
all the sudden working out became 150% better.

thankful for the people we met
and the people we won't forget.

thankful for the awesome judging teams

that ate breakfast with us, 

had an ice fight with half of our team last night,

and never ceased to keep us laughing.

 thankful for pictures that make us laugh
and for reminders to take a deep breath
no matter what level of competition we're at.

 thankful for the overwhelming feeling of wanting to scream
when our teammate got a perfect score, a scholarship,
and highest award overall individual.

thankful for breakfast bars back in our hotel

after the worst breakfast of our lives.

thankful for coming home with a Reserve Champion win
and the best coach in the entire world who has pushed us
harder than we thought we could do, who believed in us,
and who never gave up on us.  can't wait to hopefully bring
home the National title coach in October in Kansas City!

 thankful for attempted self-timer pictures..
even when there is a TV in the way.

and for pictures that exactly describe our team. <3

 thankful for friendships
that will last a long long time.

thankful for laughter 

and the bond of sisterhood.

thankful for awesome eleveators

in the best hotel ever.

 thankful for places to drop our luggage before heading up oodles of stairs.

and most of all,

above all,

greater than everything - 

thankful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...

who showed me a ton these past ten months of meat judging, starting from scratch and in two contests being at the national level, being completely overwhelmed, learning what strength is.. not in me, 

but only in Him.  I've learned so much this year that I will never forget.

So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

|| Isaiah 41:10