Julie’s dreams weren’t any different, than any other young girl. She wanted a loving husband and children and a home to take care of. She wanted to be close to her family and friends. Family and friends meant the most to Julie. Julie was very goal oriented early in her life, she knew what she wanted and was determined to get it.

Julie joined the military to fulfill her goals. She received her college money to go to school from the military. She wanted to be a second grade teacher and to make a difference in children’s lives.

Children loved Julie, anywhere she was, there were always kids surrounding her. Julie loved to hang out with her family and friends. She loved doing all kinds of things, from swimming, jet skiing, horseback riding or just hanging out with her mother.

She loved the arts. She loved to draw and paint, to be in theater to do the stage and also to act.

But her passion was­ — she loved to dance. She was taking ballroom dancing when she died. She wanted to enter a ballroom dance contest.

There was always a smile on her face. Julie never had a bad word about anyone, she looked for the positive in each person she met. Julie just didn’t touch our lives, but she touched lives all over the world.

There isn’t a minute of each day that she isn’t in my mind and how much I miss her.

Editor’s note: These were submitted directly from the victims’ families of the Feb. 14 shootings to the Northern Star.