Archives for December 2008

Home again!

We arrived safely home today after visiting my mom and dad, my birth mom (yep, I was adopted) my step brother and sister. It was a wonderful experience of gaining two brand new families when I found my birth parents. My birth mom’s name is Janet and I have a sister Jill and a brother Jeff. And my mom named me Julie! It kinda trips me out that we are all four J’s.

Anyway that is another story for another time.
What I wanted to share with you tonight is this wonderful website called The Shepard Press Blog. It’s written (in part or in all) by Jay Younts and the company Shepard Press who published Tedd Tripp’s books "Sheparding a Child’s Heart" and "Instructing a Child’s Heart". There are many wonderful resources there and something encouraging us towards raising our children for God every day.

I read this here today:

Do you pray for this power?…

The next time you are tempted by the thought that the power you need is just not there, think of the creation and the power of God manifested in it…in the stars, in the lightning, in the earthquakes, in the hurricanes, in the tornadoes…and remember that that power, expecially the power of Christ raised from the dead, is God’s power for you to draw on to overcome the sin that remains.

-Mark D. Futato

Creation: A Witness of the Wonder of God, 37.

Isn’t that wonderful? Wow, talk about blown away with the power of the one who owns me, loves me and calls me his girl.
There was also listed on the website a link to the HUBBLESITE.
It’s amazing. So take some time to go explore.
It’ll be worth your time!
Rest in Him today,

1 Comment

Posted: December 29, 2008 by Julie |Category: Happenings | Tags:

The Day After…

Today, December 26, we travelled to NC to visit my folks. Three are in bed and we have one more to go. I’m pooped after the techno horror we found ourselves in on Christmas Day. Nintendo DS, Laser Tag (which is WAY COOL if anyone is interested), a walking horse, WowWee Alive Cubs, and a digital picture frame.

My husband and I wondered from one thing to another trying to figure them out. The digital frame and connecting the Nintendo to the internet were the hardest. But alas, we prevailed over the craziness of techo-Christmas.

I think I’d rather put a bike together.

Oh, did I mention the ITouch?

Yep, that too.

Goodnight…..

Hope you had a great Christmas. We did!!!

Oh by the way, Merry Christmas Sandy.

5 Comments

Posted: December 26, 2008 by Julie |Category: Other Happenings | Tags:

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!
…….from our clan to yours

3 Comments

Posted: December 24, 2008 by Julie |Category: Happenings | Tags:

A Sick Baby Girl

The nasty stomach bug visited 2 days ago as baby girl woke me up around 5am saying her stomach hurt. By 7am she was carrying around a trashcan where ever she went. She felt bad when her tummy hurt and wouldn’t eat but in between she was almost her normal self. It all ended around 3pm and she was sleeping soundly by 5pm. We sat in the den together for a long time that afternoon and she fell asleep in my lap for the first time in a very long time. Oh, to have a baby again!!! Anyone have one they want me to babysit for a couple months? As she began to feel better I snapped a couple of photos of her lying on the ottoman. I love the afternoon light in that window.

Here she’s explaining to me where her "birus" is. That’s the four year old pronunciation for virus.
I’m so glad her "birus" is gone.
Wishing you a warm and cozy weekend.

2 Comments

Posted: December 20, 2008 by Julie |Category: Happenings | Tags:

How do you know you have boys?

These hang on the Christmas Tree!

I think I need to paint something pink!
Be creative!

1 Comment

Posted: December 19, 2008 by Julie |Category: Our Family, Our Lives | Tags:

Sparky the dog and other interesting stuff

This is Sparky. She’s our dog. We love her very much. In fact, almost everyone loves her. She’s just a great dog and we are very blessed to have her as a part of our lives. Our 8 year old received Sparky as a Birthday present about 3 years ago. You know, about the time I realized I wasn’t going to have any more babies…..
Some of you have that dog, right?
Or is it a hamster?
Or a cat?

Baby girl woke up sick this morning. She’s in the throws of throwing up right now. We’re on session #2. Sounds like we’re getting ready for session #3.

The winner from yesterday is posted at the top of yesterday’s blog entry. Check there to see if you won! I haven’t heard from the winner yet.

Only 2 more days of school until our Christmas break. I think I’m more excited than the kids. No more lesson plans for 2 weeks!!!!

Our family is facing a big job decision. Please pray for us today as God leads you.

Happy "day after hump day"!
IN HIM ALONE…..

1 Comment

Posted: December 18, 2008 by Julie |Category: Happenings | Tags:

Wordless Wednesday – Guess what these are?

TIMES UP!
AND THE WINNER IS CARRIE C.
Carrie email me (jworthy@marykay.com) with your address and the chocolate is on the way. One question….white, milk or chocolate??
You guys made it tough! There were several right answers and even one phone call! They are our Christmas tree lights and I did move my camera while taking the photo with my shutter wide open! And even though Carrie didn’t say anything about the shutter she did know I moved my camera. And Melinda….thanks for the phone call…..you were almost the winner!

Three questions:
1. What are they?
2. How’d they get that way?
3. Do you like them?

Go ahead. Guess away!!!
RULES
First person to get all three questions right gets free chocolate in the mail! YIPPEE!!!
Contest ends tomorrow morning (Wednesday 12-17-08) at 8am!!!
Remember to include something that lets me know who are and how I can contact you or check back here for contest winners!

Celebrating Jesus this season,

7 Comments

Posted: December 16, 2008 by Julie |Category: Uncategorized | Tags:

Clone Tool….How I love thee.

Image number one
Nice shot by a friend of mine but what’s up with that ugly silver flag pole???
YUCK.

Image number two
A quick but effective job in Photoshop Elements using my clone tool.
There, that’s much better!!

Be creative today!
IN HIM,

5 Comments

Posted: December 15, 2008 by Julie |Category: Photography and Tips | Tags:

The moon, oh the moon!

Friday night we just happened to be on our way for pizza when we noticed the moon looked huge, just over the horizon. We later found out it was because of this:

Each month the Moon orbits the Earth in an oval-shaped path, and on December 12 it will move past it around 28,000km closer than average.

The unusual feature is that this will coincide with a full moon, which will make it appear 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than most full moons this year, on Friday night.

Astrologists say the next encounter with a moon this close and full will not be until November 14 2016.

Is that cool or what??

So when I got home I went outside until my toes were frozen trying to get a couple shots of the big ole moon. So here they are!

And here’s a cool website where I got the info above:

Biggest and brightest full moon for 15 years will illuminate the night sky

And my favorite:
All I did was crop and sharpen for the web. And they really are 5×5 photos but since my background is black as well as the night sky….well, ya know. Borders are so overrated!

Pretty cool stuff, huh? Did anyone else see the moon 14% larger than normal Friday night??

6 Comments

Posted: December 14, 2008 by Julie |Category: Photography and Tips | Tags:

My Favorite Christmas Tree Ornaments

When we were little my mom and dad gave us an ornament every year. I took that box of ornaments home with me when I finally grew up and had a house of my own. Today, those ornaments still hang on our tree. One I got in the 4th grade from a friend, Ann Finch. Ann, where are you now?

So here are some of my favorites
I gave this one to my husband years ago. I love the lion and the lamb.

One of my favorite Christmas shows is The Grinch (the cartoon version). I’ve had this one for years.

I got this one the one year I went out after Christmas to Target. I love the old fashioned country feel of it. See that note in the tree in the foreground? Our second born put that there for God this year.

And this one is my kid’s favorite. We got it at Hallmark one year and the train and merry-go-round go around and around. The sound doesn’t work well anymore and drags very badly. But they still love it.