The New Year brings two things for us. 
The New Year and my husband’s birthday.  He’s a New Year’s baby.  Our oldest son is a Christmas Baby and our second born missed Valentine’s Day by just hours! 

Last night I promised my son that we’d get into his YUCK canister.  I found this at Hobby Lobby and would recommend it to anyone.  What fun.  Last night we made YUCK (just one of the things you can do with it). 

We started by dumping a very small package of polymer crystals into this jar and adding warm water.  It was amazing to watch the crystals grow to over 150 times their weight within an hour.  (This is the stuff in disposable diapers are made of.)

By nine o’clock last night we had a jar full of these!  Mushy, gushy, slimy glory!  The kids loved it.  As we read about polymer not only did we find out that they are simple strands of molecules that expand when you add water but we also found out that drought-ridden countries are using them to mix in the soil to water crops.  Cool, huh??

On other notes, I’ve been playing with my latest toy……

A gift from my hubbie!
Sweet,huh? 
No more photo processing on my laptop.

Have a great day ya’ll!
IN HIM,

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. 

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,

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

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.

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?

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