The Rat Pack

"There is a road we keep running on until we reach our goal, but LOVE gives us strength to continue our journey." -Survivor in the LOVE146 Round Home

Some of you may know of an organization called LOVE146. A friend of mine and I hosted a Valentine's event this year to raise money for this organization. It is an organization that is fighting to end human trafficking and child sex slavery. It is a great organization whose goal is to see the abolition of child sex slavery in our lifetime. Ever since learning about Human Trafficking in college and the efforts of Love146, I have kept an eye out for anything that I may be able to do to help this organization. First, was the Valentine's event which was actually a great success (thank you to everyone who supported it!). Next on the list, Tread on Trafficking.

Starting May 1st I will be participating in Love146's Tread on Trafficking campaign. During the 8 week period of May 1-June 30, I will be running/biking/swimming/hiking to help end child sex slavery. During this time I recruit sponsors to donate money or pledge $ per mile. I have set a Treading goal of 120 miles! I am nervous on meeting that goal, considering it is going to be HOT those 8 weeks and I have 2 vacations I will be going on, but I am definitely up for the challenge. I am excited to be able to be running for something more meaningful than just running :) haha. This will definitely be more motivation for me to get off the coach and do something. I am also excited because it will push me to try some other types of exercise because let's face it, I can cover more miles in a shorter amount of time biking than running!

If you would like to help support me in my Treading efforts, visit my personal page at http://Love146.kintera.org/tread/kaceyratcliff. And check back on my blog often as I count down my miles starting May 1st!

Happy Trails!

On Friday, us girls skipped town on the boys for a weekend of shopping in Canton, TX. Me, my 2 sisters, my sister's friend Sarah, Addison, and my mom (aka, Gigi the babysitter for the weekend:)) spent the weekend at my Aunt's house in Canton. If you have never been to Trade Days, aka First Monday, in Canton, it is a MUST!! It is basically a huge flee market with EVERYTHING imaginable, and the best part is that you can find some really great deals. I went shopping specifically looking for some kind of bench for the entry way to our house. We have a really wide entry way and nothing in it, so it is just kinda dull. Something I do NOT want to portray to our guests as they walk in the front door. I can't wait to share what I found...

We all took off work Friday (which may have been the best part!) and headed straight to First Monday. We shopped for about 2 hours just kind of browsing and getting a feel for what was out there so we could hit the vendors hard the next day! I found a small gift for a friend of mine, so I was already feeling accomplished at the end of day 1 :) We spent the night with my Aunt and her family who just opened a food booth at First Monday called Double Bubba's Fried Food Emporium. It's amazing, but I will get there in a bit. We enjoy hanging out and catching up with family; my grandma and her husband also made the trip to see us (I think they really wanted to see Addison).

Here is Addison with my Aunt Jana posing for the camera. She has taken so many pictures in her short life that all you have to do is say "Addison, smile, cheese!" and she will turn and smile at the camera...priceless!



Day 2- We woke up, and thanks to Gigi who babysat Addison, we were able to get an early start to the shopping. We browsed some more, finding some cute little things here and there, but no BIG items that we were looking for. However, my mom did give us each a little extra spending money (THANKS MOM!) and I was able to get one of these pots that I wanted for our front yard. I LOVE IT! Reagan's first comment to seeing it was "It has a longhorn"...I corrected him that it was a Texas steer! I just love the western flare, it fits our house so well.



We met up with Gigi, Addison, my grandma Bebo and her husband Charles for some Double Bubba's fried food. We all got something different and shared. Our lunch consisted of fried pickles, fried avocado slices, fried PB&J, fried Jalapeno poppers, and my favorite, fried macaroni and cheese balls! YUM! It was all soo delicious, and yes I had a pretty big tummy ache afterwards! I also got to visit with my best friend Stephanie and her family who came down from Dallas for the day to shop (I wish I had brought my camera with me shopping for some group photos).

After lunch, we went back out shopping and that is where we hit the JACK POT! I wish I could remember the name of the store, but I know it is there each First Monday, so I can't wait to go again one day. I could have bought everything in it! I was able to find my bench, with an extra piece that goes on top, a beautiful wall hanging, and my sister found a table she wanted to go against one of her living room walls. It was AWESOME. I was so excited when we found everything that I was literally jumping up and down.

Here is the bench with the hanging that goes above it (I will try to give an updated picture when it gets hung and everything organized, kind of hard to get the idea from two different pics).




Here is the wall hanging. We have a skinny wall dividing our living room and kitchen that you can see from the front door, that's where this is going to hang...SOO excited about this piece.



It has all the Fruits of the Spirit written on it. What a beautiful piece and a daily reminder of what our lives should be filled with each day :)

We had such a great time with our friends and family, and came back with everything that we went to find. It was a great success, and a great weekend. On the way home we stopped by to visit with my MeeMaw and PawPaw in Huntsville. Here is a picture of Kelly and Addison on the tractor. We all LOVED going on tractor rides as little girls in the pastor with my PawPaw and Dad. It made me think about all the great times we spent at my grandparents and how I can't wait to make memories with all of our kids, picking blackberries, fishing, feeding the cows, and just playing in the dirt like we loved to do when we were young!

Two weekends ago, Reagan and I took an early Anniversary trip to Moody Gardens in Galveston. Reagan has a lot of tests/finals coming up around our real Anniversary (March 21st), so we decided to do something early to avoid not doing much of anything like last year :) We decided on Moody Gardens because we WON a free 2 night stay with all day passes at a scholarship dinner Reagan had earlier this year. It worked out GREAT! We had such a great time!

First, Reagan made a picnic dinner for us Friday night to enjoy on the beach. It was a little chilly with the wind, but I didn't mind at all because it was such a sweet idea and I just loved relaxing on the beach knowing that we still had the whole weekend ahead of us. We enjoyed cheese and crackers with some red wine for appetizers and ceasar salads for dinner. He even brought brownie pudding packs for dessert! YUM! It was a great surprise, and I am sad that I left my camera in the car so I didn't get any pictures of our nice set-up.

We used our all day passes on Saturday to Moody Gardens and spent the whole day seeing everything there is to see! We went to the Discovery Pyramid for a bone's exhibit (which was a little kid's exhibit, so it wasn't anything too educational for us adults!) We did get to play a gigantic version of operation which was fun! We also went to a 3D movie, a RideFilm and the Aquarium Pyramid. The best thing about the day was that we did the Penguin Encounter at the Aquarium Pyramid. It was AWESOME. We got to see and pet (Reagan would argue that you "pat") a penguin. SO COOL! Besides the horrific smell coming from the penguin exhibit, it was perfect.

Here is Marley...the penguin we got to meet. She was soo cute and loved all the people. Sorry about the photography (I focused on the person's shoes behind Marley accidentally). Still getting used to my camera and it's not easy taking pictures of a hyper penguin!


Here's Marley making her painting. They put out a paint pad and she jumped across the canvases. We brought one home with us!


Marley admiring her painting


















Me petting Marley














Saturday night, Reagan and I ate at the restaurant on top of Moody Gardens. It was really fancy, and a tad expensive, but the food was GREAT! We knew we were at a fancy place when they served us orange sorbet in between our appetizer and entree to "cleanse our pallet"...never had that before!

Sunday we checked out and headed home. Reagan had been craving hamburgers the whole weekend, so we decided to make one more stop on our trip to STAR cinema. We watched "Just Go with It" and had yummy greasy theatre food! It was such a great weekend, and a much needed mini-vaca away from work, school, and everything there is to do around the house.

Thank you Reagan, for planning such a great weekend and for making my life so full of joy these past two years! I LOVE YOU forever & ever!

1. What is your cleaning style like?
Cleaning style? I'm not quite sure what this means? I prefer clean over dirty :) I tend to deep clean the house all on one day on the weekend and just tidy up throughout the week. I guess that's what this question is asking? haha

2. What is your favorite thing to add to an outfit to take it from casual to classy?
I love adding big earrings with my hair pulled back to dress something up a bit

3. Do you like stormy weather?
I do as long as long as it is just every once in a while

4. What is your favorite cold treat on a hot day?
A Snowcone from SNO Beach!!

5. What is your favorite warm treat on a cold day?
HOT CHOCOLATE by the fire place! YUM!

6. Who is your favorite animated character?
Simba from the Lion King...I LOVE that movie...ooh or Tarzan!

7. What do you keep your jewelry in?
Well, my jewelry I wear the most I keep in a little pouch since I get ready at home some mornings and at the gym some mornings. My other jewelry I keep hanging on a beautiful iron mirror that Reagan bought me for my birthday above my dresser. I LOVE it!

8. Do any of the rooms in your house have a theme?
I don't think any of them have a real theme, just color schemes. Our bedroom is probably the most themed. It is a sage green with the bathroom painted brown with a bamboo headboard on our bead. It is kind of just relaxing and tranquil.

9. Do you watch any interior design TV shows – if so, what is your favorite?
Oh man...YES!! I love HGTV. I really like Designed to Sell. My all time favorite though has been Trading Spaces, I don't even know if that is still on anymore?

10. When was the last time you did something risk-taking?
haha...sadly, I can't even think of one. I mean I take little risks here and there, everything has some type of risk to it, but nothing really amazing or worth talking about!

1. How did your parents decide on your name?
I think my dad heard it in a song. I can't remember the name of it, but it is about a Dad and his daughter.

2. Do your initials (First, Middle, Last) spell out anything fun/funny?
KLG and KLR...nothing special

3. Did you take your middle name from childhood or did you take your maiden name as your middle name? (If unmarried, what do you plan to do?)
I kept my middle name and dropped my maiden name. I like Lyn too much to drop it.

4. Are you or will you name your children thematically (ie. same first letter, all of same origin…)
I don't think so. We are having a hard enough time thinking of names we really like, so to narrow down our options to a single letter is way to stressful!

5. Did you decide on baby names as a little girl? Did you stick to them or change your mind?
Oh I'm sure I had names picked out when I was little (I think I liked Preston?) Reagan and I have actually liked Brynn since high school though. It is still our favorite girl name, but I am sure things will change when we have to choose for REAL...can't even imagine having to make that decision.

6. Does your family have any names that have been passed down through generations?
Nope, Caroline is a pretty popular family name on Reagan's side of the family though

7. Do you look at the meaning of the name or just the name itself?
When it comes down to it I will look at the meaning of the name. What would happen if you named your child and then it wound up meaning something crazy! Not good...

8. Do you name pets with human names (Sally, Henry) or with pet names (Fluffy, Mr. Bo Bo)?
Umm...a little of both...We have had Koda and Safari which aren't really human names, but now we have Drake

9. Are there any names that you have an affinity or dislike for based on a childhood experience/someone you once knew?
I don't have any names that I can't stand because of people I don't like, but I have a bad habit of not liking names simply because I think of someone else and can't get past the idea that someone else has that name :)

10. What are some of your favorite names? Why?
Umm...well I like Brynn (I think I like Brynlee better though!) James, Benjamin, Bryce. I think those are our favorites right now. I guess after looking at my list we could name our children with B's! :)

1. What type of cell phone do you have and how would you rate it?
I have no idea what cell phone I have! haha...it does it's job.

2. What has been your most serious injury?
I broke my arm on the monkey bars when I was 6 :(

3. What is one movie you hate and why?
I can't think of any movies I hate. I did watch Hall Pass last weekend though, and it had some funny parts, but I HATE that Hollywood has no filter anymore. So I don't hate a particular movie, but I do hate the direction comedies are going.

4. How many email addresses do you have?
2, but I am not good at checking either one!

5. What website do you waste the most time on?
Facebook

6. Which mexican restaurant makes the best salsa?
Hmm...I usually go for the green sauce, but I really like Los Cucos' red sauce

7. What is your dream car?
haha, just consulted Reagan on this one and he says my dream car is one with a car seat. :) So there ya go!

8. If you could spend up to $100 with no strings or restrictions or guilt, what would you buy?
a TATTOO!!!

9. What is your favorite board game?
Settlers of Catan

10. How often do you change your hairstyle?
Not nearly often enough. Maybe once every 6 months. If I had unlimited funds I would seriously change my hair color every month! I LOVE trying new hair colors.

You will have to forgive me for the lack of blogging. Life has been a little busy lately, and sorry, blogging is not the highest thing on my list :) But, I found some time for another Ten on Tuesday while I sit here and watch The Bachelor on DVR! Great night!

1. Any vacations you are looking forward to this summer?

I am soooo excited to take my high school girls to Wilderness! A week in the Colorado mountains hiking and camping...you can't get much better than that. Then of course I always look forward to the annual Frio trip with the Ratcliff clan.

2. What is your favorite article of summer clothing (shoes are included)?

swimsuit! For some reason this long cold winter has me missing my swimsuits soo badly! Better start getting a tan before I get into one though. YIKES!

3. What is your favorite summer drink (alcoholic or non)?

I always LOVE water on a hot day. If I'm by the pool, then a lemonade. If I'm on a Mexico beach, Pina Colada.

4. Do you tan or burn?

Tan. If I burn, it's only for a day or two

5. Any goals you are working toward this summer?

Completely recooperate from this school year so that I am refreshed for next year.

6. What is your favorite summertime food?

Julios Nachos at the Frio! And all the fresh fruit!

7. What song most says “summer” to you?

Hmm...I really can't think of any summer songs? I'm really bad with music and titles!

8. Any home improvement goals planned for this summer?

Get this backyard back in shape. Drakey boy has destroyed it! I have more organizing goals than anything.

9. What is one thing you hate to see at the beach?

All that nasty seaweed that builds up in Galveston. I must say I have been enjoying the beach this winter while it's seaweed free!

10. Did you ever go to a summer camp?

Yeah. Soccer camp pretty much EVERY year. Then Frontier Camp, Quaker Haven, and Frontier Ranch. Good times.

And now that I am completely depressed that it's only February, I'm going to go soak in a hot bath to raise my spirits! :)

Well, I woke up at 8 this morning to find our snow day not very snowy. I was SO sad! Of course I'm glad I didn't have to go to work, but I was looking forward to playing in the snow with Drakey-boy. Oh well. So, what am I doing on this "snow day"? Absolutely NOTHING! At least there is nothing on my list to do, well nothing that is productive that is. I can't even think of the last time I got to sit around all day and not worry about work, or cleaning, or training for a race (which I should be doing this weekend, but I'm not :)). Last night I had the grand idea of pulling out the living room couch bed and spending all day watching movies and reading by the fire! It doesn't sound quite as good now that there is no snow, but I still might try and make it work :) I need to catch up on our season of "Modern Family" we have on Netflix and I'd like to get some more of my book read that I'm reading right now, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (my brother-in-law suggested it, so far it's not too bad). Reagan on the other hand has been making good use of his day off. He did laundry and is now on his way to buy shelves for our bathroom! The way he puts it, he sits around every day in class, so to have a day to get out and get things done is nice. I tend to forget how different our week days go. Hope you all are staying warm and safe, and hope you get to spend this "snow day" doing something you normally don't get to do. The way I look at it, this is an extra day at the house I never knew I had, so all the cleaning and work I need to get done this weekend can wait until Saturday!

1. Do you decorate for Valentine’s day?
No...never really been that into Valentine's Day

2. Does your desktop have a picture or computer graphic? Is it organized?
Picture of Reagan and I from Christmas family pictures (sorry never got around to making Christmas cards!) It's pretty organized, not much on the desktop.

3. Do you use a paper planner, electric planner or no planner at all?
Well I HAVE a paper planner, not that good at using it though. We have a calendar we keep on the fridge. Other than that, I usually write important things on sticky notes or my hand :)

4. Do you change purses or bags often or stick with a good thing?
Definately stick with a good thing; mainly because I'm not a big shopper, so I only change purses when someone buys me a new one!

5. What’s your favorite YouTube Video?
Not a big YouTube fan, but I like looking up music videos on there. Right now my favorite is "What Love Really Means" by J.J. Heller

6. Do you use Turbo Tax or a real person to pay your taxes?
TurboTax

7. How many states have you set foot (or tire) in? Which ones?
10...Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Arkansas (and even though it doesn't count I've been to Washington D.C.)

8. How many countries have you been in? Which ones?
2...USA and Mexico...Reagan has a better track record (USA, Mexico, Italy, Ethiopia, Tanzania)

9. How many pillows are in your house? (Sleeping or decorative)
Oh man...23ish? And a couple more stored away somewhere

10. How cold is too cold for flip flops?
60 degress probably? Really it's more of a seasonal thing for me, I don't really wear them in the winter even if it is warmer.

So, I'm going to try a new thing I have seen some other people do on their blogs. I have always enjoyed reading the answers to these random questions. It works like this...each Tuesday there will be 10 questions that I have to answer. Easy as that. So, here is my first Ten on Tuesday!

1. What’s your favorite color to paint your nails?
Dark Purple!

2. Do you like to sneeze?
YES!! I have the most powerful sneezes and it always feels like such a relief to get it out.

3. How often do you fill up your car with gas?
Probably once every week and a half, granted I don't do any out of town traveling

4. Were you named after anyone?
I think my parents got my name from a song...can't remember the name of it? My middle name, Lyn, I get from my uncle and aunt who's middle names are Lynn.

5. Have you made any good recipes lately?
My favorite one I've made lately is Pizza Quiche, but Reagan loved the One Pot Pasta. Both are my mom's delicious recipes :)

6. What’s an easy money-saving tip that you use regularly?
Sounds cheesy, and definitely not a "grown-up" way to save money, but I put most of my tutoring money in a shoe box to save if there is something particular I want to get (right now, I'm saving for my Aggie Ring I lost last summer)

7. Would you rather have a sore throat or an ear ache?
So hard...I hate both, but probably ear ache...at least then I can talk/eat!!

8. Do you have any scars? What are they from?
Where to start?? haha. The best ones are...a keloid scar from an iron flower pot shaped like a rooster; got me on the thigh. And a bite mark from one of my favorite students (ironic enough); got me on the belly.

9. What are you “known for” in your circle of friends/family?
Oh man, sadly, my goofiness and probably my burping :)

10. How do you like to eat your pancakes?
Butter and maple syrup please!

I've had this favorite song for a while now, and I felt compelled to blog about it because it stirs my heart each time I hear it. I find myself hoping it will be the next song played on the radio, or looking it up on YouTube just to hear it. It's called "What Love Really Means" by J.J. Heller. I love it for three main reasons:

Reason #1

"He cries in the corner where nobody sees
He’s the kid with the story no one would believe
He prays every night, “Dear God won’t you please
Could you send someone here who will love me?”

Who will love me for me
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me
‘Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means"

This first part of the song reminds me of my students. Luckily, they all have great families who love them, but so many people in the world don't because they are different. It breaks my heart, and makes me angry, to see the looks and snickers my kids get from other kids in the school. Then, I see those same looks from adults and think to myself "no wonder kids make fun of them at school, adults don't even understand." I love this part of the song because it reminds me of how I feel about my kids. I love them unconditionally. They can make me angry, make me cry, even hurt me sometimes but I still love them. They have some of the greatest personalities, and give love so freely. I vow to love my students for who they are, not for what they do or what they may become someday. Let's face it, none of my kids are going to grow up to be doctors or astronauts, but I will love them because of the amazing kids they are.

Reason #2

Those same lines make me think of adopting a kid one day. It has always been something that has been on my heart of wanting to do. I think about maybe one day God leading Reagan and I to love a kid as our own, and it makes me smile. To think we may be able to show this child what love really means and lead him/her to the love of God is such a powerful thing. I pray God entrusts us with as great of a calling as that one day.

Reason #3 (and most important)

It is a song of God's amazing grace. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The song ends like this...

"He’s waiting to die as he sits all alone
He’s a man in a cell who regrets what he’s done
He utters a cry from the depths of his soul
“Oh Lord, forgive me, I want to go home”

Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside
And it said “I know you’ve murdered and I know you’ve lied
I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you’ll listen, I’ll tell you that I...”

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew"

To think that each one of us has turned our backs on God, and that He is sitting there waiting for us to cry out for forgiveness, so that he can respond to us in this way is completely amazing. He loves us for us, not for what we've done in the past, or what we will become one day. It is the greatest love you could ever know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgGUKWiw7Wk&NR=1

My new favorite quote...

"If you were a Spice Girl, you'd be my favorite." -Reagan Ratcliff

Gotta love him! :)

I was always a big fan of New Year's Resolutions in high school; some years would go well, some years not. As I got older (and started to fail on my resolutions more often); let's admit, life is much more busy than when I was 16, I just kind of avoided the resolutions altogether. The same was for this year. December 30th rolled around and I hadn't given much thought about the coming new year until Reagan asked me if I was making a New Year's resolution. I replied "I don't think so", and then asked about his. It was sooooo good I decided to steal it :); I guess share would be a better word. Each day in 2011 (and hopefully beyond) Reagan and I are going to S-N-A-P...

S- Spiritual
N- Nutritional
A- Around the House (me)...Academic (Reagan)
P- Physical

It works like this...each day we will do SOMETHING that enhances these four areas. For example, for nutritional I could make a salad for lunch, or even simply take my vitamins for the day. For Around the House, I could unload the dishwasher or make our bed. My favorite things about S-N-A-Pping so far are:

-I have been doing really well having my devotional time in the morning which is something I have always strived to do...I'm not a good evening person (ask Reagan!)
-I have enjoyed doing lunges while walking Drake, I get my physical and his all at the same time (and my booty is firming up too!!)WOOHOO :)
-I love getting a little bit done around the house each day; it makes my deep cleaning on the weekends much more bearable
-I feel much better at the end of the day because I know I did things that were productive.
-Since I do a little bit of exercise each day, it doesn't make me feel bad when I don't make it to the gym. Before, I would start feeling bad if I went a couple of days without going to the gym. Now, I don't feel bad because I know I am getting a little done each day.
-It's just been an overall self-esteem booster! :) It just makes me feel GOOD!

Lots of love and thanks to Reagan for coming up with this New Year's Resolution and encouraging me to follow through.

One last thing...the REAL beauty behind this New Year's Resolution is we are going to TRY to S-N-A-P every day, meaning if you mess up one day, you haven't failed. You pick back up the next day and try again. It's fool proof! :)

My favorite thing EVER...my amazing husband gave me a Canon Rebel XS for Christmas and I LOVE it!! I cannot wait to start learning all about it. There is just something about a really good picture that makes me SMILE! I just got done looking at a local photographer's blog who specializes in family, children, and baby photography and I fell in love. Every picture was so full of life and joy. I hope one day I can capture that in my family and children. Until then, I need to study up on this thing because I really have NO idea how to work it any other way than on Automatic :). I was lucky enough to get a crash course from one of my uncle's friends who is a photographer, but I still know very little. I couldn't even understand some of the things he was telling me :) But I have decided I am going to stick with this. It's not going to be like my drum set that is collecting dust in the office right now, or the blank scrapbooks in my closet. I really hope I can devote myself to learning how to use this camera and hopefully come away with some amazing pictures and memories that we will be able to have forever. In the mean time, here are some pictures with my new camera from the holidays.