The Rat Pack

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.