Christmas Memories at Home

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas......

So this month we have had round 2 of gingerbread houses...with Grandmommy's help.

Choir programs at church.

And tonight...our special family Christmas time....

Of course I have to include pictures of the girls in their pretty Christmas dresses!

Pretty in Christmas red!

All dolled up!

Jesus Birthday Party

So tonight we celebrated Jesus birthday at our house, just the 5 of us. And we had a great time. As you can see, Hope helped read the Christmas story from the Bible (and she did a great job!). We followed the story with a few of our favorite Christmas carols, led by Hope singing "Away in a Manger". Then we had Jesus birthday cake. Had to try out a new recipe this year since Icouldn't find any baby food plums to make our traditional cake. So maybe we are starting a new tradition this year. What a sweet time it was to have our little family gathered around to remember the real reason we celebrate.

But of course the night was not complete without opening some presents (it helps to keep our car from being loaded down as we head out of town.)

The girls really loved their new stuff, and so did Russell Ha!

So we wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

"Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope though the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3

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Joyeux Noel

Christmas---what a wonderful time. Time to be filled with joy for the gifts we have been given, both from Christ and from friends and family. Time of rememberance of those who have gone before and are no longer with us to celebrate this blessed time. Time of wonder for the kids as the tree is decorated, the house is lit up, presents are stacked around the tree.

I have always loved Christmas time. I have loved decorating for Christmas, baking Jesus' birthday cake each year (lovely red baby food plum cake--yum!), having our family devotional time on Christmas eve. Watching in wide-eyed wonder as my family opens presents.

Now that I have kids of my own, this time is even more special in so many ways. To see their joy, their wonder, their excitement. To get to share why we do the many traditions we have, to make new ones for our family, to share about the indescribable gift given to us in a manger so long ago.

What joy it is to watch Hope each morning run in and turn on the tree and then go find the new ornament to help us countdown to Christmas. To help the girls go "shopping" for presents for Daddy. To making our yearly gingerbread house (although this year it was more of a disaster for us to eat). To looking at Christmas light displays at the park and have Claire be able to see them! To Molly meeting Santa!

So enjoy some pics of our holiday season so far.

Happy Happenings in the Fall

Lots of happy things have been happening here at our house. And as is typical of my personality, I would rather focus on those than on some of the stinky things (like Claire having a few more seizures than I would like to see)

So here goes with happy happenings:

Upwards cheerleading...Yell it louder now, Let's go Upwards!



Visits from the Tooth Fairy

Costume Time! The girls got to dress up 2x---for homeschool coop and for trick or treating!Fun at the pumpkin patch----lovely orange things!

Claire is pushing up on her arms! And of course still Miss Rolly Pol-lee.

And maybe most important and special of all.... Hope's baptism Sunday night.

The Lord is with us and is blessing us in many special ways. May we continue to have our eyes open and turned towards him as he pours out his blessings on us in sometimes the most unusual and unique ways!

Mission Heart

Since jr high days, and maybe even before...... I have longed to do some short term mission work. This was fulfilled in jr high and high school by some state side mission trips every summer.

Since joining the world of adulthood and married life... Russell and I have also enjoyed being a part of 2 overseas mission trips, Latvia and Austria. We enjoyed serving together and traveling to parts of the world neither of us have ever seen.

And now I am feeling the tug on my heart once again. I think anytime an opportunity is available, I want to sign up. We have had to pass on some trips before, just not feasible for us at the time. Or our place wasn't to go, but to pray.

Why do I feel this need to go? Is it because of sharing my story of Jesus' love with those who don't know or never have heard?

Is it because I love to travel and want to explore this amazing world?

Is it because it gets me out of my comfort zone and really allows me to come in contact with those who need Jesus love?

It is probably a combination of all of it. A desire to do something greater than myself, to see the world, to reach out past my own kids and family and church , to live extreme for a week....

But how do you know if you are really supposed to go? How do you know if God has called you to do THIS particular trip? How do you know IF he will provide a way to go? When do you just step out on FAITH?

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and teaching them to obey everything I have commaned you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesss in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

Have Faith

Exciting news here at the Ratliff household.....


And no, we are not expecting another bundle of joy.....

However, it is even more exciting than that.....

Can you stand the excitement a moment longer?????

Our very own Hope, invited Jesus into her heart! Yeah! Praise the Lord!!

We have been talking about this for a while, but she came in last night after cheerleading practice and told her Daddy that she was ready to pray and invite Jesus to come live in her heart. And what sweet words she said in her own prayer (not led by her Daddy or me).

So now we will get to visit with the pastor and set aside a time for baptism.
We are so proud of her and excited to see how God will shape her into a lovely young woman.

Molly time

Oh Molly pop, Molly pop, oh Molly, Molly Pop!

Where shall I begin with her...... she is the completion of our family. She never fails to bring laughter each day, and a good dose of joy as well. She has the funniest facial expressions, from her great big "oh" each time she sees someone or something new. To her little pouty frown and furrowed brow, to her squeals of frustrations, to her infectious giggle.

She has learned some sign language and uses it pretty consistently for "more", "please", "thank you", "help me" and "drink".

She is speaking quite a few words these days, her latest addition is "quack quack".

Molly is independent, loves to play by herself. She is loveable, always ready to give hugs and kisses. She loves to sit in chairs and be big.