My response to Sandy Hook

I was reading an article today about the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting. The first child listed was named Charlotte....the tears return, and my heart breaks even more. Children are not perfect beings, but I believe they are God's reminder of the innocence that so defines our Savior. They are a gift.
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

I am so dumbfounded by the brutal acts committed against children in this country...massacres, molestation, and abortion. Throughout history the world has been filled with evil, self absorbed people. At the same time, I know couples who have tried for months and even years to conceive. These couples have their dreams shattered time and time again, yet they have faith and continue trying. I also know couples who gave up everything to adopt children(sometimes even children that others deem "unfit").Thank God for those who know the value of children and commit their lives to the preservation of purity.
Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Genesis 21:2
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

It's time for Christians to put on our big boy and big girl spiritual panties defend our children, and more importantly defend our Savior. We have to wise up and "grow a pair"(for lack of a better term).

The God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer  and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. Psalm 18:32-34

On a final and personal note...I sit here with my Charlotte and I thank God for the blessings He has bestowed upon me. I honestly cannot remember a time when I didn't want children, and I can't even find a word that defines how truly precious they are.

What having twins and a chatty English woman have taught me

I almost typed my little story in a facebook post...be thankful I chose to spare the less interested by making it my November blog instead ;-)
Today the fab 4(Carmen, Rachel, Charlotte, and I) picked Andrew up from school. A delightful English woman was there to pick up her grandchildren. She approached me with a multitude of questions about my girls...nothing new, people come out of the woodwork to talk about twins. The conversation shifted and I soon knew everything there was to know about the International Baccalaureate program, homecoming mums, and why soccer is better than football(cursing included to emphasize her points).
Ever since I can remember, this has happened to me. The arrival of my girls has only caused the number of oddly comfortable strangers to increase. Sometimes the sinner in me thinks, "Why me? I am not a fantastic conversationalist. I constantly worry about what to say and how to say it, and most of the time it comes out wrong." Then today God gave me a wake up call....
He said, "You listen and you empathize. They don't care about eloquence or answers to their problems, with the exception of one!" Situations such as the one that I experienced today are more than situations...they are opportunities. Opportunities to share His work in my life, and how I know that He can do unbelievable things for others.
God has a funny way of reminding us what our spiritual gifts are, and He gives us little  and sometimes big pushes along the way. So many blessings have come from the existence of my little doodlebugs. This increase in OPPORTUNITIES is just another amazing one :-D

Less is so so so so MUCH MORE

Experienced a revelation! Lot is a fascinating character in the Bible...if you are interested in reading about brotherly love, separation, and the the challenges that a sinful and materialistic society can produce, start in Genesis 13 and KEEP GOING!

Also, I recently read an amazing blog. Although the writer and I would not see eye to eye on many, if not most topics, I totally agree with her on this. As Americans, we place too much value on aesthetic pleasure and the amount of stuff that we have.

http://revolutionfromhome.com/2012/04/lets-all-compare-our-perfect-lives-then-try-to-enjoy-our-day/

That being said...here is my new list of goals.

1. Read my Bible every day
2. Help start a ministry for mothers and mothers to be
3. When the girls are awake; sing, dance, play, read(do not worry about cleaning house or ANYTHING  for that matter)
4. Budget like the beast that is Dave Ramsey
5. WATER(been off the DP for 2 days and I already feel a difference)
6. Keep getting rid of stuff(stuff=crap)
7. pray pray pray
8. Don't plan(let God take the reins and don't develop worldly expectations)
9. Repeat the mantra that I'm allowed to be disappointed in myself if and only if I displeased God
10. Sleep

Working on being a worry wart no more!

30 before 30 at warp speed!

but first...an update :)

The Ragsdale

grilling king

James wins the patience award. He has survived living in a house with 4 other women; one of those being his mother-in-law, and another being his tired and hormonal wife and mother of twins. He doesn't always understand what is going on with me but he claims he has no regrets...love this man with all my heart.

Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. 



Rachel Lynn(The Showstopper)

swinging fool

Rachel is my little comedian. She will do anything for a laugh....whether it be snort in your face or baby bootie dance to music. She loves kissing her mama, her sister, and her own reflection in the mirror. I have yet to meet an individual quite like her. In getting to know this girl, I've come to realize my God has an amazing sense of humor.

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.



Char Char(The Little Spitfire)

minnie mouse

Charlotte inherited the emotions of her mother. What can I say, we feel with intensity ;) For a time I worried about my tiny baby and how she would survive in this big cruel world. I now know that she will take on the world, chew on it for awhile, spit it out and say HA! All the sudden my 3rd percentile girl is walking all over the place. Incredibly stubborn yet empathetic as all get out, the Lord will use her to move mountains.

Proverbs 31:20-21
She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. 


And me...
30 before 30 Challenge
Tomorrow I will be 29 and a half. That being said, I have created some goals for myself. Might as well make the last 6 months of my journey to 30 interesting. Keep in mind, some of these are non-negotiable...others may require some tweaking over time.

Without further ado and in no particular order...
1. sing karaoke(this will require a visit to a bar, but I am willing to make this sacrifice in order to show off my lyrical talent :-O)
2. stay in a town that I've never been to before
3. try something new with my look
4. attend a wrestling event(strangely fascinated with the "sport" thanks to my husband...also eager to meet Sheamus)
5. write first three chapters of my book
6. READ MY BIBLE DAILY
7. GIVE UP DR. PEPPER FOR WATER(water amplified with crystal light anyway)
8. learn 6 dances from music videos(I don't run marathons or go to the gym...I dance)
9. go to a bird watching event(that's right)
10. start a ministry(not what some might think...involves play dates, moms, and moms to be...still praying about it, but please contact me if you're interested)
11. host a dinner party
12. complete 6 craft projects(instead of just staring at them on pinterest)
13. learn 6 of Nana's recipes from the woman herself(great excuse to hang out with one of my favorite people)
14. dance in a flash mob
15. plan and carry out a fun weekend for just the girls
16. financial planning like a beast(thanks to Dave Ramsey)
17. write 12 letters to people just because I think they're special
18. one blog each month(originally I was going to shoot for every day, but let's be real)
19. take a night for myself each week
20. dance with my girls every day
21. read with my girls every day
22. walk every day
23. grow vegetables in my garden and actually eat them(tomato plants are looking luscious but there isn't a tomato in sight :( )
24. learn to carry on a basic conversation in Spanish(teacher Rachel to the rescue!)
25. clean out the computer room and garage
26. look sassy one night a week(this is asking a lot given the fact that shaving my legs has become a chore)
27. sweets on holidays only
28. early bed time every night
29. no more fast food(this will require much cooking and many leftovers)
30. dance by myself in front of an audience( might be able to cheat my way out of this one :-p)

Maybe it's an impossible feat. Nonetheless, it will be fun to try :)

Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. ;-)

Let's see how loud I can make my voice!

Rachel has started "talking" and "screaming" in a happy manner. When she focuses in on something she likes, she decides she is going to tell whatever it is a story. Sometimes her stories are is so intense, she screams. I'm going to quote one of my all time favorite verses here, because I believe Rachel's little noises are a reminder of how precious children are to our Lord and Savior.
But Jesus said, "Allow little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14

1/1/2012 Twins everywhere!

This morning Rachel was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. She laughed so much at the sunshine and her momma's voice! Her laughs mimicked coughs. It was quite a scene watching the giddy little showstopper :-)
Today the girls met their cousins Kaliyah, Kamara, and Kamille. Kaliyah and Kamara are also twins. Many priceless pictures were taken, and they are soon to come. All three "big" girls were excited, and they were more than willing to help with the bottle feeding. The trio of girls have grown soooo much. Kaliyah and Kamara are both so smart and so observant, and Kamille is a sly one with a growing vocabulary. She sang "twinkle twinkle"...some words were left out, while others were pronounced perfectly. Diamond seemed to be her favorite word...is she expecting some bling in her future?
Aunt Rachel is staying in Bedford this evening so that she can care for the twins on mommy's first day back to work. We captured a priceless photo below. Charlotte once again proves that she is Miss Smiley.

Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Ragsdales' Year In Pictures 2012

If this is any indication of what my year is going to be like, then I can't wait. Little glimpses of heaven are reflected in the faces of my beautiful daughters. I don't deserve these precious little ladies, but I am going to do my best to set a Christ-like example as their mother.

Above you will see the smaller of the pair, Charlotte Reese; weighing in at only 6lbs 11oz at her last doctor's appointment. It took her a few weeks longer to smile like her sister, Rachel Lynn, but she has more than made up for it. She smiles more frequently than her sister...bright lights and patterns actually make her coo. She also enjoys "talking" with her momma while her diaper is being changed.

And here is Miss Rachel. She is very alert...sometimes you begin to suspect that she knows what you're thinking. She is the sleeper, snorter sister. Charlotte has the same habits, however not to the extent of her sister. Rachel has been known to focus in on various objects and people for extended periods of time.

Deuteronomy 6:1-3 ¹ These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, ² so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. ³ Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.