A Snapshot of our Summer

The summer of 2018 was filled with trips, grandparents, family reunion, weddings, camp, work, soccer, softball, fishing and friends. Our lifestyle does not support the big family vacation instead we have the whole summer to enjoy each other. The days are flying by, truly, it all happens so fast!

Just days after school was out Nana and Papa whisked Olivia down to Branson with Cousin Levi and his grandparents, Uncle Lynn and Aunt Helen. The six of them had a great time. Olivia's report went something like this...

We ate, we saw some shows, we ate, we swam and then the grandparents took naps, we ate, we did some site seeing and we ate some more. I think she had a blast!

Gotta stop at the cheese store

Great Grandma from Mesa was in Omaha for about 10 days

You may be noticing there's no 4th of July pictures. Note worthy: the first year ever that Chris did not buy explosives. I was relieved at the thought of it but turns out we all were kind of sad. Sounds like next year the party is back on. 

The girls love spending time with Papa on the water

Cabin counselor Melanie

 Olivia's 7th Summer camp

The Raabe Reunion is always a family favorite!

In 20 consecutive years we have been to Kansas City, MO . Yankton, SD .  Lewisville, NE .  Some farmhouse in Iowa . Honeycreek, IA .  Ponca, NE .  Creston, IA (next year). This all began one June weekend in 1999. Emma was 4 months old and back in those days, the family wasn't too concerned about nap times, feeding times or baby comfort...boy how things have changed. Call me a pioneer mom if you want, I didn't have one of those fancy "strap-the-baby-to-your-chest-and-go" deals. I had to carry my baby and all the unnecessary crap in the diaper bag.
(Does it feel like I went down a bunny trail?) 
Baseball and Raabes have a tight connection. Back in the day, as the story goes, one of Grandpas brothers was getting married on a game day which meant two brothers couldn't make it to the wedding...gotta play in the game. Not sure that would fly now. ha!! So it makes sense that we all met in Kansas City for a day with the Royals. Emma was the only great grandchild of Warren and Sylvia Raabe (Ray-be) and I was the only "outlaw" grandchild.  Today we have 12 great grandchildren. Warren and Sylvia would be thrilled to see their big family.

Here are a few snapshot of the weekend.

Oldest and Second youngest

This family LOVES to fish

The 3 amigos

My husband's immediate family

Oma made a brief appearance. If she isn't traveling, she is cooking, cleaning and entertaining Larry. Be watching for a fall return. I can't keep up with her travel plans but I think another cruise is in the works before she heads south for the winter.

Last week we said good-bye to some sweet friends.

We met Brian and Krista before they were married and have done some real life with them. It's been good, it's been hard, it's been faith building and I am so thankful God put them in our bible study group 9 years ago. We love you guys!

We closed down our summer with a family celebration in the Old Market eating Sushi at Emma's favorite spot, Blue Sushi Sake Grill.

Nana wouldn't try it. 

Olivia still hates it but tried it again.

Reagan found one roll that she liked but ordered chicken.

Papa dove right in, trying two very exotic rolls and loved it.

Chris, Emma and I were in our happy spot.

And if you know Papa, we had to get Ted & Wally's ice cream afterwards.

Good-Bye Summer of 2018

I know! I know! Blogs with so many pictures lately but I really needed to catch up. Hopefully I will make time to blog in the mornings after quiet time or in the evenings after everyone is in bed. Don't hold your breath. 
Have a great weekend!

Back to School 2018-2019

A parent's prayer on the first day of school.

Gracious Lord,

In a season of life when parenting decisions seem to loom larger than life itself, I humbly ask for your guidance. While the shoes still smell new and the pencils point crisply, our hearts sense a need for a stronger connection with your love and a deeper reliance on your grace. Would You help me to remember that You know every thought I have as a parent? Would You remind me that the feeling of having my heart walk around outside my body is one You are ever so familiar with? And would You provide the wisdom from above as I walk this new ground for a new school year. I praise Your name for faithfully doing so.

In Jesus' Holy Name,

Amen

Praying for my children is a privilege and honor I do not take lightly. I have seen the miraculous works of our God through prayer. Sometimes the works are more in me than what I am even praying about. Oh He is good!

Emma went back to college last Friday to prepare for rush. She is a Gamma Phi Beta living in the sorority house and excited to experience recruitment from the other side this year. Her major is still Social Work and if all goes well with her Criminal Justice class this year she will add a minor in Criminal Justice. Classes don't start until next Monday for Em. 

Olivia started school yesterday, no longer is she the baby of the building. Watch out for my much older, so mature 7th grader. :) Liv was ready for school to start. She loves the social aspect and if she was honest she likes going to classes too. Show choir rehearsals begin tomorrow, twice a week before or after school. The first day of band is Thursday. And Sing Omaha starts next week. It feels like a lot to me but she drinks it up. 

Reagan has hit that crazy junior year. If I remember correctly, everything you do this year is about setting the tone for college and scholarships. She took the ACT for the first time in July. Hopefully in round two she will check the calculator for batteries BEFORE the test starts. She's driving again, playing soccer again and extremely busy with social engagements. This is year three on the Student-Superintendent board. She has seen some changes for this school year that the students suggested to Dr Sutfin at their monthly meetings. That's pretty cool. 

Chris has already put in a full week without students. In his 20th year (ok, I actually can't remember how long it has been) of teaching he is trying something new... 8th grade social studies. Our girls are a little freaked out by it. They think of their dad as an ENGLISH teacher not a HISTORY teacher. Chris is back for year two at DC West High School in Valley, Nebraska as the head varsity softball coach. Last year his team made huge improvements and we all look forward to what the girls and his coaching staff will accomplish this season.

There's not much to tell about me. I'm still mom. I still want to craft more than I do. I cook, clean, run a taxi service, drink coffee and pray for my family. I still work for Elite Girls Academy Soccer club, now called Elite Soccer as we have started a boys division as well. Today I started cleaning a rental house. From now until December looks like I have an extra job 3-4 hours a week. That works for me.

My inspiration for today is simple...

BE KIND

Off to Seattle for ECNL Post Season Play

THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSTED IN LATE JUNE 2018

This year was EGA's first season with ECNL. To be honest, I was worried we would get killed by every team. The competition was just superior to any league we had been a part of before. The best of the best play here, our girls rose to the challenge. We finished the season making it into "Champions League" by one point. Never did I imagine we would have the opportunity to play for the ECNL National Championship. The girls played very well but did not advance the following week to Virginia for the finals. (Can I secretly say, Thank goodness? Money does not grow on trees!)

 Reagan and I had the great pleasure of going to Seattle 3 days before the soccer tournament started. This city offers so much, we just couldn't resist. The only thing we didn't do from our list was ride the ferris wheel...next time! Here we are at the top of the Space Needle. When I was 12 my Aunt Delma took me to the top, we even ate at the restaurant. I can't imagine how much that cost. In 2018 it's $29 per person to have the privilege to go to the observation deck. No drinks, No snacks, No souvenirs, just looking. I was pleased to hear Reagan say it was worth it!

Pearson Family

My dad's brother moved to Seattle when his 3 kids were little tykes. Fast forward 40-50 years, they all have kids and grandkids of their own. Coming from a small family, I really cherish what I have. I am so glad we were able to see the fam.

Ocean Shores, Washington with Marianne

Loved this place

Throwing Fish . Gorgeous Flowers . The Original Starbucks .  Bing Cherries

Plenty of Weirdos . Fish & Chips . Crazy Traffic . Gum Wall . Ferris Wheel

Pike Place Market had it all and we took it all in.

 In October 2017 when Reagan tore her ACL we did the math and knew she was done for the rest of the year, all of high school ball and couldn't be back in time for the Championship Tourney in late June. After all recovery is a 6-9 month span and there was NO WAY we were going to push/risk it. We were very disappointed but our focus wass on the future not one tournament. Low and behold, everything fell into place and Reagan was released to play 10 minutes per half of each game at 7 months post op. WOW! Great job Reags! It's hard to see in this video but Reagan scores in her first game back on the pitch. What a comeback!

 There was about 20 of us players and parents making the drive up to the falls. We didn't hike down to the falls. First of all we were starving but with our handicaps it wasn't advised.

We would have liked to hike Mt Rainer but activities like that just aren't the best on a soccer weekend, especially when one has a bum knee and the other a bum arm. 

All but 4 of the team at the Seattle Reign Women's Soccer game

Jaycie Johnson, a midwest girl, from Kansas City who played college soccer at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and now is playing professional soccer with the Seattle Reign. I was so impressed that she took the time to come up in the stands and talk with these 3 Nebraska commits. She was friendly, very open, told stories about Coach Walker at UNL and gave the girls great encouragement. I don't know her parents but they must be so proud of this fine young lady!

Parent Bonding during Team Bonding

The Gum Wall

Kind of gross but now I can say I was there

This was a very important stop for Reagan. 

Bucket List item checked off.

Teammates and the Needle

Great memories were made with my girl, just wish we could have had the whole family there to share our experiences. All great but the part when we almost missed our flight in Dallas. This out of shape mama running with a suitcase, carry-on and an arm in a sling must have been quite the sight! HA