I Have a Sign For That!

Pinterest can be my worst nightmare but also a very useful tool. So often friends will ask me to make a sign but they don't have a clue what it should look like. Let me start by saying, I think that is very odd. Typically, when wanting to hang something on my wall I can see something in my mind or I found it in a store or online. In either case, I know what I want. Anyway, it's easy to direct friends to Pinterest, it it's there I can probably make it. I took my own advice this fall and started making signs for a craft fair. (Let's not talk about the craft fair, it was an epic failure) Once I found a few ideas, it got my creative juices flowing and then it was hard to stop. 

Below are a few of my favorite recent creations. 

6"x9"

I sold 6 of these signs. 10"x48"

Now I need to find a new design for my own front porch.

I thought about doing the "and" in red, probably should have.

9"x9"

I love this one! It's a cabinet door off an old Hoosier cabinet.

Chris' dad is now on the hunt for more of these door at farm auctions.

12"x12"

I made Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, UNO and Chicago Bears boards like these.

6"x9"

A Joanna Gaines recreation. You can find others on Etsy for $119, I would never charge that! This was fun to make but much more time consuming than I anticipated. I can't wait to give it to my friend Amber this week. 

12"x40"

I guess it's time to start thinking about spring and graduation signs. I also decided to redo all the table center pieces for Millard West Girls Soccer Banquet. The existing decorations were good in their day but people they can only be reused so many times. I assume they are 4-5 years old. Holy Moly!! You can expect blog or instagram posts in April or May.

December and the official start of winter is right around the corner. Break out the coats, mittens and scarves, the midwest was hit with blizzards last night. It's time to turn up the furnace a couple degrees and make sure the pantry is stocked with hot cocoa. Christmas decorations are going up everywhere...it's the best time of the year. 

2018 Season Ends

This should have been posted last month, I was waiting for a team picture.

The Falcon's Season ended October 4th in the District Tournament

Chris joined the DC West/Concordia Softball family last year.

I can truly say he has resurrected this program. Not only is Chris a tremendous coach fundamentally but he also understands the female athlete. He knows he isn't just a hitting coach, play caller and defensive specialist but he is a mentor, teacher, encourager, problem solver and sometimes a father figure. Chris took this team to an impressive 19-12 finish, a season best for the program. There may be some who are disappointed in their playing time but Chris goes above and beyond to teach these ladies what it means to play your role. Whatever your role is, you do it to your best ability. When a leader gets a group of individuals to believe in a common goal, good things happen. Well, it's also when weird cults develop but that's not what we are talking about here. They believed we are "ALL IN" this together and they won games.

The Seniors

Coach Grandpa addressing the team one more time after the final game of the season.

It's been such a special opportunity to have Chris and his dad coaching together. Their skills are different but compliment each other well. 

Striking...

the right note

a pose

the ball

This is what the Raabe girls have been up to in November

Middle School Band Concert

This may be my last picture of Olivia participating in band. I have mixed feelings but she decided to drop band for this hexter of school and possibly for good. Her real love of music is choir, show choir and musicals which doesn't leave much time for band. No matter what she does, I love watching her perform.

Inspiring Women Event

I felt so honored to be asked by Emma to participate in her sorority's Inspiring Women's Day. Em loves the girls, the opportunities, the camaraderie, the expectations and the events of Gamma Phi Beta. Lois and Molly (pictured above) are her two besties.

School is going well for Emma although she reports it's harder than last year. She gives tours to new students on campus, recently started working at a Developmental Services Home for 3 lovely ladies and was elected to the executive board for G Phi. This girl is going places and doing exciting things!

Family Husker Day

We love the HUSKERS, we always have! The last few years have been pretty brutal on the football field but that doesn't keep the faithful down, we keep cheering. This year it's getting better but not going to lie, all of Nebraska is looking forward to the next couple of years of growth under Coach Scott Frost. November 17th the 4 football fans in our family braved the elements to watch a very exciting Nebraska vs Michigan State game. It was cold, it even snowed but we loved it all!

In July 2016 HUSKER punter, Sam Foltz and Michigan State punter, Mike Sadler died in a car crash. I mention this because last Saturday was the first time since that tragic accident, these 2 teams have met up on the gridiron. In a game that is known for touchdowns, neither team could manage to score even one TD the entire game. The final score was 9-6 HUSKERS, 5 field goals were scored that day. That means the only scoring was done by kickers. to be honest, I really dislike field goals, but looking back on the day it feels good that we accidentally honored these kickers with 5 field goals.

Sidenote: we did not leave Olivia out. She hates football. While we were at the football game she was at Sing Omaha rehearsal, eating out with Nana and Papa and then had a show choir bonding event. The girl was happy to be in Omaha instead of Lincoln.

EGA ECNL 00/01
This season's impressive record: 11-1-1

Reagan's team has traveled quite a bit in the last 6 weeks. Chris drove her to Detriot, MI for league games in late October. Over Chris' birthday weekend they flew to Phoenix, AZ for a national event. This week during the Thanksgiving break she is in Ontario, CA playing her last 3 club soccer games until late June when they will play in the ECNL National Championships for the second year in a row. (Note: I say "the last 3 games" but I am secretly guessing her coach will add something in January or February before the high school season starts) This afternoon after the HUSKER - Hawkeye football game is over we will watch Reagan's club soccer team play on periscope. I am thankful for parents who stream the games.