Wrapping Up 2019

Merry Christmas 2019 and Happy New Year 2020!

It's been a good year and I am looking forward to the journey of 2020 with my crew.

This is my favorite moment

If our church ever stops doing candle light...hmm, what is this actually called? Well, if they make us stop playing with fire during the Christmas Eve service I will probably have to attend a different church once a year. I love the symbolism of sharing the light of Jesus. As we stand in a completely dark sanctuary singing "Silent Night," one candle is lit and within minutes the entire room is filled with light. Even the memory of it warms my soul.

Selfie with my favorite girls

Every year we take a family picture at church. This year we arrived entirely too early because I was concerned about getting good seats, so the five of us messed around taking pictures. Unfortunately, after church we were in such a hurry to make it to our dinner reservations we didn't get a family photo taken. I'm glad we got these. For the record, Nana and Papa came to church with us.

Christmas Eve PJ photo

No Christmas card and no Christmas Letter in 2019. 

What will I do in my Christmas scrapbook...leave a page blank?

Through the ups and downs of every day life I have decided to find joy. When I look for it, I find it! My prayer for my friends, family and fans (ha ha I don't have fans but it sounded good) is that they all find joy in the mundane, the challenges and other people's successes. 

Merry Christmas and God Bless

Reagan's High School Graduation Party

It came

It went

It was a success!

We had over 210 friends and family come through the doors to celebrate Reagan. I'm sure we greeted each person but there were some who I hardly remember having much of a conversation with. But thank you all for sharing your Sunday afternoon with us.

My people came to the rescue

Susan and Kimberly, you are AWESOME! Thank you for everything you did to help us set up, serve food and clean up. You get me. You make me smile. I miss you both!

School Friends

Girl Cousins

Mark & Claire from CORE PT

The Grandparents

Colton and Reagan

Will S

Kenzie B

Kaylee B (almost family)

Cece B

 Cookies and More Cookies

Reagan wanted Chocolate Chip cookies...we had 600. I couldn't help but order the cutest sugar cookies in the midwest from Angie Foley of Branson. I wish I had a better photo of her designs. They look amazing and taste just as fabulous!

 The menu - Walking tacos and Chocolate chip cookies.

In case you were wondering, 45 lbs of taco meat fits in a 22 qt roaster oven

I was so busy getting ready for the party I didn't focus on getting good pictures of all my decorations. These center pieces were simple but just what I wanted. I spray painted books, placed on burlap wrapped in red and black ribbon and 2 framed photos; an early childhood picture and a senior picture. To finish off the look we added cups of m&ms and 2020 confetti. 

When I track down a few more pictures I will be adding them. It's truly more for me to look at years later than for my blog readers. 

What a great day of celebration!

She Sings, She Dances, She Acts

The month of December took us to several auditoriums to watch our rising star perform.

2 Sing Omaha concerts

It's so nice when Oma can make it to a concert. Luckily it wasn't too cold, she's becoming a softy now that she spends half her time in Texas.

 Olivia played the part of Bulda the rock troll and towns person

3 FROZEN JR musical performances

Show choir dresses are not in yet so they perform in school choir shirts. Competitions start in January so throwing up some prayers for delivery so the director doesn't have a nervous break down.

School 8th grade concert

Nana and Papa enjoy "all things grandkids" 

We are fortunate to have them near by.

ENCORE Show Choir

14 and Lovin' It

8th grade

Oh Livy! Aren't you still a toddler? I have no idea where the years have gone but in a blink of an eye you have grown into a lovely, talented young lady. Oh the JOY you have bring to this family. We love you and celebrate you!

Liv's birthday fell on a Wednesday night which is the night she babysits for our bible study. She didn't mind hanging out with a bunch of wild kiddos because she knew Michael was making her a birthday cake. Look at that 4 layer cake of chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, oreo cookies and fudge. That's pretty much the definition of heaven to this girl. :) 

cake with Kaitlin & Grace

Presents

We have hit that stage of life where gifts are no longer a surprise. With that said, she was still very excited to have a new outfit, blanket, stocking cap and GC.

I forgot to take a picture the night we had a family dinner. Emma came home (brought Joe) and the Raabe grandparents joined us too.

Happy 14th year of life sweet girl!

Friend Birthday Party yet to come. This girl had so many concerts, musical rehearsals and musical performances we couldn't get a party on the calendar. It will happen...soon. 

Thanksgiving 2019

Oh fall how I love thee but as Thanksgiving arrives I am ready to turn the page from fall decor to the lights, ribbons, bulbs, greenery and outdated ornaments. Outdated ornaments...that's another subject all together. My girls love to bring up my ugly rubber chicken ornaments. 

THEY AREN'T CHICKENS...THEY ARE STARS. 

Nothing makes my heart swell like having my family all together. Tree decorating didn't take place until Emma (and Joe) came home the Wednesday before thanksgiving. I keep forgetting, year after year to buy a new start for the top of the tree. Again this year I have a santa hat up there. Disappointing, I know. :)

Thanksgiving day Reagan flew out to California with her club soccer team for a pointless tournament. They did well but we missed having our girl with us. The rest of the family spent the day at Helen and Lynn's again this year. Due to a snow storm Angie and John missed the big meal. We didn't get to see Stephen and Holly either, as he has been battling cancer. It's been rough, chemo is a butt kicker! We look forward to seeing everyone at Christmas.

This time of year I start seeing "What are you thankful for" posts on social media. A couple years ago I started a gratitude journal which has been great. I don't want to be thankful one month a year. Even in the hard times, there is something to be thankful for. Writing these things out turns my frown upside down. I am thankful for dinner and decorating with all my kids!

National Letter of Intent Signing Day 2019

The day is finally here, she is officially a Husker!

Almost three and a half years ago Reagan went on her first college soccer recruiting trip. During those 40 months she has started high school, attended 10 high school dances, taken 9 (or 10) AP classes, gone on TEN unofficial recruiting visits, learned to drive, traveled the United States from Minnesota to Florida over to Arizona and up to Washington to play soccer, had 3 different jobs, taken 3 art classes, volunteered with school and church, gone "creekin'", had shingles, recovered from ACL surgery, represented her school and school district city wide, won multiple soccer and academic awards, laughed with friends, cried with mom, visited family, gone on her first date, acted silly and made us proud. (she may have gotten in trouble a couple times too but we won't talk about that) She loves soccer and spends countless hours training to improve her skills but she's so much more than a soccer player. We know you have limitless opportunities ahead of you. The future is vastly unknown and while it can be scary it is also wildly exciting. I believe in you!

God made you for such a time as this. 

2020 Husker Soccer Recruiting Class

Support System

Public Speaking

Friends and Husker Teammates

Papa is wearing Grandpa Warren Raabe's sweatshirt. He
would be so excited to have a Husker Athlete in the family

COMETS

I love this picture. We remind our kids, "Remember where you came from!" Reagan joined the Comets team as a 1st grader. Coach Mike shared his love of sports with the girls and now look at these 3 MWHS Wildcats headed to college to play soccer.

These girls are Elite Girls Academy club teammates and Millard West high school teammates headed for the next level...NCAA Division 1 college soccer. 

Loyola Chicago, U of Nebraska-Lincoln x2, U of Nebraska-Omaha and Loyola Chicago.

This senior year has been a series of check marks...
apply for college...check
official visit...check
signing day...check
graduation party up next

"For I know the plans I have for you (Reagan)," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   Jeremiah 29:11

Birthday Love

Birthdays are the best, especially my own!

It wasn't a birthday month but it was still pretty good.

Chris left me notes through out the house

The girls filled my tiny car with balloons

My bosses and coworkers made my day special

Sushi for lunch at work

HaPPy 75th BiRThDaY DaD!

♫ Happy Birthday to You ♫

♫ Happy Birthday to You ♫

♫ Happy Birthday Dad ♫

♫ Happy Birthday to You ♫

Dad has always really loved to eat and his favorite food is anything containing copious amounts of sugar. I remember as a young girl growing up at home dad would make a run to Boogaarts to buy a brownie mix and then after dinner ask me to make them. Sometimes he would buy vanilla ice cream to go on it too. We all would eat one piece, maybe two but the next morning when we woke up the pan would be empty. Dad just couldn't stop eating until he hit the bottom of the pan. Another typical dessert occurrence from my youth would happen when we were eating out. Our dad was a very frugal man, he worked super hard to provide for our family of five and didn't want to waste funds. We didn't eat out often but when we did we didn't get to order drinks and we had to order meals that were on the cheaper side of the menu but dessert...that was another story. Everyone could order a piece of pie.  Dad's birthday this year gave him just what he loves best...peanut butter pie AND chocolate cake. 

We had some laughs. He enjoyed his cake. Unfortunately, Dad never knows who I am during my visits and on this particular day he didn't know who mom was either. These visits are hard! There is no way to sugar coat it...they aren't what I would like them to be. As I have said before, I don't know if he gets anything out of our time together other than some nice lady coming to visit. (yes, I am said "nice lady")  However, every once in a while I see my real dad shine through those brown eyes or in the raw moments of a hardy laugh I hear dad's voice. I miss you dad.  

Happy Birthday!

I love you!