All Things Christmas!

 Merry Christmas from the Raabes

2020 Letter found here

I can’t help but stare at this picture of my family and wonder how my babies changed from adorable little girls with big bows and fluffy dresses into delightfully interesting young ladies with hearts as golden as their hair and minds as strong as steel? 

Christmas with family fills my heart! This year was no exception. The start of the season was a little slow. It took a while for Chris to recover from the Rona and I really have struggled with the death of my dad which delayed decorating the house, Christmas letter writing, baking and all other holiday fun. But here we are hanging out with the cats in our post Christmas sugar coma reminiscing about the season of Jesus’ birth. God is good, all the time! 

Tree #1 front room

Tree #2 family room

Tree #3 basement

Liv’s virtual concert 

While Chris appreciated the comfort of this school Christmas I was very sad to not be able to attend this event in person. 

Annual Peppernuts

I remember making peppernuts as far back as I remember standing in the kitchen. My brothers and I use to work together to stir in the dreaded 14 cups of flour just so we could eat these little golden snacks. Now my children love them too. This year our neighbors received trays of cookies, mints, Oreo balls, peanut butter balls, peppernuts, chocolate covered everything and decorated Oreos.

My favorite part of the Christmas Eve service is when all the lights go out and the first candle is lit. Slowly as God’s people pass the light with small hand held candles we see that truly one person sharing the good news of Jesus can turn darkness into light. (I just got the goosebumps thinking about it!) This year we watched Christ Community’s Christmas service online on the 23rd. I know they worked hard and I appreciate the effort but for me, it fell flat. Darn Covid! So we found a church in town with in-person services and attended a Christmas Eve. Still no candle magic while singing Silent Night but we were surrounded by people worshipping Jesus. It was glorious! No pictures were taken to protect individuals who may or may not have been wearing masks. 

Here’s the good news, Pastor Todd spoke about peace. Oh we need the Peace that passes all understanding! There’s only one place that peace comes from...Jesus!

CHRISTMAS MORNING
With Molly

Christmas jammies and opening gifts is still fun no matter how old the girls get. This year they made me cry with their heartfelt letters and photo album. Great job girls! Best gift ever!

The Raabe clan

So pleased to have Chris’ family all together for the day. Thanks Ang and John for AGAIN driving to town. Thanks Joe for taking the picture. 

Gingerbread House tradition continues 

The creative mess 

Many years ago we began a tradition of making gingerbread houses when we went to my parent’s house for Christmas. Once dad moved into the nursing home we quit going to SC as mom went to Texas but the decorating didn’t end.

Two masterpieces 

Decorating . Lights

Cards  .  Baking

Music . Gifts

They are all fun and worth while but none of them mean anything without Jesus’ birth over 2000 years ago to a young virgin girl. That day the Savior of the world left heaven to come serve the lost so that we could be saved. I am forever changed because I said yes to believing in Jesus. If you have questions I would love to share a cup of coffee with you and talk about the love of Jesus. He is the ultimate Christmas gift and He offers love, grace, forgiveness and peace. 

Merry Christmas

15 & F A B U L O U S

Birthday Celebrations the best! 

I simply don’t understand when people say, “we do parties every other year for our kids” or “a one year old doesn’t need a party?” 

What?      Why?     And why not? 

The day a person was born is something to celebrate! God made each person with purpose and incredible creativity. That’s something to celebrate. And then obviously there’s cake and balloons, both of which make me smile. 

My girls wake up to balloons on the bedroom floor, streamers or notes in the bathroom and decorations with breakfast in the kitchen. Now that we have one child left at home, my work has been cut dramatically. Over the years they have loved it and it has brought me great joy to celebrate them before they head off to school. 

Food seems to be a big deal for the Raabes. Birthday week is typically filled with favorite meals and ends with family dinner out at any restaurant of their choosing. Olivia’s 15th year celebration took place at Genji, it nearly broke the bank but we all had a great time. To close down the night she opened her new Apple airpods and indulged in her favorite dessert, Barb Specht’s recipe of homemade Cherry 🍒 Brownies. 

Smiles even before school

Out of school for lunch

Olivia is fabulous! 

She loves to sing and dance but hates exercise

She wants to drive but doesn’t want to study for the test

She is an excellent student

She is willing to help in the kitchen but forgets chores

She enjoys musicals, Disney everything and murder shows 

She loves dangly earrings but not dressing up

She is tender hearted and a loyal friend

She feels deeply but doesn’t want to show emotion

She loves Jesus and invites friends to know him

She misses her sisters but doesn’t call them

She is a great hugger

She laughs just like her Nana

She’s a keeper! 

Happy Birthday Livie Joy! 

Genji: Japanese Grill

Cherry 🍒 Brownies

A Husker Finding Hope

You’ve read in this blog about Reagan’s soccer “career” over the years of micro soccer to real teams to competitive & travel soccer to high school and then the injury to the recruiting process then the college commitment. We thought once she signed the National Letter of Intent in November 2019 and moved in the dorm in January 2020, the day she would take the field to play her first D1 collegiate soccer fame was right around the corner. Who knew there were curve balls in soccer? 

Reagan has now been in college for a full year and has yet to put on her Huskers uniform for anything more than media day. So again, we are looking toward the spring for game one. It has been hard for Regs but we are proud of her attitude and desire to rise above. 

A couple weeks ago Reagan’s coach recommended her to be interviewed by a Husker journalist who in turn had a writer at FanWord write this article in her voice. (Interesting way of doing things.) So >> Click Here << to read Reagan’s thoughts on her journey to playing soccer for Nebraska. 

Fall 2016

To

Fall 2020

Thankful 2020

It’s easy to dwell on what I don’t appreciate about 2020 until I sit down with my gratitude journal and begin writing. Here are the facts: I have more to be thankful for this year than to grumble about. 

What are you thankful for? 

Made my 1st solo turkey

So does that make me a full-fledged adult?

Just a little welcome sign with a crazy looking turkey

Last minute table decor

Auntie Angie with her favorite nieces 

So glad to have mom with us this year

So thankful for this crew today

We had a fun day!

I love these people

And so thankful that my sweet husband and Joe started the exterior Christmas illumination. I love white Christmas lights while Chris hates putting them up. So this is a demonstration of love! Thank you for loving me well babe. 

* * *

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Bucket List Item: Half Marathon

6:30am Friday: Fly to North Carolina

10:30am Friday: Drive to South Carolina

4:30pm Friday: Great Dinner in Lexington 

8:00pm Friday: Early to bed

7:30am Saturday: The fast people start

7:40ish am Saturday: Us slow people start

13.1 miles, one potty break and rock in shoe x2

2 hours 53 min later: I FINISH

2:30pm Saturday: Drive back to North Carolina (our “travel agent” may not have realized which state were were running in...Lexington, N.C. or Lexington, S.C. Yikes!)

6:25pm Saturday: Fly to Nebraska

Melanie . Linda Boden . April Binder . Kim Weeks

Why did I do this you ask? It’s been a bucket list item for me since I tore my hamstrings off the bone back in 2017. My goal was to train and run the whole thing. Along comes my long time crazy Marathon running friend April, who basically begged me to go on this trip, promising me that it’s ok if I have to walk some. My fitness level did not allow me to run the full 13.1 miles. Plan to succeed they say, so my plan was to run .75 of each mile and walk .25. It was a good plan and for the most part that’s what I did...until Mile 11. At 10:13am I was ready to throw in the towel. That’s when some serious soul searching and total reliance on God kicked in. I made it up the last hill, down the straightaway to the baseball field and then the finish line was in sight. I wanted to stop but the desire to finish was stronger. April crossed the finish line 1 hour and 2 minutes before me. As I made my way under the arch, there she stood proudly cheering on her best friend. 

My face doesn’t show it but I was sooo nervous! 

My face doesn’t show it but my feet might fall off

Heaviest medal I have ever lifted

Got home to this precious girl and sign

Will I do it again? Not sure, but if I do I want to run it all!

 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

My Dad: My Hero

This guy.

My first hero. 

My first role model. 

The one who loved me unconditionally. 

The one who gave me away but never left me. 

And then November 11, 2020 my heart broke. 

I would like to have something profound to say but I don’t. Oh my gosh, this hurts!!! I thought watching dad slowly fade away over the years would prepare me for his death. 

N O P E

Everyone says, “I bet it gives you comfort that he’s in a better place now.”

N O P E

I miss dad more now than ever. Covid took the last ten months away from us, we were not allowed to see him, touch him, reassure him. I’m mad. I’m hurt. I’m sick of Covid and all the ridiculous crap that comes with it! 

Even in my anger I keep looking for the silver lining. Mom was with dad 3 of his last 4 days and I got to spend 2 days with dad in the hospital. Surprisingly, Emma and Reagan both had the opportunity to say goodbye to their Opa. (Admittedly I had to be pretty forceful at the hospital. Those nurses may have a special name for me) Thank you Lord for going before us to make that happen! 

I know Dad slipped out of this world and landed in the arms of Jesus, his personal Savior. Without that knowledge the devastation would be nearly unbearable but right now I selfishly miss my dad. 

A Not So Happy Birthday

This guy...
• Has Covid 

• Birthday

• Father-in-law died  

• Birthday meal: Casey’s pizza 

What a rough week! 

It’s difficult to watch the one you love suffer but then to tell him he has to stay away from you 100% of the time, that’s just mean. At the time this picture was taken, Chris was a couple days away from ending his quarantine but still so weak. I took a quick picture, he pulled his mask up and headed right back to his quarantine spot.  yuck!! His spirits were low from a lack of touch and feeling crummy. We both really needed hugs! 

I love you Chris Raabe! This birthday celebration was not so spectacular but the guy we celebrated, he’s pretty great. I’m thankful for you! Let have a re-do when life rebounds. 

Two Down, One To Go!

 

It's official, our baby girl is done with middle school and hitting the halls of our local high school. I snapped this picture right after a brief orientation, yes we had masks on inside the school. By the time we took another 150 steps, I slid into the driver's seat of my Prius and looked at Liv. My expression must have been one of those weird mom looks, she asked, "what's wrong with you, mom?" Anyone who has sent a child to high school knows those four years fly by. All I could see was this young teen heading off to college when in reality she was ready to start her first day of high school. Oh Liv, I am excited for you to experience show choir, meeting new friends, German, high school dances, sports and activities.

Schools across the nation are investigating all kinds of bizarre schedules in the name of keeping kids, staff and faculty safe. Some schools have sports, some don't. Dances, show choir and all things fun have been cancelled or postponed. It's going to be an interesting year.

Online . Hybrid . Traditional

Strangely enough there are actually some school districts sending students and teachers back to school full time. Full time with masks, social distancing and constantly bathing in hand sanitizer. So crazy!

ANYWAY here is Liv's schedule...

Week 1: one day, 25% of students go each day

Week 2: two days at school and 3 days online

Week 3: two days online and 3 days at school

Week 4: it's a surprise, hoping for 100% in school.

I am thankful we do not have several young children going to school, this would be a nightmare. So for now, I'm praying for the best situation...kids learning and health for everyone.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

Dean & Linda’s Golden Anniversary

I wasn’t invited to the wedding but it sounds like a good time was had by all until the bride saw haybales and live chickens in the get away car! 

Even though I’m A child by marriage, I had the privilege of helping my in-laws decorate for their big celebration. This is an area I can really dive in to so I knew I had to keep myself under control. I appreciate decorations and all things party more than the average. Chris may or may not have said to me on number ours occasions, “is this necessary?” I’m pretty sure I always answer “YES!”

The “Rona” strikes again, changing our celebration from a dinner party inside to donuts and coffee OUTSIDE! No problem, even in Nebraska where the weather can vary from 50-100 degrees with no wind and lots of humidity to gusts of 30mph and clouds and possibly a brief rainstorm all within an hour. That’s no joke! We had a beautiful morning with lots of friends and family in attendance. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture with the immediate family. Ang and John came up the night before for an extended stay while Holly and Stephen popped in for a couple hours late in the morning. 

Celebrating with the grandkids 

So sad that Reagan couldn’t make it but the party was from 9-11am and her college soccer practice was from 9-12 in Lincoln. As always, Nana and Papa understood. 

Cousins from the wedding party