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