Merry Christmas 2021

I do love Christmas cards and if I could afford it I would send them to about 200 people but my sweet husband says “no!” I use to keep a very accurate spreadsheet of people we have sent cards TO and people we have received cards FROM. After not getting a Christmas card from someone for 2 years they were removed from the list. I know that doesn’t seem to be a very cheerful Christmas attitude but it does keep the list reasonable. I’ll admit, there are people on that list who never send cards…some of my dearest friends. So my plan doesn’t always work. 

It’s Christmas and I love all things Christmas! 

Decorations

I went a little more simplistic on our decorations both inside and out this year. I’m telling you, a wedding, as fun as it was, kind of sucks a lot of energy out of you for several months. So simple yes but I still put up 3 Christmas trees and I love each one! 

1. Family tree: has all the kids and family ornaments, ribbon and white lights. 
2. My “pretty tree” as the kids use to call it. This year it’s red black and white with white lights. 
3. The basement tree: no ornaments but a bunch of lights and big beautiful ribbons. 

Silly stuff

At work I did a couple tally board questions for each person who walked through the door. I even asked the MailLady and UPS guy. These are just fun conversation starters, we laughed a lot and helped people get in the Christmas spirit. 

1. When can Christmas music be played 

2. What is your favorite Christmas movie

Christmas Vacation was the winner 

Gifts

I love gifts, both giving and receiving. I have friends who know just the right gift to give, that’s a real art form. It takes listening and then remembering what others say. I want to be the best gift giver but I don’t live up to my own expectations. 

Then there’s wrapping the gifts. I love that too!! I wish I could make a living out of wrapping gifts and making gift baskets. It brings me so much joy! 

Jesus

Yep He is my favorite part of Christmas! I love the Bible stories about Joseph, Mary and Jesus. And have you seen the super cute video put on my Southland Christian Church? It’s been around for a while but I can watch this multiple times every year! 

We always attend Christmas Eve service. This year we went to Emma and Joe’s church. Great service in a smaller venue with LOTS of kids and a message of why we celebrate Christmas. It’s all about CHRIST! Do you find it can be hard to keep the important things important? The commercialism, the all pathways lead to peace, the elf on the shelf (praise Jesus I never had that creepy thing), the greed, the preparations, the darkness…all these things distract us from the message of salvation through a baby born to teenagers. 

Chris even got picked (actually handpicked) to play a game on stage. I think he muttered something about “payback” to Joe as he made his way up to the stage. 

Gingerbread Houses

This tradition began many years ago when we tried to find fun things for our kids to do when we went home to my parents’ house. Dad was always very creative so this was right up his alley! Now that dad is gone and even the last few years when we couldn’t see him, we have kept up the frosting and sprinkles fun. This year we broke up into 4 teams. I think our houses turned out pretty great! It’s too bad that mom isn’t able to join us. 

Papa & Joe

Chris & Melanie

Emma & Olivia

Nana & Reagan

I just think this is funny and I hope someday I don’t even remember what this is referring to

F A M I L Y

This is another favorite part of Christmas, time with family. I don’t care when or where as long as we are together. 

Christmas can be a beautiful time for people but it can also bubble up pain. It’s my sincere hope that someone close to you or maybe something I said today brings the true message of Christmas to you. May you find peace in His love for you. He sees you and He loves you!

I will be praying for you. 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men  Luke 2:14

She Will Drive Soon (& more Dec fun)

O L I V I A 

IS

S I X T E E N

What? Wait how is this possible? 

This girl has a huge heart for others. She is so fun to walk beside as she grows and learns more of who she is. Liv is compassionate, tender hearted, friendly, and in love with Jesus. She loves music, her sisters (joe too), her friends, show choir and funny TikToks. She’s so smart, a bit messy and procrastinates whenever possible. 

Now it’s time to start driving. I’m both excited and sad for this part of her growing up. Sometimes I just don’t have time to run her back and forth to school, rehearsal and friends’ houses and yet when she drives herself all those places I will then lose out on all that one-on-one time in the car. Kiddos growing up is full of ups and downs for this mom. 

 

The BDay crew

Family Birthday Party

She was willing to let me take a quick picture as I dropped her off for school on her birthday. Such a cutie! 

GAME NIGHT

This was so fun! Olivia and Addison wanted to do a little game night to celebrate their birthdays with their youth group friends. I had a blast creating decorations and they had lots of laughs! 

High School Christmas concert

As always, I love the way our HS directors have the kids singing Christmas songs about Jesus. All 3 choirs sounded amazing and then they ended the evening with a candle light event. B e a u t i f u l ! 

It’s so great to have Emma back in town so she can come to Olivia’s concerts. 

Papa celebrated his 75th birthday with family and great friends at his favorite pizza joint, Sam & Louie’s Pizza a few days early. Thankfully the snow that morning did not dampen our fun. 

(On Dean’s actual birthday Linda had a pacemaker put in)

One of my fun little signs 

The Raabe Crew! 

Reagan was studying for finals

Joe was sick

Holly & Stephen were out of town