Fish on Friday!!
Fish on Friday!!
Fish on Friday!!

So this was an actual cheer in Chris' high school back in the day, when they played the catholic schools. Dumb right? I thought cheers during basketball games were suppose to build up your team or tear down the opposing team. However, today I was happy that Catholics don't think fish is meat because I love the lenten fish fry. Papa and Nana know all the good spots to hit not only in town but all the surround little communities. I guess that's something lots of people plan out because as I was sitting across from a sweet little elderly couple tonight they were telling me all the best churches to hit for fish. It made me smile. Another oddity at a Catholic church fish fry is the guy walking down the line of people waiting to get in, selling cups of beer. No wonder Methodist don't have fish fries; beer in protestant church would probably cause the building to burn down. ha ha

After ice cream back at nana and papa's house the girls managed to work out an invitation to spend the night. Worked for me. Chris is working late and the house is quiet. Best of all, I will be sleeping in tomorrow morning.

Love one another. Yes I agree, some don't deserve it but those are the people who need it the most.

Sorry, No Pictures

My hope was to add several pictures from our February activities but Blogger isn't allowing me to add pictures right now. So frustrating.

This week we are about 30 degrees below our normal temp. That is just wrong. I am concerned that my weather induced depression is going to turn ugly if I don't get some sunshine soon. We are so use to gloomy days that one day last week we had a glimmer of sun and Olivia complained the whole time that her eyes were hurting. It made me smile. I just had to stop and thank God for that brief break in the clouds.

Past Due

I'm not just talking about my current library book, it's taking me forever to read "Twilight" Guess I am not as into it as the rest of the world. ha

What I am actually referring to is updating my blog. Soon, very soon I have some pictures from Emma's 2nd birthday party and other interesting Raabe Family details. (Don't get too excited, it probably isn't really all that interesting.) :)

Today I am having a power scrapbooking work day which means tomorrow I will probably need to see my chiropractor. Not only have I been scrapping but I raised my table to help my neck/back issues, loaded some pictures on the computer and backed up everything. Whew! Why have I waited so long to do that? Time to get back to work. I have a new order due mid March...4 layouts down...26 to go.

Be a Blessing!

From the Mouths of Babes

Today I was almost brought to tears as I stood in my kitchen listening to my 4 year old Olivia witness to her 3 year old friend.

"You don't know Jesus but he loves you. And Jesus loves me. Now I am going to pray...."

Yes, my mouth hung open in total surprise. I certainly learned from my daughter that it's super easy to tell a friend about Jesus and being direct really does work.

That is my happy message of the week. Now go be bold in your faith!

And What A Surprise It Was

Fun, Exhausting, Loud, Crazy
It all describes the surprise of tonight. I just couldn't let Emma miss out on a birthday party with friends from school so I invited 6 girls over for a surprise party. These chatty girls managed to keep it quiet, Emma loved it!

DECORATING

Emma just walked in.

Here's the crew... Liv kept herself in the middle of the mix all night.

My homemade decorations...thanks Martha.

Cake Pops

My super creative, can do anything friend, Sandy showed me a blog this weekend which started this whole project. As always, it proved to be pretty time consuming and my little cake pops did not turn out nearly as cute as Little Miss Expert's did over at www.bakerella.com You've gotta see all her creations!

So here I start with pink cake, since that is what Olivia picked out, go figure.

Even though I used a little melon scoop my balls are a little misshapen.

I love to start a project, only to realize at a very critical stage that I don't have all the necessary tools or items. I don't love to do that, it just seems to be my MO. As you can see here, I have used drinking straws instead of sucker sticks. Chris couldn't find them at the store and it was too late to run to Michaels. I did get them the next day and it was so much easier.

The second half of batch number one turned out much better. I became a better ball roller and I added shortening to my candy melts. Wow! What a difference. Note I ditched the sprinkles idea and just drizzled candy melt over the top.

My creations are now ready to go to school with Emma on Thursday. I have about 100 pink cake and chocolate cake cake pops (I used the word cake a lot there, huh) with a variety of colored coatings on them. Each in a celophane bag tied with a ribbon. Aren't they pretty?

I know my darling husband is secretly wondering why I would spend an ENTIRE day doing this when Emma would have been just as pleased with store bought cookies or donuts as a treat for her birthday. That is a valid question unless you are a person like me who just has to make it (whatever it may be) look cute. These are the blessings of staying home and being a full time mommy. If I were working outside the home, this never would have happened.

Whew! So glad I have pictures to prove I did something today.

Have a blessed day! Be sure to go out of your way to make someone feel special.

Hockey Night

I was at the game but no proof. I'm always on the wrong side of the camera.

This hockey thing has become a weekly event for my family. To be more specific, 2 out of 2 weeks...first the Mavs and tonight the Lancers. Strangely enough the most exciting part of the night for Emma was the fight. Reagan was a little disturbed by it and Olivia was completely oblivious that there was even a hockey game going on.

Friday Night

It's a quiet night in the house. Just me and "The Green Mile". What a story!

Tonight presents the perfect opportunity to get some scrapbooking done. The girls are going to bed and Chris is at a movie with the guys. However, I've gotta admit it's nice to just hang out with a good movie and a warm blanket.

Her Happy Place

Today Olivia's dream came true.

Mommy and Livie hung out at the Happiest Place on Earth, affectionately known as "Pizza Fachine". Just a warning to all parents, if you have not taken your children to the Pizza Machine...DON'T!!! It's one of those places that you spend WAY too much for a not so good pizza buffet. Then you spend even more on tokens for games that earn you tickets and if you manage to collect 10,000 tickets you may take home a bouncy ball.

We shared our fun filled day with friends Brewer and Wesley.

Girls Scrappy Weekend

Did you know PF Chang's has happy hour? This was news to me but certainly helped out with the food budget for the weekend. Yummy Lettuce Wraps!! I believe we celebrated our 10th semi-annual scrapbook weekend in Omaha. Not only do I get to hang out with my dear friends Kimberly and Susan but we enjoy all our favorite restaurants... PF Changs, Cheesecake Factory, Hu Hot, Chipolte and Newman's Pasta. With a line up like that we should have also hit the treadmill.
This year we "camped" out at the Raabe Hotel. The hubby and girls went to Nana & Papa's house so we were free to scrap, eat cheesecake and laugh until the wee hours of the night.

I started strong, got my first layout done before Kimberly even got her paper out but as always she kicked my butt in the final count on Sunday afternoon. Susan was running on low energy thanks to a cold and an infected computer (mine).

Today I got back to work at the scrapbook table. The first 8 client layouts of 2010 have been created. Whew! I'm on a roll.

On a very serious note, I want to draw your attention to Haiti. By now you all should be aware of the disaster that small country has undergone. Two things... 1. please pray for everyone over there. 2. do something to help. Be careful to give only to reputable organizations, we want to be good stewards of every dollar spent. Below you will find a site and blog for an orphanage in Haiti. You can send items to the Colorado address or donate money via the site. It's safe and in great need. Just $5 or $10 from EACH of us will help save a life.
Interesting I just noticed the scripture of the day starts out like this...
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Be generous!

http://glahaiti.org

http://godslittlestangelsinhaiti.org

God’s Littlest Angels

2085 Crystal River Dr.

Colorado Springs, CO 80915

Be A Blessing!

Taking A Leap

My first scrapbook was created about 25 years ago, yes that was before scrapbooking was an industry. Most people stuck 3x5 pictures in an album (the kind that ruin your photos), I went beyond that. My bedroom floor was full of cut out words, phrases and pictures from magazines and the local newspaper, all the while being careful to keep special documents to help me remember the event. Now, I don't want to brag but I've gotta say I was way beyond my time and only 12 years old. I didn't know anything about acid free products or safety in preserving memories but then, neither did anyone else.

Today my scrapbook room is knee deep in every scrappy item available, except for a great cutting machine such as a Cricut Expression. I read magazines, surf the web and chat with my buddies at ScrapLove.com in hopes to find my inspiration for a new layout. In the last week I have managed to complete 14 layouts. Two more to go and they will be ready to be shipped to a client in Kansas.

What started out as a hobby has now turned into a business. In 2010 my goal is to take my business to the next level. Maybe I'm not at the "leaping" stage but certainly I have started the "baby steps." Parents today are over worked, over scheduled and in desperate need of some help. My baby book is rather empty, so sad...I'm the 3rd child and who had time to record first steps, first tooth, first time on a bike or that family vacation back in 1979. Scrapbooking is very time consuming and I am willing to take on the responsibility of preserving memories for busy families in personalized unique photo layouts.

What can you do? You can encourage me. You can keep me accountable (don't let me chicken out). And don't forget to pray for me to have wisdom, success and balance with my own family.

I will keep you posted on my baby steps and hope to have a website full of information soon.

It's Cold!!!

I am so sick of weather conversations. "Look at all that snow!" "Can you believe how cold it is?" "I wonder if we'll have school today." Really people, I think the sub-zero temps have frozen your brain cells leaving you unable to communicate about ANYTHING else.

Next week when the Lord blesses us with 33 degree days, my husband says he is going to wear shorts. See the freezing winds have messed with his mind as well.

Have a blessed day no matter where you live. If it happens to be under the snow drifts of Nebraska then be sure to bundle up and stay in the house.

Christ Community Church - News Feed - Personal growth plan

Christ Community Church - News Feed - Personal growth plan

Personal Evaluation

Since I quit working, in a professional sense, I also quit setting goals and taking a serious/realistic look at what I am doing and what I want to do. Sunday our pastor gave out Personal Growth Plan 2010 sheets. I am ready to fill it out, won't you join me? How else will I know if my life has changed for the better between now and December 2010. I sure hope I have spiritually grown in the last year but I don't have anything to look back on to check myself.

Because I feel strong about this I am going to list the categories and I hope you all take a look at this and do it yourself. If you don't hold a spiritual belief, this still can be a great tool to use. Consider making yourself a better person, whatever that statement means to you.

I have included some examples:

Name: (should be easy for you)

Personal mission statement: (I have no idea what I'll write here)

Broad goals for this year:
Increase personal health & vitality
Practice intentionality for spiritual growth

Spiritual disciplines:
study the bible 5 days a week
memorize one verse a month

Influencing relationship:
Peers:
Mentors: I need one of these
Seekers:
Disciples: my most important...the 3 girls.

Ministry goals:
Pray with the girls every night. Read from the bible 4 times a week with the girls.

Reading: (I've heard 15 min per day = 15 books a year) Leaders are readers!

Experiences:

Personal habits, skills, goals:
work out 4 days a week
turn my scrapbooking into a real business


Tweek this anyway you want to but I strongly suggest you do this. In December we'll look back at what worked, what didn't and what you'll add to your 2011 growth plan.

Now trade your plan with a friend, spouse or anyone who will love you and hold you accountable. This is not an unrealistic list of things that will look good. Rome wasn't built in a day.

You can find this form at www.cccomaha.org



On a different note, thought I'd share a picture of the girls outside today. In case you are wondering, Reagan is standing on the sidewalk. The snow by the street is almost as talk as I am and the snow in our yard is 3-4 feet high depending where you are. It warmed up to 10 degrees so I let the girls play in the snow for about 20 minutes today. Crazy girls!

That is an icicle that Emma is holding, now it's in the deep freeze.

Family Matters

Spending time with my brother and his family was the perfect way to finish up this year. We don't get to see our Arizona family all that often so we jumped at the chance to have some quality time together. Thanks to Mother Nature we missed the Family Christmas at mom and dad's.

Family does matter! We don't get to pick our family but God did. What we choose to do with all those relationships is up to us. When we knew that we couldn't make it "home" we made the choice to do whatever it would take to see Eric, Karen and Regina. I am so glad we did!

Happy New Year! Many Blessings in 2009

Not a Holiday

Back to the grindstone, I think!
Christmas is over, New Years Eve is several days away and I'm not really sure what to do. The girls and Chris are home for Christmas Break but still the laundry needs to get done and everyone thinks they need to eat. It is an odd week. Honestly I thrive with a schedule. It is 1pm, only 2 loads of laundry have been started and my morning began about 2 hours late...which I did enjoy.

Chris is helping a friend of a friend move today, apparently they didn't know you are suppose to have everything (or almost everything) packed before the movers get there. The 2 older girls are jamming out on Rock Band...I think we need to find something with better words. The "baby" has a friend over to play. And I am gearing myself up to babysit 2 evenings a week. Yes, you heard that right.

Some of the Christmas decorations will come down this week. I love having my house filled with Christmas but ditching some of the clutter is much needed.

In the last few weeks I have heard several friends and family members comment on money issues. Let me plug Dave Ramsey for a second. If you live like no one else one day you will be able to live like no one else. Learning to live on a cash budget that you review every month is not a bad thing, just tell your money where to go don't let it control you.

You can catch Dave on tv and radio. Go to his site listed below and see if you really want to change the way you live or if you just want to complain about the stresses of your finances.

http://www.daveramsey.com/

Enjoy your family while they are home this week because before you know it they will be grown up and out of the house. (I might be talking to myself right now!)

A Very Merry Christmas

Never mind the terribly snowy day we are currently having which has us all cuddled up in blankets playing games and watching new movies. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't have it any other way. Chris may not share my thoughts since he is outside (as I am typing) trying to clear the driveway. Uncle John and Aunt Angie are the heros with my girls. our faily will be rocking out with the Wii for months to come. And Livie was "bought" with new lipgloss. :)
Anyone who knows my mother-in-law very well will be surprised to read this...she has been cooking for 2 days straight. Yes, here it is in print and it is the truth. I am so glad to see her rest for a little bit. Nana made our family Christmas very special. Some how she always knows just the right gifs to buy and the right food to have ready. We all really do love you nana!

Signs of Christmas

Emma's 5th grade sang, danced, played guitars, played recorders and threw candy. It was quite the program.

Since I was sitting on the wrong side of the gym all I could get was this picture of my little blondie. The second graders sang with beautiful smiles and proud voices. We even got to see Reagan do a little dance.

This ice is beautiful but kept us home instead of traveling down to Kansas to see mom, dad, Eric, Karen and Regina.

I love cordinating wrapping paper and big bows under my christmas tree. Last year I bought some cheap paper and can't wait to get it all used up...I have even tried to waste it this year. :) All that said, I still tried to make it beautiful and fun for the girls.


I love this wreath made by my cousin Kelly.


My last picture tells the real story of Christmas. There is no christmas without Jesus Christ coming to this Earth in the most humble of circumstances, born to a virgin teenage girl. If you don't know this story I would love to go into great detail with you about the truth of unconditional love that came down 2000 years ago.

Merry Christmas from my family!

It's That Time Again

As you can see, Vincent is quite calm and despite the fact that cats don't like water he really doesn't mind bath time. He loves the attention!

This morning Olivia said, "He (Vincent) stinks, I think it's time for a bath."

The key to this event is LOTS OF KITTY TREATS!!

Learning to Give

Giving to others does not always come naturally so I want to do everything I can to teach my daughters to consider others and their needs as well as their own.

Olivia has been asking to get her hair cut for a few months. All it took was a little research into Locks of Love and found out that she needed a 10 inch ponytail to donate. Finally this week she had enough length.

Here it goes....

And the final product....oh how cute.

Olivia has been excited all evening to show as many people as possible. According to Liv, she and Reagan are twins.