Happy Birthday Joe

Today is a BIG one

Our son-in-law turned 30!!!

We love this guy and are so thankful to have him as part of our family. He is a great leader of his family, a strong Christian man who loves our daughter second only to Jesus. What an answered prayer! And the way he loves Willow and Elisha is beautiful. 

Joe, we pray for you daily. May you continue to seek the Lord in all you do and say  

The Path from Omaha to Einhausen

Day One

First off…we are heading to Germany!!! What? This is so cool. I get to hang out with my favorite person for 12 days in GERMANY! Pinch me, what a lucky girl! Did you catch that? I’m going to Germany!

Here we are on plane number two because the first plane out of Omaha might have been too small to take a picture in. Ha  A friend asked if we were flying first class, I guess she doesn’t know as much about the Raabes (after 11 years of friendship) as I thought she did  ;)

So Sharon with American Airlines is pretty darn awesome!! I forgot to request my GF meal until I was boarding my first flight. In Dallas I called AA for help, they said too bad you had to do that 24 hrs in advance. Then I went to the desk at the gate, she also told me too bad. Once I boarded our flight from Dallas to Frankfurt (9 hour flight) I explained to Sharon, our flight attendant that I messed up but if there is an extra of the GF meals or snacks I would love to be considered. She said, you bet and if I forget ask me again. She came through!! Thank you for your exceptional customer service Sharon! 

Do you ever just stop and realize that the small things are big? I would have survived without this meal and I was my fault but I was taken care of. Thank you God for another provision, I feel so cared for.

We landed in a very dreary and rainy Frankfurt. Our plan to tour the city on foot with Liv seemed like a bad idea so we picked up our rental car and drove to Bensheim to see our girl. I wish I had a picture of that first hug, words can’t convey my joy! After being awake for 20 hours I needed that boost to give me the energy to make it another 12 before going to bed..oh and the coffee helped too

Mel-cortado, Chris-black coffee and Liv-chai latte. 

We ate lunch at a food stand in the Christmas market. It was really good. I’m not sure what it was, some kind of meat on a fantastic bun (yes, even the bun was delicious, because in Germany the bread is fantastic!) We were deliriously tired, very hungry and beyond excited to see our daughter in a foreign country. Was the food really good? I’m still going to say yes!

Our next stop was Heppenheim, this is where Olivia takes her language classes. We walked all through the city and of course had another cup of coffee. 

We finally made it to Einhausen around 3pm. We took a walk through her sweet village that she now calls home. There are working farms in the middle of town right next to contemporary new built homes. Fresh air was good but we also had to keep our minds busy. As we worked hard to stay awake she took advantage of our foggy brains and played games with us that we couldn’t possibly win. 

Soon the family was home from school, work and volunteering. We had a delightful vegetarian dinner, drinks and fell into bed. It had been only some 30+ hours since the last time we saw a bed.  

Already, this trip has been amazing! What a blessing it is to see our girl. Hug her and know she is thriving. Thank you Jesus! 

Happy Birthday Pops

Birthday wishes to this guy

Love you Chris!

Yep we tried to get a picture of all of us and the 2 dogs. 

It didn’t work to well but we had some laughs

Willow played with Pops on his special day

 

W I L L O W is ☝🏼

Birthday Girl in a
5th generation high chair

It’s remarkable how quickly the first year of life has flown by for this little peanut! 

We love you Willow!

Thankful for FaceTime in moments like this so Auntie Liv could help us celebrate all the way from Germany

The Great Grandmas

What a special day! We had 40+ friends and family at our house to celebrate the first year of life with this precious little girl. Emma had the cutest decorating ideas and Chris and I took care of the food. We found out that Willow is a BIG fan of frosting, it might take a few days to detox. Ha

First consecutive steps taken Oct 25

Says (has said) mama and dada 

Loves to point at everything

Eats well but no veggies

Nurses once a day

Sleeps 7:30pm-6:30am and 2 naps

Sleeps with 6 pacifiers and pink kitty

After mommy & daddy, Mimi is a fav

Has 8 teeth

Weight: Up from 3rd percentile to 24th!!

Dear God,  On this special day I lift up our precious granddaughter. As she celebrates her first birthday, I pray that you bless her with strength, wisdom and unwavering faith. May she always know your love for her and that her worth comes from you alone. Thank you for the indescribable joy of being her Mimi. In Jesus name, Amen

 

Celebrating 50 trips around the sun

Raabes with Julie and Scott Eastridge

I had so much fun surprising Chris with Denver Bronco football tickets to celebrate his 50th birthday! Thanks to our good friends’ (the Meints) connection to some season tickets, I was able to snag 2 seats in the lower bowl for a great price. I love it when things like this work out. And who else would we invite to go with us but the 2 biggest Bronco fans we know, Scott and Julie.  

Friday was our travel day

Saturday was spent in Golden shopping, at the Coors plant and some light hiking. Julie really enjoyed some of the interesting crystals at one of those new age stores. We found the best restaurant in Golden and then enjoyed drinks back at the hotel. 

Sunday was game day

Monday was our travel home day

Coors Brewery tour in Golden

G A M E. D A Y

I might have been a little nervous about going to an outdoor football game in Colorado on December 31st but God blessed us with some amazing weather. I’m wearing several layers but no winter coat. 

Chris’ favorite Bronco - Elway

Getting ready to ring in the New Year

Stadium food

A Bronco Win

Denver Broncos 16  - LA Chargers  9

Happy 50th Birthday Babe!!

 

Let’s Celebrate!

I love my birthday! 

Dinner at Blackstone Meatball 

with everyone but Emma and Joe

My free birthday treat that I couldn’t even eat

Lunch with Emma and Joe at Ancho and Agave

My favorite GF strawberry wedding cake from Wheatfield 

with our Bible study friends 

Lunch from Kinaara with the office 

Love this danty cross necklace from my family

I’m not going to lie, I can’t wait to share my birthday 

month with sweet baby Willow.

 

Swifty Birthday …22

Happy Birthday Reagan!!

This year has certainly had its ups and downs. It seems like so much has changed from last year at this time. Yet you continue to press forward, making a mark for yourself. You are a young woman who believes with conviction, loves with your whole heart and leads with passion. Stay strong and always draw near to Jesus. 

Dad and I were glad that everyone could carve out a couple hours to have dinner to celebrate you. I hope you enjoyed your decorated car, it was done out of love in the dark of the night. 

I know I tell you this all the time and I will continue to do so, I love you today, tomorrow and forever.

”I’ll love you forever and always” 

When life is good or when challenges present themselves, we will be here for you. You are never too old or too far away to lean on mom and dad. 

Happy 22nd Birthday!

 

Hugs, Kisses and Lots of Birthday Wishes

We love Birthdays

The Raabes do food and birthdays well. I have always made a big deal of celebrating my girls' special days. Now that Emma is out of the house I don't spend the week making all her favorite foods nor do I decorate her bedroom while she's sleeping. I guess Joe would find that quite creepy if I were sneaking in their house with balloons and streamers in the middle of the night. Instead we met at Emma's favorite Sushi place. I made Cherry Brownies and the family came together for laughs, stories and some special gifts. It's such a joy to celebrate the amazing woman she continues to become.

Look at that Glow

I was fortunate enough to be included in Emma's Friend Celebration

Does that mean I've hit a new level of acceptance? We hit up her favorite Taco place in Blackstone, Mula Mexican Kitchen and then walked across the street for Coneflower ice cream. It's was pretty cold to be eating that frozen deliciousness but oh so worth it! Some of these girls I have know for decades while others I met this year. Emma has found some great gals. Missing Emma L and Kaylee

Happy Birthday Sweet Emma!!! Love, Mama

May blessings follow you through life wherever Christ may lead you. 

May love be right beside you, and joy and peace precede you. 

May God's Word light your path each day while grace and patience guide your way.

 

She was just 17!

As I started to write this post the song by the Beatles popped into my head. 

“She was just 17 and you know what I mean” 

It doesn’t really apply to Olivia’s birthday but you are welcome because I know you now have that song stuck in your head. 

So many fall birthdays in this family! The following pictures will show the story of Liv’s birthday week (or weeks). We had a great time celebrating our girl. 

Saturday morning coffee and quality time together. 

Sunday morning: she wakes up to balloons on the floor, steamers, notes and a birthday sign. 

Sunday Lunch: LaMesa…a girl after my own heart

Sunday afternoon: finally double pierced ears

Wednesday: family dinner at Tap House, strawberry pretzel salad and gifts

Papa’s creativity shared: flying pigs, dinosaurs and so much more 

Friday: Friend Party

her 2 favorite desserts

1. strawberry pretzel salad 

2. cherry brownies

This girl is beautiful on the inside and outside. What a joy and honor it is to be her mama! Thrilled to celebrate her today! 

Lord, give me your wisdom to be the best mom I can be. Draw her to you and allow her to see every day that she is cherished by you and created perfectly for your purpose. Amen. 

Happy 17th Birthday Liv

Family, Burgers & Guns

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER!!!

I love birthdays and I love this guy!

Chris had a great weekend of burgers with the family (and all the fried food he could order), shooting with Joe and game night with his buddies. 

I know it's goofy but I enjoy making chalk signs