Bavarian Food

 Day 3 in Deutschland 

Bavarian Breakfast

Weißwürst, pretzels & beer

We had a non alcoholic beer but I still couldn’t do it. I drank part of it but beer at 8:30am was just too much for me. Chris “suffered” through it. The sausage is a white sausage that you peel the casing off and the pretzel is perfectly warm. Wunderbar!

Many people mistake this for “German” food. It’s really just the Bavarian party of Germany that is known for eating this. It was delicious 

We got to meet Liv’s friend, Fenja.

Fun fact, she was born in the house that connects to the house Olivia is living in now. Fenja and her family live in a different city now.  What a sweet friend for Liv. Just another way God has provided for our daughter. 

While the guys checked out a castle that Olivia and I explored in July, we went to IKEA. 

Roulaude, red cabbage, dumplings and brussel sprouts 

Anika is an excellent cook! 

She has truly gone out of her way to make special food for us. Her typical meal is vegetarian and rather light food, but always includes bread. 

Gondolas for the win

I love it when things work out better than expected. In July I had a list of places we could go. One of them was Rüdesheim to ride the gondola along the Rhein River. For a variety of reasons it didn’t work out but it really wasn’t a big deal. After arriving at Olivia’s host parents’ house they said they really wanted to take us to this great Christmas market and ride the gondolas. What??? This is awesome! 

The food and environment was just what we hoped for and the rise up the mountain was gorgeous 

Day 2 in Deutschland and it was GUDE 

Aunt Angie and Uncle John sent Liv a very thoughtful Christmas gift. 

On our way up

This was funny. 

At the top of the ride we came across this proposal sight. Could have been sweet but it was dinner the top, I expected the bachelor/bachelorette to show up. 

Marry Me sign ✔️ Camera crew ✔️

Red roses ✔️ Red carpet✔️

Violinist ✔️ stage management✔️

And to top it off there were about 15-20 on lookers just waiting for the surprised bride-to-be to pop around the corner. We waited a good 30 minutes but finally gave up. 

I hope they have a happily ever after 

Denis and Chris

Creepy Deutschland Santa 

The food at this market was really good and prices right 

Käsewürst, pommes, smoked salmon, crepes, chocolate covered fruit and Glühwein (hot spiced wine)

Isn’t she the cutest

Here we are in front of the famous street, people travel near and far to see this 

D R O S S E L G A S S E

Only 144 meters long but all is GUDE. 

 

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! 

28 and Counting

This year we celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary!

Here are some pictures over the last 30th years

I am so thankful that we chose each other. It hasn’t always been easy but it’s been well worth it. I love you Chris! 

College 1994

Kansas 1996

San Diego 1997

Phoenix 1998

New Home Arizona 1999

Yankton SD 2003

 Around 2006

Grand Island NE 2008

Ugly sweater run Omaha 2012

Book Tour 2013 or 2014

Christmas 2015

Florida 

Grand Canyon 2014

Napa Valley 2016

2019

Emma’s Wedding 2021

25th Anniversary Mexico 2021

Husker soccer Lincoln 2022

Gun Range Omaha 2023

New Grandparents 2023

Denver Broncos NYE 2023

 

Merry Christmas 2023 : Peace

Peace: Doesn't it seem elusive? And yet this time of year we talk about it all the time. 

-The Prince of Peace

-World Peace

-Inner Peace

-Find your own Peace

-A Peace of Pie...ha, I'm kidding

We attended two Christmas Eve services because I love our home church but also wanted to attend with Emma and Joe at their home church, Revival. Their pastor spoke about peace (Shalom). He wrote it out in Hebrew and talked about each symbol which gave such a clear view of what true peace is.

Reading from right to left the symbols are

shin - destroy

lamed - authority

vav - attached

mem - chaos

"destroy the authority attached to chaos"

Oh I love this! Isn't that beautiful? The Prince of Peace is one who came to destroy the authority attached to chaos. The Prince of Darkness causes all chaos and Jesus has overcome the evil one. We can find our peace rooted in Jesus. When googling "peace" I get words like "quiet, tranquility, serenity, ease". To be honest my life does not look like those words but in the midst of my loud, difficult, jumbled life I can find peace in Jesus. I am choosing peace. 

 

passing the light is my

favorite Christmas tradition

My Church 

This peanut brings so much joy!

Christmas Eve services with the Marvins

Christmas Eve Eve

After a day of eating, gifts and games we went for a walk in Aksarben to look at lights and ultimately get cupcakes at Jones Bros, which was probably Joe's plan all along. As you can see, Chris is in shorts. It wasn't that nice, he is just crazy. That said, it was a very nice day for late December in Nebraska.

Poor Papa spent Christmas in the hospital

But he enjoyed teasing Joe that he had a much larger room

Finding the silver lining where you can

After 10 days at Methodist hospital Papa is headed home today. There will be some changes with food and exercise and maybe medical treatment but we are so thankful for God protection. 

cookie decorating

Show choir "family" christmas

They made me judge their gingerbread houses. In true show choir fashion we had a drum roll then 2nd runner up, 1st runner up and champion. Ha! These kids are so funny!

All in all we had a wonderful Christmas and look forward to celebrating with the extended Raabe family in January. We haven’t seen my mom over Christmas in more than 7 years since she always chooses to be in Texas with Larry. Seriously, sunshine and warm weather doesn’t sound bad in December. We were supposed to see mom in Small town Kansas on December 26th until Mother Nature changed our plans with 100% snow packed highways. 

”For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.“

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬