Rona 2020

I know people are calling it Covid-19 but I'm working on not being a follower!

It's challenging to put into words what this world-wide pandemic means to me or has done to me or has done to us. I have mixed feelings about who is speaking truth. Furthermore, those who are in charge or making suggestions do they even know the full truth. 

Let go back two months. On the morning of Thursday, March 12th we were packed and ready to head south to Oklahoma and then on to Arkansas to watch Reagan play in her first D1 collegiate soccer game. A couple days earlier she had text me looking for encouragement, she was FULL of nerves. Her first time EVER taking the field in a Husker jersey and she would be facing the SEC 2019 champions. Nebraska was full of injuries and Reagan thought she would be playing the full 90 minutes. What a huge undertaking for our little freshman. While the excitement of Reagan's dreams coming true was on our minds, the Corona virus had penetrated US boundaries. What was once something infecting thousands in China had become a threat to the entire world. 

The TIMELINE...

Thursday 3/12 Morning: could we take Olivia's friend with us or would they let only family attend college games

Thursday: Our local school district cancelled school Friday and the following 2 weeks and then all classes would move to eLearning

Thursday Noon: SEC cancelled the game 

Thursday Afternoon: NCAA cancelled all college sports through the rest of the school year

From there on things would change daily or hourly. Stores closing. Social Distancing. Stay home mandates. It became the norm to have things taken away without discussion, it just happened. But when I look back to that Thursday morning, I can't believe the incredible amount of change in just 8 hours.

All 3 of my children are (we’re) doing on-line schooling. Chris is (was) teaching online. Nobody really likes it and I doubt that there is a lot of learning happening. This isn't a cliche, I am praying for school (the kind they physically attend) to start up on time in August.

What am I doing? Oddly enough I started out this time of quarantine/stay-at-home, leaving the house everyday to work in the office. My co-worker was quarantined due to a sick child so I became a 45 hour per week employee. Let me say "thank you Lord for a job" when so many are now on unemployment but those hours kicked my butt! 

I am not scared of the Rona but I do fear what the cure is doing to our country. Ten million plus people went on unemployment in the matter of one week, I have no idea what those numbers are now. Calls to the suicide hotline are 600 percent above normal. People are missing important events. Surgeries are shut down. My friend's mom is suddenly dying in the hospital and they are unable to go say good-bye. The stock market has plummeted. Neighbors are calling in to report gatherings of people, even children in a park. We need to get the world open again. Nebraska shut down early and doesn't have the enormous population of New York or California so we don't have the same problems they have.

Oh come Jesus, bring a revolution to this hurting world. I pray for families to reunite, the more simplistic life to be sought and lives to be redeemed in Christ Jesus. 

Here are a few pictures from the last coupe of months.

Moving Reagan home but
thinking it was temporary

Quick trip to see Emma

Churches Closed
Online church

This is how we hang out
with friends . . . ZOOM

Lots of Family Time

What families do now...

eat together

play games

take walks

watch movies

***maybe God is rebuilding the family***

Keeping our immune systems strong

Almost seems like TRUTH

Reagan's Husker meetings

Omaha gets 8" of snow on April 16th...that's weird!

This is what eLearning looks like

Easter with Nana & Papa

Flowers from a friend after oral surgery

Planting all my outdoor pots

Mother's Day was complete, all 3 girls were home.

Nebraska is slowly opening back up. I finally got a hair cut and we have gone out to a restaurant a couple times. Lots and lots of people wear masks, for the most part, I don’t. I’m concerned about the mental health of so many, including myself. This is hard but God is good. My bible verse today was Matthew 6:25. The first line says, “Therefore do not worry about your life...” Yes, this message is one I need daily.

I am sorry for anyone who has had a run in with the rona.  I hear it’s really bad for a few people. I am certain Reagan had it in December right before going to college. She was awfully ill but recovered like a champ. I’m praying for healing of body, spirit and mind. Lord, may we look to you and trust in your ways.

Be well & Be a blessing!

EASTER 2019

HAPPY MAY DAY!!!

I know Easter was last month, better late than never.

This year...we didn't get new Easter outfits, dye eggs or do Easter baskets. I'm slipping a little.

How is it that the only picture I took during Easter weekend was this one? 

We were so thankful Mom was able to squeak away from her busy life with Larry to take in a soccer game, family quality time, attending our church (which she always reminds me how much she hates the music) and Easter lunch. We don't see mom all that often, I know she would like for us to get down to Larry's house. Hopefully we can make it home to help her organize her house in SC. 

Emma has been working a ridiculous number of hours so I was super excited to have her make it home for lunch at Aunt Helen's. We had the traditional yummy food, an egg hunt, lots of chatting and reflection on what Jesus did on the cross for each of us. However, the greatest story isn't just His terrible death on the cross, it's the miraculous resurrection three days later!

He's not here...He is Risen!

Easter Pictures

There's not much to say today, I just want to share some family pictures 

It can be a little windy in Nebraska

We love our all of our "adopted" daughters

Thanks Emmy for spending Easter morning with us.

Aunt Helen & Uncle Lynn are so welcoming. Thanks for inviting us over for lunch and the annual egg hunt.

Easter Bunny, Fox, Lamb or Rooster

I know the story about Christ's birth, life, death and ultimately his Resurrection which is what brings us to Easter but often I have wondered where the eggs, bunnies and candy came into the equation. First I went to the all trust-worthy Wikipedia.
EASTER EGGS, also called PASCHAL EGGS, are decorated eggs that are often given to celebrate Easter or springtime. As such, Easter eggs are common during the season of Eastertide (Easter season). The oldest tradition is to use dyed and painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jelly beans. Eggs, in general, were a traditional symbol of fertility, and rebirth. In Christianity, for the celebration of Eastertide, Easter eggs symbolize the empty tomb of Jesus though an egg appears to be like the stone of a tomb, a bird hatches from it with life; similarly, the Easter egg, for Christians, is a reminder that Jesus rose from the grave, and that those who believe will also experience eternal life.

Then I found this little video that I found helpful.
Watch This Easter Video by the History Channel

The girls and I had fun making these Easter Egg decorations. Thank you Pinterest
Items Needed:
Water Balloons
Flour
Sta-Flo Liquid Starch
Embroidery Floss, one skein per egg
Paper to cover your table, this is a messy project

 The directions gave me a heads up on this one. Gradually unwind the skein of floss into the flour/starch mixture otherwise you will have a HUGE mess. Do not take a short cut on this, you will regret it.

 As you can see, this project also required a few Frappuccinos
Let the balloons dry completely, turning a couple times.

 I know this isn't the full instructions but you can easily find it on Pinterest.

Finished Product

Pinterest suggested making a wreath from the eggs, we decided we didn't like that look. Instead we have a center-piece for the table.

Tonight we plan to dye eggs. This is one of my favorite activities. Chris is planning on being gone.

First and foremost, I am a Christian who believes that Jesus Christ is one part of the trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He left Heaven and became fully man to live amongst us so that He have a relationship with man-kind. Jesus knew He had to die on the cross to take on all the sins of humanity, he was the perfect sacrifice, also known as the Lamb of God. The Earth shook and veil in the temple was torn at the moment of His death. There was mourning and fear but three days later He arose from the dead. To this day Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father. All will see Him face to face one day. Knowing this story is not enough, even the demons know this story. Believing Jesus is your Savior and knowing you are saved by His grace and your faith IS ENOUGH!

HAPPY EASTER TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU! GOD BLESS

VERSE OF THE DAY

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is 

eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Spring Snow

Happy Easter from the Raabes

Spring has Sprung and today (April 1st, one day after this picture was taken) we have snow on the ground again. What the heck is wrong with our crazy weather? Yes, the snow all melted by lunch time but it's just not right to wake up to snow the morning after Easter.

Spring is a time of new beginnings. Praise the Good Lord for new beginnings! 

*new wardrobes-break out the flip flops

*new sports seasons-Olivia playing softball and Reagan playing outdoor soccer

*new book releases

*newly recharged marriage-aw, I love my husband!

*new life-celebrating the birth of two new babies

*new summer plans-vacation to Seattle

*new priorities

If I sit here long enough I could probably come up with more "new" things to celebrate this time of year but you get the idea.

Easter is by far one of my favorite holidays. I know there are people who get very caught up in the chocolate bunnies and Easter egg hunts but we don't. Sure my girls get baskets from us and from Nana but we seem to do a better job keeping the true meaning of the celebration in perspective. Our baking consists of empty tomb rolls and our decorating is pretty simple. But for weeks we concentrate on 2 simple days that have made the largest impact in history...Good Friday when Christ Jesus was beaten and crucified on the cross next to the 2 criminals and Sunday morning when the women found the empty tomb. Oh the Glory of it all! 

If you keep current with texting lingo you know about YOLO (you only live once). My favorite quote this season was made by the pastor at Third City Christian Church in Grand Island, "Easter: the day Jesus slapped YOLO in the face!" I love it!! Jesus' twitter feed would probably read "YOLT" (you only live twice)

It's way past my bed time, all good things must come to an end. Tomorrow my to-do lists consists of a hospital visit, more painting, folding laundry, changing out hardware, baseboard touch ups and prep for my Wednesday class. Then it will be time to pick up the girls from school, that's when things really get busy. 

Blessings to each one of you who takes the time to read my ramblings.

Hippity Hoppity

Easter is all around us. 

We've heard lots about Cadbury eggs, Easter egg hunts and chocolate bunnies.

Tis the season for green grass, flowers and beautiful weather.

Look who we found at the YMCA this week.

Oma and Opa with the Easter Bunny!

DOING THE EGGS

My sweet girls!

Since I have neglected my scrapbooking lately, today I got the creative juices

flowing as I helped the girls decorate eggs.  Loved it!

You can't fully appreciate the events of Sunday without remembering

what happened on Thursday and Friday.  Christ's death & resurrection is

horrible and beautiful all at the same time.

I pray that if you are not familiar with the original Easter story

you will be open to hearing it for the first time.  I would love to share

it with you or send you a fantastic book filled with facts to support

the life of Christ according to the Bible.
Happy Easter!

Christ is Risen!!

Easter Week

Easter week . Holy week . Chocolate Bunnies . Spring break

The week that Christ was tortured, hung on a cross, buried and resurrected means different things to different people.  Our family enjoys the fun part of easter.  Below you will see our peep wreath, eggs that we colored with traditional dye and also silk dyed.  And when I get the pictures from Nana you'll also see the easter egg hunt.  What you won't see is pictures of us in church celebrating Christ's death and resurrection but that side of easter is what means the most to us.

My verse for Beth Moore's scripture challenge is all about the Easter good news:

For God so loved the world

that He gave His one and only son

that who ever believes in Him

shall not perish but have eterntal life.

John 3:16

 Emma's final 6th grade orchestra concert was this week.  I was so disappointed when I realized that my camera battery was very low.  However to my great surprise I was able to take several pictures and video 2 songs including Emma's duet.  YAY!  The camera shut off and I was pleased.  Oh no, they weren't done...

Emma was then given "The Outstanding Musician" award...

AND I DIDN'T HAVE A CAMERA!  dang!!



I had to capture Reagan, Olivia and friend on their DS waiting for the concert to start.  No, I didn't let them play video games during the orchestra concert.  :)



The only good use for peeps...turn them into art. 

 The girls and I had lots of fun making this colorful wreath for our front door.

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs

I found this link at Our Best Bites If you are not familiar with that site, they have some very creative and fun holiday activities.  I can't wait to make the multicolored cup cakes but I will be using natural dyes instead of artificial dyes.  I care too much about my families health to load them up with all that junk.

By the way, no we did not eat these eggs.

My girls are creative egg decorators. 

Mom and My Beautiful girls.

Visiting Aunt Delma before going to church on Saturday night.

Easter Baskets