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

 

Our Sweet Baby Girl

Just for your viewing pleasure

Weeks 5-6

I can't get enough of this baby girl

 

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

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

Husker Soccer Supporters

This is a simple post of people who came to Reagan’s games. And there were many more who watched in BTN+

Always her  B I G G E S T  Fans!

Heidi supports in many ways

Uncle John showed up to several games 

Kelly Ward 

Melanie & Rachelle Zade 

Shannon Garcia-my travel Buddy!

Fullers, Kelly Ward, Nana/Papa

(Snyders left before the picture)

Greg & Jenny Lamb in Tucson

We stayed in Mesa at grandmas house so we could spend time with Grandma. LaRae, Shelly and Richey’s and then traveled back and forth to Tucson for games on Thursday and Sunday. It’s too bad none of our Phoenix peeps could make it down for one of the games. 

This weekend was one of those crazy trips where I road with Lanes on Thursday to Baylor then of coarse went to Magnolia the next morning. Guy & Steph Short took me to Dallas where I jumped on a plane for OKC. My sweet friend Chrissie Boatman picked me up at the airport. Saturday Chris drove to Tecumseh, Ok and the game was in Norman on Sunday. Lots of moving parts but it worked. 

 

Aunt Susan and Ed met us in Minneapolis 

Lots of family came to the Wisconsin game the day after The Raabe-Marvin wedding, even the bride and groom. 

Kristi Williams, Marvins, Nana/Papa, Siekas, Rodger/Laura, Heidi Foland, Barb Ward

Love My Kids 

Current MWVGS player with alums Reagan & Katie

Pregame with Peterson and Zades in Chicago 

Uncle Rodger and Aunt Laura showing up at Mizzou

(I bought them Husker shirts after this game)

Papa takes a moment to chat with Coach John Walker 

Shannon and Melanie at Oklahoma 

Zade and Raabe Twinning

SuperFan Will!!!

Jayme Horan, Angie Benson, Nana/Papa, Kelly & Hattan

Papa, Olivia, Tammy Howard, Nana, Siekas

Tammy nearly froze to death at this game

They Creighton Blue Jay wore Red

We love you Jayme!

Julie and Sierra Eastridge