Good Job Girls!!

1st day of 4th grade

Last day of 4th grade

Mr Campbell has been one of my favorite teachers at the girls' elementary school.  He is known as a "hard" teacher but we have a different view of him.  Both Emma and Reagan found him to be a very positive and caring teacher.  He pushes students to do THEIR best and always reach for the next level of success.  I have heard him use his firm teacher voice but never say a cross word to or about a student.  Mr Campbell, you are a top notch teacher and I hope you plan to stick around so Olivia can have you also.

1st day of Kindergarten

Last day of Kindergarten

Mrs Mosby is a very kind hearted woman.  Truly the perfect kindergarten teacher.  She took kiddos who didn't know how to write their name or even recognize a single letter in August and made them ready for 1st grade.  I have no idea how she did it.  I wish she was looping up next year but she is nearly irreplaceable in kindergarten.  Livie will miss you this summer.

No, Emma wouldn't let me take a picture of her with all of her middle school teachers...I just don't get that!

Emma's 7th grade team of teachers

7th grade Recognition Day

Going up for her awards

All 3 of our daughters had a wonderful year in school.  We are so blessed to have children who not only excel in school but actually enjoy their time in class.  Thank you girls for working hard, being positive role models and respecting your teachers as authority figures.  Your effort is noticed by many.  We love you all!

Dragonflies

 Is there anything cuter than a little girl with her daddy right before they take the field for the very first time?

The Dragonflies are coached by the head varsity and asst varsity softball coaches at Millard South High School.  Steve and Chris have equated coaching 4-6 year old girls is much like "herding cats!"

 The original plan was to have 3 practices then the games would begin.

Living in Nebraska it is ridiculous to schedule an outdoor event for 3 weekends in a row and think all 3 days the weather will cooperate.  With two rainouts, we got one practice in then Friday we started games.

In this recreational league all the kids play defense at one time and everyone bats each inning.  (Don't worry, it's a two inning game.)  No one gets out and everyone runs all the way around the bases eventually (only one base at a time, unless you are the last batter).

At the end of the game the girls asked, "Did we win?"  Coach Chris answered, "We didn't lose!" They all cheered. On the way to the van Liv said, "I can't believe we had only one practice and we were still that awesome!"  Love it!

 She's ready to catch a ball but I don't think she ever did.

At this age, they hit off the "T"  Great job girl!  After hitting the ball she even knew which way to run.  I highlight that because there were a few girls that headed straight for the pitchers mound.

Liv's two big sisters were assistant coaches.  My official job is to take pictures, bring snacks and cheer on the team.  What a great day at the ballpark!

Tooth Fairy

The day my little one has been waiting on.  After months of a loose tooth and then at least a week of seeing that thing barely hanging in there...it is OUT!!  I love seeing the proud moment of the first tooth coming out.  It's another sign of growing up.  Do they really have to grow up?

We loosely promote the tooth fairy in our home.  In typical Raabe fashion, the tooth fairy brings 2 quarters not $5 or worse yet $20.  (what is wrong with parents these days?)  It's a fun little fictional story that is not emphasized but we do let our girls tell us if they think it is real or not.  Their rationalizations are fun to hear and certainly note worthy for the baby book.  I grew up putting my teeth in the pocket of a little pink pillow that Aunt Delma made for me.  I think my brothers just put theirs under the pillow.  However, in Chris' family they put the fallen tooth in a glass of water on the kitchen counter.  In both cases the child would find coins the following morning.  In our home we do the tooth in a cup of water...that is so much easier!!  Do you remember the movie a few years ago staring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson playing the part of the Tooth Fairy? It kind of shook up the image of the sweet dainty magical fairy, it still makes me smile thinking about a rough hockey player becoming the tooth fairy.  Whether you support or reject the idea of letting children believe for a time in this fictional character, we can agree or disagree and still both go to heaven.

I would love to hear about your traditions as you grew up and what you did/do with your children.

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Giving a shout out to my cousin Erika and hubby, Fritz.....congrats on your new baby girl.  She was the exact size of my first.  8lbs 4oz and 21in.  Their lives are forever changed and for the better I do believe.  Praying for sleep and strength in their home.

David Crowder

...was not at our church today but we did have David Potter back for a wonderful church service filled with music. "Rock the Temple"  Loved it!  David Potter left Christ Community Church about 18 months ago to pursue seminary in St Louis, Mo.  What a blessing it was to be lead by David again.

There was a line in a song today that spoke to me.

"I lay no claim to this blood bought life."

What a powerful reminder that it has nothing to do with my "greatness" it's all about the shed blood of Jesus.  What I do here on earth is nothing compared to the life of the perfect lamb that was slain at my expense.  Thank you Jesus!

I pray that you experience the peace of our loving Father.  God gave all he had to save us from our sin. 

**************BOOK UPDATE***************

I wish I had more to tell you...soon my friends.  But what I can tell you is this, I finally read all of book #2.  It is good.  OK, it is really good!!  There are some new characters introduced that you will enjoy getting to know. The book brought me to tears a few times, I laughed and even felt uncomfortable in a few situations.  The author received a suggestion from me that he did not readily accept.  Speaking as a mom, I wanted some stuff taken out of that book, we'll see what happens.  :)  I can't wait to hear your responses. 

Chris has been revising (FINALLY) and got through to the final page last night.  Revising book #2 is a little different than the first.  Chris has noticed he did a better job writing this time around. We are still hoping for an October release.  More news later as it becomes official.

Blessings to you all this week.

Getting Braces

My girl has had a rough few days.
FRIDAY: the trackster had an impromptu meeting with the asphalt. All it took was a toe catching the corner of a hurdle and seconds later she was bloody with a brief moment of blacked out vision. The poor dear came home with bandages and a headache with a nauseous stomach to follow soon.
SATURDAY thru MONDAY: nothing but a whole bunch of R&R for her, which normally would be the definition of heaven for Em but this time she missed fun activities and felt crummy.
TUESDAY: Braces put on first thing in the morning.

The girl has done a great job coping.

 Walking in

 Waiting to go back

And here is my beautiful daughter with her new braces

Hang in there sweetie!  Day one is done just 16-18 months left to go.  

Passwords

What do you do about them? 

How do you keep them all straight? 

Oh My Word!  I think I might be getting weak in the brain activity category.  The synaptic gaps are enlarging.  I can't remember my passwords.  Well, some of them I can.  But then there are the new ones that have to have an extra number or one more character or a capital letter in them.  Geesh, I am struggling to just use my debit card at Costco.  To make matters worse, I've gotta know all my husband's passwords too because I manage his blog, twitter, personal facebook page and THE NEW PHENOMENON fb page.  Oh, let's add one more person...Emma has a password on her ipod, phone, email and facebook page.  I can now understand the need for a chip being implanted into the arm, maybe I could get 3 chips.

I have a place on my phone to store passwords.  As you would guess it is necessary to have a password to access that area of the phone.  But then consider the phone getting hacked.  Don't you know Apple assures me that their encryption process takes place every 25-30 seconds, changing continually so it is impossible to hack.

RIGHT!!!! (insert some sarcasm)

I know there are people out there with nothing better to do than to create something bad to get people's information off of their devices.  See I don't even have the words for what I am trying to say because I am so behind in the tech world...but "it" still exists!

If you have good advice for this never at home, stay-at-home mom please feel free to share.

Before clicking on the "publish" button I had a quick thought...

I have read time and time again that God does not want us to worry.  Maybe you can't hear my frantic voice in my writing but I wrote this in about 35 seconds. I was feeling frantic. Take whatever you are holding on to, open your fingers and turn your hands upside down.  Let the troubles of this world fall from your control into His (God).  God is good and has our best interests at heart.  I'm pretty sure God knows all about encryption and passwords.  He doesn't need my help.

PEACE!

Hurdles...Really?

She might have been tricked!

Simply because a friend talked her into going to the track meeting one day after school and then lied to her saying "if you do hurdles, you don't have to run much" Emma is now a trackster.  I'm so proud of you E, for trying something new and so far out of your comfort zone!

The whole idea of Emma running at all is so foreign!  I believe my mouth dropped open and just hung that way for a good five minutes when E came home from school with the news that she was on the track team.  Don't let her long slender build or long legs fool you into thinking she's a runner.  Her strong dislike of running, sweating and physical exertion has prevented her (to this point) from running unless it's to be first in line at dinner time.

 Emma's first track meet

I believe she came in 3rd or 4th in hurdles.

Aw, a girl after my own heart...running the 100m dash.

Third place is a great job, Emma.

She also ran in the 200m dash and did well in that race too.

In middle school I ran the 75m and 100m dashes as well as doing the long jump.

Not to toot my own horn but I was pretty successful until I hit my sophomore or junior year of high school.  So sad when you are all dried up at the ripe age of 16 or 17. 

Five more meets in Emma's 7th grade running career.  I hope she can continue to improve her personal best and maybe even develop a love for this new activity in her life.



Stephen Fite Concert

The week before spring break I was able to attend both the kindergarten field trip downtown to see Stephen Fite and the 4th grade field trip to Lincoln to see the state capitol, Nebraska History Museum and Memorial Stadium (Husker Heaven).  :)  Here are a few snapshots of my time with the kindergartners.

Stephen Fite sings silly songs about learning

Sweet Jeans

The kiddos getting into the dance moves...tongue sticking out & all.

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I want to give an update on little Miss Molly.  Again, you can look for her on caringbridge.com  Message me if you need help. Molly is now in a fantastic rehab facility.  Her progress is slow but sure. She is doing well with the trach, as you can imagin there is a great concern for infection.  Each day she shows improvement with tracking, recognition and muscle control in her neck.  Today Molly will get new casts on her feet to keep training those muscles to flex.  Dad's parents have been here but are leaving tomorrow to go back home.  Mom's parents arrived last night and will take over care of the other siblings. This will be a long journey.

-Please pray for her breathing and the reduction of secreations. 

-Right now Molly does have a little bug, pray for a quick and total recovery.

-Please continue to lift up Mom (Stacy), Dad (Mike), Beth, Jake, and Gab.

-One more request, Molly's Grandma broke her arm and has surgery tomorrow.

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!!

Fire Away!

When Chris told me last December that he purchased bows and arrows for the girls for Christmas, I thought it was a stupid gift.  Shows what I know.  Shh, don't tell Chris that I am admitting to being wrong.  I can tell you this here because he doesn't read my blog.  :) Below I have some snapshots of my "go getter" with her friend doing some target practice in the backyard. Please ignore the dead spot where the garden belongs.

Not bad, at least you hit the target.

 Chris had to show the girls how it is done...the result below.

 Let me first say that we love this girl.  She is one of R's best friends.

B killed our shed!!!

The girls had a great time hanging outside with Chris.

I love watching a daddy invest in his children (and friends)



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This has nothing to do with archery but for some reason I decided to take a photo of the family's favorite meal.

Eihusen chicken

mashed potatoes

steamed broccoli

spinach salad with lots of veggies

Foley Fun

While Mom and Dad Foley were at the KU basketball game we were fortunate enough to have the Foley kiddos at our house.

I'm all about the perfect photo opportunity! 

Swings...Volleyball...Mario Kart...on a windy day!

 

IT HAS SPRUNG

S P R I N G ! !

The weather has been beautiful all week but this sight almost brought tears to my eyes this morning.  Not kidding at all when I tell you this.  I backed out of my driveway and suddenly see yellow blooms.  I stopped in the middle of the street and ran up with my phone to get a quick picture.

I love spring!

I don't know if I can even call the last several months "winter".  It's been mild to say the least.  I thought it was the wild winter temperatures every year that created such appreciation for the first sights of green.  It's safe to say, that's not the case...

I just love spring!

Earl May is calling my name but remembering we live in Nebraska pulls me back to reality.  It could snow Easter Sunday.  I better wait a few more weeks for flower shopping.

March Madness and Spring all the same week!

My basketball bracket is all messed up...thanks a lot Missouri!

Have I said this yet?

I love spring!

Thank you Lord God for caring so much for your creation that you gave us variety in seasons and plants.  Why would I ever wonder if you care about my little life details? Obviously you do.

Peru State Talks about The New Phenomenon

My last several posts have been about the book.  It's time for me to blog on another subject...next time.  :)

Chris is a Peru State College graduate.  Their website has a nice article about Chris and his visit.  Here is the link...

http://www.pscbobcats.com/news/2012/3/9/GEN_0309125721.aspx?path=general

We continue to be excited with each and every new event with THE NEW PHENOMENON.  The book is selling well, now our marketing person (me) needs to figure out how to get this thing going globally.  Please feel free to share this info or any book info from my blog with your readers and friends.

Until next time, blessings to you this beautiful spring day!

I Blog U Read

Another wonderful review by a blogger at I Blog U Read.  Please take just a few minutes to click on the link to read the review and then leave a comment.  I don't know who this person is but I do like what they had to say about The New Phenomenon.  Woo Hoo!!!

Making changes are usually difficult, even if they are positive changes.  We appreciate those of you who have been with us during our book journey.  It has been educational, exciting, frustrating and sometimes even a little fearful.  We are ready for a couple of changes. #1 an ebook...praying it will happen sooner rather than later.  #2 time to get the second book of this series ready to publish.  Both of which open up an areas of the unknown again.  Please join us in prayer for wisdom.

Pudgy Pumpkin Patch

Here he is...my Main Man (ok my only man) meeting, greeting and signing books for readers of THE NEW PHENOMENON. Wow, what a fantastic day!!

(Quick side note: notice the Iowa Hawkeye jacket...ewww!  Not in Husker territory anymore.  ha ha  I'm just kidding.  That guy was one of Chris' old coaches and gave us one of his CDs that we listened to on the way home.)

We made our second trip to Red Oak, IA and spent 3 hours at the Pudgy Pumpkin Patch Gift Store.  What a delightful store.  I should have gotten a better picture.  When we walked in I think Chris was fearful that I would buy a little bit of everything.  I loved it all!  I know we will be back to RO this summer and I will bring my money with me.  :)  Just a quick shout out to anyone who loves a gift shop that has a little of everything, Elaine Hollen's gift shop is the place to stop.  Then we ate at Casa De Oro...very yummy Mexican restaurant with wonderful service.

So many classmates, old neighbors and former teachers stopped in to see this guy they knew way back when.  A couple girls (my age) said they have some good stories on Chris, we'd have to sit down and talk when our kids weren't around.  ha ha  I'm sure that is true.

Again, we sold out of books.  Thank goodness Chris and I were able to dig up some extras to take down there just in case.  It's hard to rely on the "professionals" when they don't seem to give good advice.  We could have sold more books today if we would have had them with us.  So frustrating!  But what an awesome problem to have.  Thank you God for blessing this adventure!!!!

Our next big trip with THE NEW PHENOMENON will be over spring break when we go to Grand Island, NE.  Chris will be speaking at 3 schools during the day and 2 evening book signings.  I can't even tell you how proud I am of Chris.  He loves speaking but gets such joy out of seeing kids read. 

We know none of this is possible without God's hand in it.  We make plans but He shows us a better way.  We think we have it all under control when really we are just walking through the doors God has opened.  Our prayer is that we continuously seek and follow God's direction so that we can point all glory to our Creator.

Molly update:

She is back on the vent and spending the weekend resting for a 2nd try early next week.  Praying for this sweet girl!

Posting the Poster

I love to create but have very little confidence in my ability to do it well.  For some time I have been struggling to create a poster and business cards for Chris' book.  You may be giggling but it is difficult for me for several reasons.  First I am a perfectionist. Oh, the stress I place on myself for no reason at all.  Secondly, I have not had the time to sit down and make some simple decisions.  Last, I really do work best under pressure.  Maybe that's just what procrastinators always say.

I am happy to display my newly created poster here on my blog.  The picture was taken in Red Oak, IA where the story of The New Phenomenon takes place.  If you are familiar with small towns, the water tower is a visible display of school spirit.  My hometown has a white water tower with Redmen painted on it. Red Oak is the home of the Fighting Tigers and has a bright orange water tower.  I love this casual picture of Chris. 

Tomorrow I will pick up a printed version, make the needed changes and then send them off to our next book event.  Speaking of book events...

The Pudgy Pumpkin

Red Oak, IA

Saturday March 10, 2012

10:00 am - 1:00 pm

If you are in the area, please stop in and say "hi".



Molly Bear

I have asked so many to pray for Sweet Little Molly, I decided to post a few pictures. 

I like to have a face to go with my prayers.

I have some updates.

The news does come in slowly & I do think this will be a long process but I tend to continue praising God for the miracles He has & will work in the life of this baby girl & all those who love her.

*Today officially the doctors started seeing gag reflexes, even though the nurses have been reporting it since yesterday.  It isn't real until the neurologist sees it.  :)

*Tonight Chris and I spent some time with Mike and Stacy in the hospital.  It was pure joy to see our friends look alive again. It's amazing what a little sleep and some good news can do for the body.

 We hugged, visited and laughed.  All good for the soul!

*Molly opened her eyes while we were in the room and then began moving her arms and legs.  It sure looked to me like she was uncomfortable and trying to reposition herself but the docs aren't certain if these movements are involuntary or intentional.

*Tomorrow morning Molly has her second MRI.  The first one showed some damage in the brain and they expect to see a little more tomorrow.  However, after the procedure, the vent should come out & the feeding tube will go up her nose then finally mom & dad will be able to hold their baby again. 

 Olivia and Molly at the pool

 At the soccer field.

This girl is use to being at a game of some sort, she can make almost anything into a toy.  I have a fantastic picture of Molly covered in baby powder after digging through someone else's diaper bag.  Unfortunately, I could not find that picture.

If you would like to follow Molly's progress her parents have started a page for updates at

www.caringbridge.org

Message me and I would be happy to share the info you need.  What you can do is pray for Molly to come completely out of the drug induced coma and start showing more neurological advances.

Isn't God Good?  Already in the last 3 days He has shown 100's and probably 1000's of people the power of prayer.  I serve a Mighty Savior!

Prayers Needed!!!

What a week!!  I don't want to go into too many details but I do want to get out the message to anyone who reads my blog.  My friends need your prayers for their little girl, Molly and for their family.

Yesterday sweet little Molly (2) choked while eating lunch at home.  Her dad was quick to help her but could not get the food dislodged.  She is now in a medically induced coma to allow her body time to heal.  I don't know much more than that but God knows every detail.  Please go to Him on their behalf. 

Two updates from this week...
1. Please continue to pray for the Ayala family.  Our hearts are broken for the loss of Gabby.
2. My dad is out of the hospital and back at home.  The infection in his arm and hand was very bad.  Praise God he got great care in Omaha.

There are some verses that keep ringing in my head (paraphrased).

God works all things for good for those who love him. Roman 8

Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11