It's Been A Good Year on the Pitch

Elite Girls Academy

00/01 Club ECNL - Captain

Millard West High School

Varsity - Captain

Augie . Reagan . Katie

Nebraska Academic All State

Lincoln Journal Star

Super State - Captain 

Omaha World Herald

Nebraska All State - Captain

4 players from MW girls varsity were selected for the Nebraska Soccer All-State Team

All-State All-American

Selected top 125 female high school 

soccer players in the country

Gatorade Player of the Year

Nebraska Recipient

State Champion

Millard West High School

the team scored 100 goals and conceded only 10 goals 
NO FIELD . NO PROBLEM

Finally, Reagan and her club team had the privilege of playing in the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) National Championship tournament in San Diego, California in June. The girls had an incredible year with only one loss. They entered the playoffs ranked 5th in the nation but without 5 of our players due to injury, etc. Despite playing a very good brand of soccer we did not make it out of pool play. Reagan scored 50% of the goals in the tournament (ok, that was 1 of 2...see how stats can be misleading). I am very proud of these athletes. 

If you made it this far you must have a high tolerance for a mama bragging. :) Thanks for reading.

Back to the Grind!

Over eighteen years ago I packed up my cubical at CCV, our home church and decided to trust God to provide for our growing family on one income...a teacher's income. There have been some hard times but not for one moment do we regret that decision. Spending my mornings, afternoons and most of my evenings with our baby girls is something I will never be able to replace. Admittedly, there were days that I met Chris at the front door, handed off the babies and then ran for the hills. What mom can't attest to this?

The last couple of years I have had a desire to work outside of the house but didn't know if I could find that perfect job. You know, the kind of job that I could pick my own hours, leave if there was a kid conflict and still pay me a decent wage. Finally, I found that place and God's timing was perfect.

Back in the day (before kids, in fact before Chris) I had a dream to become a physical therapist. Through a long string of events I did not see that dream come to fruition but I would like to think I ended up with something better. Post college I worked at Knortz-Snyder PT in Lincoln as a PT tech. For the most part I really liked it. Fast forward 20 years and I am back at another physical therapy office. Knowing what I know now, it's a much better treatment office than KSPT. I'm not a tech anymore but I work in billing, insurance and payments. The hours are perfect for our family and I get to spend a few hours every week in the PT world with some really great people.

My journey to a job began with an injury, ok several injuries. Three years ago Reagan was suffering from Achilles tendinitis. During my brief stint with PT I learned how important it is to use specialist so I tracked down the best sports physical therapist in Omaha. Drs Mark and Claire Rathjen had just opened their own PT practice and we jumped in. I was so impressed with the way Claire talked to, responded to and treated Reagan. At that point I knew if we needed a PT in the future CORE Physical Therapy would be our first stop. Three surgeries later I am now working for Claire and Mark. They are smart, funny, hard working, personable, sarcastic, generous, cat lovers and sometimes a little temperamental. I love this office!

This is where I work!

I am proud of my work and what I bring to the office both professionally and personally. 

...

I am thrilled to have bosses who appreciate me, truly a first for me.

...

I enjoy having a little extra money every couple of weeks.

...

I don't know what this job will look like for me in a year. They constantly say I should work more hours but for 15+/- hours a week fits our family. So for now we are listening to God, praying that I am in a place that honors Him and serves my family well.

SIDE NOTE: Holy Cow, it's June!

Happy Summer Y'all!

Soccer State Champions 2019

Here are the numbers for this season...

18-1 RECORD

0 SOCCER FIELDS

🔥100 GOALS SCORED

💪10 GOALS CONCEDED

🏆1 METRO CHAMPIONSHIP

🏆1 DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

🏆1 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Although these numbers are pretty impressive there is so much more to this group of 20 teammates. They are...

KIND  .  ACADEMIC GIANTS  .  LEADERS  .  SELFLESS

TENACIOUS  .  FEARLESS  .  FRIENDS

#8 hugging Head Coach Tevis

Battling to put the ball in the net
Note: look at the goalie's left foot...ouch!

2019 Champions

Her support group

Thanks Nana and Papa for your support! 

CLICK HERE to watch a short championship video put together by Striv Sports. Reagan didn't get credited with a goal in the championship game but you will see the shot she took that rolled up a teammates head then bounced off of a defender's head, hit the cross bar and ultimately landed in the back of the net for a Millard West goal! It doesn't really matter how it lands in the net as long as it gets there. #Team

Keep working hard, having fun and giving glory to the one who gifted you with all this talent. 

Love you Reags!

Moving Day

I love new beginnings for my girls. Truly I was not the crying mama watching her 5 year old walk into kindergarten or even watching her 13 years later walk across the graduation stage at Baxter Arena. So it makes sense that I am now joyfully watching this same girl move into an apartment 130 miles from home.  Emma has a job she loves and two roommates she adores. 

Good luck sweet girl! I love you 

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!

High School Soccer: My Junior

The season didn't start as we had all hoped. Instead Reagan's high school kicks off the season not only in the gym but with no chance of practicing outside on their own field. There would be no field at all this year. No home games...you could call the Millard West Wildcats HOMELESS!! 

No Field . No Problem

March 15

Game 1 vs Omaha Northwest 10-0 W

Reagan scores 2 goals and 2 assists

notice the snow in the background covered in black turf tar

March 18

 Game 2 vs Elkhorn South 2-0 W

Reagan scores 1 goal and 1 assist

Club teammates on 2 different high school teams

Gabby the Goalie who plays basketball, not soccer

March 22

Game 3 vs Bellevue East 4-0 W

Reagan scores 1 goal 2 assists

I kind of lost track of assists...
March 26

Game 4 vs Omaha North 10-0 W
Reagan scores 3 goals

March 30

Game 5 vs Skutt Catholic  2-1 W

April 4

Game 6 vs Omaha Northwest  10-0 W
Metro Tourney
Reagan scores 2 goals

 

April 5

Game 7 vs Millard North  6-2 W
Metro Tourney
Reagan scores 1 goal

April 6

Game 8 vs Papio-South 7-1 W
Metro Tourney
Reagan scores 3 goals

April 8

Game 9 vs Marian Catholic 3-0 W
Metro Champs
Reagan scores 1 goal

April 13

Game 10 vs Westside  1-0 W
Kicks For A Cure
Reagan 1 assist

Reagan wore Aunt Lois' name on the back of her
jersey. So glad she and Uncle Lou came to the game
Breast Cancer Survivor

April 15

Game 11 vs Papio-LaVista 1-0 W
Reagan 1 assist

April 18

Game 12 vs Millard South 1-0 L
Well this was unexpected but MW lost to MS. It was a horribly windy day. MS who isn't even ranked slipped a long ball in over our goalie's head in the first half and then parked the bus in front of their goal for the remaining 50 minutes. Reagan, Katie and Grace were all man-marked and we just couldn't seem to get the ball in the net. It was shocking but in truth, good timing for a loss. MW dropped one spot in the rankings which also doesn't matter at all.

April 20

Game 13 vs Millard North 3-1 W
Reagan scores 2 goals, 1 assist

The grandparents made it!

April 23

Game 14 vs Papio South 4-0 W
Reagan scores 1 goal

April 29th the CATPACK begins the District Soccer Tournament. Since the team has regained their 1st place ranking in the state, they should have fairly easy district games and make it to the state tournament which kicks off May 9th at Creighton University. But never underestimate an opponent, especially when you are ranked 1st. They have nothing to lose and you have everything to lose. Fortunately the season isn't over and the girls have a great opportunity before them.

SIDENOTE: The MWHS soccer field STILL has not been completed. I hope my girl gets a chance to play on the field at least once before she graduates.

High School Soccer VS Club Soccer

Millard West Girls Varsity Soccer 2019

It's an exciting time at our house...high school soccer kicked off the last week of February. After sitting on the bench in the midst of ACL recovery for her whole sophomore season, Reagan is so excited to be representing the Wildcats in green again. It's mid-March and the girls have already gone through a week of tryouts, a week of practice, numerous team meals, three varsity games, picture day and a day of volunteering. Along with the new season comes a public debate in the paper and social media. Is high school soccer good for the elite athlete or do they just play club soccer year round?

There are many avenues to playing soccer...
Street soccer
Recreational
High school
"not-so" Elite Club
Elite Club
National Team
Remember this is written by a soccer mom so don't expect official names, titles and explanations. I mean, I did coach Reagan when she was four years old so maybe I could be considered an expert.

There are also so many leagues available to play within, Reagan has played in the following...
Nebraska League
Midwest Regional League (MRL)
National Premier League (NPL)
Another league but can't remember the name
Elite Clubs National League (ECNL)

Three years ago our daughter's soccer club was offered a place at the table with the new Girls Development Academy (DA). Below is a description of DA from their website.

Following a comprehensive review of elite player development in the United States and around the world, U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy in 2007. The Academy Program's philosophy is based on increased training, less total games, and more meaningful games using international rules of competition.

In the Fall of 2017, the Academy expanded programming to include a Girls' Development Academy. The Academy has 197 total clubs, comprised of teams across six age groups in the boys program: U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17, and U-18/19 and four age groups in the girls program: U-14, U-15, U-16/17, and U-18/19.

The Academy Program focuses on positively impacting everyday club environments to assist in maximizing youth player development across the country. The Academy values individual development of elite players over winning trophies and titles. The Academy sets the standard for elite environments for youth soccer clubs nationwide and is a part of U.S. Soccer's global leadership position in youth soccer that will impact thousands of players.

At the same time our club, Elite Girls Academy was offered a spot with ECNL, Elite Clubs National League. Below is a description of ECNL from their website.

The ECNL was founded in 2009 by forward-thinking Directors of Coaching across the country who saw a need for change in and special commitment to improving the daily environment for American elite female youth soccer players.  These Directors came together and collaborated to build what would become the top female youth development platform in the world.  The grass roots leadership and cooperation was unprecedented in American youth soccer, and the ECNL continues to be the most progressive and innovative development platform in the country.

2009-2010: Inaugural ECNL SeasonThe inaugural ECNL season, August 2009 to July 2010, included 40 of the top girls soccer clubs throughout the country, with more than 2,000 players participating in ECNL competition in the U15, U16, and U17 age groups. Teams competed in one of two competitive flights (the “A Flight” or the “B Flight”) for the ECNL National Championship, the ECNL Club National Championship, and promotion and relegation between the flights. Each team played nine regular season games within their division for placement going into the ECNL National Championship. Games were played at five different ECNL National Showcase Events held throughout the country, and all participating teams came together for the first annual ECNL National Championship in Seattle, WA in July 2010.

2017-2018In the ninth season, 2017-18, the ECNL consisted of 80 member clubs, with limited conference re-alignment. The competition structure remained the same for the ECNL Playoffs with three tiers: Champions League, North American Cup and Showcase Cup, with the U14 division expanding in the Champions League format to 32 teams in the post season. Both the North American Cup and Showcase Cup stayed the same with knockout style brackets, with 16 teams competing in each for a chance to be crowned champion in Seattle, WA. The winners of each Champions League quarterfinal game advanced to the ECNL Final Four, held in Richmond, VA.

In a side by side comparison of the two organizations there are many similarities. Basically, DA started with boys and expanded to girls 2 years ago where ECNL started with girls and expanded to boys 2 years ago. Both offer high level training, games and college exposure. My experience is with the girls side. Our club landed in ECNL mostly because of our market. Nebraska is a small market and even though most people around here think Omaha is a big city, we know it is not. Numbers matter because with the DA, kids are limited to playing for their club all year long. No guest playing, no high school soccer, nothing but the DA. Around these parts, (add in a winky smilie face here) we take pride in our high school and defending our colors. EGA's club director knew it would be a hard pill to swallow for most people if he were to come out and tell the parents, "your kids will not be able to play HS school soccer with their friends anymore." I'm glad he made that decision. However a year later another local soccer club was offered a spot with the DA and they took it. It has changed the landscape of school sports this spring and ignited drama on social media!

As the high school season started the local newpapers (Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star) wrote about this debate. Click HERE to read the LJS (Reagan has a small mention in the article). This isn't just a Nebraska issue, it affects girls all over the nation. I know good people on both sides of this high school soccer argument, for us it isn't just about playing at the highest level possible. Chris and I want to raise our children to be well rounded, good people who love the Lord (ok, so God doesn't really have anything to do with soccer) not just people who can perform their sport, activity or academic skill better than anyone else. Club sports typically have coaches who are excellent trainers, game coaches and are driven to take the athlete to the next level. High school coaches may or may not be great coaches but the high school activity world isn't just about what you do at practice 2-3 days a week. The way you perform in the classroom and how you treat your peers/teachers in the hallways or classroom impact what happens in extra curricular activities. You have to be academically eligible to play. You may get bench for hazing, drinking or bad sportsmanship. Unfortunately, in the club (pay to play) world that's not the case. Reagan gets to play with a group of 20 Division I college athletes most of the year but HS season allows her to play with a group of girls who may or may not play in college, they just love soccer and love their school

We are excited to watch our girl on the pitch in any atmosphere. This year she is a captain and will learn a lot about leadership, compromise and friendship. To our soccer loving daughter, we remind you this is a game, have fun girl! We are proud of you and love you dearly!

Singer . Dancer . Thinker

My baby girl keeps showing me that she isn't so little anymore. She has her own interests and has found her voice (both singing and speaking up). This weekend we had the pleasure of watching Liv on the show choir competition stage at 7:45 am in North Omaha then on the DI stage (Destination Imagination) in Blair at 11am and finally Sunday afternoon she wrapped up her weekend of performances with the Sing Omaha choirs. Cold weather, strong winds and way too much snow couldn't keep us home.

ENCORE final competition

DI team

 Chris and I are new to the DI scene. These girls started a food pantry at their middle school and then wrote a play to help explain the need and how it works through the eyes of a dog, rather than a young pre-teen. DI is new to our middle school but after a very successful year it sounds like it will be opened up to the whole student body not just the HAL kids. Next month we will be in Kearney at the DI state competition. Emma can't wait to go watch her baby sis!

Liv's support group at Sing Omaha

 Nana and Papa are a constant at any concert, competition, game, dance or anything else the girls could possibly join. We love having Aunt Holly when ever possible.  Liv also has an incredible gal who loves on her, teaches her, listens to her and prays for her. Cami is Olivia's youth group leader. She gives her time weekly but also tries to attend all her girls' activities a couple times a year. Thank you for loving on my girl and sharing Jesus with her. It takes a village.

ICON spring concert

Today...I am tired.

Thank you Lord for giving my girls talents and dreams.

I will rest tomorrow. 

The scriptures give us HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled. Romans 15:4

Back to TWO Teenagers

For just two short months our family had three teenagers and now we are back to just two. My first baby turned 20, it doesn't seem possible! Em came home for the weekend and enjoyed a concert, friend time, family time and sleeping in her own bed. For some odd reason the scrapbooking, takes too many pictures mom didn't take any pictures, I guess I just enjoyed the moments rather than "capturing" the moments. We celebrated with 20 family members at our house for lunch. It's such a blessing to have a family who lifts others up and loves to celebrate...with food. :)

It's not surprising that Em has this little sweetie in her one and only birthday picture. Emma is a kid magnet! I have no doubt her future will be filled with loving on and caring for children.

This little one on Emma's lap is just too much to take. I could listen to her talk for hours. She's as cute as can be but she has a lot of Reagan in her...I know just what her mama goes through. :) On the bright side, she's going to be one terrific kid.

Emma and her two best long time friends, Kaylee and Ally enjoying a night with 

Panic! at the Disco.

Last semester Emma was elected to her sorority's executive board. In order to get in some training, planning and bonding, this group spent a weekend in Chicago...the girls of Gamma Phi Beta. Em loves her sorority and what they stand for.
"Since the rock is the firmest and most enduring substance, able to withstand the ravages of time, and offering the strongest protection, it seemed fitting that Gamma Phi Beta should be thus founded."

Happy Birthday sweet girl! I will never stop loving you and will always be praying for you.

May he give you the desire of your
heart and make all your plans succeed.
Psalm 20:4

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2018

Every year Chris is on a mission to cut our expenditures. One of the expenses he strongly dislikes is the Christmas Card, postage and letter printing costs. We send over 100 cards yearly, many of those people don't send cards back. I love the whole process...my darling hubby sees it as unnecessary. Our compromise in 2018 was a postcard (seen above) which was cheap to print and cheaper postage. The Christmas letter will first be seen HERE at the end of this post.

Christmas Eve at Christ Community Church

Family Christmas

Not everyone has the blessing of family and some don't appreciate the blessing of family. ;)

Chris' sisters, their husbands, parents and our family of 5 have always made it a priority to get together. My side of the family does not get together for holidays, or much of anything really. I have friends who have parents fighting over who gets which days. We don't deal with that chaos, fortunately and unfortunately.

Christmas PJs

Christmas PJs almost didn't happen this year...thank you Old Navy for the last minute $5 jammie pants. Yes, Olivia has the same pants but opted for last years pants instead.

Click HERE to read our Raabe Family 2018 Christmas Letter