Every three months or so we have a “Visitor’s Sunday” in Maastricht. The members are encouraged to invite their friends, colleagues and acquaintances to share our time as a family. We have a meal afterwards and spend time getting to know one another. But this Sunday morning family time is only a part of who we are.
In general (“modern” times), worship ‘services’, or times of corporate worship have been used as avenues of evangelism. But that is not why we come together. That time on the first day of the week (for us that is in the morning, for others perhaps another time) is a time for us as children of the King to worship Him and encourage each other in doing that daily. It is a time to remember what He has done for us and to devote ourselves anew to being children of the King. It is “our” time.
Some visitors will understand this. For others it might seem strange. God tells us through the apostle Paul that if we are busy building each other up and growing in the word that visitors will be convicted and convinced (see 1 Cor. 14:22-25). So I want us to focus on what we need to grow, to rededicate ourselves, to build each other up in the Lord and to fully worship the One who gives us life.
I must admit that this has not always been my way of thinking. And visitors are still very welcome. But we are focusing on reaching our “visitors” in family and relational situations and on being a family outside of our corporate worship times. In this way our worship is truly for the One who deserves all worship. I pray that the few visitors we have on that day see and understand that we so adore God that we can’t help but worship him.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Camping out
- Ardennen Bijbelkamp -The Ardennen Bible Camp was started over 50 years ago by brothers and sisters in both the Dutch- and French-speaking churches because they saw the need to encourage one another in faith and realized that doing this in such a beautiful place only helps. The place we meet now is not that much different from the beginning (although we do have running water, plumbing, electricity and buildings!) Still, it is the people who continue to give of their lives in faith that make this place so special.
- working on the future -
- Enjoying camp! -Friday, January 20, 2006
Basketball and hockey
Whenever we are back in the States we have a bit of difficulty when trying to make conversation. Not only do we adapt English syntax (what very easy is to do), but when trying to fit in with typical sports discussions we are always caught out.
Sean’s life revolves around ‘football’, but in those summers in the States this means a game with an elliptical ball and thousands of rules played for tv advertisers. The Netherlands is world champion stuff, both women and men, in hockey. Didn’t know that women played hockey? They have for quite a while. Of course hockey here is all about a wooden ball that you hit around a fake grass field. The top teams in the world are India, Pakistan, Germany, Australia and the Netherlands.
And then there is basketball. The only teams that really play this game are the Netherlands and Belgium, and Belgium isn’t that good. It is a team sport and the only team sport I know that is played co-ed. The object of the game is to get a ball into a basket, literally. The designers of the game have done everything they can to reduce any individual efforts and increase the ‘team’ element in the game.So there is no dribbling and lots of passing. The basket is on a pole a little more than 10 feet above the ground, without a backboard. This is “Korfbal”, literally translated: basketball. (To be fair, Belgians and Dutchmen are quite good in Europe when it comes to NBA style basketball)
- "korfbal" -
Recently a renowned Dutch tv journalist wrote a book called: “Americans aren’t crazy” where he explains the differences between the Dutch and the Americans. One of the differences he notes is that in the US no sport can end in a tie. There MUST be a winner. As I was reading I silently disagreed with him. Then I turned on the tv and heard on CNN that the NHL had changed their rules this season. Now no one has to wonder who really won the game – a shootout will take care of any ties.
You just can’t win.
Sean’s life revolves around ‘football’, but in those summers in the States this means a game with an elliptical ball and thousands of rules played for tv advertisers. The Netherlands is world champion stuff, both women and men, in hockey. Didn’t know that women played hockey? They have for quite a while. Of course hockey here is all about a wooden ball that you hit around a fake grass field. The top teams in the world are India, Pakistan, Germany, Australia and the Netherlands.
And then there is basketball. The only teams that really play this game are the Netherlands and Belgium, and Belgium isn’t that good. It is a team sport and the only team sport I know that is played co-ed. The object of the game is to get a ball into a basket, literally. The designers of the game have done everything they can to reduce any individual efforts and increase the ‘team’ element in the game.So there is no dribbling and lots of passing. The basket is on a pole a little more than 10 feet above the ground, without a backboard. This is “Korfbal”, literally translated: basketball. (To be fair, Belgians and Dutchmen are quite good in Europe when it comes to NBA style basketball)
- "korfbal" -You just can’t win.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Finally 'ours'
Yesterday we signed the contract that means that we get to keep Snuffles (our dog) for sure. The Humane Society had placed her with us for a tryout period and now they have approved of us as her new family. The contract we signed is interesting and got me thinking. You see, it was a contract to borrow her.
Snuffles (we had to let them know about the name change we had already given her) remains the property of the Humane Society, while we have all the pleasures and ‘pains’ (financial responsibility). This is actually a construction to protect the animal. It seems that in this construction it is much easier to prosecute people who abuse animals. In this way, the abusers would be abusing someone elses ‘property’ and the ‘property’ (the dog) could be removed from the abusive situation.
The reality is that most people provide good homes. What this brought home to me was the temporary nature of things and the responsibilities that we have in life. Not to sound too crude, but we have also ‘borrowed’ our children from God. He has placed them in our hands to be cared for, trained up and, most of all, loved as he would do. They are not property. They are not ‘ours’. And while we certainly will experience the ‘pains’, we will also enjoy the pleasures of their smiles, laughter and learning as they grow up before our eyes.
Snuffles (we had to let them know about the name change we had already given her) remains the property of the Humane Society, while we have all the pleasures and ‘pains’ (financial responsibility). This is actually a construction to protect the animal. It seems that in this construction it is much easier to prosecute people who abuse animals. In this way, the abusers would be abusing someone elses ‘property’ and the ‘property’ (the dog) could be removed from the abusive situation.
The reality is that most people provide good homes. What this brought home to me was the temporary nature of things and the responsibilities that we have in life. Not to sound too crude, but we have also ‘borrowed’ our children from God. He has placed them in our hands to be cared for, trained up and, most of all, loved as he would do. They are not property. They are not ‘ours’. And while we certainly will experience the ‘pains’, we will also enjoy the pleasures of their smiles, laughter and learning as they grow up before our eyes.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Incredible!
This past weekend we had a youth activity in Antwerp. We plan several weekends throughout the year, but this one was just a sleepover with a film. The evening is an opportunity for church members and visitors to get together for some fun fellowship, hot dogs, guitar-playing and good conversation.
Around 11:00 p.m. most of the adults are gone and we pull out the “beamer” (the projector) and set it up to watch a movie. The young people get a good movie as well as some good time to see each other (for some this is the only time to see these friends). after a good nights sleep everyone has a good breakfast together before heading home.
This last Friday evening we watched “The Incredibles”. Now I love almost anything Pixar makes anyway, but I really like “The Incredibles”. What was fun this time was how we compared it to some points in our lives as we try to follow God.
What do you see in the following things? Or maybe you have some other parts that get you thinking.
- Dash knows he’s something special, but is constantly told not to show it. When his Mom says that everyone is special he responds (under his breath), “Which is another way of saying no one is special.”
- Violet just wants to be “normal” (whatever that is). She is special, but doesn’t want it to be so obvious.
- Helen and Bob struggle with how to use their specialness in everyday life. Bob is caught in a repetitive, daily routine where he is supposed to be helping people but is actually meant to do nothing.
- Helen tells her children that their identity, who they are, is the most important thing and that, when the time comes, they will be able to do what they need to because “it’s in your blood.” (exchange “the” for “your”).
- Lucius (Frozone) is tired of pretending and hiding and is willing to just give up being special.
- Syndrome (the bad guy) says yo can never trust your heroes. He wants to make it so that everyone is special, and therefore no one is special.
Around 11:00 p.m. most of the adults are gone and we pull out the “beamer” (the projector) and set it up to watch a movie. The young people get a good movie as well as some good time to see each other (for some this is the only time to see these friends). after a good nights sleep everyone has a good breakfast together before heading home.
This last Friday evening we watched “The Incredibles”. Now I love almost anything Pixar makes anyway, but I really like “The Incredibles”. What was fun this time was how we compared it to some points in our lives as we try to follow God.
What do you see in the following things? Or maybe you have some other parts that get you thinking.
- Dash knows he’s something special, but is constantly told not to show it. When his Mom says that everyone is special he responds (under his breath), “Which is another way of saying no one is special.”
- Violet just wants to be “normal” (whatever that is). She is special, but doesn’t want it to be so obvious.
- Helen and Bob struggle with how to use their specialness in everyday life. Bob is caught in a repetitive, daily routine where he is supposed to be helping people but is actually meant to do nothing.
- Helen tells her children that their identity, who they are, is the most important thing and that, when the time comes, they will be able to do what they need to because “it’s in your blood.” (exchange “the” for “your”).
- Lucius (Frozone) is tired of pretending and hiding and is willing to just give up being special.
- Syndrome (the bad guy) says yo can never trust your heroes. He wants to make it so that everyone is special, and therefore no one is special.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Taste is all in your mouth
During the Christmas vacation we have tried to spend some good time together as a family. Sometimes this is easier said than done. The parents look forward to a great “family” time, but the guys are looking forward to being able to spend more time with their friends without having to worry about school. So in between the times that the guys are off spending the night at their friends’ houses, we find some time to play some board games (no, I spelled that correctly!), watch a movie or two and eat some special dinners together.
Yesterday was one of those special times. Shirley and I planned on taking the guys out for breakfast. It is fun to take the boys out because they don’t get to go to a restaurant that often (what am I talking about – we don’t go to a restaurant that often either!). So they always seem to enjoy this “specialness”. The plan was to go to the Ikea. Yep, the Ikea. You see, even if this store is not to everyone’s taste, they have breakfast for 1 Euro. Stephan understood that part, and that it was a “family” time, but he wasn’t so sure about the rest. If you go to breakfast at Ikea that means walking around looking at furniture afterwards. But everything turned out really great.
Walking around the store became a lively discussion of style. Stephan has a drawing of his dream house and was more than willing to talk about what kinds of furniture would be worthy of this house. Sean talked about his style, and we all enjoyed the time together. It was so clear that there were four different people here.
I remember when the boys were young, when we were walking amongst crowds and they were a bit rambunctious, we would say “Watch out for the people.” Later, when we were talking about a young man who lived with us for a while (Reuben Rog for those of you who know him) and called him a “person” the boys responded with, “He’s not a person, he’s a boy.” He was one of them. “People” were those adults, those big people you had to not bother.
This weekend it was clear to us how our “boys” were “people”. Of course their tastes were not always the same as ours (perhaps we should be thankful?). And it was so good getting to know these guys, sharing some real time together – and that in a furniture store. Go figure.
Yesterday was one of those special times. Shirley and I planned on taking the guys out for breakfast. It is fun to take the boys out because they don’t get to go to a restaurant that often (what am I talking about – we don’t go to a restaurant that often either!). So they always seem to enjoy this “specialness”. The plan was to go to the Ikea. Yep, the Ikea. You see, even if this store is not to everyone’s taste, they have breakfast for 1 Euro. Stephan understood that part, and that it was a “family” time, but he wasn’t so sure about the rest. If you go to breakfast at Ikea that means walking around looking at furniture afterwards. But everything turned out really great.
Walking around the store became a lively discussion of style. Stephan has a drawing of his dream house and was more than willing to talk about what kinds of furniture would be worthy of this house. Sean talked about his style, and we all enjoyed the time together. It was so clear that there were four different people here.
I remember when the boys were young, when we were walking amongst crowds and they were a bit rambunctious, we would say “Watch out for the people.” Later, when we were talking about a young man who lived with us for a while (Reuben Rog for those of you who know him) and called him a “person” the boys responded with, “He’s not a person, he’s a boy.” He was one of them. “People” were those adults, those big people you had to not bother.
This weekend it was clear to us how our “boys” were “people”. Of course their tastes were not always the same as ours (perhaps we should be thankful?). And it was so good getting to know these guys, sharing some real time together – and that in a furniture store. Go figure.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
December Newsletter
LIGHT in the Lowlands
Reaching out to the people of Belgium and the Netherlands
December 2005
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
- winter in our neighbor's yard -
Looking back on 2005 it is interesting to see all of the things we did, experienced, were shown and learned.
YOUTH
Scott works together with several other brothers and sisters to make sure that the youth in the church are growing in faith and love. In 2005 there were 10 different youth weekends, sleepovers or activity days in the Netherlands and Belgium. In addition he and Shirley worked with two weeks of summer camp and a weekend of Fall camp. And we have our own little youth group at the church in Maastricht. But the interesting parts were what happened at these activities:
- Scott doing a flying fall onto his back at a skating rink in Antwerp (everyone said it was “gracious”)
- Several friends of our young people who came for the first time to a church youth weekend. Most are already planning to attend again.
- putting our “ebenezer” in the creek at Teen camp and talking about God’s marks in our lives
- good questions about how to pray, during our Wednesday evenings
- struggling with how to encourage the young people to find and deepen their relationship with Jesus
- struggling with the questions “Why are we living?” and “Why does hell exist?”
- going back into time (in a weekend) to experience the reliability of the scriptures
- keeping in touch and building relationships every chance you get (telephone, chatting, emailing and finally getting to see one another at another weekend)
Keep praying for these young people and for the adults trying to be good examples. More often than not we are learning from the young people about what is really important. Pray also for the various friends who attended a youth activity in 2005.
CHURCH FAMILY
This year we had plenty of real opportunities to be a family. Most people might not want to have difficult times in their life, but God can use these moments to such wonderful effect! We are thankful for His strength throughout the year in our church family in Maastricht.
- We have especially seen this during Ruud’s revalidation from his car accident and in how the members want to help Geesie with her family members (who are dying of cancer and do not know God).
- It was especially exciting to see how each of the members wanted to do all they could during the concert in December to make sure that everyone could really hear the good news. This included praying for those who attended, talking to visitors, helping clean up, setting things up – anything that needed to be done – everyone understood that God could use even the smallest effort.
Please continue to pray for our regular visitors Yvonne and Roger. Yvonne has seen more and more how truly we love her and how that love comes from the love we learned from God.
STUDIES
Scott has been involved in various types of Bible studies – the normal Wednesday evening studies and weekly studies with members, studies with the international students, studies using the Bible to teach English (and more), lessons for the youth weekends and camp, curriculae for the camp weeks, and Sunday lessons. But again, these are dry facts. Here are some things that jump out from the year:
- a longer than usual discussion with Mieke at the end of an English lesson about who Jesus is. “I would like to believe like you do.”
- Gerard struggling with the idea of who he belongs to. He is interested in American Indians and is very tolerant of different ideas, but he wants to belong and is intrigued with the idea that God wants him.
- Watching the sunset with my neighbor during a long conversation about what he thinks about God.
- Shadira sharing how God is using her to help talk to her friends about her relationship with God. She wants to know more about the Bible and who God is.
- Camby (Shadira’s 12-year-old daughter) sitting listening intently during the sermon, reading in her own Bible and following the thoughts.
- Willemien using what we have learned from God in our weekly readings when she talks to her sister-in-law or when talking to local people when she lets her dog out for a walk.
- Wednesday evening Bible study at Shadira's house -
Reading the Bible can be a type of school work or it can be your food, your talking time with your best friend. That is what we are learning as a family and it is so good to see in the people who realize that God is real! Please continue to pray for all of those studying, reading and listening in various ways to God speaking.
LISTEN UP!
Scott’s singing group, Listen Up! is also an integral part of his work. This group is used by various churches to present the gospel to a public that often will not first listen to a sermon, but will listen to a song. In 2005 Listen Up! sang 15 times in 4 different countries. What we pray for is strength for the churches where we sing to continue touching the lives of those who were touched by the message in the songs heard.
Some of the comments and experiences at these concerts:
- An atheist friend of a doctor coming to the concert because of his colleague ( a christian) who was then openly able to discuss God and the message presented in the concert (‘Seeking? ...’).
- “This is the first time that I have heard the Christmas story put together with the Easter story. Yes, of course they belong together, but I had never really thought of it so.” After our ‘CHRISTmas Always’ concert in Antwerp.
- Singing for a benefit concert where the other ‘acts’ were secular and seeing the struggle in some of the audience as we presented our message of love and challenge.
PRAYER WARRIORS
- Pray for our young people who are struggling to grow in faith: Melanie, Cynthia, Joël, Shareya, Isha, Kyana, Semiye, Stephan, Sean, Camby and Shady
- Pray for our continuing studies: Mieke, Gerard, Cor and Titia, Angelique, Roger and Yvonne
- Pray for our outreach to the visitors to our concert in December
- Pray that we will be faithful in what we do as God’s servants in 2006
On the Family Side . . .
I am sure that December is just as busy for many of you as it is for us. In addition to the concerts that Listen Up! prepares and presents, one of which is in Maastricht, we of course also enjoy the various family times. December 5 is “Sinter Klaas” in Belgium and the Netherlands (actually it is the 5th or the 6th, depending on which country), when Saint Nicholas brings gifts to all good children (or Black Pete brings coal to the bad children). For us this means gifts for the boys and some nice time together as a family. This year Scott and the boys went to Harry Potter together.
Christmas is of course even more family time. Here there are two days of Christmas (no not 12!). Since the first day of Christmas fell on Sunday this year, we decided to have our church get together on the second day of Christmas, so that there was plenty of family time and “family” time. We had Willemien over to our house on Sunday after worshipping together with the church family. It was great to share that time with her – she is our unofficial grandma (and she is sister too – how great is that!). We also called Scott’s mom and spent some good time talking with her as well (while she baked for the morning).
The second day of Christmas we got together with church family at Ruud and Karla’s house for games, gifts and gab. The gifts were just fun things and we had some white elephants too (for those of you who don’t know what that is – drop me a note and I will explain). It was a great time to be together.
- Yvonne and Shirley on the 2nd day of Christmas together with family -
We will also be together when the year ends, when old goes into new. Usually that means plenty of fireworks here – although I have seen in the news that many of you probably shouldn’t use those (fires in TX and OK).
The boys have been thoroughly enjoying the vacation time not thinking about school at all. Sean just today remembered that he had to get started reading a book for after the vacation. Stephan has been enjoying visiting his friends, spending the night and such. School will come soon enough.
Of course our biggest family news this month is the additon of Snuffles to our family. Snuffles is a 5-year-old black Maltese mix dog who snuffles at everything (she doesn’t see too well). We got her fromthe Humane Society and have enjoyed her from the first minute she entered the house. And she seems to have completely accepted us as well. It has been great.
For those with internet you can see pictures of our goings on at our blog: ravenraab.blogspot.com. Please continue to email, comment, call, write – communicate. Thank you so much for all of the wonderful year-end newsletters. It is good to catch up on what has been going on with you as well (and to see how big the kids are getting and how grey you are getting!)
Enjoy each and every moment of each day as you walk with our wonderful and mighty God.
In Him, Scott, Shirley, Stephan and Sean Raab
Reaching out to the people of Belgium and the Netherlands
December 2005
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
- winter in our neighbor's yard -YOUTH
Scott works together with several other brothers and sisters to make sure that the youth in the church are growing in faith and love. In 2005 there were 10 different youth weekends, sleepovers or activity days in the Netherlands and Belgium. In addition he and Shirley worked with two weeks of summer camp and a weekend of Fall camp. And we have our own little youth group at the church in Maastricht. But the interesting parts were what happened at these activities:
- Scott doing a flying fall onto his back at a skating rink in Antwerp (everyone said it was “gracious”)
- Several friends of our young people who came for the first time to a church youth weekend. Most are already planning to attend again.
- putting our “ebenezer” in the creek at Teen camp and talking about God’s marks in our lives
- good questions about how to pray, during our Wednesday evenings
- struggling with how to encourage the young people to find and deepen their relationship with Jesus
- struggling with the questions “Why are we living?” and “Why does hell exist?”
- going back into time (in a weekend) to experience the reliability of the scriptures
- keeping in touch and building relationships every chance you get (telephone, chatting, emailing and finally getting to see one another at another weekend)
Keep praying for these young people and for the adults trying to be good examples. More often than not we are learning from the young people about what is really important. Pray also for the various friends who attended a youth activity in 2005.
CHURCH FAMILY
This year we had plenty of real opportunities to be a family. Most people might not want to have difficult times in their life, but God can use these moments to such wonderful effect! We are thankful for His strength throughout the year in our church family in Maastricht.
- We have especially seen this during Ruud’s revalidation from his car accident and in how the members want to help Geesie with her family members (who are dying of cancer and do not know God).
- It was especially exciting to see how each of the members wanted to do all they could during the concert in December to make sure that everyone could really hear the good news. This included praying for those who attended, talking to visitors, helping clean up, setting things up – anything that needed to be done – everyone understood that God could use even the smallest effort.
Please continue to pray for our regular visitors Yvonne and Roger. Yvonne has seen more and more how truly we love her and how that love comes from the love we learned from God.
STUDIES
Scott has been involved in various types of Bible studies – the normal Wednesday evening studies and weekly studies with members, studies with the international students, studies using the Bible to teach English (and more), lessons for the youth weekends and camp, curriculae for the camp weeks, and Sunday lessons. But again, these are dry facts. Here are some things that jump out from the year:
- a longer than usual discussion with Mieke at the end of an English lesson about who Jesus is. “I would like to believe like you do.”
- Gerard struggling with the idea of who he belongs to. He is interested in American Indians and is very tolerant of different ideas, but he wants to belong and is intrigued with the idea that God wants him.
- Watching the sunset with my neighbor during a long conversation about what he thinks about God.
- Shadira sharing how God is using her to help talk to her friends about her relationship with God. She wants to know more about the Bible and who God is.
- Camby (Shadira’s 12-year-old daughter) sitting listening intently during the sermon, reading in her own Bible and following the thoughts.
- Willemien using what we have learned from God in our weekly readings when she talks to her sister-in-law or when talking to local people when she lets her dog out for a walk.
- Wednesday evening Bible study at Shadira's house -LISTEN UP!
Scott’s singing group, Listen Up! is also an integral part of his work. This group is used by various churches to present the gospel to a public that often will not first listen to a sermon, but will listen to a song. In 2005 Listen Up! sang 15 times in 4 different countries. What we pray for is strength for the churches where we sing to continue touching the lives of those who were touched by the message in the songs heard.
Some of the comments and experiences at these concerts:
- An atheist friend of a doctor coming to the concert because of his colleague ( a christian) who was then openly able to discuss God and the message presented in the concert (‘Seeking? ...’).
- “This is the first time that I have heard the Christmas story put together with the Easter story. Yes, of course they belong together, but I had never really thought of it so.” After our ‘CHRISTmas Always’ concert in Antwerp.
- Singing for a benefit concert where the other ‘acts’ were secular and seeing the struggle in some of the audience as we presented our message of love and challenge.
PRAYER WARRIORS
- Pray for our young people who are struggling to grow in faith: Melanie, Cynthia, Joël, Shareya, Isha, Kyana, Semiye, Stephan, Sean, Camby and Shady
- Pray for our continuing studies: Mieke, Gerard, Cor and Titia, Angelique, Roger and Yvonne
- Pray for our outreach to the visitors to our concert in December
- Pray that we will be faithful in what we do as God’s servants in 2006
On the Family Side . . .
I am sure that December is just as busy for many of you as it is for us. In addition to the concerts that Listen Up! prepares and presents, one of which is in Maastricht, we of course also enjoy the various family times. December 5 is “Sinter Klaas” in Belgium and the Netherlands (actually it is the 5th or the 6th, depending on which country), when Saint Nicholas brings gifts to all good children (or Black Pete brings coal to the bad children). For us this means gifts for the boys and some nice time together as a family. This year Scott and the boys went to Harry Potter together.
Christmas is of course even more family time. Here there are two days of Christmas (no not 12!). Since the first day of Christmas fell on Sunday this year, we decided to have our church get together on the second day of Christmas, so that there was plenty of family time and “family” time. We had Willemien over to our house on Sunday after worshipping together with the church family. It was great to share that time with her – she is our unofficial grandma (and she is sister too – how great is that!). We also called Scott’s mom and spent some good time talking with her as well (while she baked for the morning).
The second day of Christmas we got together with church family at Ruud and Karla’s house for games, gifts and gab. The gifts were just fun things and we had some white elephants too (for those of you who don’t know what that is – drop me a note and I will explain). It was a great time to be together.
- Yvonne and Shirley on the 2nd day of Christmas together with family -The boys have been thoroughly enjoying the vacation time not thinking about school at all. Sean just today remembered that he had to get started reading a book for after the vacation. Stephan has been enjoying visiting his friends, spending the night and such. School will come soon enough.
Of course our biggest family news this month is the additon of Snuffles to our family. Snuffles is a 5-year-old black Maltese mix dog who snuffles at everything (she doesn’t see too well). We got her fromthe Humane Society and have enjoyed her from the first minute she entered the house. And she seems to have completely accepted us as well. It has been great.
For those with internet you can see pictures of our goings on at our blog: ravenraab.blogspot.com. Please continue to email, comment, call, write – communicate. Thank you so much for all of the wonderful year-end newsletters. It is good to catch up on what has been going on with you as well (and to see how big the kids are getting and how grey you are getting!)
Enjoy each and every moment of each day as you walk with our wonderful and mighty God.
In Him, Scott, Shirley, Stephan and Sean Raab
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