I didn't go to my high school reunion and everything I did do.

This weekend held celebration of my 10 year reunion. I will pause while all my friends who don't know my age gasp at how young I am............Pause...........................
Now that that is done I can tell you I didn't go for at least 12 reasons, most of which I don't really want to blog about. I had several old friends call and ask where I was however I could not get over the idea of the reunion being held at Silver Reef Casino. The other night was graduates only at a bar in Lynden. I am not opposed to going out and having a drink however I would never go to a bar alone without my husband....so there that's one reason. Number 2 I wasn't sure that hanging out in these places would represent what I stand for very well and I would be in mixed company so I decided that also made it a no. A number 3 reason was my senior year I didn't really gel with my class much which means most of my friends were from LC. Number 4 I was very busy running a food booth for Ebenezer so I really had no time to get dressed up and go anywhere. So there are 4 of my 12 reasons. There is always the 20 year and if it seems like the right thing to do then I will do it.

What I have been doing is food, catering that is. I have been working so much its crazy. Last week we had several Drs meals, a wedding,and a philanthropists conference for Western. I felt like food was coming out of my ears but it was actually very satisfying at the end of the day. At the close of the philanthropist event, over the sounds of philanthropizing, whale music and storytelling I was able to take a step back and realize that God was using me in that place, He was using all of my passions and gifts at the same time that evening... it was wonderful! The very next day I started preparing for the madness of food booth. The food never stops but its good.

Next week the Jagers are going on vacation and although we are still up in the air about the location I know that it will be full of relaxation. I requested we go somewhere that requires not much more than bathing suits, sunscreen, and sand buckets...but only time will tell. I can't wait to spend a whole week with no cell phone reception (this is the only time cooperate cell phone man ignores his phone). Btu mostly I am excited to spend some us 4 Jager time with my favorite little people.

The Picture In My Mind...

Forgive the picture scanning once again or lack there of. And disregard whatever is happening in the right hand side of the picture. Not much to say about that.

I woke up with this picture in my mind this morning. And the picture represents both things that I hold dear today. My precious baby boy...now not so baby as he officially turned 7 today. And my amazing husband who became a Father 7 years ago on this day. Both events require celebration.

Elliot turning 7 is surreal. I can very vividly remember the day he was born. I remember looking into his tiny face in complete awe of what God used my body to create. Elliot is the most loving, fun, smart, brilliant in more than one way and a complete lover of Gods world and his little life. He teaches me daily of about what is important. He told me the other day his heart was to big for his body...wonder where he gets this from. We have had the nicest conversations lately and not all of them have been life changing but they have all been tucked in my heart because it is so nice to hear him talk about what he feels and thinks and enjoys and detests. Its just nice to conversate because we can because he is 7 and 7 is a pretty big deal. I get the complete joy of hearing him pray before bed every night, much of what he prays about is the same from night to night but he always has a key point, sometimes it is a thanks God for loving me or please be with Grandma because Grandpas gone, or thanks for making me so good at legos (classic at least he is thankful), or please forgive us for damaging your world (a new favorite), but the other day he chose to pray for me as I was laying next to him on his bed. He thanked God for me and asked Him to be with me as I cooked for for lots and lots of people:)

What a blessing you are to me my monkey....Your mom loves you more than you know. And7 years ago I had no idea what a blessing you would be to me in so many ways.

The second part of the picture in my mind this morning was my Husband. I can still remember the look on his face this very first time he held Elliot in his arms. It was as if the whole world had stopped and every fear he had of being a dad just melted into a puddle on the floor. And this is the moment that I knew for the rest of forever there would never be anything that would get in between our little family and this man. My children have a dad that loves more than they ever could imagine and it is an amazing and beautiful thing to be able to witness!!

Babe you are an amazing Dad are kids are blessed to have you. And I am blessed to have as a partner in the crazy parenting universe.

Sometimes you just have to trust...

I am going to write about something that is personal. Something that you can not understand unless you have been through it yourself. And the only reason I must write about it is to remember how God is pulling me through. I pray so desperately that at some point I will be able to praise Him for it. Lately I have been reminding myself that God knew the day we would be born and he knows the day he will take us home and nothing can change that because he is in ultimate control.

I have been watching someone i love deal with an eating disorder. Most people understand this in a very stereotypical way. They automatically assume it is because of vanity or an unrealistic view of their body, however this is really not true in most eating disorder cases. It is control and entitlement that roots itself in someones soul and literally strangles it until there is nothing to hold onto. From the outside looking in it is excruciating to watch especially if you love the person. To watch someone that you root your identity with disappear and turn into something that you can't even begin to recognize is truly one of the most painful things I have ever experienced. To worry day in and day out that this may be the day you have to say good-bye is unsettling. To watch them have major organs removed because they are being eaten alive is unfathomable. To listen to a conversation about nutrition in order for the said person to even be able to heal from surgery is horrible when you know they won't do it. To watch people judge, hear people criticize and listen to people make the situation into something that makes them more comfortable is maddening. To see others look at her with pity and sorrow makes me angry because I want to see hope in their eyes. To not have any way to make it better or fix it and be forced to watch the train wreck is at sometimes abusive. To have all this in the back of my head but most of time at the forefront is exhausting.

So this time, in this circumstance, I just have to trust because it is the only thing that brings me even the tiniest bit of peace. Because everything else is just constant chaos. My God is in control and He loves this person more than I do and He loves me too.

And to this person....you are so much more than just a person. I hope someday you will be with me looking back on this Hell and praising God for pulling us through. I love you!

Our Very Last Preschool Field Trip.

It didn't rain today so we ended up being able to go on the annual Hovander Park Field Trip. I was so happy for Grace because I believe devastation would have hit if we would have had to cancel.

They played games, had a picnic, fed the animals, searched for frogs, payed on the playground and climbed up into the famous Hovander Tower.

It was fun , it was lovely, and it was a bit emotional as we will be waving goodbye to the preschool chapter of our lives. It is wonderful though my kids are healthy and growing and that is a true blessing. I am so thankful I could experience this one last field trip with Grace. She is such a friendly little thing, she is friends with everyone and has nicknames for everyone and it is quite adorable.

Impromptu Seattle Trip.

After Church yesterday we were able to take a unexpected trip to Seattle with the family today. Nicole is here visiting with Nick and his parents. We went to the market and enjoyed a nice dinner at Spaghetti Factory.

The kids love their Bubba (their name for nicole) so it was nice to be able to spend the day with her.

I can report that we had wonderful behavior which provided for a very fun day for everyone.

Thanks for the Great Day Everyone It Was A Memory Maker!

Cutest Red Robin You Ever Did See.

Grace had her first dress rehearsal for her recital on Saturday. It was so cute to see a bunch of red feathery sequined robins running around around the room.

Life and Such.....

Keeping my eye on the prize is my most favorite slogan these days. This can mean a number of different things. However most times it just means keeping Jesus in full view as I truck through this busy life.

It has been nuts. This will be my first summer with a full wedding schedule, food is my life. The other day I figured with work and home I had cooked for 16 hours of my day. It was glorious! I am continually amazed of how much passion God gives me for the field that I am in. Daily my opportunities for Angry Blueberry are coming in, referrals seem to be finally taking off...this is amazing to experience. I am also gaining a lot of experiences and opportunities as far as the contracting end of my business goes. This area alone makes me want to pee my pants daily. There is so much that lies ahead with this.

The kids are wrapping up another year of school. When fall rolls around we will have a second grader and a....drum roll please.....kindergarten kid. I am trying to focus on the positives of the changing times. But I can't believe we will have two school age children in our house. I am very excited to watch Grace experience school...I think she is so much more ready then Elliot was in a lot of ways. She is turning into a five year old before my eyes. Although she still has her Gracertude we are experiencing way less fitting and she seems to understand that her choices earn her consequences. I forgot the change from 4 to 5 it is quite drastic and happens so quickly.

For our anniversary I got Brian some new tires for his beloved Bronco. Many of you may remember him driving it around in high school, and yes we still have it. It has been stored in my dads shop for sometime now and has been patiently waiting for new tires. Brian has also patiently been waiting for the tires. Well i scraped together some cash and with a little covert planning with my Father in law we successfully stole the Bronco got new license plates and tires and had it delivered to our house on our anniversary. Brian was so surprised to say the least!! I think it will be here for the summer which will be fun. This was our date car in high school and although I know that it is just a truck and is not an eternal item at all it still brings a lot of happiness to our hearts and holds a lot of memories for Brian especially. It is weird to have to little munchkins in the backseat though:) I can say we weren't thinking about kids 13 years ago.

So I think this catches you up. We started painting the house this week so hopefully I will have some presentable pictures to share soon.

We will also start celebrating the kids birthdays next weekend so there will be plenty to update you on in that department. And let me just say one more time 7 and 5, oh my!!!