My kiddos are so cute

We are trying to get back to normal life around here and with that comes a lot of my favorite times of the day. On of these times is dance time in the evenings. I started doing this with the kids when we first moved into the house 3 1/2 years ago. Brian often worked very late long days in Mt. Vernon so I would have to be quite creative with my 1 and 3 yr. old to keep us all happy. This is when Jager Family Dance Time Started. It is so much fun and it gets the kids worn out for bed. Well last night was so funny because Elliot asked Grace to dance with him. they are actually pretty good:) Oh how I wish I could figure out how to get my videos turned. Sorry for the cramped necks.

On another note I am hoping to be able to post some big news about the Hope for Olive Cocoa and Oliebollen sale:)

My Grandpa.....

I didn't even know what to title this post....however I knew I should do a blogpost because I know so many of you have been faithfully praying for him. Thank you for that.
Well my Grandpa passed away this morning after being under the care of hospice for many months. I actually had told myself that I was going to be O.K. when it happened because I was so prepared and knew it was inevitable. However, this morning that news was the largest blow I have ever had to my system. You know I would like to say he was the best Grandpa ever but I am sure many of you have had a great grandpa too. So maybe I will just say Grandpa isn't a big enough word for him because he was so much more than that to me.
My grandpa was in the room with my Mom when I was born and he was at every major moment in my life from that point on. He loved me so much I could feel it without him even telling. He always interviewed my dates and boyfriends to make sure they were trustworthy. He would make sure they knew how he felt about me and how he felt about them. Its actually funny because he told Brian when he was picking me up for tolo one year not to get to close to me. So as we were dancing he was really nervous and was almost stiff in the arms. So I asked what his problem was and he informed me that my Grandpa said to mind his hands and that touching me was not advisable:)) I love that he loved me that much. He also had a strange attachment to my hair (its the same color as his mothers the only other red head in my family) and anytime I did anything to it he would be sure to tell me his distaste in what I had chosen. I would laugh and he would pretend to be upset. He was one of my biggest fans! He loved and adored my kids beyond belief, Elliot was his buddy and Grace was his sweetheart. Towards the end Grace would sit in his chair with him for hours and she would let him stroke her hair. So many memories I can't even organize them in my mind right now!
He would try to be a tough guy but he was really just a softy however he didn't want anyone to know that. He would have done anything for and he did!!
I love him so much its hurts. It was really odd to be at my grandmas yesterday. His shoes were where they always are and his watch was next to his chair. I expected him to walk down the hall at any moment. But he won't do that anymore.
I am so sad however I know where he is and I know in that place he will feel no pain and he is happy!!
The world may not change much without him in it, but my world is forever better because he was.

Hope for Olive Cocoa and Oliebollen Booth Needs.

So there are a lot of people that are interested in helping with the booth but don't want to help with prep or the running of the booth itself. That is great and fine we have other things that you can help with and other needs to be filled.

Here is a list of items that we will need to be shopping for. If you would like to purchase and/or donate something from the list leave a comment on the blogpost and I will take note and mark you down. Make sure to leave a phone number or email address so I can organize collection of the goods. As people offer to donate I will update the list so it stays current.

If you have any questions feel free to email me at Jessica@angryblueberry.com
Most importantly please remember to pray for Olive and Rusty and Lynette as well as they continue on their journey. www.rustylynette.blogspot.com

Material Needs
Cocoa has been bought thank you Sarah!!
Brown Lunch Sacks have been donated...thanks Mom!
400- paper cups for cocoa
400- paper napkins
1- bag of sugar
1- canister of cinnamon (xtra large Costco size)

Labor Needs-
I HAVE SIX WOMEN WILLING TO MAKE OLIEBOLLEN BATTER AND 3 TO COOK PRAISE GOD!! ANY OTHER TAKERS?
-As of right now we will be cooking Olibollen on December 4 (time to be decided) We will need a bunch of women to make up one recipe of oliebollen each I will give you the recipe we are using and you can make up the batch yourself in your own home. Once you are finished making your batch you can do one of two things
1-Drop off the oliebollen batter and run never looking back as the rest of us crazy women sit back and cook up hundreds of olibollen chucks and then sacrifice ourselves by eating any that may not fit up to our standards.
2-Drop off your batch of olibollen and sacrifice your self to help us fry, sugar, eat and bag up the olibollen.
3-Or if cooking is not your thing at all and you just want to come and join in the craziness that is fine as well. Surely you can sugar these little chunks of goodness:)

-We need about 4 women to help at the actual booth on December 5th during the Lighted Christmas Parade. This will entail selling, serving and smiling:) I know it will be cold it always is but if we huddle together and partake in some cocoa I think we will make through just fine.

I know this is a lot of info but if you find yourself pulled in any direction let me know as soon as possible.

Hope for Olive Part 2. God Is So Good

The blog is now public due to the need for a hub for the Hope for Olive Cocoa and Oliebollen booth. I have a lot of interest so far with people wanting to help with the booth. It is becoming a lot bigger than anything I ever dreamed of, however I guess this is what happens when God is involved. I don't have a lot of new news tonight but I am hoping to have some new information tomorrow. So that being said please direct anyone that might be interested in helping with this cause to my blog www.thejagers.blogspot.com.
Just to recap what I am talking about. We are going to be selling cocoa and oliebollen at the Lighted Christmas Parade downtown Lynden in front of the Chamber of Commerce on December 5th. 100% of proceeds will be going to Rusty and Lynette Polinder for the care of their precious baby Olive.
Prayer Need - Please pray that we can find a kitchen equipped with enough fryers to handle the amount of Oliebollen that we need to make.
New Tid-Bit - We are going to bee using Olive's Grandmas Oliebollen Recipe:)

For any questions, comments, or interest in helping please leave a comment here or email me at Jessica@angryblueberry.com.

For more information on Olives Journey visit www.rustylynette.blogspot.com

Longgggggg Weekend.

This last weekend Elliot had an extra two days off and Brian worked a lot. When I say a lot we are talking one 17 hour day and a couple of 12s along with several regular shifts. Survival was a combination of Gods Grace, some pity offered up by very good grannys and grandmas, unusually well behaved children and creativity. Yes creativity was my friend and by Saturday I was at a loss. We had played every game, built tons of lego creations, made numerous different train tracks, homemade play dough (even though I really dislike play dough it grosses me out big time.), movies, cookie baking, cookie frosting, playdates, jungle playland etc. I think you get the point. We had fun!! Thankfully my children were happy to mostly just be home and enjoyed wearing comfy pants (sweats) and we just plain hung around.
The picture is of our resident Lego princess. The kids came down from their rest times with one of Grace's dress up crowns with a Lego Mini fig taped to it. So funny and cute at the same time. It was very serious though and my giggles were not appreciated. Aren't they cute though???

Hope for Olive

I have shared with you before about my friends the Polinders and their precious baby Olive. They are still currently struggling day to day with medical care and costs for Olive. It looks like they won't be able to move her to the U.S. for at least another two months and so she will be having the surgery for her new shunt there. It has been so amazing to watch their journey and be able to see their faithfulness in Gods work in their lives as well as Olives.
As you can imagine they are racking up quite a bit of bills at the hospital as well as living expenses for themselves. I have been praying specifically for this subject of need and have asked God to show me how I can help them out.
This all being said I was able to get approval from the Chamber of Commerce to have a cocoa and oliebollen sale during the lighted Christmas parade on December 5 with all proceeds going towards the Polinders financial needs. Lynette told me that their bills will continue to pile up for some time yet and they are still going to have to come up with the funds to come home once Olive is stable enough to travel. This will not be an easy task and there will be much labor involved as far as making the oliebollen and serving on the day of. So I guess I am saying or asking rather for help. Now I am not expecting everyone to be able to, so do not feel obligated your prayers would be enough support. But if you are willing to help I am hoping to find people to help cook the oliebollen as well as serve the cocoa and oliebollen during the parade.
If this at all sounds like something you want to help with shoot me an email at jessica@angryblueberry.com.
And in the meantime please keep praying with us for Olive.
rustylynette.blogspot.com

Princess Grace La La La La

Lately I have been a tiny bit stressed, things seem to pile up and I wonder how I will get everything done. Appliances seem to be breaking every time I turn around. And my heart has been heavy with quite a few things. But I am so lucky I have this little peanut Grace with me all of the time right now because even though she tests every fiber of my patience at times, she is also the sweetest, cutest and must lovely little girl in the world. She keeps me grounded and reminds me every minute how thankful I am for what I have right here and right now.
I know I have blogged a lot about her so I will spare you from my normal comments and raves. However, lately she is most definitely 4 and sometimes I actually wonder if she is 12:) She loves to help me bake and we have been baking nearly everyday since school started. She loves to read books and play with all of the normal girl toys. But lately she is really into story telling, which is so funny because she is so serious about what she is telling you that if you didn't know her you would probably believe her. Just today she was singing a song that she is learning for Christmas in Preschool its about the shepherds going to see baby Jesus but instead of going to Bethlehem Graces shepherds were going to Bellingham. So I took the chance to challenge her and I asked her are you sure its Bellingham not Bethlehem and she said yes Bellingham mom and I then I asked where in Bellingham did they go and she replied a field somewhere. Well there you have it folks. There was no changing her mind. She did add though that Jesus' moms name is Mary so if you find her you will find Baby Jesus. At least she has that right and the rest will come later.
Her new nickname is sassyfrass and that is the best way to describe her. I am just so thankful for these two little ones that keep me sane as much as they make me insane sometimes:)