Happy Birthday Doodles!

Just want to say a quick HAPPY BIRTHDAY to BRADLEY DOODLES HAL.........!!! Happy birthday brother bear!
If I think back, you have always been a wonderful big brother to me!!(that is, except when you locked me outside the sliding door without shoes on during a Chicago winter with lots of snow when you were supposed to be babysitting and taking care of your innocent little sister, or when you were supposed to make me a pb&j for me and you put butter on it too even though you knew it would make me gag, or...if you were supposed to pour me some apple juice and instead your poured extra large glasses for your other siblings and a teensy bit for me, before placing the apple juice on top of the fridge out of reach of your much, much, much younger sister).

Some of the wonderful times included you teaching me how to drive a stick and more importantly do doughnuts in your GTI, sending me letters from your years in Norway, letting your high school girlfriends braid my hair, buying me a "footlocker"(remember those??), getting me just the right gift for my birthdays growing up, arranging for your middle school sister to be a cheerleader on your college campus, taking me out to lunch when a boy broke my heart(he later became my husband), taking time for me, praying for me, being an amazing listener and example of what a sibling should be! You are a gift to me and I love you very much!

Happy Birthday Brad,
Love,
Keeker

Chicken Pox & Ghana

One adoptive mom just came home with her three beautiful kids from Ghana last night. She went on a whirlwind trip last weekend to bring them home, after being there already for a couple of weeks earlier last month. Last night she sent an email saying that our two kiddos, as well as others in the home, have the chicken pox and they were miserable! I am so sad for them! Today I saw pictures that she took of them. :( It is a weird feeling to know that your kids are sick and you can't take care of them. I know that they are being very well cared for at Eban House, the adoption center. But still, I want to hug them and start to learn what makes them feel better when they are sick. I love how God is weaving my heart to theirs already. Please pray that they get better soon and for all the other kids in the home as well. I suppose we better pray for all the Aunties' sanity too in the home. I am sure they are going crazy with this outbreak!

The Last of the Real Men!

Well, thanks to Daron and Thys, the outside of our house is painted with a bold new coat! The trim isn't finished yet, but it is looking great. So far I have noticed that the younger generation of neighbors is liking it, but the seasoned isn't quite sure why I wanted to move away from the 80's look we had going.

One of our seasoned neighbors was riding his bike by and said that Daron was one of the last real men out there (since he was painting his own house and didn't hire out). To Daron, that was the ultimate compliment! Lucky for me, I have got myself a real man- the last, no less!!

We decided to do a little of "you scratch my back, and I will scratch yours" with our friends, so I believe Daron will be painting again soon at Thys's in case he needs to exercise his manliness again soon!

A Day in the Life of a Mariners Groundskeeper

Daron got to be an "Honorary Groundscrew Member" the other day at Safeco Field. Our friends gave us the tickets to do this and Daron was thrilled. He loves baseball and it was icing on the cake that he got to go for a Twins game. We thought that Daron would have to do some dance that the groundscrew usually does halfway through the game, but Daron didn't end up doing that. They said that they never do that with the volunteers, but he wasn't sure if that was the truth! He thought that they took a look at him and didn't think that he could dance. Either way, he had a blast. He got to see such and such a player that has been the best such and such and talked with another player that is someone that I should know. Don't get me wrong, I know the sport. But ever since we moved, I lost track of my favorite teams. Which move was that? I don't remember.

Justus and Greta got to go with and had the time of their life. Daron's cousin, Mat, and his daughter, Claire, also went to the game. They got to go on the field before and after the game. If you watched the last game of the Mariners/Twins series, you may have witnessed Daron running across the field to water the bases.

Thanks again to our amazing friends that shared a fun gift like this!

Family Fun

The guys on my side of the family recently had their annual fishing/golf trip together. While they were doing that, the women of our family had their annual "Watch All the Kids Event!" My sister was up from Cali with her kids and my sister-in-law came over for a few days from Seattle with her girls to hang with all of us. We had some great days at the beach, fountain park, and just playing with cousins. I love to see them all together and now we get to add 2 more to the group!!

After the guys were done with their part, we lovingly ditched handed off our children and headed into Seattle for a spa treatment! Very nice! We also got to shop around for the day and eat at two fabulous places: Shuckers and The Purple Cafe. In between our very important agenda, we just had to take a break at Von's Martini House for a blueberry lemon drop! Yum! What a great memory and time we had together -thanks Mom and Dad for making it happen!!

We ended our time together the next day with our H. Family Fantasy Football Draft! Very fun. Go Lady Wildcats!!! (that is my team and no, I am not as exuberant as I sound right now).

Cyber Shower!

I have to tell you that I am at a cyber shower right now!! My cyber friends from AAI have thrown me a shower to celebrate our referral. I am so blessed to have this group to go through all the ups and downs and ins and outs of adopting from Ghana. Jennine is throwing it and she is just hilarious! She told everyone to bring recipes to share and assured us that we wouldn't gain any weight from it since there wouldn't be any real food! She also asked anyone to shares stories of our two little ones if they have already met them and people are giving advice on what to bring to Ghana and what not to bring. I asked if there was hot water so I could make some espresso. Well?........it is important to me!! I think the three biggest things that were mentioned to bring was toilet paper, a watch (I don't own one anymore now that I carry my phone everywhere), and some sort of cereal or granola bars. Well, I better get back to the shower in case there are still some people I need to mingle with....

5+1=6...BUT 5+2=7!!!!

Yep! It is official. The Jag's have a referral for a little boy.....and he has an adorable sister! We are so thrilled here and can't wait to meet our new children. Ahh! We are going to be a family of 7!!! I was trying to make our family number even, but this is how we roll! We still have a few months in the process until we can bring them home, but we wanted to let you know about our new additions as soon as we could. Our little guy is 2.5 yrs. old and as cute as can be. He has got the cutest little smile and by the look in his eyes, will be able to keep up with his big brother and sisters. Our little girl is 3.5 yrs. and just has the most beautiful eyes! Ughh- I just want to squeeze them both!

I just wanted to let you know how blessed we feel to be bringing these children into our home. Thanks SO much for all your prayers and thoughts during the last year while we have been awaiting a referral. As soon as we can post pictures, we will. But until our case goes to court in Ghana, I can't post it on the blog. (If you want me to send you a picture- this proud mom will eagerly do that)!

(Sorry I didn't call everyone today, but we wanted to share as soon as we could and didn't have enough hours in the day to call anyone except immediate family)

We love you and would appreciate your continued prayers!!!

July- Part IV

Is there really a Part IV? Yep!

The 4th round of people to come and stay with us in July was my cousin, Jamie, and her 4 kids. They came out for my Grandma Gwen's 9oth birthday celebration. The family rented out the Farm Kitchen and we used the Guest House there as our meeting point for meals, bocce ball, Wii, wine tastings, breakfast, and dinner at the end of the reunion. Most of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and siblings were there. It was so fun to see all the younger generation playing together as the older cousins used to! We missed my Uncle Scott and his family, but since he had to undergo more treatments for his cancer, they weren't able to make the trip up. You can read more about how he is doing by keeping up with him on his blog. He is an amazing man and we pray that he is healed soon!

Happy 90th birthday Grandma!

July- Part III

(new sweater she brought me from Hot Mama)

When I was 15, I went to work for the summer at Covenant Harbor Bible Camp in Lake Geneva, WI. I had been going there as a child for a week of summer camp and family camp almost every year since I was 8. It was such a special place for me; I could hardly wait to work there! That summer, and the ones following it, I met some of the best friends I will have for the rest of my life! I am so thankful for how God shaped me those summers by giving me such amazing relationships. My friend Megan, is one of the very special people that God brought me that 1st summer. We lived together in a little bungalow (upper compounds) with Sara, Kristina, Julie, and Amy- and we really bonded(Lenore and Heather came later). Megan and I only lived a half hour away from each other during the school year, so many weekends we got together in high school and college. It was so nice to have each other to hold one another accountable when it seemed nearly impossible in high school. We can look back now and laugh at boys we used to like, clothes we used to wear, and the way we used to make drive-by's(both at home, Lake Geneva, and in the McDonalds drive throughs)!


Last month, Megan and her son came out to visit us for a few days. I felt so honored to have them come since we are both so busy with life and our our families now. (Not to mention her amazing company that she and her husband started a few years ago (http://www.shopmama.com/). I had such a good time reconnecting and just hanging out! We haven't had but more than a meal together in the last 10 years, so it meant the world to me. It was also so special to watch our children play together. We missed her wonderful husband and daughter, but I was so thrilled to see us, almost 20 years later, with our families hanging out and living life together. Thanks for coming Megan!

July- Part II

July and August(almost) have come and gone and I can't believe that I didn't ever update my blog since Justus's birthday. We had so much fun having our close friends and family visit during the month, that I just didn't make this a priority. I am sorry for those of you that check regularly(all three of you!), that I have been a bit of a bore. Oh well!

To recap, we got to have my wonderful friend, Jenn, and her adorable three boys come and visit for a few days. Jenn is such a special friend to me that I made after the first year of living here. Unfortunately, she moved away last year, so we haven't been able to share in the day to day life as much as I was hoping. I am just so appreciative though for her and how God has used her in my life-what a blessing she has been in my life and how fun to be able to re-connect!

Our dear friends, Mike & Becky, and their kiddos also came to visit us for a few days in July. We had so much fun with them going to the beach, walking around Seattle, hitting a Mariners game(6 of us even got haircuts there-for real!!), tea for the girls, and golf and fishing for the boys! What an amazing time we had; we felt so special that they took a family vacation out here just to hang with us. Our kids are all around the same age and our "Ella's" are only two days apart! The kids got along beautifully-they are truly much more like family to us. We have shared so much of our lives together already as we went to college together, Daron worked at camp with them, double dates, we were in each other's weddings, and the kids have grown up seeing each other at least once a year even though we live apart. I am very thankful for such great friends!!