Celebrating THE Jeffrey Dagerath....

We had the joy this week of celebrating Jeffrey's 19th birthday! What a joy!! Birthdays are always great days around the Dagerath house, and this one was no exception. However, I truly can't believe I'm celebrating the 19th birthday of this guy....

 Wasn't it just yesterday that he was born? that he was stumping his brothers with his "lifted by" math? (that's a story there!) that he was begging for a chinchilla/Russian tortoise/German shepherd/Irish setter/leopard gecko/Goliath tarantula (Oh, wait...that one WAS yesterday! 😉)? Amazing the teachers at zoo academy with all he knew?

Jeffrey has been such a spark to our family and has since the very beginning of his life until this day amazing Michael and me at not only the things he has done, but the things he even THINKS about doing! Honestly, I can't even count the number of times that I've thought "Oh my goodness, I would NEVER EVER even THINK of doing (insert zany, extroverted, way outside of my comfort zone thing) and Jeffrey just did it..and did it well!"

Of course we would have always voted him "most likely to end up on a Jumbotron doing something" and this year that came true. But something else has continued to happen with Jeffrey. He's grown up-and I'm not just talking about reaching 19, that happens just because you've been allowed to draw breath for that many consecutive days-I mean he's really growing up...maturing, growing so humble and gracious and kind. Still spunky, full of life and adventure, but growing so much in his faith and consequently in his character.

But lest you think he's all the way "grown and no longer a boy"...here's what he requested for birthday breakfast...homemade donuts... And for his birthday cake....Receeses ice cream sandwich cake...just like always.

 It was funny that most of his birthday cards this year all had sweets on the front! A sign?

 And of course, he's not too big to decorate as we always do. The ever faithful birthday banner, construction paper numbers on the table and crepe paper hanging from the lights. Always!

But lest you think he's still a little boy...check him out with Josiah at the birthday dinner at Carrabbas!

 Kinda looking manly there, huh? And really acting more and more manly all the time. I'm really crazy about this guy! What a delight!! LOVE YOU JEFFREY!!