Merry Christmas from The Jacobson Clan!

Merry Christmas and Season’s Greetings
From The Benjamin Jacobson Clan.


Yes, we have moved from a Duo to a Clan! The clan now includes our two terriers Ipa-Mae and Marley-Moe, and in November we added to the crew our little black cat named Dosey-Doe. They make life full and interesting in our little downtown home. We love being in a hub of activity surrounded by family and friends.

This year has been a year of building deep friendships, and growing closer together as a couple. In March Benjamin was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes which initially sent us into a tail spin, but quickly developed us into a well-oiled machine and a really great team. Swiftly we were able to get our bearings, learn a lot, and adjust our lifestyle. We were blessed to become a part of a medical study at Virgina Mason’s Benaroya Research Institute in Seattle and feel so lucky to have a wealth of resources and information at our fingertips. The Lord met our needs in unbelievable ways.

Benjamin is still working full time for Higuera Imports, a hardwood flooring company in Poulsbo; and part time for newlife in Port Orchard. Alex is in the middle of her third year of teaching at Christ the King Academy and is so blessed by her friendly, genuine, and loving group of First Grade Friends on a daily basis. They bring SUCH joy to her life.

With home improvements continuing, Ben has almost completed his outdoor studio in our garage and installed new wood floors for Alex this past July. The studio should be the site of some great creativity and inspiration, thank you to ALL who contributed. Ben also celebrated his 21st birthday “Chopped” style with a cook off competition and Alex celebrated her twenty-fifth year with a “Twilight” birthday and camping trip to Forks, WA.

Ben has embraced his most favorite hobby of cooking and has even taken to baking extravagant cakes. See our facebook albums for a few photos: The “Wicked” House, a free standing grizzly bear, an erupting volcano, a werewolf, and most recently an Eifel Tower cake. Alex’s newest hobby is playing the piano and with a year under her belt she is feeling proud and accomplished, especially with the newly learned skill of reading music.

We are so blessed to have friends and family involved in our daily lives and to engage in enriching and challenging relationships. We are growing and changing every day and thank the Lord for his continued goodness in our lives. Love and prayers to you all!

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Diabetes Diagnosis - March 23rd 2009

Ben was diagnosed, at age 20, on March 23 with diabetes. He had to go the emergency room on March 22;

In the E.R. where he was diagnosed with diabetes. It felt like a very scary diagnosis and we still were not sure if it was Type 1 or 2.

Later in early April he was more specifically diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and we are working towards changing our lifestyle to be more diabetic friendly. Thanks to Dave and Heather for the fabulous Better Homes and Garden cookbook. They brought it the day of Ben's diagnosis. Pretty wonderful friends.


The most scary and serious health issue in Ben's life, diabetes, is not covered at all by our insurance for 9 months. But the great news is we were referred to the Benaroya Institute to be a part of a Type 1 Diabetes study, researching the drug called GAD. After a month or so of tests he was welcomed into the study by the incredible team of doctors at Virginia Mason - Benaroya Institute. We feel so blessed to benefit from their wealth of knowledge and are praying that we are part of making a change for diabetics everywhere. If the drug GAD does what they think it does then it may prevent Ben's health from deteriorating. It is believed to help Type 1 diabetics keep their insulin producing cells.

Here we are in Pike Place Market after a day at the hospital.

We go quite frequently for monitoring and for the GAD drug to be administered (although it is possible that he is just getting a placebo - we are praying for the real deal.)

There is so much going on in the area of diabetic research we are honored to be a part of it!

Thanks to the doctors, nurses, and dietician at Virginia Mason. Dr. Sanda, Dr. Hefty and Research Study Coordinator Marli McCulloch-Olson you are truly a blessing from the Lord. We feel so lucky and blessed to have your team as a part of our life!

Ben is pictured here with "stinging nettle" cheese! Good thing he didn't have to give up cheese post diagnosis. :)