How Dogs Help Us Heal: The Story Behind Jager's Coloring Books

Today's entry is very close to my heart. It’s about grief, healing, love, and about the incredible way dogs walk beside us through every season—sometimes carrying us through when we don’t even realize it.

It’s the story of three amazing dogs who shaped my life and my family’s journey: Oakley, Dekker, and Jäger. Each of them arrived at exactly the moment we needed them most. Each of them taught us something about survival, hope, and the healing power of unconditional love. It’s their legacy that inspired something I’m so proud to share:

A Girl and Her Dog: Jäger’s Coloring Book of Wisdom and Wellness.

Part One: Oakley — The Dog Who Saved Me

In 2000, my world shattered. My son, Alexander Jeffrey, died just two days before his due date. There are losses so deep that you can’t imagine surviving them. Nine months of waiting and planning for our son’s arrival, and thinking in just a few days we’d be welcoming home our baby boy- just to have our entire world completely shattered. And at that moment, I truly didn’t know how I would go on. But I had my older child, Taylor, who needed me to keep breathing, to keep moving. Even when every part of me wanted to stop. You go on for your children, even if you don’t want to go on for yourself. 

About five days after AJ’s funeral, I started looking in the newspaper for puppies. I felt this great need to take care of a baby, and I needed something. I found some lab puppies, who ironically, were only a few blocks away from us. We went to visit them. They were in a closed off area of the garage- in kind of like a fenced area. As soon as they saw us, they all came running to the edge of their pen and jumping up- all except one. This dog stayed in the middle of their pen, and sat completely up on his hind legs- paws in the air. My husband said- what about that one? So exactly a week after AJ’s funeral, we brought home a Chocolate Lab puppy. He had chosen us. We named him Oakley.

Oakley wasn’t just a dog. He was my baby. Oakley stayed glued to my side through the darkest nights, the deepest silences. He didn’t ask me to explain my grief. He didn’t expect anything from me except to exist alongside him- and to play frisbee- his favorite toy. 

A few months later, I became pregnant again. This was the scariest time- praying that this child would be okay. This time, life answered grief with another gift: my son, Joshua. In a beautiful twist- Joshua and Oakley share the same birthday, exactly one year apart.

Oakley became Joshua’s protector and Taylor’s constant companion. He was also my reminder that even in heartbreak, life—and love—can find a way.

Oakley didn’t just heal me. He saved me. Oakley was such a funny dog. All dogs have their personalities, and he surely did. He actually talked. We’d call my parents and if they didn’t answer, Oakley would leave messages on their answering machine. I think they sometimes ignored the calls just to get his voice messages. He was just an all around good boy, and my lifesaver. When he was 12, Oakley got cancer. It was a kind of cancer that can’t be treated, and the vet did what he could to keep Oakley comfortable. It came to a point when we could see how much pain he was in- and we knew he was just going on for us- so we made the heartbreaking decision to put him down. As we were in the room, I was sitting on the floor with Oakley- his head in my lap. In his last moment, he turned his head up to look at me. I can still see his eyes- my mom said it was because he was letting me know it was okay. I hope so. I hope he knows how he saved me. I miss him still. 

Part Two: Dekker — The Dog Who Watched Over My Mother

When we still had Oakley, another dog entered our family’s life during another time of heartbreak. When my father became very sick with cancer, my parents decided to get a dog.

A beautiful black lab they named Dekker. Dekker and Oakley became friends too. I truly believe my dad, knowing how hard things would be, chose Dekker not just for himself—but for my mom. He knew she would need someone to help fill the house with love and to just be there. when he was gone.

Dekker stayed close to my dad during his illness, offering the kind of comfort that words can’t. He wanted so badly to lay on my dad, but my dad was in so much pain, and it was hard for a big puppy to be careful in that way. 

After my dad passed, Dekker became my mom’s closest companion. He filled the house with warmth, laughter, and unconditional presence. Another funny dog, Dekker kept us entertained. He stayed beside my mom on the hardest days and brightened the quietest ones.

Dekker wasn’t just a dog. He was part of the healing. In another heartbreaking turn, we lost Dekker unexpectedly when he was only 8. We found out he had a horrible illness, and when we knew it was too much for him, we had to make that gut wrenching decision again. Dekker was here for all of us- during one of the most challenging times of our lives in losing my dad- so it was the least we could do for him. We didn’t want him to suffer. I just felt so bad for my mom. 

Part Three: Jäger — The Joy That Followed Loss

Then a few months later came Jäger. He was, without a doubt, the most beautiful puppy I had ever seen. Golden fur, soulful eyes, that innocent face you just couldn’t stay mad at. We would take him for walks, and people actually stopped us and asked if they could take pictures of him- he was that cute. But he was also soooo naughty.

Jäger got into everything. Everything. You name it, he stole it, chewed it, or proudly paraded it around the house. And when it comes to food? Even now, Jäger cannot be fully trusted around an unattended plate. His Labrador instincts are strong—and his nose and stomach are always leading the way. He thinks that each and every drive-through has treats for him- and most do. He knows anytime we’re near a Starbucks and he cries very loudly until he is able to devour his pup cup. A few times he has almost jumped through the drive thru window to get it!! The poor baristas- but most seem to love that!

But for all the mischief, all the chaos he added to my life, there is one thing about Jäger that has never changed: He cannot stand to be away from me. Wherever I go, he goes. If I move to another room, he follows. If I sit down, he presses his body against mine or rests his head on my lap—just to be close. And I realized something that brings me to tears: No one will ever love me the way Jäger loves me. Pure. Fierce. Without judgment. Without expectations. Jäger’s love is total. Simple. Steady. He doesn’t care if I’m tired, or busy, or feeling a little broken. To him, I am everything—and he is mine.

Jäger reminds me every day that love—real love—is patient, persistent, and present. So, when I start to get upset at him for being so mischievous, I try to stop and remember to be patient with him. All he wants is for me to love him. When he interrupts my podcasts and my recordings- I have just started to embrace it and include him- because he is a huge part of my life. And Jager thinks that everyone should love him- and actually, pretty much everyone we meet does! 

One afternoon, sitting beside Jäger, I started thinking about how I could include him more in my wellness business. I thought about what Jager has taught me, and it hit me. He taught me about healing and wellness. This is what Oakley gave us. This is what Dekker gave my mom. This is what Jäger gives me now. The reminder that healing isn’t about doing more. It’s about simply being. It’s about letting love—and presence—carry you when your strength is low.

From those thoughts, A Girl and Her Dog: Jäger’s Coloring Book of Wisdom and Wellness was born.

It’s filled with:

 • Cozy coloring pages inspired by Jäger’s spirit

 • Affirmations that meet you wherever you are

 • Gentle invitations to slow down, breathe, and color your way back to calm

If you’re carrying grief, stress, or the exhaustion of living in a fast-moving world— you’re not alone. Sometimes you just need to sit down, relax, and color. 

Jäger and I would love to invite you to Grab your favorite markers, or crayons, or colored pencils. 

Find a quiet corner and color your way to calm with our new coloring book. 

You can find Jäger’s Coloring Books on my website store: www.bloomhealthandwellness.net/store  

And we invite you to share your pages with us using #ColorWithJager

Thank you for letting me share Oakley, Dekker, and Jäger’s stories with you.

Until next time—be gentle with yourself, and please get yourself a copy of Jager’s coloring book. I promise it will make you smile!