This is the month for birthdays in our family and today is grandson Gabriel’s day. I used to think birthdays weren’t very important, but now I realize they are a good day for remembering. Today, I’m remembering the day G was born at a mere 4 pounds six ounces and I can still feel the agony that his prematurity brought to us all. Yet, look at him now. I am thankful for good doctors and nurses and for his parents who calmly took it all in stride. Gabriel is a fitting name for this child who made pitiful little wheezing sounds as he first tried to breath. The neonatal nurses said it was because little male Caucasian babies don’t develop their lungs as early as others. He did mimic the celestial Gabriel blowing his horn. Another biblical reference is that he was born on his great grandmother Eden’s birthday.

         Christmas 2010

  

You can note from the picture above left that Gabriel was busily perfecting his hammering technique. He is usually fascinated by my metal supplies; so I provided the large piece of Styrofoam into which he hammered many nails and rivets. Like most children, he preferred to play with these real objects over his Christmas toys.

The second picture on the right shows how much he’s grown in just a year. Isn’t it nice he got some hair? Who knows what the next year will bring, but I trust it will be interesting and blessed. Happy Birthday Gabriel!