Gabriel, our youngest, just turned 6 years old yesterday. Seems like we are out of the baby stage for good. You know whenever you fill out the ages of your kids in questionnaires? It’s always “0-5, 6-10, etc.”. Time marches on…
So what can I say about Gabriel? Really, where would I end? Gabriel has a sweetness about him that makes him completely unintimidating and very approachable. He doesn’t seem shy or lacking in self-esteem, just humble. Maybe that’s it – he’s just a very humble little soul. He never runs out of kind words for me, like “you’re the best mom, ever!”, or “i love you”, or “you’re hair is pretty”, but just the same if he has something to tell me that he thinks might not bring me the same joy, he forewarns me – “I don’t want to tell you this”, or “I don’t know if i should say this bad thing”. He certainly seems to be considerate, whether intentional or not, of the feelings of others for the most part. ♥ In the morning when I wake him for school, I snuggle up close to him so I can smell his morning breath and fill my eyes with the whole of his face. Sometimes he will snuggle up to me, and if he only knew how that makes my heart go crazy, he would never change. He asks me to scratch his back, then his shoulders, then his arms. And then, only while he is still little, I squeeze his “wesh (fresh) hot biscuits” or “krumpets” (he has the cutest little hiney cakes!). I bring him his robe, we make sure Christian is awake, then off to the bathroom we go. Christian joins him, they pee together sometimes. I go downstairs and start breakfast while they get dressed together. I wish I could bottle the giggles and the stuffed animal talk. Oh how I will miss that someday. ♥ I watch him run to the bus, excited to go to school even though he tells me he misses me more than he enjoys school. He looks too small to be riding such a big bus with other big kids. His size isn’t indicative of his confidence. ♥ When he arrives home from school, he looks forward to playing legos or being with Christian, whatever he is doing. Most times they get along beautifully. I could probably count the number of times that they’ve had a big disagreement – praise God for that. And I would be remiss here to not add that Christian has a good heart for Gabriel and his other brothers as well (and them for him). ♥ So there were two cakes today – one at school to share with his class, and one at home – his favorite, Chocolate Chip Cake from KFC – to share with his family and Nanny and PopPop. He received a few gifts: 3 Lego sets and a pair of size 11 black and neon yellow sneakers he wanted, and sometime soon he will go golfing with his one of his good friends, Sawyer. We spent some of the day outside at the SV High School track for a track meet, but not even a single grumble from the birthday boy. So thankful that even at his young age, his heart his grateful for the little things. ♥ Heavenly Father, what a beautiful and unique blessing my Gabriel is to me and to my family. His nature is sweet, his heart is pure, his joy is contagious, and his smile is warming. I thank you for all of my children, as they, each and every one, carry my heart with them every moment. And what I pray for one is what I pray for all: Lord, I pray that Gabriel may find favor with you and with men (teachers, other parents, bosses, authority, etc. ). I pray for his strentgh, character, integrity and decisions – that they all and always will be rooted in You and Your Word. That all direction he chooses will be a result of the seeking and sensing of direction that comes from You only. I pray for his heart, that you would help his father and I to teach him to keep it pure. Father, I pray for his wife: I pray that she will love you more than anything, and she will live that way before, during, and after him. I pray that she will love him as I do. I pray that she will have wonderful Christian women surrounding her, to help her remember your plan for marriage, and likewise for Gabriel. I pray for the strength and purity of their union, for the health and prosperity of their family, and I pray for their love for their brothers and wives as well. I pray for my husband, their father, and I, that we can model a marriage for them, that is good in your eyes, and that they will desire to recreate with their wives. And finally, I pray that regardless of the mistakes and harmful choices that I have made in the past, I pray that you will bless me and Steve with many many many good years here with our children so that we may enjoy the blessings of a lifelong commitment and the children you have entrusted us both with. In your name, beautiful Jesus, thank you, Lord. Amen.
