Sunday, October 02, 2011

My baby boy turns 33!

1978 - Pregnant with Gabe...with Mimi
1978 - with my Dad and Joshua
1978
Gabrial's first home...in Oregon

33 years ago today, my baby boy was born...


Joshua became a big brother...


Once more, my dreams became flesh...

We had toyed over his name, knowing Gabrial was part of it, but undecided, not agreeing for awhile on what went with it.  Would he be Forrest Gabriel or would he be Gabriel Ryan?  I think there were a few more combinations we thought about...but those were the main two.  I didn't like Forrest, Ron, being a forester, did.  At birth, he became Gabrial Ryan...the spelling of his name with an 'a' instead of an 'e' was an error on his dad's part.  It was suppose to be Gabriel...but I love that it's different.
Names...  As parents, it's such a monumental decision to make.  Gabrial, in Hebrew, means "God is my might" or "Man of God" or "God's able-bodied one."  In Spanish, Gabrial means "God is my strength."  The angel, Gabriel, in the bible foretold the birth of Christ.  For me, Gabrial was an angel.  Ryan is a gaelic name meaning "Little King."  I don't think I ever looked up the meaning of 'Ryan' until just before I wrote this.  All I can say to that is, "Wow!"
With your children, so many of your hopes and dreams are tied up in these little bundles of joy... these little miracles we've been blessed with.

I always felt... and still feel... that being a parent is a person's highest calling... to raise, nurture, and teach these little gifts we've been given.  As a parent, hopefully, you are willing to sacrifice so much for the good of your child...to give them the best you can give them...to teach them as best you can... to give them a solid foundation to go through this life.
Gabrial... he was a bruiser from the beginning... 9 lbs., 9.5 ounces...and 23.5 inches long.  His poor, older brother (just kidding on the 'poor' part) had to stop taking naps since Gabrial was so loud and wouldn't sleep during the day.

They were buddies...always....
Some of my favorite pictures of them are outside...
with dirty faces, probably a little tired of having to stop their playing to look at their mom with her camera.  (Thalia, Emerson, and Benjamin already know that nothing has changed from 35 years ago when Joshua was born!)

Saddie and Gabe
Gabe and Grammy
October 2, 1979
With Aunt Patti, who had heard him scream one time too many!
Licking the batter with Lacy...Lacy's mom, Linda, and I were pregnant together.
Building 'Ned'
Playing with the leaves
First haircut
Reading with Saddie
 When Lindsey was born, Gabrial became a big brother.  He was both protector and torturer of his poor sister.  (Again, just kidding on the 'poor' part!)
Gabrial always was a sports guy...always wanting to play...learning from his big brother and all of Joshua's friends... wanting to do what they did.
Gabe was the affectionate one... in high school, we would stay up late at night talking... just talking... when he was home from college, we did the same thing... after college and marriage, we still would stay up late after everyone else had gone to bed... and talk.  I love those times...


I always cherished, cherished more than I even realized, those times with Gabe.  He's been one of my dearest, dearest friends...I've loved him - I love him - with a love that I don't think every parent has...








brothers and buddies
Hanging out in the forest together
June, 1980
Typical...
Climbing Aunt Jane's tree
Lindsey and Gabe



His name...Gabrial Ryan... man of God... little King... my angel... that was my prayer 33 years ago, and it's still my prayer today.


I love you, Gabe...    
Happy Birthday!  


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Grute. Thanks again for the phone call....oops.

Jutze, great blog.

Josh

jujabbo said...

Happy Birthday Gabe! I hope it's a good one!
Love,
Lindsey

Anonymous said...

Gabrial, Happy Birthday! I hope you have a great day.

Love ya,

Uncle John

Unknown said...

I believe that the pic w/Aunt Patti was taken on our trip from Oregon to TX. At 18 I was unaccustomed to riding in a single cab pickup truck with 2 grubby little boys under the age of 3. I loved & do love them both (their li'l sister had not arrived yet.)

Love,
Aunt Patti

Judy said...

Oh Aunt Patti...I think you are absolutely right... what a trip that was!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the birthday wishes and great blog!

Love you all,

Gabe