Elephants, Easter and Eyes

Last Thursday and Friday Gabe and I ventured down to Columbus with his Nonnie (my Mom), Uncle Bucko (my brother Michael) and Gabe's 4 cousins: Caleb, Ethan, Jacob and Sam. Gabe did terrific in the car rides there and back and had so much fun playing with his cousins. He loves to watch all of the different things to they're able to do and they spend a lot of time loving on our little man. Thursday we went to Magic Mountain were the older boys (and Mike:) were able to race go-carts, play laser tag and video games. The best thing for the little ones (Sam & Jake) was the climbing zone. Best $5.00 my mom probably ever spent! The boys had a blast and Gabe had fun watching it all; soaking it all in and probably contemplating what he's going to do when he's big enough to run amok.

Thursday night we stayed in this fancy-dancy hotel that we got really inexpensive. Hotwire is the way to book hotels! The hotel had a heated pool and I was so excited for Gabe to go swimming for the first time. However, the 'heated' pool was super cold so after dappling his feet in the water, we were done! After heading back up stairs we enjoyed watching cable TV (he, he) and Gabe's 4 cousins running around the rooms.

On Friday we went to the Columbus Zoo... and it was packed! Gabe loves the zoo and now that he sits in the stroller without the carrier he has even more fun! We saw penguins and a manatee, a buffalo and bears, a whole menagerie of animals! But the best thing we saw.... the Cleveland elephants!!! You see, Gabe has been to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 4 or 5 times but has never seen the elephants because they're visiting their buddies in Columbus while their home is being renovated. So he (okay, really it was all me) was just super excited to visit the elephants while they were on holiday somewhere else. But we can't wait for the elephants to come home next summer!

Gabe and I got home to enjoy the tail end of our Good Friday ice cream social with our life group and then spent the weekend getting ready for Easter.

While Easter always causes me to feel grateful, awed and unworthy, this year it was different. I felt more... well more of everything this year, but that's for another post entirely. Gabe looked super styling in his Easter outfit - hat and all. Daddy didn't like the hat too much and while I was running an errand (love you Sarah!) Gabe 'spit-up' on his outfit and was changed before I came home. Little did Matt know that Gabe's back-up outfit matched the hat too!

After church, we headed to my brothers house for Easter lunch. And while the food was delicious, the best part was spending time with all of our family. Gabe met his great aunt Diane and uncle Mark for the first time - and actually let aunt Dianne hold him, which is a tremendous feat if you know Gabe and how attached he is too his Momma and Daddy.

Lunch was short however because Matt and I (along with our life group family) had to meet at 3:30 to get ready to serve dinner at the Salvation Army. And can I just tell you that that was the best part of my Easter. Serving others as Jesus served while He was here on Earth seemed the best way to spend the day we glorify Him. I can not wait to have the opportunity to serve at the Salvation Army again!

Easter wrapped up and then this week has been busy. The weather has been beautiful so we've spent lots of time outside going for walks and enjoying the sunshine. Unfortunately we've also been busy with doctors appointments preparing for Gabe's eye surgery this coming Friday.

Everything is ready for his surgery, except probably me and Matt. While I know the surgery is routine, and Dr. R does these surgeries every week - it's still my baby having surgery and surgery is not routine for us (thank God!). Gabe is such a fighter, I know he'll do great. We just pray that the anesthesia isn't too hard on Gabe, the surgery is successful and Gabe doesn't have any adverse side effects. And while I know that when we have to let go of Gabe for the surgery, God will still be holding onto him. That alone brings us all the peace we need, but still walking away

So, with Gabe's surgery coming up you know what I'm going to ask for, don't you? Would you join us praying for Gabe on Friday; for his sweet spirit to not be effected by the surgery, for the surgery itself, for Dr. R to cut, tighten and loosen the right eye muscles, for the nurses and anesthesiologists assisting Dr. R and for everyone Gabe meets to see in him the miracle of our mighty God?

We know God is in control and that He is already at the hospital waiting for us to get there.....