World Aids Day

I know you know (because I've told you) that there are approximately 147 million orphans in the world but did you know that 16 million of the orphans became an orphan because of AIDS? Out of the 16 million do you know approximately 14.8 million are in Africa? Did you know that 5500 people die daily because of AIDS?

While there's no cure for AIDS, there is so much we can do in prevention and education to stop the epidemic. And while there are many things we can do; most of the times apathy takes course and we do nothin.

I've asked the Lord to break my heart for the things that break His. And He continues to work on my heart as he does this.... and things like orphans, AIDS, people living without access to clean water or food continue to break my heart. But what hurts just as much is the complete and utter indifference of the rich and wealthy, the indifference of those living in the best country of the world who have so much to offer but are unwilling to give.

Pause the music at the bottom and take the time to watch Depraved Indifference. Does it describe you? Are you of the mindset that if it deosn't affect you then there's no need to think about it?

Friday is almost here

Last night I had a couple moments of desperation when I realized that after Friday Gabriel is going to look different. For the first time in his 15 months, 2 weeks of life when we look at him, we'll see both of his beautiful eyes.

A few months back I wrote that Gabe's eye doctor ordered surgery to correct the ptosis (weak eyelid) of his right eye. After months of insurance wrangling and Cole Eye Institute telephone stalking everything is finally in order and Gabe's surgery is scheduled for this coming Friday.

Last night I had a couple moments of desperation when I realized that after Friday Gabriel is not going to look like Gabriel anymore. Sure, almost everything is going to be the same but he's going to look different. For the first time in his 15 month, 2 week life he will be able to see out of both eyes. For the first time, Gabe will be able to see out of both the eyes the Lord gifted him with.

And vision is a gift from God. And as Gabe's parents it is our job to ensure he uses all the gifts God blessed him with so Friday morning we'll head back downtown so that Gabe has every opportunity to see, clearly and with both his eyes.

Of course we would appreciate your prayers as any type of surgery comes with risk.

A few pictures of our little bookworm.

We had to do a little rearranging to make room for our Christmas tree and after moving the bookcase where Gabe's books were, we decided to make them more accessible by placing them on the shelf closest to the ground. And now Gabe can be found pulling books out, piling them up and perusing through them at his leisure.

LAST DAY

Today is the last day to buy a t-shirt from Ordinary Hero to support our adoption!! If you've bought one already, we say thank you... if you're planning on buying one we say "you better do it now, and thank you" [smile].

Ordinary Hero has also added a coffee mug and a really splendid Christmas ornament to their selection of items adoptive families can earn money from.

So buy now.... or never at all!! Just joking, you can buy later and benefit Ordinary Hero anytime you want!

Christmas Traditions

I love traditions; family traditions, annual events with friends, holiday traditions, lots of types of traditions. So Friday we were all super excited to head on out on our 4 (2nd for Gabe) annual Christmas tree hunt. Whilst the tree farm we visited this year wasn't as festive or full of trees as the farm we usually we visit we had a fabulous, albeit cold time!

First and Second Runner Ups

The Winner!!

And while it wasn't quite the Griswold moment that it was in years passed, we found one that we loved and now that it is up and decorated... it's definitely the LaGorga Family Christmas tree of 2010.

In front of the tree before it was chopped down. And no my hair is not that big, it was a really windy, cold day.

My two loves

Secure in the stand and strung with lights!

(on a side note, I always remember getting the tree in the stand growing up as being a debacle every year. The trunk was never straight resulting in a crooked tree and so many 'tries' before somehow my dad managing to get it stand up straight. However, Matt has never had any problem at all getting the tree in the stand and up straight in a very timely fashion. I think he might be a Christmas tree whisper.)

Gabe putting up the ceremonial first Christmas ornament.

And the finished product (sans tinsel)! Beautiful as always!

The Alma Mater Christmas ornaments. Matt's may be on top but the mine is prettier!

My favorite ornament.... purchased after Christmas in 2007 from Pier 1 for $2.00.