We bought balloons like we did last year and wrote messages to Gabe on them and brought him his very own birthday balloon.
Then we sent them up. This year we walked over to the pond before we released them so as to not have a "get stuck in the trees" incident like last year.
Can you see them? They flew right up in a perfect triangle just like that until they were out of sight.
And there were some ducks. (I don't really know what to say about that.)
When we got up to the lake, we had Gabe's birthday cake.
Jonah was more interested in grabbing the flame than actually blowing it out.
So the funny story of this year - when we were packing up to come home, Matt got the cake out of the fridge to take with us. The plastic lid wasn't on well, and the whole cake (minus the tiny little slice Matt had eaten) fell face down on the floor. So that was it, no more birthday cake. It seems every year (well, there have only been two so far) something goes wrong just to remind us to smile a little through the tears.
It was a very hard day for me this year. But again, I loved getting to do some special "Gabe things" just like last year. I haven't decided what to add to his garden this year, but I'm thinking about a humming bird feeder.
Oh yeah, and his dogwood tree did bloom the week of his birthday. I knew it would. :)
22 comments:
I am so glad his dogwood bloomed! God is good!!!!
That first picture is so moving. It's just precious but yet just not "right" at the same time. Thanks for sharing Gabe's day with us.
God is so good. I am glad you were able to honor Gabe on his special day. May God hold you close to His heart.
Thank you for sharing. I think of your family a lot at this time of year.
What a beautiful cake. Big hugs.
Sweet tender hugs for you.... our special Mackenzie day is coming on June 17th and I am already obsessing/fretting about it. This is her 5th Birthday as an angel. I haven't found it to be getting any easier........... just miss her everyday.
I am so glad you had blooms on his tree--perfect!
I love the picture of Jonah touching Gabe's headstone--brotherly love is there.
Keeping you all in our prayers.
God is good - am so glad for dogwood blooms, and for the way you and Matt are keeping Gabe's memory alive.
Continuing to pray for you all from TX!
Love,
Laura
I love that the balloons went up in the formation of a triangle. That has so many meanings!
God put His special touch on that week by the dogwood blooming, it was in His perfect time and plan. I know that Gabe's day will continue to be tough each and every year, however know that you have many people who pray for you and care for your family.
The first picture is priceless & thank you for sharing Gabe's wonderful day with us.
Happy Mother's Day!
Thinking of you guys often I know that day was special to you all and thanks for sharing it with us. I love the look on Jonah's face in that last picture.
I've just spent an hour reading posts I've missed over the past few weeks. I'm so glad Jonah is doing so well! He just makes me smile. Reading about Gabe made me cry and smile at the same time. I'll continue praying for ya'll.
~Ashley
Beautiful cake, too bad it got smashed! Heh. I pray for you and your family daily, and have been showing pictures of Jonah to my now 16 month old son since he was a newborn. I love your blog. Just started my own, it's scary but fun so far!
http://fourhoursago.blogspot.com/
We walk by faith, not by sight. I love that you knew the tree would bloom. Blessings.
I didn't make my post earlier to hurt you, but I'm assuming I did since you deleted it. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience.
Cakes don't do much except mask the pain.
Robin,
I don't do the balloons and cake to mask anything. I'm not dealing with this in an unhealthy way. I know exactly where Gabe is, and my celebration of his life, however brief, does not take away from Jonah. I know he needs me, and I'm here for him 1,000%. I do the birthday celebration for Gabe because I WANT to remember, I WANT to celebrate, and I WANT Jonah to know that he had/has a big brother. Maybe NOT doing that helped you, but DOING it helps our family. Thank you for our concern, but I think each family has to deal with grief in their own way. If I felt that it kept me from moving on or felt like it impaired my care for Jonah, I obviously wouldn't do it. For us, it's healing.
It nice to know that God made that tree bloom for you on this special day.Thanks for sharing this private time you three had with Gabe. Thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers.
Oh you gave me the best smile when you said his tree bloomed. I had thought of that often & prayed it would!! Happy 2nd birthday to your sweet Gabe.
I told you the tree would bloom! Exactly like Weston's crepe myrtles...they are on their own schedule and they bloom for his birthday instead of when everyone else's bloom :)
Praying you are enjoying your day today, as bittersweet as it is. May God lavish love upon you. Blessinngs.
Jonah really looks like you.
Hey Patrice,
It's sweet reading about your birthday celebration for Gabe...and seeing you and Jonah's faces from your Mother's Day pics. You keep going girl, you're doing great! Hope to see you sometime! You're in our prayers.
Love, Karen Safley
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