We had a wonderful visit with Joass, Rachel, Glory, and little Gabriel on Sunday evening, and I even got to hold him for quite a while, though he was asleep the entire time we were there. He smiled in his sleep while I was holding him, and we saw this cute dimple in his left cheek when he smiled! So, they're adjusting though Gabriel isn't as cooperative as he could be, so far insisting on sleeping all day and being awake much of the night.

I've always loved little ones, the newborns and toddlers and all ... but as I get older I find them not just a joy but a necessity of life. They help ground me as more and more of my precious friends and acquaintances reach the other ends of their lives. Glory and Gabriel do more for me than they realize, nor will be able to understand for many years yet.

Thanks, little ones!

Welcome Little Gabriel!

Oh joy and rapture! Our very close friends, Joass and Rachel Lyatuu, have just had their second child, little Gabriel. He joins his big sister Glory (my beloved God-child) and all are doing well and quite excited. Unfortunately for Joass, the birth came the day before he started a new job "here" in Salem, so he felt he HAD to go to work rather than call in on his first day. He is so eager to get back to the hospital and see his wife and baby!

In moments like these, I'm reminded of what I thought and would tell people through all of "our" pregnancies ... to the question, "What do you want?" All I wanted was ten little toes and ten little fingers, appropriately placed and functioning, and two bright little eyes looking back at us. Boy, girl, long, short, thick, thin, screaming, calm ... were of no serious matter to me. Just a healthy little baby.

So MUCH of life is like that. It is SO easy to get caught up in wanting all sorts of things that really are just details, and not that important. But we all need these reminders, and it seems, quite often.

Gabriel, welcome to the world, and little one, I sincerely hope that I may play some little part in introducing you to the joys of life as you grow up within that wonderful family who welcomes you with such love and joy. You are blessed and lucky, little one!