My grief counselor has told me that I should journal and at times I have, but those times have been few and far between. I have decided that I want to share the life of my boy. Many have been blessed by his life and his death. Hard to think that someone could be blessed by the death of someone, but there have been many of you that have told me how God has used Gabe's life and death to bless you. Thank you for those words. Over the next year, as God leads and as I am able, I will blog about Gabe's life from his beginning to today. I hope that you take time to read about my son's life, but to be honest this is more about my healing and just sharing about a boy that I am still very passionate about. I also hope that if you know someone that has lost a child, please direct them to this blog. I say that because reading the stories of other parents that lost children was one of the most comforting things that got me through the very difficult days following Gabe's death. Also, if you take time to read, then I hope God uses my words and Gabe's story to bring His glory to your life. Enjoy!

When Judy was pregnant with Gabe, I would scratch/tickle her tummy and sing to my baby boy. I am sure that many of you dads have done similar things. He would kick like crazy...probably wishing I would shut up. However, just minutes after my boy was born the nurses took him from Judy and handed him to me. Of course he was crying. The nurse laid his back in the palm of my hand. Immediately without thinking, I started tickling his back and singing to him. He quickly quit crying. I think he knew, I was his dad. He knew my touch and he recognized my voice. This day would forever change my life.

Seeing your baby born is one of the most amazing miracles of God! It totally changed my life. In hindsight, Gabe became the reason for me becoming who I've become, or at least the husband and father I became leading up to his death. I often described the day he was born as though God just took the lid off my body and poured in a big bottle of love. I had never experienced anything like being a father and I loved being his dad!