Birthday Celebration!

Since we've been home as a family of six, we have had all kinds of celebrations and events! But, one special event we got to celebrate while we were still in Rwanda.  We had no idea that we would end up being there for Gabe's first birthday!

But, when we heard the news, we were so thankful and thrilled.  Dave and Jana did a wonderful job of throwing a party at their home for special friends of their family, and we were honored to be guests at such a big celebration!

To celebrate the fact that this little one...born so tiny and so alone...was now celebrating one year of LIFE and health with so many people in Rwanda who love him, was just SO NEAT!

My friend, Marla, even made him a first birthday shirt before we left.  So sweet!!

We got to meet many of the people who have loved and supported Gabe, and it was a wonderful opportunity to tell them how thankful we were, as well as get to know them all better.

The girls had just landed the day before, so they hit the ground running, playing hard with all the kids who were there, and getting to know new friends, who became familiar faces in the four weeks we were there.

And, of course, what is a party without all of his mamas there?

Mama Susanna, his night nurse for months,

and Mama Taopista, who lives with the Jenkins and is mama and cook to all.

The girls had such fun celebrating Gabe too!

And, they were excited to share the party hats they brought from home.  :)  Gabe had a cute bear birthday cake too, baked with love by Taopista.

Sweet, thoughtful gifts were given to Gabe, that are now treasured parts of his room.  And we even brought one of our own from home.

Abby Kate made a card quickly before the party.  It says "from your family" and our gift is wrapped in her blankie.  :)

I don't know if you can tell by the feet sticking out the bottom of the "wrapping", but his gift was his first Build-a-Bear, which is our traditional gift when new babies are born to our family.  The girls had gone with Daddy to build Gabe's monkey before they left Dallas.  It was as big as he was!

Such a fun day and such a blessed memory for our family, to be able to tell Gabe about his first birthday someday.  And we're so thankful that it was in Rwanda, with all the people who have raised him!