From the very beginning, my relationship with my son, Gabe, has been one of the greatest joys of my life. He’s always been a source of light and laughter, and being his mom has taught me more about patience, grace, and unconditional love than anything else ever could. Through the hardships of divorce, I tried to shield him from negativity and made it a point never to speak poorly about his dad. I wanted Gabe to have the freedom to love both of his parents, and he’s handled that reality with a level of maturity that has often amazed me.

Gabe has always been a kind and thoughtful kid—polite, respectful, and mindful of others. He’s the type of young man who plays fair, listens well, and treats people with dignity. Of course, like all of us, he has his challenges. He sometimes struggles with focus and needs instructions broken down step by step, but his willingness to try and his steady nature make me so proud. In many ways, his “middle-of-the-road” personality is one of his strengths—he has a natural way of staying balanced when the world feels divided.

One of the most defining moments of his young life was in 2023, when he underwent spinal surgery. It was a season that could have been overwhelming, but Gabe came through it with courage and determination. Watching his resilience during that time reminded me once again of how strong and capable he is. Today, he’s thriving, and I thank God every day for the healing He’s brought to Gabe’s life.

Being his mom hasn’t just been about guiding him—it’s also been about learning from him. His sweetness, his steady spirit, and even his questions about the divorce have helped me grow as a woman of faith and as a parent. Whenever he’s asked if the divorce was his fault, I’ve reassured him it never was—that he was, in fact, the very heart of what I was fighting for.

Now, as I step into this new season as an empty nester, I carry with me the deep gratitude of having raised such an incredible son. While I miss the days of school schedules, shared dinners, and his constant chatter around the house, I cherish our daily conversations and the way our relationship continues to grow as he steps into adulthood.

Gabe is a blessing—one I don’t take for granted. I couldn’t be prouder of the man he is becoming, and I’m honored that God entrusted me with the gift of being his mom.