Gotcha!

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It's late, but there is one more hour left in this gotcha day, so I can still say today is officially Gabby's gotcha day.  I don't have words for the gratitude in my heart.  Somehow through a thousand twists and turns, and a real-life series of unfortunate events, this amazing girl landed in our lives.  We love, love, love, love, love her.  To the moon and back.  Across a thousand oceans.  More than we could ever say.  I think of all the possibilities of life paths intersecting, and a girl from India to Utah via Nebraska doesn't seem all that likely.  How on earth did we get so lucky to share Gabby's life?  And three years later, I can't begin to imagine life without her.

Thank you, Gabby for being who you are.  Thank you for living a resilient life.  Thank you for your happy, outgoing, friendly nature.  Thank you for your energy!  Thank you for your inquisitive nature.  Thank you for walking a brave path.  Thank you for the inspiration you are to all of us.  Thank you for your honesty.  Thank you for your ready-to-forgive heart.  Thank you for the life and light you bring into our home.  There is a light in you that will never be dimmed.  You are an amazing girl and we are blessed to be among the lucky ones to share your path in this life.

And since I blog so rarely, I'm feeling the need for a Gabby update!

• She's officially 5'2", and as tall as I am.  (And no, I'm not shrinking.)  
• Gabby calls herself my Jillian Michaels.  If she is with me, I can't buy candy and she wants to run with me so she can push me farther.  So far, I've managed to keep her out of my workout routine.  (Everyone needs a little alone time, right?)
• Gabby is no longer a vegetarian.  Aside from eating a few select items of carefully disguised meat, she previously thought it was all disgusting.  At a church girls camp last summer she ate bacon.  She came home and told me she now "learned to like meat," then added, "But it has to be bacon."  Then a few weeks ago she pulled off an all-time big move into the meat eater world and ate half of a huge steak from Grandpa Campbell's farm.  Don't you think that officially disqualifies her as a vegetarian?  (She still doesn't eat pepperoni, but let's face it...that's not really meat.)
• Gabby is an athlete.  She is also brave.  This past fall she told me she wanted to try out for the junior high volleyball team.  I asked her if she knew what volleyball was.  She said, "No, but I want to try out."  I asked her if she knew the rules or how to play, and again she said no, but she had some friends trying out, and wanted to try out.  I tried to picture myself at her age, and knew you probably couldn't have paid me to walk into a gym full of strangers in a new school and try out for a sport I'd never played before.  Gabby not only made the team, she was one of the stronger players on the team, and played almost the entire game, every game.  She was one of the team captains, and by the end of the season, she had perfected a nice overhand serve.  Add an amazing soccer season, tae kwon do, and a 5k to that and you get Gabby's year in sports.  

• Gabby started a new school in the fall.  She's in 6th grade and starting jr. high, so she transferred to Summit Academy, a charter school where the other kids have gone.  She kept telling me she was scared she wouldn't make friends, and I wanted to say, "Hello, Gabby!  Have you met yourself?"  Of course she's a natural friend, and she isn't afraid to stand up to kids that are bullies.  Everyone is her friend (except the bullies).  : )
• Academically, Gabby has taken off this year.  Three years ago she tested at a first grade level in reading, math, writing, and science.  She started tutoring a year ago to build foundation skills because she was a great learner, but was still doing a lot of compensating to make up for what she had missed.  Earlier this spring, she tested at a 4.5 grade level (about half way through a 4th grade level).  A few months ago, she tested at a 5.5 to 6th grade level.  (Testing was completed through the tutoring program, and through the charter school, which had higher grade level requirements than what the elementary school had required.)  We told her she completed 6 grades in 3 years.  She is very determined to succeed academically.  She's a self starter.  I rarely have to ask her about homework, or check to see if she's doing it.  She does it on her own every day and asks for help if she's struggling.  I'm so proud of her.
• And did I mention that Gabby is just an all-around good person?  Everyone she meets loves her instantly.  If you walk away from her without a smile on your face, you've missed something amazing.  

A few more pictures, just because...

12th b-day breakfast...cinnamon rolls before she left for girls camp.
I love how she's looking at me to see if I'm taking the picture before she blows out the candles.  : )

Practicing the fine art of selfies with Megan

Young Women's conference in Salt Lake City earlier this spring.

Egypt project

Thanksgiving in Moab...Joie, Gabby, Megan, Jeran

Gabby and cousins

Hummer Safari in Moab.  It was cold, and Gabby was sick that day.  She was a real trooper.

All seven of us at the end of the ride overlooking the Green River

Gabby girl, we love you.  How we ever got so lucky in this life, I'll never know, but I thank God every day for you.  What would our lives and family be without you?

This story will one day be known as Gotcha Gabby Girl.  It may also be known as Moms With Bragging Rights.