Gabe

And now we've made it to Gabe.  Growing up Gabe was often referred to as 'Gabe and Greg' or 'the twins' because he has a (younger) twin brother, Greg.  People often asked 'how can you tell them apart?' and 'how are they different?' and at times it was easier to answer than others (I could always tell them apart but growing up their personalities could be quite similar--like dirt, sports, and farm-outdoor stuff, that kind of thing), but now I can easily say that one of the things I most appreciate and admire about Gabe is his natural curiosity about hundreds of things and enthusiasm to experience life and try new things.  As often as possible.  

In high school, despite being a solid football-basketball-track kid for the three years prior, he decided to also try tennis and and as a senior--swimming.  Even though he'd never done it before.  He joined theater and performed in productions and hooked up with choir despite the fact that not a single person in our family can carry a tune in a bucket--even if the bucket has two ergonomically engineered handles.  He joined the Environmental Club and snow-shoed Tumalo State Park.  In the snowy cold winter.  He helped mentor 9th graders as a LINK leader and mostly attended most of his classes as a senior.  A couple weeks after graduating HS he moved to Central Oregon and a couple weeks after that ran a half marathon, got a job, and enrolled in community college.  

In his adult life, in addition to working, he volunteers for Special Olympics, the Humane Society, and is learning French and would like to do a triathlon and join Search and Rescue. 
How cool is all that?  

I'm so excited to see what he does next and am so proud of who he was, who he is, and who he will become.

  And he hates having his picture taken.  Silly boy.