Empathic Abby Kate

I don't have any recent pictures. I am sorry. Abby Kate has been sick the past week and there just haven't been many shoot-able moments. I was inspired though by a seminar taught by a girl at our church about photography to quit trying to capture the "CHEESE!" moments and to snap the fun little day to day things. I am really going to work on that. I just wish so badly that I could capture who she is in pictures and put them on here so you all could know her. She really is a neat kid.
I really am so proud of who she is. She has recently changed saying "tank you, _____ (fill in the blank with name)" but now says, "tank you, ______, SOOOOOO MUCH!" I love that she already is saying please and thank you without being promted. We so want her to have a thankful spirit. But today, she blew me out of the water. We were at Little Gym, and there is a little girl in her class who is, well, just hard. She is aggressive and possessive and her Mom is, well, laid-back. Abby Kate has never been the center of this little girl's wrath (much to my moving her far from her) but today, she came at her and yanked her balloon away. Abby Kate just shrugged and picked up another. Then, during bubbles, the little girl pushed Abby Kate with ALL HER MIGHT, and Abby Kate spun around and caught herself before falling. She looked at the girl funny but never cried or pushed back. Then, the little girl got in a screaming match a few seconds later with another little boy and her Mom stepped in, took her away from the group and the little girl started sobbing, throwing herself on the mat. Abby Kate just watched and started walking slowly away from the bubbles and started talking really soft. She walked over to the little girl now being held by her Mom and started gently patting her back. She kept leaning in and talking to her softly. OH SWEET GOODNESS, I teared up so fast. Empathy is such a sweet emotion. I could not believe I was seeing my BABY feeling it in front of my eyes. For a bully no less. Praise God for child eyes. For the purest of hearts.....I was never prouder of her.