Surprise Balloon Release for Gabby- June 24, 2011

6/24/11- We did it! We surprised Jaime and Janell with a surprise balloon release for Gabby on her 1 yr. Angelversary! Thank you EVERYONE who joined us on this special day for Gabby! I'm sure they felt the love!

We surprised Jaime and Janell at Gabby's Memorial Brick located at Lou Neff Point on Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas. Here are a few more pictures from that day. 

Gabby's Tree at Lady Bird Lake Trail that was donated by Dr. Lenora Smith and Staff and Gynics Associates

Earlier that day Jaime, Janell, Grandma, Tita & Tito, Aunt Melinda, Uncle Monico and Uncle Rene went to visit Gabby at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas

Flowers and balloon from Aunt Melinda and Uncle Monico

Cute giraffe toys for Gabby from Grandma and Janell :)

WE LOVE YOU GABBY!

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Gabrielle Marie's 1st Angelversary

 

 

Angel babies, far and wide
Please note this invitation
Gabrielle Marie would like you all
To share her celebration
It's her first birthday in the clouds
And she'd love you all to come
It's not everyday an angel girl
Get's to turn one!
No need for presents or a cake
Our wings will provide the fun
So we can sprinkle angeldust
To heal our dad and mom

Written by Kate Llufrio in memory of her son Jonathon Reece

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Gabby's 1st Angel-Versary in Heaven! Happy Birthday Gabby!

Gabrielle Marie Soto 

June 24, 2010 – June 24, 2010

 Today will be a celebration of the short time you were here.
You will always be remembered with great love & sometimes tears.

To only feel pain and sorrow would not be fair to you.
Your life meant much more to us, more than you ever knew.

You were here so briefly, we wonder if you know,
all the ways you've touched our world since the day God called you home.

Now, Sweet Gabby, you're an angel with our Our Father up above.
We see not only what we've lost, but our capacity to love.

There will always be a void, our souls will grieve forever.
Will we forget or stop loving you? NO, not now...not ever!

As this sad day is upon us, oh how our hearts still hurt.
But even as we mourn your death, we celebrate your birth!

 Happy 1^st Birthday to our Sweet Gabby in heaven!

We LOVE YOU, we MISS YOU, and we HAVE YOU IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER!

 Sending all our love and hugs & kisses to you in heaven,

Daddy & Mommy (Jaime & Janell Soto), Tito & Tita (Harry & Lily Soto), Uncle Jerry Soto, Aunt Melinda Soto, Uncle Monico Perez, and Uncle Rene Soto

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"HANDS THAT GIVE ALSO RECEIVE" ;)

I'd love to share something that my brother Jaime (Gabby's Dad) just shared with me! A group of women from Lockhart United Methodist Church provided blankets, sweaters, hats and other hand made items for Gabby while she was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. David's Hospital Austin, Texas. The items were BEAUTIFUL as you can see in the picture below. Something that I didn't know till now is that once they purchased the bricks in Austin AND Del Rio they still had about $99 remaining in the fund. Jaime and Janell kindly decided that they wanted to donate the remainder of the funds to the Lockhart First United Methodist Church and help them continue to provide items for other infants in the NICU. Thank you to the Ladies of Lockhart First United Methodist Church! This saying remains ever so true, "Hands that give also receive." Thank you Jaime and Janell!

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"Play Me I'm Yours"

If you happen to take a stroll/jog/run at Town Lake (Lady Bird Lake Trail in Austin, Texas) you may happen to see these cool pianos! There is one right next to Gabby's Memorial Brick! The pianos are all around town through the month of April as part of the "Play Me, I'm Yours" public arts exhibit put on as part of the Street Pianos project. Here is a clip Jaime and Janell took while visiting Gabby's Brick on 4/24/11. Enjoy!

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Wonderful News!!

We have wonderful news to announce! Gabby's brick has finally arrived. Jaime and Janell (and Bella) had the honor of visiting Gabby's memorial brick today!
The brick looks amazing! If you happen to be in Austin, Texas and in the Lady Bird/Town Lake area, take a stroll over to Lou Neff Point on the south side of Town Lake. Lou Neff Point is where you will find all the bricks, and Gabby's brick beautifully stands right out! You cannot miss it! 
Having this unique and lasting way to memorialize Gabby means so much to the Soto/Johnson families and we would like to thank those of you once again who made this all possible! We are touched, honored and moved by everyone's generous donations. We love you all! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
We will always love and miss Gabby so much... she will ALWAYS remain in our hearts.

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Big THANK YOU!

Big THANK YOU to Johnny Flippo and his business (JW Tree Farm and Landscape) for graciously donating this tree in memory of Gabby. This tree is planted at the Del Rio Lions Park in Del Rio, Texas. Thank you for this beautiful living tribute!

 

 

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I'm Your Angel

I'm Your Angel- Celine Dion * In Memory of Sweet Baby Gabby from Melinda Soto on Vimeo.

This is the song that I dedicate to my brother Jaime, my sister-in-law Janell and my beautiful baby niece Gabrielle Marie Soto in heaven. Gabby is their new little angel in heaven and I also believe that Jaime and Janell are each others angels as well, keeping their love strong by loving each other, supporting each other, being there for one another and being each others rock day in and day out. I love and pray for you all each day.
Love always,
Melinda

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Gabby's Tree! THANK YOU DR. LENORA SMITH AND STAFF!

This is a pic of GABBY'S TREE at Town Lake/Lady Bird Trail. It is a Texas Mountain Laurel. It's going to be a very beautiful tree with gorgeous purple flowers...can't wait to watch it grow!. It was donated in Gabby's name by Dr. Lenora Smith and staff at Gynics. ALSO.... Gabby's brick is finally getting engraved in Dallas! It should be on it's way to Austin very soon!

WE ♥ YOU GABBY!

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Gabby's Brick Order is Complete

Gabby's brick order is officially complete! As you may remember, the bricks are ordered, engraved and installed in sets. We are tentatively expecting
the brick to be here by late August! We will keep you posted on the progress!

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UPDATE!

THE ORDER HAS BEEN PLACED!

As of this morning the order has been placed for Gabby's brick on Town Lake/Lou Neff Point! As you have read on the website the bricks are bought, engraved and installed in sets of 250. They also mentioned that this process could take months. They will notify us by email when Gabby's brick is in its place...on the trail FOREVER. We will definitely keep you all posted on the idea of a group gathering to visit Gabby's brick! We cannot wait to take pictures of it for those of you who cannot make it. Below is the certificate that indicates the brick was purchased. Once again, we CANNOT thank you ALL ENOUGH for all of your prayers, love, generosity and support! We are so grateful for such amazing friends and family!

 

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WE DID IT!!!!

WE DID IT! Thank you all who helped us with your generous donations! You all made it happen in TWO DAYS! Janell and Jaime will be ordering Gabby's brick very soon! We will keep you guys updated!

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Virtual Thank You Wall

We would like to thank the following people who have generously donated towards Gabrielle's Memorial Fund so far. Because of your kind hearts and loving support we are steps ahead in seeing Gabby's name on the trail. We cannot thank you enough.

Jon and Biby Alexaitis- Vancouver, BC, Canada

Robert and Jana Guerra- Austin, Texas

Jonathan and Francine Piña- Del Rio, Texas

George Salinas Jr.- San Antonio, Texas

Araceli Lira-Oliver- Fort Worth, Texas

Janina Amezcua- Austin, Texas

Geoff and Jennifer Knox- Round Rock, Texas

John Doolittle- Round Rock, Texas

Sergio and Pinky Martinez- Eagle Pass, Texas

Mari Gutierrez- San Antonio, Texas

Paul Ramirez- Austin, Texas

Sandy Martinez- Los Angeles,California 

Christopher Jacob- Austin, Texas

Tracey Carillo- Round Rock, Texas

Rufus and Sylvia Prikryl- San Antonio, Texas

Cobra Kai Softball Team- Austin, Texas

Ryan Horty and Christie Lyle- Austin, Texas

Matt and Mary Toussaint- Dallas, Texas

Ryan and Julie Ricks- Del Rio, Texas

Jose  and Jeanette Reyes- San Antonio, Texas

Josie Huertas- Tuscon,Arizona 

Rosie Vick- Universal City, Texas

Mario and Olivia Martinez- Austin, Texas

Marissa Almaguer- Round Rock, Texas

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All About the Trail Foundation

 

Commemorative brick information and pricing

I'm reading: All About the Trail Foundation