Introducing a miracle child to you...

 I heard something yesterday that stuck with me...

"Love is not only a feeling, however a decision as well"!

This made me think of my sweet neighbors.  You can use these words in so many ways, and relate it so much, it just stuck with me with them.  This couple has more love than you could ever image.  I remember when we first moved in, we saw them looking at the house across the street and this lady grinned and waved at me...I thought "Oh, boy"!  I hope they come back!  Lucky us, they have been our neighbors since, and we would not have it any other way.

As time has passed, our lives have multiplied.  We have been blessed beyond measure.  That is why I wanted to share with you my neighbors.  You see, they do not have tummy babies, but they have such a strong Christian Family and have been blessed with children in a different way than I have.  God, has used their ability to raise children with much love, that their biological parents could not have.

Last fall, I received a call from this Super Mom, and saying " Christy...I have a baby"...you can image the excitement.  This was something that they had been in prayer about, and God answered their prayer with this sweet child.  She is beautiful.  She has had a tough first year of life.  One night, they had gotten a call from the hospital to come and see this child...this child was titled..."Failure to Thrive"...I have never heard that term.  They rushed to hospital to meet her, and the next day they took her home, and got busy!  She was well beyond malnourished, and had a very long journey to improve her health.  

With much love and prayers for this sweet child, she is progressing nicely.  This couple has another child they had fostered and adopted a few years back, we have been in love with him since day one!  I wanted to share a few photos that we have from a few gatherings.  But, before you look, remember, they made the DECISION to LOVE these children. 

 These were taken a little while after she entered their home.

She looks wonderful.

She is doing awesome now!

 Jamie loves getting together!

 

What a beautiful Mother!

I am still stuck on the mother kick,

but isn't this beautiful miracle.

For the love of a Mother...

Mother, Mother, Mother....
I have been touched by so many Mothers lately!  Just today I received a text early this morning from a few mothers of GAN joining in to help another Mother of GAN who is in the hospital with her son with some complications.  The out pouring response was unreal.  So supportive, I am so amazed at how the GAN community pulls together to help out one another.

 

There is new book out by Jill Kelly, she is mother of a rare disease called Krabbe.  Yes, this is another disease that Steven works with and he has met with Hunter's Hope as well.  This is new read in the Gray house and we thought that we would share it with you.

My last little thought is that, Steven shared with the world this past Sunday that I am going to be a mother again for the third time.    We are very excited, and can not wait to smell the breathe of new life.  The Pollies are so excited, we can not wait  to share this new adventure with them.

Change for Change @ SME

 

Aubrey is leading a Change Drive next week at her school for Hannah's Hope Fund.

She worked really hard last summer raising about $1,200,

and she wanted to continue her hard work with a change drive at her school.

As you know that Steven has worked really hard developing a treatment for kids with GAN at UNC, 

and they are getting ready for the clinical trials.

However, this stage is very expensive.

So, Aubrey helped with the change drive last summer, and thought that she could 

continue her effort at her school.

She gathered a few friends up and made a video to show the

students at her school why she is trying to raise money.

I think that it is pretty cool!

Check it out!

If you feel that you want to make a change, you can make a donation.

http://www.hannahshopefund.org

 Check out the video here:

Daddy Daughter Dance

The other weekend, Steven took Aubrey to the Daddy-Daughter Dance.

These two had a blast!

Aubrey was thrilled over getting all dolled up for this big event,

she took herself on a Justice shopping spree...thanks Grandma Robin!

She has been holding on to her money and this is what she really wanted to spend her gift card on.

They two of them had a blast!

  

They definitely have a special bond.

 

This is a typical night...a little Harry Pottery before bed time.

 

Girls Night Out

 

 A few weeks ago,

Melissa and I grabbed the girls and headed to Chapel Hill.

After dinner, we called to see if Steven was still working...and he was,

so we stopped in on him...

Surprise!

Three new assistants.

 So, Steven is opening his on lab space, 

this is his new lab.

This is such a big deal, it has been a long hard trip, but things are finally growing 

and his working is paying off.

The hours that he works means so much to so many families.

The space is going to be more room for everyone!

After leaving the lab,

we headed to the gymnastics meet!

It was an amazing night...Aubrey was thrilled to get her picture with Elizabeth Durkac.

 

 What an awesome group of girls to spend our night with!