Pay it Forward- The Byrd's

This is the Byrd Family. They need some help this Christmas. Let's help make their Christmas a little brighter this year!

Location: White Oak, Tx

"I would like to nominate our three children, not myself or my husband just my children. They have endured more than I have ever expected this past year. I am going to keep it short as I am sure there are way more families that have lost loved ones and need more, however it weighed on my heart so heavy that I knew I had to at least try for our babies. 16 months ago, I quit my job (full time as a secretary) to return to nursing school to improve our income to get my husband home who has been away working for 8 years. We have 3 children - 10 year old (boy), 8 year old and 5 year old (girls), my husband has missed so much in their lives. 6 months ago he was injured in our home and we have gone without an income for the last 3 months, savings was depleted over the last year with college tuition and one income. I graduate next month with my RN and our children have suffered more than any of us. We are so close, however they have emptied their piggy banks to help us buy food (food stamps denied us because he is still "employed", they have eaten on the free lunch at school and have already told us that they know that Christmas isn't about presents so we can tell Santa that it's okay they don't wake up to presents. We asked them to write a letter to see if we could find an angel tree in our area but they know we are strapped for money so they told us they could just make gifts for each other to wake up to on Christmas morning. Many times our youngest, who does not understand, has asked for things such as a pudding or juice and our older two have told her before we could intervene "no sis we can't waste our money on things we don't need." It breaks my heart to know that our kids are having to grow up faster due to what we thought as parents was a great decision and now it's backfiring. I sat in my car the other day crying and screaming out to God and wondering why is this so hard? I have tried to donate plasma for extra cash but I am apparently anemic, I have picked up a part time job during nursing school that only allows 12 hours and our account is negative from bills so it gets eaten up every time I get paid, I just do not know why it is so hard when I am trying so hard. Of course, I would love for my kids to wake up to toys but even more important to receive clothes without holes in the knees or a special gift that they know we did not endure all of this for nothing. They are so special and they have hearts of gold. I am not asking for gifts upon gifts just a little something for each of them to show the spirit of Christmas is still alive even in a scary world. After writing this email, I realized that I am asking for gifts when actually I have 3 that have already learned the spirit of Christmas. Writing this email has actually blessed me and pulled me out of my funk. Thank you for doing this, I am moved to tears as I know so many families will be grateful for any help."

What beautiful children they have! I knew immediately we needed to help this family. 

After I contacted them and let them know they had been chosen, this is the response I got from them: 

"I am currently bawling my eyes out in the building where I attend nursing school. I just finished my final exam and walked out to this email. I have no words right now as I am speechless and so grateful. Just this morning my curly headed 8 year old was begging for a pair of matching earrings so she "could be pretty like her friends". Brandi you are helping to make her feel pretty and you do not even know it. For us, right now we are facing our electric to be disconnected but that is monetary and really the only thing I can think of besides encouragement, which is what this is by helping our kids. I haven't even thought of anything we could benefit from as our main focus has been keeping our kids from stressing. You just helped alleviate one of the biggest fears in my heart.Thank you from myself and my husband. I just read him the email and he is currently crying (a man that in 10 years I have never seen cry). We appreciate you more than you know. Thank you is not even enough."

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WAYS TO HELP:

I asked Cortney to send me a picture of their family and her response was "we don't have any of the 5 of us because we haven't had family pictures taken in years due to finances."

Perhaps a local photographer would be willing to donate a family session for them so they could get some family pictures taken? 
UPDATE- Meredith Smeltzer Photography has donated a family session to the Byrd Family!

Cortney also mentioned that she hasn't had her hair done since summer. 

We got her fixed up there!

Emily Pipak at Hair by Emily in Kilgore, Tx. is fixing Cortney up with a cut and color! 

I asked them to put together Amazon wishlists for their children. 

You can do directly here and purchase something from their wish list and have it sent directly to them!

James's Amazon Wishlist (10 yr old boy) FULFILLED

Emma's Amazon Wishlist (5 yr old girl) FULFILLED

Peyton's Amazon Wishlist (8 yr old girl) FULFILLED

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

If you would like to send a card, letter of encouragement, make a payment to their electric company (it is facing disconnection on December 5th)-UPDATE THEIR ELECTRIC BILL HAS BEEN PAID! THANK YOU!,  please email me at 

JBHolidayPIF@gmail with the subject line: CORTNEY1129 

with what you are wanting to send/help out with.

UPDATE: Their electric bill has been paid off, but if you would still like to send something other than filling their children's wishlists (top priority), please send an email. 

Thank you for helping Pay it Forward!!