We have been very busy this year and have not sent out any cards in the mail. We did find some time to get dressed up for a formal Christmas wedding last weekend and decided to forward this picture to our families and friends along with this Christmas note.
Most of you know that this past year was a little rough for us and the Gray family. Our son Chris and his wife Amy were in a terrible vehicular accident that had us taking care of our two oldest grandchildren (one with a broken femur) for over a month while their mother was recuperating in the hospital with very serious injuries. Amy has luckily pulled through and though she will never have 100% use of her lungs and heart and has had bouts of high blood pressure, which caused some continued hospitalizations, we are grateful she is alive. Shortly after that episode our nephew Tyler was in a serious motorcycle accident. He broke his back and we were not sure if he would walk again. He has made a remarkable recovery for which we are thankful. The following week our nephew Zack was in a car accident and sustained a deep cut to his face near his eye. Fortunately, he did not lose his eye or have any serious head trauma, but required quite a few stitches.
A week after the last accident we lost our dear Sister-in-Law Jennifer Gray to a heart attack in her sleep. We are deeply sorrowed by this loss and all of the tragedies this past year. Vicki�s mother also had a close call after minor rotary cuff surgery that left her in the hospital for three days with breathing problems and high blood pressure. The company that Vicki�s sister Debbie works for is in negotiations for a merger and she may lose her job over it. However, we are firm believers that when one door closes another opens and all things happen for a reason, ever the optimists in the face of great despair. (Like everyone we do have life�s moments that leave us feeling disheartened they just don�t last long, Thank God.)
On a brighter note we all remain a close loving family and some of us have and/or are becoming grandparents again. Vince and Gloria have their second grandchild by Scott and Jamie and we welcome Liam Murphy Gray to the family. Our son Stephen and his wife Sarah are expecting their second boy Kaden Hellin (middle name still to be determined). My Cousin KC and his wife Victoria (Tori) are having their first child, my Aunt Joyce�s and Uncle Gust�s first grandchild, much to my Aunt and Uncle�s great pleasure. All other grandchildren, nieces and nephews are doing well.
We went to Wyoming this summer for the 2nd Gray Family Reunion and had a terrific time and then this fall to our niece Annaliese Dedmore�s first birthday (Sara's grand-daughter by Noah and Liz).
Brian went to Wisconsin in November with four of his brothers to see a Packer�s game. Our poor Packers are having difficulties this year, but the four Gray boys had a terrific time. Go Bears, Vicki's from Illinois. Vicki�s brother John and sister Debbie and their families came up for the annual Christmas Parade and Courthouse Lighting, we took three of our grandkids and the pictures Vicki sent out last week were pictures that Vicki's niece Ashley took. Fun was had by all.
We have no snow as of yet, but are hoping we get some soon. Although we don�t want Wisconsin snow, a little dusting for Christmas would be nice.
We are looking forward to having all four of the grandkids at our house on the night of the 23rd and having their parents come the following morning for Christmas and our family gathering.
We�ll let you know after this Christmas with four little ones (7, 4, 2 & 2) if we will be up for taking five next year, whew!
We tried not to make this too long and would like to close now by wishing all of our family and friends a blessed Christmas and for 2006 to be a tremendous year for all. God bless everyone and hope to see you all soon!
Brian & Vicki Gray
Brian Carroll Gray married Victoria Ann "Vicki" (Totlis)
Hellin on August 30, 1995.
Their vows were solemnized at Sacred Heart Parish
on August 30, 1999 by the celebrant,
Fr. Francis Pyka, CMF, a close friend of the Gray Family.
Victoria "Vicki" (Totlis) Hellin/Gray was born on December 31, 1958 to Christjohn and Shirley (Kisley) Totlis. She has two brothers, John and Andrew, and one sister, Debbie.
Vicki had three children by a previous marriage to Bill Hellin:
Christopher Hellin was born September 21,
1976.
Amanda Hellin was born August 10,
1977.
Steve Hellin was born August 21,
1980.
Brian Carroll Gray was born at Youens Hospital, Weimar, Texas, on June 27,
1959, to Ceil and Bob Gray. Since his brother, Bobby, had been recently confirmed, was 14 years old and in the seminary, and his sister, Cecilia, was almost 17, Ceil and Bob gave them the opportunity to be Brian's godparents.
There is a Saint Brian, but the more popular figure from Irish history was Brian Boru, who united Irish people to stop attacks from the Norsemen. The name Carroll is a popular one for Irish Catholics in the United States of America. Charles Carroll of Carrollton signed the Declaration of Independence and his cousin John Carroll was a Jesuit and the first Catholic Bishop in the USA at the new Diocese of Baltimore.
Brian Gray attended Lincoln School, Sacred Heart Elementary School and Prescott High School, in Prescott, Arizona. He was on the golf team in high school and later attended Glendale Community College in Glendale, Arizona. He obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Police Science from Fresno State University in Fresno, California. He worked as a guard at the Yavapai County Jail before being hired by the Adult Probation Department. He met Vicki when she was working in the Mail Room Office of Yavapai County.
Chris Hellin married Amy (Amos-Hogan). Two children born to their union:
Christopher Hellin Jr. was born on his dad's birthday, September 21, 1998.
Amelia Rose Hellin was born on February 19, 2001.
Steve married Sara (Caldwell). One son born to their union:
Jordan Stephen Hellin, was born on February 27, 2003 at 9:30 p.m. 21 inches long, 7lbs, 1oz.
Katrina Marie (2003) was born on August 19, 2003, to Amanda Hellin and Terry "TJ" Stephens in Mesa, AZ.
To view more pictures, click on Vicki's grandkids.
Please visit Kiddiepics.
Just wanted to drop everyone a note and let you know that Vicki and I
are going to Ireland from May 28th through June 10th, 2003. This is our long
over due honeymoon that we never had. We are doing the self-drive,
rental car, go as you please tour with the bed and breakfast every
night. The highlight besides the honeymoon thing will be seeing Bruce
Springsteen and the E Street Band in Dublin, Ireland on May 31st. Maybe
we will run into a distant ancestor or two in Cavan, otherwise we'll
see the sights, visit some churches, hit a golf ball or two and have some
pub beer. We are really looking forward to the trip, I mean honeymoon.
Brian Gray
Adult Probation Department
'Twas The Night Before Christmas Twas the night before Christmas And all through the town Not a sign of Baby Jesus Was anywhere to be found. The people were all busy With Christmas time chores Like decorating, and baking, And shopping in stores. No one sang "Away in a manger, No crib for a bed". Instead, they sang of Santa Dressed-up in bright red. Mama watched Martha Stewart, Papa drank beer from a tap. As hour upon hour The presents they'd wrap When what from the T.V. Did they suddenly hear? 'Cept an ad.. Which told Of a big sale at Sears. So away to the mall They all flew like a flash... Buying things on credit... And others with cash! And, as they made their way home From their trip to the mall, Did they think about Jesus? Oh, no... Not at all. Their lives were so busy With their Christmas time things No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King. There were presents to wrap And cookies to bake. How could they stop and remember Who died for their sake? To pray to the Savior... They had no time to stop. Because they needed more time To "Shop til they dropped!" On Wal-mart! On K-mart! On Target! On Penney's! On Hallmark! On Zales! A quick lunch at Denny's. From the big stores downtown To the stores at the mall They would dash away, dash away, And visit them all! And up on the roof, There arose such a clatter As Grandpa hung icicle lights Up on his brand new step ladder. He hung lights that would flash. He hung lights that would twirl. Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus... Light of the World. Christ's eyes... How they twinkle! Christ's Spirit... How merry! Christ's love... How enormous! All our burdens... He'll carry! So instead of being busy, Overworked, and uptight, Let's put Christ back in Christmas And enjoy some good nights! Merry Christmas to all AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!