Home

Kristi L. Reed

Community makes holidays bright for family

BY KRISTI REED

Christmas is always a big affair in the Ledford household. With 22 kids, it could hardly be otherwise. However, this year was made more special by the generosity and caring of several community members.

Just before Thanksgiving, Steve Taylor showed up at the home of Keith and Vickie Ledford. Vickie said she had never met Taylor before and had no idea how he heard about her family. Taylor told Vickie that her family had been “adopted” for the holidays. Taylor asked Vickie to compile a list of items the children would like for Christmas.

While pleasantly surprised at the offer, Vickie worried that Taylor did not know what he had just offered to do.

“I told him that there were a lot of us, and he said he already knew,” Vickie said.

Taylor told Vickie he had plenty of help. Taylor, along with his wife Lynn and friends Pam King, Valerie Trimble and Sheila Beatty joined forces with members of the Abundant Life Church in Hoschton and Taylor’s neighbors from the Trilogy Park subdivision. Profiles Hair Salon in Hoschton, where Lynn Taylor works, also pitched in to help. Before Christmas arrived, Taylor and his crew had also secured help from The Activity Zone in Winder, Vinnys in Braselton and Universal Auto Center in Hoschton.

Vickie said the next time she saw Taylor was on Thanksgiving Day. Taylor and his friends brought Thanksgiving dinner for the entire family-no small feat when you consider there are 24 mouths to feed even before relatives arrive.

That day, Taylor picked up the children’s Christmas wish list. Vickie said she thought the kids might get one or two items off their lists. She never expected the surprise that awaited her and the children on Christmas Eve.

Taylor and his friends arrived at the Ledfords with Santa Claus and a large pile of wrapped presents. Vickie said she kept the children inside while Santa sorted the presents and got ready to pass them out to the children.

Much to everyone’s surprise, the children received almost everything on their lists. The children’s gifts included toys, clothes and books. Eleven year old Cora said she received Hannah Montana pajamas, a Hannah Montana Barbie and other related items. Four year old Faith brought out one of her favorite presents, a life sized Barbie that she hugged tightly to her chest. The boys were most excited about the new game systems they received including two Xbox systems, three Playstations, a GameCube and a Nintendo Wii. Even Keith and Vickie had presents from Santa.

“It was just a fantastic Christmas. It was just more than anyone could ask for. I know there is not a kid alive who had a better Christmas than these kids did. They got new clothes, new shoes, and all kinds of toys. I just thought, how will we ever repay them,” Vickie said.

There was still more to come though.

“The Activity Zone donated a day in their gym. The kids had a blast,” Vickie said. The Ledfords also received an anonymous $200 gift in the mail. “We don’t know who sent it. They just signed it ‘Merry Christmas’.”

Universal Auto Center in Hoschton fixed the brakes on the family’s small bus at no charge. Vinnys NY Pizza and Italian Grill in Braselton also provided a gift certificate.

Vickie said with so many children, buying presents can get very expensive. For birthdays, the children are allowed to choose a $10 gift and have a birthday cake. Christmas is a different story.

“Christmas we always try to do big. This year we had help and it was fantastic,” Vickie said.

LOVE HAS NO BOUNDARIES

Keith and Vickie Ledford never imagined they would be parents of 22 children.

“I never thought I’d have four,” Vickie said referring to her four biological children.

Twelve years ago, the Ledfords became foster parents. After several years, Keith and Vickie felt it was time to give their foster children permanent homes. Since that time, they have adopted five sets of siblings and two other single children.

Vickie said the decision to adopt so many times and build such a large family has not been as difficult as one might think.

“Love has no boundaries,” she said.

“Kids come in and you fall in love with them,” Vickie said. “You just can’t let them go.”

Keith Ledford is a foreman for Vulcan Materials and Vickie is a full time mom. Both work hard each day to provide for their large family.

Cleaning, cooking, laundry and homework take hours every day with so many children. Vickie said grocery shopping alone is normally a twice a week activity. Vickie also keeps busy driving the children to various activities. Currently, she has one child playing high school basketball, one playing middle school basketball, three playing recreation league basketball, two participating in middle school wrestling, five in band, one in chorus and two about to start karate lessons.

“It’s a full time job,” Vickie said. Two of Vickie’s older children live next door. Without their help, getting everyone to practices and running errands would be much more difficult Vickie explained.

With such a chaotic schedule, Vickie said the only way everything gets done is that the whole family pitches in to help. Each child is assigned chores at the beginning of the year and is responsible for picking up after themselves.

“The kids all work great together,” Vickie said. “They all do great.”

While being the parents of 22 children definitely has its challenges, Vickie said she would not have it any other way.

“I’m always busy and I love every minute of it. I love being a mom. They don’t know it, but their accomplishments are my accomplishments,” Vickie said.

Vickie and Keith said they are grateful for their family and thankful for the help they received this year from Taylor and the others. Vickie said it was a huge financial help for her family.

Despite the financial and logistical difficulties involved with managing such a huge household and parenting so many children, Vickie said she feels very blessed.

“It’s what I felt like I was put here to do,” Vickie said. “I want them to have every dream they could ever hope for. I love every one of them. Each one of them is dear to me; each one is precious to me.”

“I know this is where they were supposed to be.”