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The challenges and celebrations of a large family

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"In our little house there's always room for one more" is certainly a true statement for the Charlie and Gina Greene family of Ellenboro.

On this Mother's Day as Gina celebrates with her own mother, Ava Mace, she also shares the special day with her six children -- three were born to the couple and the other three (half-siblings to each other) came by way of adoption just before Christmas in 2021.

Charlie and Gina have known each other since the second grade after Gina and her mom moved to Ellenboro from the Philippines. The couple started dating their senior year at East Rutherford although they met in elementary school and went through school and college together.

Gina said Charlie talked once about having enough children to field a ball team, but they didn't think it would happen so quickly.

Gina talked about the couple's challenges in 2018 that included seeing their infant son Cooper suffer a stroke and just weeks later learning a relative of Charlie's was so into drugs, three young children desperately needed care.

Today the couple and their six children -- biological children -- Ava Greene - 12.5 years old - 6th grade; Chuck Greene - 9 years old - 3rd grade; Cooper Greene - 5 years old - PreK; and their adopted children -- Karigan Greene - 12 years old - 5th grade; Hayden Greene - 11 years old - 4th grade; Tommy Greene - 5 years old - PreK -- are living life to the fullest. Little Cooper has minimal deficits after the health scare as an infant. He was delayed in most of his milestones, but is now on track with his age and developmental stages, his mom said.

Charlie and Gina had begun the paperwork for foster care parenting and training well before Tommy and his half-siblings came into their lives.

"I was working as a school nurse and I saw the huge need of families for children in our county. It put a fire in my heart for foster care, Gina explained.

"God orchestrated every step of the way to be ready for the children to come into our family," said Gina.

How the Green family quickly grew by three

Gina said she and Charlie made one of the biggest decisions of their lives in 2018.

She received a call from a family member that Charlie had a nephew, Tommy, that was placed in DSS custody. There were no other family members capable of taking responsibility for him.

Gina and Charlie's youngest biological son Cooper had just weeks earlier suffered a stroke and they were not in the best place emotionally or physically to take on other challenges.

But the couple agreed, although difficult, they needed to take little Tommy into their home. At that time, he was separated from his half-siblings.

"It truly was an easy 'Yes' to Thomas. I mean, he is our nephew, Charlie's blood. No one else could take care of him and he had already been in a couple of placements before we even knew he existed. How could we say no?" Gina said.

The day little 'Tom Tom' was dropped off at Gina's workplace, he had nothing but the clothes on his back and some rice cereal.

"Most people get nine months to prepare for a life of multiples. We got two weeks," Gina said.

Two months later Gina and Charlie discovered Tommy's half-siblings were about to be removed from current care placement with the real possibility the three could forever be separated from each other.

"Knowing that Tommy could someday discover that he had siblings separated from him tore at my heart," Gina said. "Charlie and I prayed and poured over the decision. God placed in our hearts these children and we couldn't say 'no'."

The couple went from three children to having six children in a span of three months. Almost five years later, all three children were legally adopted and now all six are thriving and enjoying their brothers and sisters.

"Having two 3 month olds was so unbearably difficult at times. I truly did not think I could do it. The Lord truly took over because I will tell you I could not have survived without him," Gina said.

"Charlie always said he wanted to have enough children to form a ball team. Technically, we have enough children for a basketball team," Gina said.

The legal adoption was celebrated December 15, 2021.

Schooling the children

The couple made a decision to homeschool their six children.

Gina said she had not thought of homeschooling until the couple had six children and she was a full-time employee as a school nurse with Rutherford County Schools.

"I felt like drowning with managing a family of eight, working, DSS appointments, visits with biological parents, court dates, and etc. We were financially stable enough to rely on one income. I felt God leading and orchestrating our family to homeschool and focus more time on family, God, and our community. Life has slowed down tremendously and it has been a true blessing to be able to spend my days with my children."

The greatest pleasure for Gina in being a mother is her children will all have each other in the future for their triumphs and difficulties.

"They will not have to face this world alone and that makes my heart happy."

The biggest mom challenge for Gina was to continue to learn how to navigate all the changes of the family dynamics within months.

"Six young children, all seven years and under, had to learn to live and get along with each other. That was a huge change and it took us time and patience to understand each other," Gina admitted.

Gina's mother taught her about being a mom.

"My mother is one of the bravest and strongest women I know. She moved to another country to help support her family and child. She was a single mother at age 21 years and had to work hard her entire life. She instilled in me the importance of hard-work and taking care of family," Gina said.

"My mother is always there to help keep my children (all 6) when I need her. She loves all my children and spoils them. Because of homeschool, we are able to spend so much time with my mother. That is a blessing to my children because they will cherish these memories with my mother for years to come."

With the Greene family growing from three to six children almost overnight, they had to purchase an eight passenger van and had to renovate their home into a four bedroom, three bath home.

When Tommy came to Gina and Charlie he had only the clothes on his back and some rice cereal.

The couple immediately had to get a new car seat, crib, diapers and formula. Since Cooper and Tommy are the same size, there was clothing for Tommy.

"Karigan and Hayden came with trash bags of clothes but there were clothes that were not clean and unfit for them to really use," Gina said. "Some people were kind and gave us hand-me downs. We tried to only buy the basics for everyone in the beginning because it was all so overwhelming. Our Florence Church family and friends were so gracious with helping with meals and our needs."

"Yes, I would do it all over again, trials and triumphs," Gina said.

The family plans to take Gina's mom to her favorite restaurant. As for her own Mother's Day gift - an RV camping trip to one of the family's favorite campgrounds - maybe Emberglow in Mill Spring and Mountain Pier Family Campground in Newland.

"We love camping in the mountains,"

The best advice Gina's mama ever gave her was "Don't worry. Give it all to God."

To help with other foster children who might need to be placed, visit the Mosaic Hope website (www.mosaichope.com) and learn how you can donate clothing and items to the Foster Closet at Second Baptist, Rutherfordton.

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