Haley Grace

Grace is defined as the gift of something that we don't deserve. I think that I can safely say that's how Matt Billingsley felt about his baby girl, Haley Grace. Matt was the owner of Lone Star Gun Range in Austin, TX. To find out how people felt about Matt, all you have to do is google his name. He was loved by all who knew him. Matt was a wonderful friend, a loving husband and an eager father-to-be.

Just a week before they married in March 2011, Sandy and Matt found out their expected baby was a girl. Sandy said his reaction was, "He cried, and we just hugged. We were staring at the sonogram of our baby. We found out she was a girl a week before we were married. Around the time he would sing the song Good Morning Beautiful to her in the morning. He said that he was going to spoil her. I had never seen anyone so happy to have a baby."

The first gift he bought her was a pearl snap pink western shirt to take her country western dancing in. Matt said if anything happened to him he wants her to know 3 things: 1. How to shoot a gun. 2. How to clean her gun. 3. Know how to dance. Matt loved to dance and was good at it. He could have never known when he bought that shirt or when he said these things that he would not be around to see his baby girl born.

On June 17th, while working at his range, Matt had an accident and was all too soon gone from this world. Leaving behind the loves of his life...his beautiful new bride, Sandy, and their unborn daughter, Haley Grace. A short month later, on July 20, Miss Haley made her appearance. She dons his brilliant blue eyes and her head is topped with the red hair he sported in his beard. She is also as forgiving as her father was, always patient as her mother makes those common new mommy mistakes.

When asked what are the hardest parts without him, Sandy replies, "Thats just it, everything is "without him". We ran a buisness together and spent most of our time together. I struggle with the time I dont get to spend with him."

Sandy is incredibly thankful for the kindnesses, prayers and support she has received from true friends who have been here for her and Haley, it has been a true blessing to her. That Texas Lady and A Gun & A Gun want to help Sandy and Haley. At each of our meetings, we will take collections for Haley's care now and in the future. Sandy's biggest fear for Haley is, "that she will not fully understand how much he wanted her and how much he loved her. Everything he did in life was for her and I."

Let's pitch in and show Haley the love and support she will never know from her father this side of Heaven. Let's give to this family the way Matt did to the gun community. Here's what I propose, get a baby bottle (you can get them for 99 cents at Wal-Mart), fill it with your spare change, your coke money, whatever, just fill it up and bring it with you to Girl's Night Out, Breakfast & Bullets, CHL Class, any activity sponsored by A Girl & A Gun or drop it off at Lone Star Gun Range and let's show this family how much the gun community cares! (If you would like to mail a donation, please email me at ThatTexasLady@gmail.com)