I recently heard a statistic that kids laugh hundreds of times per day, while adults laugh only a handful. I tried verifying this statistic for the sake of this post, and found varying reports of truth. So I scrapped the research and stuck with my own observations. And I 
found it to be obviously true. In just one evening of listening to my boys, I quit counting the laughs when I hit 100. They laughed at a cartoon, at the dog, at my mismatched socks, and of course, too many times at the word ˜poop’ (they are boys after all). I didn’t laugh half as much. It was then that I realized, where ever this ˜statistic’ came from, whether or not it has any data-backed validity, it is filled with truth. When you sit back and hear, really hear, a child’s laughter, it has an almost calming effect. It pulls you into their innocence, and forces you to realize that the reasons you aren’t laughing (the dishes, work, the laundry, getting to basketball practice on time, upcoming holiday preparations) are not worth lost joy. So I took a big pause, sat with them, and do you want to know what is even funnier than the word ˜poop’? A Mom saying the word ˜poop.’ We laughed together for the rest of the evening.
So when I sat down today to write a post about one of our waiting kiddos, I opened Aubrey’s video, and not 4 seconds in, I knew I had to share her 
with you, as part of this post. Her giggle just has to be heard. Her sweet, innocent, not-a-care-in-the-world giggle will force you to pause. Will calm you down, and make you hear, really hear, joy. Oh how Aubrey would bless a family with this giggle. How she would ground you, and make you realize, every day, there is joy to be had, and so many laughs to be laughed.
Aubrey is 6 years old and is available for adoption through Madison Adoption Associates. She is diagnosed with thalassemia and CHD, and is reportedly developmentally on target. There is a $2,000 grant available through the end of the year for the family who is lucky enough to adopt her and be blessed by her giggles. Please complete the Prospective Adoptive Parent form for consideration as Aubrey’s forever family, or email sarah@madisonadoption.org for more information.