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Category: 2014

2014/Adoption/birthday/car/date/date night/family/go/goals/high school/kids/marriage/Marriage Matters/mom/motherhood/suicide awareness/top ten

Cream of the Crop, Top of the Top

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Mrs Gray / 1 Comment

A look back at the top ten posts of 2014 by the numbers. 1. Six-tea Surprise 2. The Next Big Step3. Marriage Matters: Life Happens4. Happy Wife, Happy Life5. Ha...

2014/2015/Baby Gray/birthday/camp house/country life/go/goals/marriage/memories/move/Mr. Gray/prayer

Gone.

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 2 Comments

This year, I went with a word instead of a list of goals. I liked it. It encompassed many areas of my life. Go. Some days were easy. Some days were hard. There ...

2014/cards/Christ/Christmas

From Our {New} Home to Yours…

Posted on December 25, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 1 Comment

We wish you a very merry Christmas!

#teddyelf/2014/Christmas/Christmas Eve/jammers/Teddy

Bye, Teddy!

Posted on December 24, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 0 Comment

(Use your very best, “Bye, Buddy!” Mr. Narwhal voice to get the best results with that title.) Teddy came to wish us well today before heading ̶...

2014/Adoption/Christ/Christmas/go/goals/hashtag/Instagram/Recipes/Sea World/Tuesday 10/Tuesday ten

Tuesday Ten-sel

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 0 Comment

1. This weekend, we had Tinsley Christmas. Aunt Carrie had her props for a fun photo shoot, so we have some great memories on camera. 2. Also at Tinsley Christm...

#teddyelf/2014/gifts/giving/Happy House/teacher/Teddy

Classroom Treats: Reindeer Food

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 3 Comments

When I was teaching, I made reindeer food for my students each year. Then I forgot about it–until last night. Baby Gray’s class party day crept up o...

#teddyelf/2014/Elf on the Shelf/Teddy

Teddy Tuesday

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 1 Comment

Teddy Elf is back, and he’s been bringing fun and cheer to share! He’s brought gift lists to shop for children who don’t have gifts, treats to...

2014/country life/mouse

Eek! A Mouse!

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 2 Comments

I’m not a cat person, but I’m less of a mouse person, so we have four cats who are supposed to be keeping the pesky rodents away. We have found dead...

2014/Christ/Christmas

Unlikely Nativity (Alternate Title: Proud Mama Moment)

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 1 Comment

While we were at Aunt Cookie’s for Thanksgiving, Baby Gray spent his time building with Legos (I know, so surprising). Of everything he built, though, one...

2014/Christmas/Santa

Battle of the Santas

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 1 Comment

We’re off to see Santa today. I had to decide if I wanted to go with our original Santa or the “new” Santa who was so wonderful on our off yea...

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Hi, I’m Jolie…

jolie-gray
Wife to Josh, mama to Hays (7), hopeful adoptive mama, and Jesus lover. I founded Purpose Box in July of 2014. I'm all about open sunroofs and coffee dates. Welcome to my space; have a click around. I hope you feel loved, encouraged, and empowered.

Texas forever.

Purpose Box

purpose-box

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If you saw my post yesterday, you know our endo ap If you saw my post yesterday, you know our endo appointment Thursday threw me for a loop. 

The best way I can describe it is feeling like the rug was pulled out from under me. I no longer knew which data was good. I had two data points on polar ends of the spectrum. 

My heart of hearts was telling me my large sample (the Dexcom data) was right. I know what we do day in and day out. I know what the math looks like for that size sample of information and the risk of error that large. 

My reading yesterday morning was about lamenting—crying out to God. As I journaled, I prayed, “Show me which data is good. Show me how to go forward in the best, healthiest way for the boy.” 

I had already shopped in-home A1C tests online. I called around and checked locally. One of our local pharmacies had one and pulled it back for me. Based on price and location, I was expecting a store-brand version—which still works. Instead, I was met with the better brand with good reviews all over the internet. 

All I needed was a set of numbers to match the info I had—or at least be in the middle to bring some light to the subject. I needed to be back on a solid foundation. I needed to know which data to use to drive decisions for the boy’s care. 

After school, we came right in and took the test. It matched our initial information from the Dexcom. Back on solid ground. Back to firm footing. Back to solid data-driven decisions. 

Mamas, trust your gut.

I’ll tell you, our doctor already knew I was leery before we left the office. She ran a second test for me (same machine) to verify. I am not upset or angry or even disappointed. We just needed more information. I’m grateful for the resources and opportunity to have it.
Yesterday the boy had his regular endo check up. I Yesterday the boy had his regular endo check up. I sort of left feeling a little bit like each one of our faces here. 

👨🏻 The face-value smile: On paper, what we are doing is working well. (Paper for us is our Dexcom info.) 

👦🏼 The hiding face: But—for some reason it did not translate to his A1C this round. 

💁🏼‍♀️ The absolute adoration for our boy: YES! He rocked his lab work yesterday. He asked good questions. He is growing and learning how to manage this condition on his own. 

Honestly, I left pretty disappointed and disheartened because our work on paper didn’t match what his lab info showed.

An A1C is not the only measure of what we’re looking for, but if that’s off it makes me doubt our readings, time in range, etc that we are always striving to improve and do our best with. If the data we are working with isn’t accurate, it’s not driving us to good decisions. 

I don’t say any of this for sympathy or a mom shout out or a hug or a pity party, but merely to encourage you if you’re walking through something similar. 

Today I’m going to shake it off, make a plan for double-checking our data and keep on trucking. Diabetes doesn’t stop for me to regroup and rethink. It’s all on the fly.

So, fly we will!
“If I wait on the world to tell me when to stop, “If I wait on the world to tell me when to stop, I never will.” — @handsfreerevolution 

As a family, we have made some choices that allow us time to be home more, time to be together more, time to be in our kitchen more, at our table more, you get the picture. 

I recently had someone tell me that I wouldn’t have all the time I had to get things done if I had their schedule. And they’re right. And it’s intentional. 

Each family has to find their fit. And for us, this is ours. We are over half-way done with the boy’s time at home. Soon he’ll have extra curricular obligations that we’ll have less control over the when and how of. So, for now, we’ll take the time to stop because it’s our time to take.
Rhythm. Once again, I came into the week of the Rhythm. 

Once again, I came into the week of the new year with no words or expectations. 

Lately, God has been showing me more about rhythm. Routine. Seasons. Cycles. 

2020 allowed us to take a step back. To focus on the important. To major on the majors. As things begin to return to “normal,” there are some things I don’t want to shift in my heart. I want to hold on to the rhythm of rest. The rhythm of grace. The rhythm of ministry and love and fulfillment. 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30
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