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Category: Adoption

2012/2018/Adoption/Baby Gray/dealing/death/faith/family/grief/loss/Mr. Gray/prayer/promises/restoration

Full Circle Faith

Posted on September 9, 2018 by Jolie / 0 Comment

I shared on social media a few weeks ago that we had taken a step in a new direction regarding our impending adoption. View this post on Instagram   So, th...

2017/Adoption/baseball/be still/books/Jeep Life/summer

Currently…

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Jolie / 0 Comment

Currently, I am winding down my first year back in the classroom full-time. I forgot what a whirlwind that can be. Currently, I am thinking of things I want to ...

2017/Adoption/Baby Gray/boy mama/calling/change/country life/family

When Words Escape

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Jolie / 1 Comment

This place has been a safe haven for over six years. Sometimes I share a little, sometimes a lot. I don’t aspire to be the next Dickens or Tolstoy, only t...

2017/Adoption/adventure/church/hometown

Adventure

Posted on January 1, 2017 by Jolie / 0 Comment

When we set off on our camping trip this summer, I had the word adventure on my heart. We were off for something new and exciting. It seemed appropriate. You mi...

2016/Adoption/faith/family/gather/goals/God

Reflect: Gather

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Jolie / 0 Comment

2016 was the year of gather. So many times, it was affirmed that this word truly was meant to be my word this year. I ended the post at the start of this year w...

2016/Adoption/adventure/parenting/prayer

Where We Are Now: An Update of Sorts

Posted on October 7, 2016 by Jolie / 0 Comment

It’s not often that I get through a week without a question or two about our adoption. Where are we in the process? Are we on a list of some sort? Do we h...

Adoption

Time to Lean

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Jolie / 1 Comment

I’m an emotional person. I cry often, love big, and feel deeply. Lately, though, my heart has been even more raw than usual–and not necessarily in a...

#buildingthegrayhouse/2016/Adoption/Baby Gray/boy mama/play/playroom

The Case for a Playroom

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Jolie / 0 Comment

A couple of weeks ago, I had an epiphany about why I couldn’t turn our extra room into a guest room. I kept the door shut, blocking out the boxes and the ...

#buildingthegrayhouse/Adoption

Not a Guest

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Jolie / 0 Comment

We moved into our home in October. It was much-awaited, much-anticipated, and sort of rushed. You see, we moved on a Tuesday and traveled for five days beginnin...

#mailthatmatters/Adoption/purchase with purpose/Purpose Box

Story Cast Monday

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Jolie / 0 Comment

I am honored to be featured on Story Cast Monday this week with Traci and Rebecca! We had such a fun time chatting, and now it feels like we’re old friend...

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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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