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Can I Snuggle You, Mama?

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Mrs Gray / 1 Comment

We spent most of yesterday morning snuggled up in bed playing hide ‘n go seek, building forts, and just being together. My sweet boy is so big. He gets bigger every day.

My day is completely made when those big brown eyes look up at me and he asks, “Can I snuggle you, Mama?” Anytime, anywhere, sweet boy.

It has had me thinking a lot about this little tiny boy he once was.

I remember how we would cuddle up and snuggle our mornings away. Our cuddling looks (and sounds much different these days), but I am so glad that boy of mine still crawls up in our big ol’ bed in the mornings to spend some time with his mama. One day he won’t want to snuggle; he’ll be off doing other things. All I’ll have are these sweet memories to look back on, and I’ll be so grateful I have them.

2015/Adoption/faith/go/settle/timing

Faith Like a Child

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Mrs Gray / 0 Comment

Last week, the boy and I spent part of our Monday hanging out with Baby Ava. About ten minutes in, he looked up at me and said, “I want a baby to come to our house and be my baby sister.” I coached him through the fact that a baby sister would live with us all the time, that he would have to share his time with me with her, and that she wouldn’t be going home at the end of the day.

“Right,” he said. “We’ll name her Woodstock.”

So, I guess that’s that.

Yesterday, after a rough day of sorts, I was pretty well feeling defeated in a lot of areas. I had convinced myself that maybe a lot of the signs about timing I saw from God were actually not God and me making things up. I was just down in the dumps and not really believing in the promises I know to be true.

Then last night, as we were eating supper, that sweet boy of ours looked at his daddy (completely out of the blue) and said, “We’re getting a baby sister!” Mr. Gray and I exchanged a look and let it go.

Today, it hit me, though. Just because I had a bad day does not mean that everything I believe is null and void. It does not mean that what we have been called here to do is no longer our calling. It doesn’t mean any of that. I just means I need to get my head out of the sand and cling to that child-like faith.

Maybe it’s not a baby sister, maybe it’s not a church home just yet, maybe it’s not any of those things, but we are here for a reason walking in callings we have been led to for a reason. God doesn’t make mistakes.

I said Friday I felt a seasonal change coming, and I know now that it is. Just because I don’t know what things will look like doesn’t mean God doesn’t have the biggest, best plans for our family. He is a God of details, both big and small. He is good. So I’m going to believe those things like my boy believes he is getting a baby sister–innocently and like a child.

#buildingthegrayhouse/Friday Five

On Fridays We Write Vaguely

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Mrs Gray / 1 Comment

1. Sometimes when you get news you don’t necessarily want to get, you take to worrying about everyone else in the situation. You pray for all the right things. You talk to the right people. You don’t take time to think about the “you” in the situation. Then it hits you. Then it becomes infinitely harder.

2. I have several writing deadlines and writer’s block. So, that’s fun.

3. We are officially making actual progress on our house. They started the form for the foundation yesterday. Here we go!

4. I can feel a season shift coming; I don’t exactly know what things will look like, but something will be different fairly soon. Vague, I know, but I just know it’s something–I don’t know what.

5. I read yesterday that Blake Lively and someone were married. It seemed like a thing I should have known at the time, but now I can’t even remember his name. Shows how much I care about celebrity news and probably explains why I didn’t know about the marriage in the first place.

2015/Angelfire/Baby Gray/graycation/snow

The Rest of the Story

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Mrs Gray / 2 Comments

The final day of our trip was a hodge podge of sorts. Mr. Gray and I skied (eh, snowboarded) while everyone else played at home for the morning.

(Have I mentioned before how much I’d love to just have paparazzi around all the time to take our photos?)

That afternoon, we were slated for tubing at the resort. So fun!

And simply because we had to squeeze in as much snow time as possible before we left, we came home and sledded until dark.

Last run of the trip! He was a jumping machine! #graycation #sledding #angelfirenm #trekarooing #xgamesherewecome

A video posted by Jolie Gray (@the_graymatters) on Jan 26, 2015 at 9:09pm PST

Our super cautious kiddo came out of his safety net while on that sled–I loved it!

Somewhere in there, we also built a snowman (on Baby Gray’s list of musts) and had a pretty massive snow fight (we didn’t always have time to make actual balls before throwing–also on Baby Gray’s musts).

I am so very thankful we are able to do family trips together–with the whole fam bam! It makes for fabulous memories and a great time!

Professional Photos: Atmosphere Photos, Angel Fire, New Mexico; rights belong to me.

2015/Angelfire/church/go/graycation/prayer/Revolution/settle

Laying Hands

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Mrs Gray / 2 Comments

After we went on the grand snowmobile adventure, we headed to a lodge back in town. It was time for a sleigh ride.

When I booked it, I originally thought we would be in our own sleigh, just our group. When we got there, another couple was there. The lady who owns the company was our driver, and she couldn’t have been any sweeter. She stopped for a photo op, and we ended up with the always-awkward photo with people not in our group.

I mean, yeah, they were nice and we got to know them, but… still awkward.

They watched while Baby Gray spent time sledding down the hill (the kid would sled anywhere anyone would let him; the driver heard and brought the sled just for him).

They asked about what we did and told us about themselves.

They took photos for us.

When we got back to the lodge for supper, a big table was set with places for all of us in the group–including our new friends. We already knew he had done mission work and that they were believers. We swapped traveling stories and shared about how we left Revolution in April and hadn’t found a church home in our new community yet.

As we got ready to leave, Mr. Gray and I were chatting by the door. In a rare moment, I was holding the boy. The husband walked over and asked to pray for us. He laid his hands on each of us, which encompassed Baby Gray because I was holding him, and begin to pray. He prayed so specifically, with so much detail. I felt so heard and so cared for. I know God sent this couple to join us for our sleigh ride and dinner.

I left there completely blown away–not because it’s the first time someone has prayed with us or we’ve prayed with strangers, but simply because of how detailed our God is. Down to the second, the very smallest details. He knows it all, and He cares deeply about it all. He cares that we don’t feel settled in a church yet. He cares that we feel so connected to Revolution. He cares about it all. About what you are going through and what we are going through. He loves each of us as if we are the only one in the universe. That’s how big His love is and how detailed He is able to be with each one of us. Isn’t that incredible?

So that awkward group photo turned into something I’m glad to have. It helps me remember to pray for them. Is there anything I can pray for you? Leave me a note in the comments.

(And here you thought I was just recounting trip details.)

2015/Baby Gray/cards/Valentine's Day

These are Dino-Mite: Boy Valentines

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Mrs Gray / 1 Comment

Sometimes I have an idea and just run with it–even if it’s months before I actually need it.

For example, I bought a package of plastic dinosaurs in October for the boy’s valentines for his class. They weren’t just any dinosaurs, though, they were friendosauruses. I had been wanting to use friendosaurus for something for quite some while, and I knew Valentine’s Day cards would be just perfect.

I had my “design lady” (we have a running joke that I have a “lady” for everything) help me with the cards. They were exactly what I envisioned. Seriously, she’s amazing–at one point in the last few weeks, I had three different orders from her in my car ready to be signed, sealed, and delivered.

The boy signed his John Hancock–and a heart, can’t forget the heart. I attached the friendosauruses (I wasn’t super happy with how that turned out, but what can you do?) and they’re ready to head off to school this morning. Class parties and treats are such a fun way to get a little creative.

Tweet: Boy valentines on @the_graymatters today!

2015/Angelfire/graycation/snow

Mother Theories

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Mrs Gray / 0 Comment

While on our trip, we headed out for a little snowmobiling adventure ~~with a guide, on a trail, so not actually too much of an adventure~~.

We split into pairs and hopped on the snowmobiles.

Baby Gray started out with me, but it made me kind of nervous to have him (very unlike me). I mentioned that at the first stop (which overlooked Colorado; so pretty) so Mr. Gray offered to drive him.

Let me just start by saying that I am usually pretty aware of when I am behind my husband and son if they are in a vehicle. I have always thought that I would rather be called back to the scene of an accident (I’d know it was an accident before I drove up) than be behind them and drive up on it without warning. Well, I got to test my theory on the snowmobiles.

Baby Gray loaded up with Mr. Gray, and they were off.

We were all in our little line behind the guide, and Annie and I were behind the boys. We were warned to stay on the trail and out of the powder, even when the trail was bumpy. BUT… Boys will be boys, and Mr. Gray just had to check and be sure it wasn’t smoother over to the side.

I saw it all in slow motion. I released the throttle and repeated, “NO! NO! NO!” but it didn’t stop them from tipping over right in front of me. Luckily, the boy in his little yellow helmet popped right up with a smile on his face and laughed. He was fine; Mr. Gray was fine. (I was fine.) I’d still prefer to just be in front of them from now on.

Pops and Nonna took a little spill (Pops was driving, maybe it’s hereditary) a while later–also while I was driving behind them. Baby Gray was riding with me when they tipped, and he went on and on about how they turned their snowmobile over, too, when he was with Daddy. He loved every minute (right side up or upside down).

Eventually everyone made it back down the mountain in one piece.

We were glad to shed helmets, goggles, and gear and head for a quick lunch before our sleigh ride.

More on the trip here, here, and here (I promise we’re close to done; I just don’t want to forget all the fun we had).

2015/Angelfire/graycation/sledding

Ready? Set? Sled!

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Mrs Gray / 0 Comment

After our ski day, we headed home to do some sledding. Sledding was a main item of importance on Baby Gray’s list when he first decided he wanted to see snow. The home we rented had an area we could sled on in the yard, so we didn’t have to go far.

That boy took to it immediately–he loved it!

We all took turns and had such a fun afternoon.

It was a far cry from any attempt at sledding we’d make around here when Texas allows us a tiny taste of snow! (One year he was too small for any of that; the other there was no sledding to be had.)

Free to Ski!

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Mrs Gray / 0 Comment

Our first actual day of “the snow” was spent on the slopes. Baby Gray headed to ski school, quite excitedly, I might add. We dropped him off–he told everyone he met that he was “ready to hit the slopes!” before we left. Anyone who asked where he was from got a cheerful “Texas–I’m an Aggie!” from a smiling boy.

After drop off, Mr. Gray and I took our rental gear and headed up the mountain. We hadn’t skiied (Mr. Gray snowboards) in about ten years, but we picked right up where we left off.

I’m quite cautious (I know you’re surprised) and Mr. Gray is not so much. We would ride the lift together, head down our respective runs, meet at the bottom and go again. It’s a perfect fit for us.

(I loved that there were photographers all around the mountain; I have always said I wanted to be famous so we could have paparazzi shots of all our fun moments.)

We rode up the lift after lunch, and I felt my phone ringing in my pocket. I just knew it meant Baby Gray was done. I checked when I got off the lift, and sure enough–Baby Gray was in the “sick and sad room” because “he would rather play Legos than ski.” Yeah. (I loved that name–sick and sad. Ha!)

We headed down, and when we got there, the boy said he would go out one more time to show us what he learned. It was fun to watch, and he had been there a really long time. We were about ready to be done for the day, anyway, so off we went.

We did some sledding to round out the day, but that’s another story for another time. Also, is sledding a sport in the X Games?

Taking Flight

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Mrs Gray / 3 Comments

Mr. Gray and I travel by plane fairly frequently, and I’ve been flying since I was tiny. I couldn’t wait for Baby Gray to experience his first flight on our trip to Angel Fire. I don’t think watching him learn and experience new things will ever get old for me. I love to see that brain tick.

He had some pretty good ideas formulated before we ever got to the airport (he had been in a helicopter before). We checked our bags, and he handled security like a champ. He explored the airport and watched all the planes coming and going until ours finally pulled up to our gate. He grabbed his boarding pass and headed down the jet way.

He took that first step onto the plane, greeted the flight attendant and walked with us to get settled. “It’s just like the train!” he exclaimed. Why, yes. Yes it is. Why had we been using the helicopter as an analogy? Little brains, always working.

He settled in and never missed a beat. Take off? No problem. Turbulence? No problem. (Lots of it? Still no problem.) Landing? No problem. It was like he’d been flying all his life.

The best part of the whole flight was when he first noticed snow on the ground as we flew over the west Texas/Panhandle area. “SNOW!” he yelled louder than probably anyone else on the plane cared for. He was so excited, and we weren’t even there yet.

The desert came back before we ever landed, but we took the time to do a little Walter White hunting since we were right outside the ol’ A-B-Q.

We didn’t find him. We did find all our luggage, our rental car, and our map–we were off to Angel Fire!