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coupons/hotel/money saving/tips/travel/tricks

Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 1 Comment

I’m not the most easy going traveler (shocker, I know). I prefer to stay in a hotel (no motel here) that’s at least decent. I’ve actually left places (yes, multiple) after seeing the room before.

So when Janssen wrote about bidding on a hotel–name and photos unseen–I wasn’t so sure.

Fast forward to needing a last minute, unplanned hotel (read: unplanned expense) for this weekend. I browsed all the hotel sites to compare prices (they’re the same) before remembering the bidding info Janssen shared.

I followed the first few steps before realizing that the place we’re going is too small to have its own list. I got scared of what hotel I might end up in and almost gave up. Then I saw it.

The Gray Matters Priceline Express Deals

Express Deals. We were going somewhere small enough that I could narrow down which hotels would probably pop up based on their ratings and amenities. (Bidding for Travel, which Janssen references, also notes which hotels are possible for Express Deals, but I didn’t realize it until after thi intense process was over.) I decided to try it. It wasn’t as cheap as bidding, but it would at least save me tax on our room (if it didn’t cost me the Express Deal price plus the price of a room when I didn’t like the Express Deal hotel).

I clicked.

I waited. It seemed like an eternity.

Relief.

It was the hotel I would have purchased anyway.

Baby Gray/make up/Sephora

Make Up Mess Up

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 2 Comments

Last April, on our pilgrimage to the Panhandle, this happened.

It’s the first and only time Baby Gray has ever done anything like that, but mostly I just laughed it off. It was a good excuse to get some new make up.

I found quite the treasure when I was out browsing around.
(Warning: Amazon link ahead; I’ll benefit if you buy through that link.)

Why am I just now sharing this fun find? I’ll tell you why: I just ran out! It’s been 11 months! When I was using their loose powder, I ran out all the time. I love the coverage just as much–if not more–as the loose powder. Looking for a new powder? This is the one!

When we ran to Ulta to grab more last week, this is how it went down:

Me: I’ve gotta run in to Ulta. I’m out of make up.
Baby Gray: Is it all girl stuff?
Me: Yes, it’s make up.
Baby Gray: Well, I can carry it for you!

He’s nothing if not a gentleman!

While I’d love to say this is a promo for Bare Minerals, it’s not. Have their people call my people.

#SheReadsTruth/#SheSharesTruth/faith/Lent/scripture

#SheSharesTruth | Joshua 1:8-9

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 5 Comments

It’s Friday, and that means it’s time to dig in with #SheSharesTruth! We’re exploring Joshua 1:8-9 today.

The way we carry God with us is through His word. When we imprint it on our hearts, we have Him with us. We have the solution to our problems, the directions for our path all right there for us. That’s why He gave us His word.

He calls us to meditate on His words and keep them on our lips. I want His words on my lips (and my screen), not my own. I want to be more like Him.

2014/Christ/faith/friends/God/happy mail/joy/moving

He’s Good

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 0 Comment

Oh, y’all. When we pour our hearts out and get vulnerable, we allow God to work. He works in the broken-ness. He is our Healer, Redeemer. After a rough Tuesday, God brought Wednesday. He used it to fill my tank back up to overflowing. It was nothing out of the ordinary, really, just a Wednesday, but God used an ordinary Wednesday. He uses the ordinary for the extraordinary. He used the people in my life to remind me that there is always sunshine after the rain. He sent words of encouragement, fulfillment of a heart’s desire, a surprise dessert date with friends, a family heirloom treasure, and some happy mail.

Of course, Lora tucked a special surprise in my package, and the lyrics she included were dead on.

Even on a day when things are off, I choose to praise God–to know that what He has planned for us is so much greater than anything we could dream or imagine. Joy is not found in circumstances; it’s found in Him–only Him. Even on a day when I am feeling down, I have joy in the Lord.

And the icing on the cake, was THIS. Oh, this. (Same link; I’d just really like you to read it.) I needed it. I read it right about the time I was winding down for the day, and it was exactly what I needed to hear. It was the perfect end to my day. He’s good, y’all. So good.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” –1 Thessalonians 5:18

2014/C3/faith/go/moving

It’s a Hard Knock Life

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 1 Comment

Some days are just harder than others. Yesterday was one of those days. Nothing was particularly wrong; I was just off. Off my game; off my security in who I am in Christ. Off.

I’m not one to get down on myself or pout. Yesterday, though, I just was. The funk of being in transition was catching up with me. We are stepping out of things near and dear to our hearts because the physical distance will be greater. Not because we don’t love it. That’s hard. We are moving away from some friends. Not because we don’t love them. That’s hard. We are moving closer to other friends. That’s part of the light at the end of the tunnel. We will have more time together as a family. More light. We are called to go back. Called. I know it as much as I can know something. As recently as Sunday, God spent all day affirming me in this.

I feel like we’re walking in blind, though. We don’t know what we are called to; my heart isn’t able to prepare to move to something else because I don’t know what it is. But there’s light. It’s not that I don’t want to go. I do. More than anything, I am looking forward to living, working, and worshiping in one community. I am looking forward to being plugged in all in one place. We haven’t had that in years. I want that. We are called to that. We just don’t know what it looks like yet. The uncertainty has me less sure on my feet than I normally am. It’s a terrible feeling.

When I was at C3 this year, I was really praying through what everything was supposed to look like. What I kept hearing was that I didn’t have to know. I didn’t have to know what it was going to look like, where we would go to church, what friends we would have. I just had to know that I was walking in my calling. In the words of Jud Wilhite, “Love the calling you have, not the one you wish you had.” I can’t sit around trying to make things fit my way. It doesn’t matter how many times I go over it in my brain. If it’s not of God, it’s not what I want to invest in. I want to follow His plan, not my own.

I knew that choosing go for my word for 2014 would be hard. It’s hard for me to go. I have a tendency to get cozied right in, get really good at what I’m doing, and continue down the straight and narrow. I don’t want to be so zoned in on things that I don’t see the opportunities passing by. I always want to have the courage to step out and go to what God has called me to.

carseat/cooking/faith/GM/Sea World/The Happy Mama Magazine/Tuesday 10

Well, I Suwannee!

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 3 Comments

Joining Samantha from Airplane Rides and Guac Sides again this Tuesday. Tuesday Ten is such a refreshing feeling; I can get everything off my chest at once. I love it!

1. Sea World. BOGO Fun Cards and free preschool passes. Fun times all summer!

2. I suwannee. What the heck is that? My grandmother said it all my life (and probably all of hers), and I never knew how to spell it or what it really meant. Thanks for clearing it all up, Urban Dictionary.

3. The Happy Mama Magazine published yesterday. You might see some folks you know.

4. I get really annoyed when I’m trying to get Baby Gray settled into his carseat and people pull in or out of the parking spot next to the door I’m hanging half-way out of. Why? Please just give me a second to safely strap my kiddo into his seat.

5. Sometimes God speaks to me over the course of an entire day. It’ll be about one thing in particular, but He’ll use different mediums to make sure I get it. I love when that happens. I love His affirmations.

6. Yesterday, I took supper to two of our friends. I forgot the paper goods. Don’t forget the paper goods. (What’s your go-to meal to take to friends? Do you take paper goods?)

7. I’m getting the itch to go back to school. I have to decide what I want to be when I grow up, though. I love learning. I love my job. I’m not sure how to mesh the two.

8. I need a pedicure something fierce. I’m waiting on my next half so I don’t mess up my toes. I don’t want to wait any longer.

9. When the check came at dinner last night, Baby Gray asked to draw on the receipt. We gave him the pen, and he cranked out Olaf in no time flat. I was so impressed. He is clearly his daddy’s child. I do not possess that ability.

10. Tomorrow is hair cut day. This makes me beyond excited.

#SheReadsTruth/#SheSharesTruth/2014/Lent/scripture

#SheSharesTruth | Jonah 3-4

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 1 Comment

Joining #SheReadsTruth for #SheSharesTruth today! We’re diving into Jonah 3-4 today.

Sometimes people have a hard time thinking of God as angry. They have this picture of butterflies and roses, unicorns and rainbows that their perception of God doesn’t allow them to see Him as anything but happy. Other people think of only a God who is out to harm you and smash you down when something goes wrong–we call that god the baseball bat god at Rev.

God is loving; He loves us more than we can even imagine. He is forgiving; He is able to forgive things we see as unfathomable–over and over again! That doesn’t mean He doesn’t get angry or hurt, though. Think of who can make you the angriest: those you love. The people you care deeply about have the greatest ability to hurt you. They are tied to your heart strings. The same is true for God. His abundant love and mercy along with our human nature are a sure sign for some hurt along the way.

As Jonah goes into Nineveh, he is proclaiming a great disaster will come. The Lord told him it would. When the people repent and change, God’s mercy prevails. He doesn’t want to punish us. Just like the parent who tells their child, “This is going to hurt me more than it will hurt you.” It’s the same with God. It hurts Him to have to punish us, but here are natural consequences that are unavoidable sometimes.

When we repent, His heart bursts with joy. Our certain death is redeemed, and we are set free in Him!

2014/just for fun/memories

‘Cuz I Missed You

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 2 Comments

Yeah, I missed you…
(You know you’re wishing you had Lisa Loeb glasses while you sing that in your head.)

Things I miss:

Flexibility (in the literal, physical sense)
Hair sans grey roots
Short-term memory
$1.50 gasoline
Harrell’s vanilla Dr Pepper
Tijuana fries
Living where my friends live
Fudge Rounds

What do you miss?

2014/faith/go/move/scripture

Here & There

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 2 Comments

We’re in a weird place. We’re in that in between space, limbo, if you will.

In a sense, we’re still here: the house we brought our son home to, where he took his first steps, where he learned to talk, count, skip, run, imagine, dream, and play. He’s still small, and there are a lot of memories left to be made. So many firsts, though, they’re here.

In another sense we’re there: where we had a friendship, our first date, our first kiss, proms, our wedding, Baby Gray’s first day of school (both of our first days of school), and so much more.

The worry starts to sneak into this brain of mine. What if it’s the same? What if it’s different? What if we can’t get into a groove? What if this doesn’t work out? What if it does? What if we never live anywhere else for the rest of our lives? What if we have to move again? The worry. Why? Why do I let it creep in? What good does what if do me?

“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall I wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all of these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” –Matthew 6:27, 31-34

What if does me absolutely no good. None. It’s in the red writing. Jesus said it Himself. If there’s one thing I do know in this whole process, it’s that we have been called to go back to our hometown. It has been laid out as plain as plain can be–several times. God has been good to me in that area. He knew I needed some assuring.

“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land I will show you.'” –Genesis 12:1 (emphasis mine)

God didn’t even tell Abram where he was going, He just told him to go. So, I feel blessed to know that we at least know where we are going–and we’re going to family instead of away from it. I know we are supposed to go. To leave what is here, what is comfortable, what we know. I don’t know what He has for us when we get there. I’m anxious to find out. I’m excited to be on this journey–to get to go. I’m honored he would call us to be part of this story. That He has equipped us for what He has called us to–even if we don’t know exactly what it is just yet.

ag/Baby Gray/farm/NYC/race/Ranch/running/The Happy Mama Magazine/Tuesday 10

Tuesday. Ten.

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Mrs Gray / 4 Comments

It’s Tuesday. Here’s ten. As always, thanks to Samantha at Airplane Rides & Guac Sides for getting me started on this. Random thoughts comin’ atcha.

1. It’s National Ag Day. I could go into a lot more detail on this, but mostly, I’m glad to be from an ag family, be married into an ag family, know where my food comes from, and know that it’s a blessing. Thanks to all the farming, ranching ag families out there.

2. Sunday was my worst race, by far. It was still a win, though. I went to bed about 90% certain I wouldn’t run Sunday morning–I felt terrible. I got up and did it anyway. I finished. I’m a finisher.

3. Not much irks me more than a wet bath mat. Dry your feet, people. Ugh. Hee-bee-gee-bees!

4. Have you tried Donate a Photo? Download the app, choose a cause, upload a photo. Done! You might see someone you know.

5. I might have written an article for a magazine this week.

6. When my shoes died a month or so ago, I went in to get a massage to try to relieve my calves. The massage therapist recommended (Amazon affiliate link coming your way) Sombra Warm Therapyfor the tightness after I run. It’s worked great! You might want to try it.

7. You know that ebb and flow of hectic and calm that goes on? I’d prefer a good balance all the time. I’m not sure how to obtain it since different types of year tend to go at different speeds, but it’d sure be nice.

8. We saw Wicked at The Majestic in San Antonio last week. So good. Makes me want to go back to New York even more.

9. Moving forward, even when you know you are supposed to, is sometimes scary. Keep going. Walk in your calling. Walk where you’re called.

10. I love and hate how self-sufficient Baby Gray is. That’s normal, right?