How is it Christmas Eve of 2021 already? I’ve not even thought about a Christmas card until today.

Merry Christmas from all of us! We are hosting an exchange student from the Netherlands this year, Fiene. She is the cute gal you see in all of our pictures.

Tanner is 14 and started high school! He loves to socialize and hang out with friends. He joined his brother in FFA. He knocked his grades out of the park this first semester of school. He loves his 4-wheeler and can be found riding all over the place on it.

Fiene, has joined our family this school year from the Netherlands. She played tennis and was the number 1 seed at East Wake High School. She is on JV Cheer and plans to pick up a spring sport as well. School is super easy for her during this gap year. Thanks, Petra, for the connection.

Jason. Oh Jason. He started the year rough with an accident that left him pretty banged up. Once he was sorta healed he started a new job in February working at a shop in North Raleigh.

And, Carrie has kept this crew right side up for the most part. I am ending the year with a bit of a health crisis, but hey, Jason hit the health insurance deductible in January, so the timing was good, I guess. I have a battle ahead, but I am strong and positive with unwavering faith in God.

We took an amazing trip to Disney World during the 50th Anniversary Celebration and got a sweet complimentary hotel upgrade to the Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Carrie chaperoned FUGE, we put in pool, remodeled the kitchen, hosted Carmen, Mom, AM and Molls for Thanksgiving and so many other amazing things.

Much love for a healthy and happy 2022!

Jason, Carrie, Warren, Tanner & Fiene

I love to receive beautiful Christmas cards in the mail each year. They tell a story of a family from that year. The high points celebrated. The whimsical pictures of color that tell others to have a Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday that year.

Getting that perfect picture or series of pictures for the Christmas card can be magical. Snap a great family photo in the summer and someone instantly will say, “Oh, that’s got to be your Christmas card this year.” We’ve all heard it.

Then we got 2020. The year two-thousand and twenty. The year of all years. It stunk. I don’t think I blew dry my hair more than five times post March 16, 2020. Rarely did I get out of yoga pants.

If you are reading this blog… congratulations! YOU are a recipient of my family Christmas card for 2020.

I asked my kids to tell me a few things they were proud of and enjoyed this year. How would we look back on 2020? We are searching for the bright spots.

In no order, here’s #TheGraytLife recap of 2020:

• Family – We got to spend an incredible time with those we love.
• FFA – Warren became an Officer of his high school FFA Chapter.
• Masks – We wore masks. Masks that were handmade and smelled like Nonnie.
• Moved – We helped downsize and move out of my childhood home. #GoodbyeGrahamDrive

• Snacks – Family nights getting slushies at Pelicans.
• Volunteering – Hanging out with friends during Upward.
• Pappers – Spending lots of time close to Pappers during his last days with us on earth.
• Beach – Relaxing at the beach and swimming with Hugo.
• Golf – Warren made the Varsity Golf team at school. He played lots of golf this year.

Tanner

• I got a mullet.
• Caught a big catfish (not a bass)
• Went to a real Hog Farm
• Rode my 4-wheeler countless hours

Warren

• Played lots of golf
• Got his Driving Learners Permit
• Dealt with online school with a little grace

• The Dumpster – It’s an “inside Joke”, but had to be a part of the Christmas Blog Card
• Nana – She is 96 years old and feisty as ever.
• Food – We ate so much food!
• Carrie earned her Masters degree in Strategic Communications from Purdue University

• Love – We learned how to love more and be kind to each other. We learned about hard work and the value of having a family that always has your back.

• Puppies – They provided a perfect and needed distraction from this year.
• Santa Claus – We believe in the magic of Santa and they humor me with the annual picture.

• Turkey Shoot – The Gray boys will never come home empty handed.

• Cabbage Key – Perfect summer getaway
• Endless summer nights
• Carrie got to be the “Fruitcake on the Radio” on Radio Margaritaville.

Merry Christmas ~ Much Love, Hope & Joy from #TheGraytLife ~ Jason, Carrie, Warren, Tanner, Ellie, Cadie, Brixx, Governor & 9 puppies!

Yesterday morning, on May 1st, I walked into the kitchen to a sweet card and a bouquet of flowers (from my own garden) on the table. The card said to go outside.

I had been “flocked”. My yard was covered in pink flamingos, big and small. I was being celebrated by my friends and family on a major life accomplishment. I completed my work this week to earn my Master of Science degree in Communications from the Brian Lamb School of Communications at Purdue University. I will round out the program with a sweet 3.98 GPA.

I was so surprised. You see, it’s not easy to pull one past me. As my dear friend told me yesterday, I was not in charge of this!  I don’t care to be the center of attention (unless you are reading what I write). I like to be the planner. The organizer. With lots of color-coded spreadsheets. I like to fall back in the shadows and watch the excitement of moments I have created. Yesterday, I got to be in the moment.

Nearly twenty-two months ago I began this journey at the arch-rival of my undergrad, Indiana University, at Purdue. I had thought about a master’s in communication for several years. The timing was never right. I looked at half-dozen programs and Purdue kept surfacing to the top to meet my needs. Not to mention the national rank of the 13th best communication program.

I worked my hiney off in this program. I am proud to say I did not miss a single deadline. Even when we had no power due to a hurricane, or when I had major sinus surgery that I told no one about, or the vacations to Florida with no WiFi, the travel for work, and even in a pandemic. I even recall leaving a fun work dinner at 9:00 PM while traveling to get back to my hotel to finish an assignment. I had to make sacrifices.

I wrote hundreds of pages and I figure I wrote about 200,000 words during this program.

This journey was amazing. I grew so much professionally, but a great deal personally as well. I learned I can’t do it all. I had to set boundaries. I had to say “no” to some things. And you know what? That was ok.

Jason was an amazing supporter and cheerleader this whole time. He only complained a few times about me being unavailable or too busy. LOL! Now, I’m home all the time and even my work travel has been put on hold.

I am thankful, grateful, and blessed to have friends and family who are so proud of me as well. I hope I was also a role model for my own kids on how hard work will payoff to accomplish great things.

But, yesterday morning, my people celebrated me. Cars honked their horns and waved all day long as they drove by my decorated yard. My home office window faces the road and I got to relish in the joy all day. My authentic husband made me the most precious sign to congratulate me.

How cute is this! The gesture of this sign and knowing my husband made it out in his shop, out of love for me really humbled me. I absolutely love it, and him!

“We are blessed to have the friendships we do,” KP

My best gals decorated my house even more (they had me flocked) and came by to say congrats in real-life. Mandy and Karen started my morning off so special. My mom said my shirt was hard for her to look at though, even though she was super proud of me.

Having a tribe that loves you and supports you on your best and worst days is all you need. These women were sent to me from God many years ago and I treasure the moments we have together. This pandemic has been tough to only see them outside for short periods of time.

“After this mess is over I will never take for granted my friendships or the time I get to spend with them,” Mandy C.

Melinda and I practiced social distancing when she came over to celebrate me with a beautiful black-eyed-Susan vine. I can’t wait to get that beauty planted.

I had a pretty great day to celebrate my accomplishments over the last couple of years.

“Find your people and love them like crazy. I am blessed to have found my people,” Carrie Gray

Here’s to all the 2020 Graduates! You have a bright future ahead.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey. I love you all so much! 

 

While I was sad to not walk in West Lafayette next week for graduation, I was pleased that Purdue quickly made arrangments to get us our cap and gowns to commemorate the moment with friends and family. Or alone in my front yard with a bunch of pink flamingos!

 

Happy graduation 2020!

And support our local friends. If you have someone to celebrate, contact Flock it to Em.    

I feel like April 2020 needs to be documented. Not necessarily so I remember the million days it had, but perhaps to look back and see how God guided us through some dark days. A lot of them. At home. In my house. Getting super excited to the UPS guy, the sweet mailman, the FedEx guy, and the ever-so-present Amazon Prime Van.

It’s May. We made it through the longest month in history. Our calendars were wiped clean. I wore exactly zero make-up with the exception of the two days I had to film videos and swiped on some pink lip-gloss.

The kids did online school and we had our first ever stay-at-home spring break. We missed Florida. We missed Nonnie and Pappers and our Florida friends and family.

Yet, we bonded as a family and got along way better than I imagined. It was like we kinda enjoyed each other. The boys fought less and less and started doing more and more together. I know that won’t last forever.

In April we celebrated Easter. At home. We ate so much food. At home. We painted two bedrooms, a bathroom (including vanity), and a laundry room. All in our family home. We built stuff, we burnt stuff, we planted and mulched. We puzzled and we played. We enjoyed time together that was starting to become rare.

I gave the boys a piece of paper and asked them to write down the five best things about April of 2020.

Warren 

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Working
                  2. Family time
                  3. Fixed dirt bike
                  4. Eating lots of food
                  5. Driving around

Tanner 

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Went fishing
                  2. Played games with Bradley
                  3. Rode my four-wheeler
                  4. Went to Zach’s house (on the four-wheeler)
                  5. Went on a boat

So April was not as bad as I thought. Or at least not through their eyes. So while they had different lists, these are 10 great things about April we were blessed to have and do.

We made it through with each other. Together. I love these people.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Find the joy in your situation each and every day. We will have ups and downs and uncertain days still lie ahead. Trust in the Lord. Find your Joy. Even in the million days of April 2020.

 

We have found ourselves in a canceled, postponed, nope it’s not happening, can’t hug or even see our friends or family world. The school has gone 100% online for one of my kids and I must say, it has been quite an awesome experience.

There is not a roll of toilet paper to be found. Anywhere. Milk, eggs and other essentials are becoming a rare find as well.

My mental health? Well, it’s the first time in my entire life, I am feeling out of sorts. I cry every day. Sometimes more than once a day.  My head hurts, a lot, most of the time. I don’t think it is directly related to COVID-19, but directly related to stress.  Will I have enough resources to protect my family in the coming days, weeks and maybe months?

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

I miss my friends. I miss my church. I miss my busy life. I know, I know, we all need a bit of this forced downtime. But when you have been wired for years upon years to fill up those calendars and fill every waking moment with some type of activity, this is a hard new normal to understand and to implement.

This morning my husband woke all of us up from our cozy slumber at 8:15 AM and had us gather around the kitchen table to worship together as a family. He had cinnamon rolls in the oven and the coffee was hot and fresh. Our church, Bethlehem Baptist, in Knightdale, NC quickly adapted and moved all services online. It is refreshing to see and hear our pastor’s voice. Although we were not in the pews, we worshiped as a family alongside many of our friends and neighbors.

 

I like my busy life. I love all the activities we cart our kids to and from all the time. I love the hectic schedules I create. And I love all the travel I do for work. I miss it all.

I am often reminded of 9/11 and how our world came to a stop. I happened to live in California at the time but had made a long-weekend to come home to Indiana to see Jimmy Buffett in concert on September 11, 2001. I got stuck in Indiana for over a week before I could get back home to San Francisco. I recall spending time with my family. I rode with my brother in the combine, wearing flip-flops (and will never live that down). I had only come to town for a short time and did not pack appropriate footwear for multiple events. I remember painting my Pap and Nana’s sunroom a bright, cheery yellow. Only to find out shortly after my Pap, was sick and would be in heaven only 7 months later. I loved that extra, unplanned time I got with all of them.

So, now in March 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus, we are navigating our new normal. Our family is hunkered down at home, together. The boys fight constantly. Hopefully, it is a sign they care for each other?

I am in my final six weeks of graduate school. I will graduate, virtually, in May with a Masters in Strategic Communication from Purdue University. The uncertainty ahead is so unsettling. I am sad I will not get to celebrate in person with my dear friends Mike, Claire, Ali or Priya in May.

Our spring break to Florida has been canceled. I will miss our Fiddler’s Green family. Pat, Dave, Denny, Chris, Hugo, Margot, Hilde, Edie, and my parents to name a few, have given us loads of memories over the years and we can’t wait to see you later!

I have not worn make-up in days. I did wash my hair today and thankful for the recent haircut. This is my tribe of people. I love them dearly.

“And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

 

 

Do you follow your favorite brands on social media? What about those brands you have some ill will towards? Do you follow them too? Usually, when someone is following a company or brand on social media, they either like the brand, want to know more, or possibly have a complaint about the brand. I have reviewed four brands on Facebook under the lens of engagement and paid content. You will learn a little more about Starbucks, the Puppy Bowl, Chewy.com, and Custom Ink in the post below.

Starbucks and Engagement

Starbucks is a great example of a company and a brand that is actively engaged with their social media followers.

I went through about two weeks of posts from Starbucks on Facebook and was quite surprised at the number of comments they responded to. The example below was as simple as a green heart emoji. The second comment was sharing a link to help Jean navigate something.

Figure 1

 

Social media followers feel empowered when a brand gets back to them. Even with something as simple as a heart emoji.

“Engagement is defined as “the collective experiences that readers or viewers have with a media brand” (Mersey, Malthouse and Calder, 2012, p.698, quoting their earliest study)” (Lipscultz 2018). Social media has become an experience for people. They want to feel connected to the content they are reading or looking at. Engagement in social media is very important.

Puppy Bowl and Paid Partnerships

“In social media, reading is an important behavior, but it is not the only behavior,” (Lipscultz 2018 p. 25).  People want to see pictures and videos. “these stimuli are consumed and sometimes result in reactions,” (Lipscultz 2018, p. 25).

The Puppy Bowl gets a lot of attention around the Super Bowl timeframe. Don’t you just love all the pictures and videos of the cute dogs they post? The Puppy Bowl does a nice job on Facebook of interacting with its sponsors and partners. This is an example of a paid partnership and what their content looks like on Facebook. In the post in Fig. 2, the Puppy Bowl has tagged Subaru of America, Inc., as well as their nonprofit partners the ASPCA and Pet Helpers Adoption Center.

Figure 2

Use this link to view the video on Caesar – Puppy Bowl Video

Chewy.com Where the Rubber Meets the Road

The Chewy.com Facebook page is a great example of both rich engagement and sponsored content. Keeping on the theme of cute puppies, Chewy.com stays engaged on social media. They also happen to be a partner with the Puppy Bowl. Collaborations and partnerships are important on social media as it helps grow the reach.

Since Chewy.com is a partner with the Puppy Bowl, they also tagged Animal Planet in the screenshot on the left and talk about giving back through an adoption event. It is a feel-good post that draws more engagement and interactions. The screenshot on the right is in the comments. Chewy.com’s response is not stock. It is custom and thoughtful.

Figure 3

“Frequently, a social media campaign goal is to increase engagement to grow to reach and build fan loyalty – asking questions and commenting help build social media relationships,” (Lipschultz 2018, p.25).

Custom Ink Sponsored Content

Sponsored or paid posts will appear more frequently in your feeds on social media. The company or brand is able to select certain criteria to boost its sponsored content to a particular audience. “A brand may purchase promoted posts on Facebook, which function similar to paid searched appearing atop a feed,” (Lispschultz 2018, p. 105).

 

Figure 4

This screenshot of Custom Ink from Facebook shows this is sponsored content.

Sponsored content usually makes it pretty easy to navigate to an actionable page. In this example, the reader can simply click on the “learn more” tab to be driven directly to the Custom Ink website.

The goal of sponsored content is to reach more people to ultimately buy a product.

As we look at the different variables we consider when looking at engagement and paid or sponsored content, we begin to realize, “valued content was created to raise awareness, inform consumers, strengthen brand loyalty, build trust and manage reputation,” (Lipschultz 2018, p. 105). This content is strategic and purposeful. The brand wants to showcase its best side and build a relationship so-to-speak with the consumer. Understanding that building brand awareness is an important step in the relationship-building process will benefit many brands at the end of the day. Therefore, engagement and paid content are a valuable element in the world of social media.

 

References

Lipschultz, Jeremy Harris. (2018). Social Media Communication; Concepts, Practices, Data, Law and Ethics. New York: Routledge Publishers.

Chewy.com – Facebook   –  – Fig. 3

Custom Ink – Facebook   – Fig. 4.

Starbucks – Facebook page – Fig. 1

Puppy Bowl  – Fig. 2