family – The Grayt Life

I’ve been reading that 2025 was the year of the “Snake.” The Bible tells us from Genesis that the snake was up to no good. While we had a lot to be grateful for in 2025, I’m also ready to bid it goodbye.

2025 in Review

We started the year with a quick trip to New York City! The city was still full of Christmas decor. Then, I started my snowbirding era! I spent a good bit of the winter as my mom’s sidekick in Florida. Then a trip home for college visits and to be here when Tanner’s college acceptances started rolling in.

Then I went back to Florida for some more sunshine. Warren joined me for his spring break and a trip to the ER at Englewood Hospital. The care he received at that hospital was incredible. The doctors even joked that he was like an experiment, since most of the patients they saw were 3-4 times his age. They took great care of him and got him on the mend.

I came home to kick off Tanner’s Senior Prom season, while Warren and Savannah had cool fraternity and sorority events in Greenville. We love meeting Warren for dinner halfway in Wilson. He is on the home stretch at ECU.

Tanner said YES to NCSU, our bestie’s son got married, and just to live life like a dog.

Next onto Summer and Tanner’s high school graduation… Class of 2025. But before we started those festivities, Jill and I attended a book talk with Kristy Woodson Harvey at Quail Ridge Books.

Our church hosted a beautiful Graduation Banquet for high school and college students. Family came to love and support Tanner, and the three boys who grew up in church together have a foot in the real world. And Brixx…our sassy Gordon.

Then the Indiana crew came to town! Tanner graduated high school, and Carrie turned 50. Memories of all of us together will be forever etched in my heart.

Summer and Fall brought college move-in for both boys. We went to a hot football game at NCSU. Then had a great parents weekend with Warren and PIKE at ECU. Tanner and Farm House hosted Parents Weekend at NCSU a couple of weeks later.

Then came my heartbreak. My mom passed away following a courageous, 4-year battle with ovarian cancer on November 15, 2025. I was able to spend a weekend in Indiana with her a couple of weeks before the end. We are now celebrating the firsts without her. The first Thanksgiving, the first Christmas. I have wanted to pick up the phone and call her a million times these last few weeks. I’ve wanted to text her about something I saw or to ask her a quick question.

Grief is a humbling feeling. It comes in all forms with many looks. My mom would give me Starbucks gift cards throughout the year, for Valentine’s, Easter, Mother’s Day, my birthday, Halloween, and Christmas. This morning, I got a little choked up when I opened a Starbucks gift card from my son. It’s the little things.

Christmas looks different for us this year. We are not traveling anywhere. We are not hosting anyone. Just a quiet morning with our breakfast casserole and a few gifts.

The story of Christmas is about Jesus and celebrating all that HE gave and continues to give to each of us every single day. I pray for those who have a loved one missing today. I know I will see my Mom again in Heaven. I have that hope that Jesus gave.

But next to the heartbreak is love. My heart is broken because I loved my mom. And because I had my mom, I have an incredible family at my side. I am so thankful for these amazing people that are my family.

We all give our time, treasures, and talents in many different ways. As you look to make an end-of-year contribution, consider giving to the Blue River Community Foundation in memory of my mom, Gingi Crosby. She was passionate about education and wanted to start a scholarship fund to help those who were studying education. While we don’t have all the details worked out, we are proud to start this fund for generations to come and help my mom’s name live on for many years.

May God bless you and your loved ones in 2026. We are grateful for the blessings in 2025 and thankful to our friends and family for being by our side throughout it. Take those pictures, hug your loved ones, and thank Jesus.

Merry Christmas and Much Love,

Carrie, Jason, Warren, and Tanner Gray

#thegraytlife

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Ok, so here’s the REAL picture and the REAL life. Much more realistic, right? I like this picture a lot more, too; it’s us. It’s the crazy life that we have with some wrinkles but full of laughter and love.

I started this blog years ago as a place to write. It’s my comfort zone to write. I don’t post often, but I realized the annual fee was way cheaper than printed Christmas cards a few years ago, so I kept it. Plus, I get to story-tell here and use many pictures I’ve taken during the year. So here you go, another year of #TheGraytLife…

**Rang in 2024 with our dear friends, the Chalks.**

A great start to the year. Visited the Art in Bloom at the NCMA, celebrated Easter with the family, and took a work trip to Atlanta.

Jill and I had another book launch day with Mary Kay Andrews at our favorite local independent bookstore, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. Both boys went to prom! Tanner with Dr. Rawls at the new Wake Tech East Campus ribbon cutting and Mr. Alston. Tanner went turkey hunting and was successful. The Raleigh Youth Chapter of Ducks Unlimited held its first banquet.

Celebrated the soon-to-be-mom, Lauren! Went to Nantucket to check something off my mom’s bucket list. It was amazing! Got to go to Mitchell’s Book Corner and Bartlett’s Farm. We welcomed our beautiful great-niece, moved Warren into a house for his sophomore year of college at East Carolina University, and Tanner started his senior year of high school at East Wake.

Summer fun continued in Cincinnati! I met Peter Mayer at Riverbend with my brother who treated me to the Coral Reefer Band concert. A tree fell on our house, and the boys took care of it. Got to love on my 100-year-old Nana. Petra and her family came to visit from the Netherlands. First day of class at ECU for Warren and the first day of senior year for Tanner. Carrie started working with moss+ross and supported The Green Chair Project in addition to her other work. Celebrated twenty years of marriage with Jason. Had a fun Parents weekend at ECU with Warren and his fraternity. Savannah is at ECU, too!

Senior pictures for Tanner! Class of 2025, I can’t believe it. Warren voted for the first time. Turkey Shoot at Pope Farms with friends. Thanksgiving at Lauren’s house, more sweet Ryleigh, and her church dedication (last picture).

More Nantucket!! Yes, I went twice this year. I’m an avid reader and have been reading about the Nantucket Christmas Stroll for years. This year marked the 50th year, and while last-minute changes happened days before I left and found myself traveling alone, Jason stepped in to be my travel companion. We had an absolute blast. We flew to Boston, took the bus to Hyannis, the Hy-Line Ferry to Nantucket, and then walked to the Brass Lantern Inn in the freezing rain. The weather over the weekend was cold but full of sunshine. We left in the Christmas spirit. I also met Nancy Thayer and Elin Hilderbrand at Mitchell’s Book Corner.

We are blessed to have many wonderful family and friends to spend time with during the year. We wish you a Merry Christmas full of love, health, and joy! Here’s to a fantastic 2025!

Take lots of pictures with those you love. When you reflect on the year, you will smile about all the memories you have created together.

Love in Christ,

The Gray Family

Jason, Carrie, Warren, and Tanner – and the fur kiddos too, Cadie, Brixx, and Gov

Luke 2:10 | But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”