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Nancy Ray

@nancyray

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Wife to @willrray & mama to Milly, Lyndon, Beaufort, Benji & Winnie
Host of the @workandplaypodcast 🎙
Faith • Home • Work
nancyray.com

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Are we turning into a Christmas after Halloween family?? ARE WE?!?!

Guys. Christmas lights are going up early at our house AGAIN this year and I have zero regrets 🎄 @mosquitonix_northraleigh is back on our roofline and it is looking SO good!!

If you’ve never done this, here’s the best part: they start with a FREE design consult, then handle everything — design, install, maintenance all season, takedown in January, and they store it all. You never touch a single strand. They also do lit wreaths, garland, walkways and tree lighting if you want the full look.

DO NOT PUT THIS OFF! It’s already November guys & this was the best decorating decision I made this year and last. Just do what we do - get the lights hung early, then plug them in whenever you feel like you’re ready to embrace the Christmas season. (I’d do it tomorrow. Will wants to wait a little longer 😉)

PS. Sorry the time lapse is crooked. Just turn your head a little and you’ll be fine 😂

#ad #mosquitonix by @nancyray

✨ You’ve got a friend in me ✨

Halloween 2026 was so stinkin fun! I’m holding each year knowing it might be our last family theme - the girls are getting older and it’s getting harder for everyone to agree. BUT we did it this year and we loved every minute!

The way I laughed at Will tonight 😂😂😂 His dance moves as a T Rex were unmatched 🫰

& yes, Winnie was very afraid of him and he reassured her all night that he was daddy and not, in fact, a dinosaur 😂🥰 by @nancyray

Goodness, there were so many wonderful things @jenwilkin shared in this conversation - every answer she gave had me wanting more. Here are a few for you :

We prepare for caring for babies, but we rarely prepare for caring for those who are aging.

Aging is not just loss. It’s also wisdom and depth.

One of my favorite phrases from her new book, Dust to Dust, is “bodies decline, people develop.”

So maybe the real question is not “how do I stay young?” but “how do I age faithfully?”

Incredibly grateful for the hour I spent with @jenwilkin soaking up her wisdom. Her new book is so powerful!

Our full conversation is over on the Work & Play podcast, Episode 334 wherever you listen 🫶🏻

Dare I say it’s one of my favorite episodes, ever. ✨ by @nancyray

I’ll never get used to this ✨ Just sharing proof we are living the good life day in and day out, mostly off the gram, with plenty of hard and beautiful moments all intertwined. Just over here feeling grateful today 🥹 by @nancyray

I was highly encouraged by my conversation with @jonathanr.bailey , and I learned so much about the Christian walk even though I’ve been a believer for 25 years!

Namely, I learned was purgation means (the messy clearing out), I learned how illumination is the slow growth you can’t always see, and I learned how union is where we want to be with God - abiding in Him, always.

We are all on this three fold journey as believers - and it’s beautiful.

If you’ve been longing for more of God, this one will meet you right where you are.

Link in bio for the full conversation 🎙️or search Work and Play Podcast wherever you listen

SpiritualFormation ChristianGrowth FaithJourney WorkAndPlayPodcast by @nancyray

As all devoted Emma M. Lion admirers know… welcome to our Thursdays. Welcome to St. Crispians! Welcome to Lapis Lazuli! You are invited to join in the alchemy…

We set out to recreate the wonderful, whimsical world of our beloved heroine, Emma M. Lion, with a circa-1883 costumed tea party that would make Agnes - or Aunt Eugenia? - proud!

A tea party fit for all those who love both Lapis Lazuli & Stonecrop alike, with sweets that would make Jack proud and nibbles that Emma herself would devour and bites that fine Agnes would concoct — all with a dashing portrait of the Duke of Islington — daisy-adorned! — in the kitchen, of course!

Join the Janes! In honor of our intrepid female readers who came before us, we all signed a copy of the beloved Jane Eyre.

Stop into The Dalliance! We raffled off a special book in honor of our favorite fictional shop.

Which gentleman holds the key to Emma’s heart?! We voted on who may ultimately win Emma’s heart, a topic of much heated debate! Might it be Pierce? Or Islington? Mighty Nigel Hawkes? We shall see (with great anticipation!)…

Welcome to The Cleopatra, even if you are a lady! We, of course, served the sludgy drink Emma first imbibed… and a much more delicious cocktail, The Emma: a paloma, which is a smidge sassy & sweet, like our beloved heroine.

Who would best be cast as a character in The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion movie?! We voted on the perfect star to bring to life these charming characters.

You know no tea party could happen without a little friendly trivia and conversation cards a lot all things Emma M. Lion — especially since we all dressed up as a character from the books, as well!

Quotes from the books, a map of St. Crispians, books from Emma’s personal library, and roses from the Reprobates rounded out our tea party.

There was, of course, a candle lit in the window.

#emmamlion #emmamlionparty #emmamlionteaparty by @nancyray

10 things I love about America: 🇺🇸

1️⃣ American exceptionalism
2️⃣ Freedom of speech
3️⃣ Freedom to worship
4️⃣ A founding rooted in faith
5️⃣ Freedom to work & build
6️⃣ Her ability to course-correct
7️⃣ She’s breathtakingly beautiful
8️⃣ She has done more good than any nation
9️⃣ People still risk everything to come here
🔟 A heritage of courage & faith

I did a full tribute to America on my podcast this week - Work and Play episode 328 🎙️

Happy 250th, America! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 What an incredible gift it is to call you home. ❤️💙🤍

#America250 #happy4thofjuly #independenceday #workandplaypodcast by @nancyray

Even if one of these helps you grow deeper in your faith in Jesus, sharing this was worth it!

More in depth thoughts on why these are working for me and how it practically looks in my life can be found in last week’s episode of Work and Play 🎙️ by @nancyray

Have you ever heard of the 13th week? It’s like a bonus week you get in every quarter!!!

Most people blaze through it. I love to look back, reflect, pray, and plan for the next 12. 🙌🏻

Let me know in the comments if this is something you’ve heard of before, or if it’s new to you! by @nancyray

March was lovely ✨

The chickens started laying eggs again, McKays, Girls weekend, beach weekend, saw a dear friend, took Winnie on a train, read an incredible book and sobbed at the end, the boys started soccer, I did 2 cold plunges, Winnie learned to crawl up the stairs and sleep in her crib 😭, I’m constantly cleaning out and decluttering, and the kids listened to their Yotos nonstop. I’d say it was a great month 🥰 by @nancyray

☀️ I knew getting outside was good for me, but I didn’t understand how much my body and mind needed it until I committed to the 1,000 Hours Outside challenge! (So grateful for you @1000hoursoutside !)

A few weeks ago on the pod, I shared about the hard parts nobody mentions, what I’ve noticed in my kids, and how I actually make it work with a full life.

Just search the Work and Play Podcast wherever you listen 🎧

Oh, and get outside today! You won’t regret it 😉 by @nancyray

How lucky am I
to be her mama 🥹✨ by @nancyray