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Cover Story: Grayce Weaver
Grayce Weaver with Black and White
Photo courtesy: Grayce Weaver
Grayce Weaver and her pets
Photo by Korinna Grace Photography
Grayce Weaver: Passionately rescues man’s best friend
By JOYCELYNE FADOJUTIMI
Grayce Weaver's dog Baxter died in March. He had been her faithful companion at home and work for 5 years. Adjusting to his passing has not been easy. Nonetheless, she has had help in learning to live without him.
Grayce Weaver and her pets
Photo by Korinna Grace Photography
Grayce and husband Ronnie Weaver have ten other "fur babies." Their lovely dogs: Saber, Birdie, Winston, Daisy, Maggie, Figgy and Darla, plus cats Daphne, Lola and Sullivan share their love and support. Besides her own furry babies, she nurtures foster babies in tandem. "People look at me like I am absolutely crazy when I tell them I have seven dogs and fosters at all times," she says. "We have such a good routine down, and life is so easy with my pack. They are the best babies."
Longview Wine Festival coming October 16
East Texas Alzheimer's Alliance
Grayce and Ronnie married fourteen years ago. He is accepting and supportive of her passion for animals. "If I told him I wanted to adopt an elephant he would do whatever it took to make that happen," she says. "He is my rock."
Together, they have overcome every challenge their novel lifestyle has placed before them. They are both spouses and best friends. Both use laughter as a tonic to keep them happy and mutually supportive as they live a lifestyle centered around animals, yoga, and cooking.
Besides her husband, Grayce was blessed with parents who steered her down the narrow path to a well-adjusted, joyful lifestyle. "One thing my mom, Brenda Waskowiak told me many years ago is this: 'We will never know how deep God's mercy is.' That has stuck with me throughout the years and will go down in my book as some of my favorite words."
Her father Dean Waskowiak, taught her the absolute necessity of a strong work ethic and solid faith, repeatedly telling her and her brother the Bible verse, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV).
Originally from Nebraska, Grayce's parents were newlyweds when they came to Longview in 1979 to attend LeTourneau University. Like many others, they fell in love with their new home, and now regard themselves as natives after forty-two years of marriage and residence.
Ronnie and Grayce Weaver with their pets
By Korinna Grace Photography
Her younger brother, Jeffrey makes his home in Portland, Oregon where he runs his own business called Kick Rich. He makes custom shoes. They are a guitar- and pianoplaying family that makes beautiful music vocally and instrumentally. On a different note, Grayce's stepdaughter Baylee Weaver, is slated to graduate from Stephen F. Austin and commence a teaching and coaching career in the Dallas metroplex.
Grayce attended private school, graduating from East Texas Christian School. She is currently working towards earning her certification as a yoga instructor. She lives and directs her vocation according to the proverb, "Every time you share your dreams with the right people your fears lose their power." These words remind her that jittery nerves can be overcome, especially when one has the right people in their corner.
She has practiced yoga intermittently for ten years, and last year began serious pursuit of this discipline at Freedom Yoga. It is now an integral part of her existence, giving her positive growth internally and externally; equally boosting her overall sense of accomplishment. "We set daily affirmations at the start of each practice. I am strong. I am capable. I am enough," she says. "I speak these truths into my life every day continuously and try to encourage others via social media as much as possible."
According to Grayce, no one should forget their self-worth in this world so fixated on comparison, making some lose sight of or forget positive internal truths. This uplifting attitude needs to be applied to home, self, work, relationships, and all aspects of daily existence. A healthy sense of selfworth goes a long way.
Grayce does not allow herself to forget that people are faced daily by the decision to evolve or stagnate. Her advice is to speak wisely and kindly because it sends good vibes and radiates out to all around us.
Moreover, self-searching time alone is vital to emotional health. Human beings occasionally need to get away from the outside world. Grayce has this down to a T. Freedom Yoga is not her sole outlet, either.
She has worked for Encore Multimedia since 2005 and for EDSuite since Encore purchased it in 2017. She handles accounting, human resources and business management. Her job is made easier by her love of organizing and working with numbers. "Encore is a family-based company that was started back in 1994 in my family's garage," she says. "Working with my family has given me the opportunity to see my dad on an almost daily basis for the past fifteen-plus years."
Encore's success upholds her family's emphasis on hard, honest work and integrity. She streamlines all areas of her job, boosting its efficiency and enabling her to effectively implement her love of organization and customer service. Her dedication to customers makes her very aware of this part of the business– customer service. Hence, she is aware when it is absent in her dealings with other businesses. "I have been in customer service since I was sixteen years old, and I have noticed a major decline in customer service at the businesses that we go to," she says. "I do not want to be part of that decline as an individual, and also as a business that I represent."
Fosters waiting to load pets
Photo courtesy: Grayce Weaver
The Christian education, instilled in Grayce that a spirit of excellence is vital to long-term success. This demanding but essential attitude is encapsulated in Fruits of the Spirit: Joy, Peace, Kindness, Patience, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV). Anyone striving for lifelong well-adjustment and profit need to live by these attributes regardless of one's religion or status. Apart from this, her desire to help others is not limited to assisting humans. Read the rest of the story in the magazine.
