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A journey of adoption, faith, and raising a daughter with hydranencephaly

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So long, Baxter

May 4, 2019May 4, 2019 ~ johnlaurenandfamily ~ Leave a comment

12 years ago, we did something foolish, as 19 and 22 year olds are known to do. It is the faux pas of many a young military couple, and we fell into the same trap. We bought a brand new car with a massive loan, a 2007 Toyota Prius. We named him Baxter. My “responsible” … Continue reading So long, Baxter

Good Friday

April 19, 2019 ~ johnlaurenandfamily ~ Leave a comment

We threw our worst at you. Our pride, our envy our jealousy, our hatred.   We took sins of the heart, turned them into action.   Slapped, beaten humiliated, crucified. We did our best our worst.   You didn’t fight back. You took it all.   The sin of that moment, the sin of your … Continue reading Good Friday

Avengers & Easter

April 15, 2019July 16, 2019 ~ johnlaurenandfamily ~ 2 Comments

I just bought my tickets to Avengers Endgame. The end of an era. Starting with Iron Man in 2008, Marvel has released 21 movies, soon to be 22, and John and I have seen all but one in theaters. To include that time in 2014 we were asked to leave the theater because we tried … Continue reading Avengers & Easter

A Letter to My First Born

April 5, 2019April 3, 2019 ~ johnlaurenandfamily ~ Leave a comment

Happy birthday to my first born. You made me a mommy, and six years ago I was privileged to meet you. When you took your first breaths your tiny arms flailed against the cold air; first sensations in this big world are overwhelming. I brought you to my chest, snuggled your soft skin to mine, … Continue reading A Letter to My First Born

Follow Your Dreams?

March 29, 2019March 29, 2019 ~ johnlaurenandfamily ~ Leave a comment

Peter was a fisherman. I don’t know much about fishing, because I refuse to touch a slimy, wiggling, gasping for air fish. From my limited understanding, it seems that his job was to catch the fish, sell the fish, and then catch more fish to sell, plus do all the mending and upkeep of nets … Continue reading Follow Your Dreams?

When the time comes…

March 22, 2019April 16, 2019 ~ johnlaurenandfamily ~ Leave a comment

They don’t know me here. They know my husband, and perhaps know of us, maybe our reputation proceeds us— for good or bad, who knows. When I arrive, I am just a name. A handshake introduction, an awkward conversation; where are you from, what do you do? Simple questions that I can’t answer simply. There … Continue reading When the time comes…

Exercise a little grace

March 15, 2019March 28, 2019 ~ johnlaurenandfamily ~ Leave a comment

Five years ago I took my first Crossfit class. My feet were quaking in my athletic shoes and I was painfully insecure. Trying something new always makes me nervous, and my jiggly postpartum body couldn’t do a single pushup. I was sure that I would die and leave my child motherless. Three years ago I … Continue reading Exercise a little grace

In Sickness & In Help

March 8, 2019April 16, 2019 ~ johnlaurenandfamily ~ 1 Comment

I’ve reached two weeks of being stuck at home with kids who are simultaneously too sick to be in public but too well to be cooped up— especially when the Motrtin takes effect. I get the privilege of holding my oldest as he cries thanks to a nice broom whack to the forehead. I should … Continue reading In Sickness & In Help

What Happened in the Fire?

March 1, 2019April 16, 2019 ~ johnlaurenandfamily ~ 1 Comment

I don’t know why it’s so easy to flippantly read about God’s miracles. Why don’t I get excited and jazzed every time I read about how he healed a blind man with spit or commanded the wind and waves to be still. Maybe it’s the unintentional byproduct of growing up in church that somehow these … Continue reading What Happened in the Fire?

His and Hers

February 22, 2019April 16, 2019 ~ johnlaurenandfamily ~ Leave a comment

When you’ve got a large family, you spend an absurd amount of time cleaning things. (I may have mentioned that before.) Laundry and dishes pile up the moment you turn your back, and clutter happens in the blink of an eye. I put so much work into the house at large, that my bedroom is … Continue reading His and Hers

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