About Us

Hi! I’m Laura, the main voice behind this blog. I’m a thirty-something stay-at-home wife to Shadrach and mom to 8-year-old Logan, and 1 1/2 year-old Ava. This blog was born out of the desire to have an outlet or a place to pour myself into, besides the amazing everyday job of being mommy and wife. This blog is about our family adventures, parenting, whatever projects we may be working on and encouragement for us moms.

A Little About Myself

I love Jesus, coffee, sleep, sweet tea, all things chocolate, binge-watching Netflix, online window shopping (that’s a thing, right?), reading (when I get a spare minute), and spending time with my family. Also, I’m a Pinterest addict, and I tend to google everything. My mantra is if you don’t know something, google it. 😉

I have two brothers that I am sandwiched between. We are six years apart, and I have a little bit of the middle child syndrome. 🙂 I love my brothers, and even though the relationship I have with each of them is different, they are both very special to me. We all live far away from each other so I don’t get to see them often, but I love whenever I get the opportunity to see them and their families.

My family and I moved a lot growing up and, being a creature of habit and hating change, it was tough. However, it did allow me to live in different places and have different experiences. I’ve lived in Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, Virginia, and New Mexico. No matter how tough it was though, it has shaped me into the person I am today, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🙂

Shadrach – My Other Half

Shadrach is my amazing husband. I can’t imagine a better man to be living this life with. He’s a great daddy to Logan and Ava and he ~~puts up with~~ loves me and all my craziness. 🙂 We have started this blog together and he plays the role of the man behind the scenes. He works hard at making sure this blog runs as it should and that I have everything I need. Hopefully, you will hear from him (through our social media) from time to time as well. He also works a full-time job while balancing a wife, son, and daughter.

People always want to know where he is from. Shadrach is from Trinidad and Tobago. He has an accent although English is the only language he speaks. 🙂 He has also spent some time living in Guyana, which is in South America and North Carolina. I bet you are wondering how we met because I am not a world traveler.

Our Love Story

Our love story is simple and kind of fun. Everyone always asks to hear it. So here it is…

In December 2003, I was a teller at a bank in Raleigh, North Carolina. I was only 21 at the time. Shadrach would come in and deposit $5 one day. Then a few days later, he would come in and withdraw the same $5. The amount almost never changed and I couldn’t figure him out. We never had any real conversations, and he had never asked me my name, he just came in every few days.

One day, Shadrach came in and as I was helping him, he asked if I would go with him to his Christmas work party. I was a bit surprised and didn’t know what to say. I had no idea that the reason he kept coming in every few days was all to see me! Boy was I clueless! Anyway, I needed to give him an answer. I fumbled around and I’m sure I blushed ten shades of red. I quickly made up some excuse and said I couldn’t go. I’m pretty sure he knew that I was lying.

A couple of weeks later, he came back to the bank while I was at lunch. I was in my car in the parking lot when he walked up and tapped on my window (which scared me half to death). He came to ask me out again. I asked him if he even knew my name because I thought it was weird he wanted to go out with me but didn’t know my name. He finally asked me and although I still hesitated, I told him it was Laura. Shadrach then gave me his phone number and I told him I would call him later to let him know. A few hours later I called and we decided to meet at a movie theater…and the rest was history! 🙂 Who would have thought that first date on January 16, 2004, would turn into a lifetime together?

On August 29, 2008, he asked me to marry him. Obviously, I said yes! So, on Sunday, October 3, 2010, we became husband and wife. That was the first day of the rest of our lives, and I’m so excited I get to do life with my best friend.

Logan – The Beginning of Our Adventure

Next came something that completely changed us, in a good way. After a long and challenging pregnancy (catch up here with pa rt 1 and part 2) I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on January 29, 2013. Logan came into the world and stole our hearts in an instant.

He is funny, super smart (Since I’m his mom, I’m allowed to say that right?), and talks non-stop. We are always just waiting and watching to see what he will do or say. He can be a little demanding but then again what eight year old isn’t? 🙂 Logan is all boy and loves all things that move, like trains, cars, airplanes, helicopters, construction vehicles, and boats. If it transports anything and moves, he loves it! I can’t seem to remember what our life was like before he was born. He just fits with us like he was a missing piece in our life.

Another Chapter

This isn’t where our story ends. When Logan wasn’t quite two months old, we rented out our townhouse in Raleigh, North Carolina, packed up our stuff, and moved to Fort Loramie, Ohio. I’m sure you are asking where in the world is Fort Loramie and why did you move there? It is a small farming community 45 minutes north of Dayton, Ohio. The reason we moved to this teeny tiny town, was so we could be closer to my parents while Shadrach went to school. I am a city girl and adjusting to a small town living has not been easy but I’m learning. God is showing me how to slow down and enjoy a quieter life (or at least as quiet as it can be when you live with an 8-year-old boy).

I mentioned that we wanted to be closer to my parents but I didn’t say how much closer. We actually moved in with them. We figured that it was just a temporary situation until we could get established. Well, that was six years ago and we are still living with them. We are not living the typical life of thirty-somethings with a child, but that’s okay. This is what works for us right now. Logan doesn’t know life without his grandma and grandpa. He gets to kiss them goodnight just about every single night. He has a fantastic relationship with them that I never had the chance to experience with my grandparents. Update: We moved out when Ava was born. Now we have a little more space for Logan and Ava to run around!

Meet My Parents

That brings me to two more people I feel I should introduce to you; My parents. You will be seeing and hearing about them from time to time since our lives are intertwined.

My dad, Tom, works at a local company full time and is also a pastor. He feels called by God to start a church here in this little farming community of Fort Loramie. I’m excited that we get to be a part of this incredible journey.

My mom, Conda, takes care of her parents, my grandparents, pretty much full time. My grandmother has Alzheimer’s and is in the end stages, and my grandfather is older and needs help also. They keep my mom kind of busy.

Update: Both of my grandparents have passed away now.

My parents are amazing people, who have taught me how to love and give of myself without ever expecting anything in return. I watch them do this daily in their lives and I can remember watching it as I was growing up. I feel like anything I say about them will not do them justice. They aren’t perfect but they love God with everything and it shows in their lives. I love having them in my life daily. They have become my friends and sounding board and a great support.

Well, that is pretty much my life in a nutshell. If there is something you would like to know, please feel free to ask. I would like to get to know you as well, so don’t be a stranger! Our life isn’t perfect but it’s ours and I love every minute of it. The good, the bad, the ups, and the downs. I get to live my life with amazing people and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I hope you enjoy looking around our blog and reading about our family. Thanks for stopping by!