Marriage

Feet First

Posted on by Lauren

Life in our home has been extremely stressful, lately. 

And that’s saying a lot, considering the last four years with our youngest’s health issues.

When our Big Three returned to public school in January, we knew there would be a transition.

But I don’t think anyone could have fully prepared us for: 

The sickness: after living in a bubble for two years, this was inevitable but Lord, it has been relentless. 

The overwhelm:  “7 hours?!” They lament.  They are tired by day’s end and dreading the next. 

The pressure: to perform, to make friends, to survive. 

And yet, here we are.  Just beyond the Ides of March.  We are halfway there and I know we are going to make it after-all.  

These have been trying months. 

As much as I thought I would have “free time”, I have spent the last 2 months playing catch-up to all that I neglected while they were home the last two years.  

My husband and I look at each other and realize, 

There’s so much more to come.  

So, we hold hands. 

And jump in, 

Feet first. 

Camille Vaughan Photography

Choose Well

Posted on by Lauren

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, a holiday dedicated to declaring love. 

And what I want my girls to know

Is that love doesn’t come easy. 

Their father and I make it look like it does, 

But that is because we chose well.  

We both had opportunities to choose otherwise; 

But we waited. 

We waited to find one another. 

And they are the product of our love. 

What I want my girls to know 

Is that love SHOULD feel easy

Because when you choose well 

It is.  

Choose well. 

Minutes after he proposed at Tahoe!

Love Story

Posted on by Lauren

Life taught me that nothing is ever certain, and yet this moment was that, for me.

Certainty.

The search was over. 

I found my life partner. 

I wanted to spend eternity with him.  I wanted to make more of us.  I wanted nothing short of a life of us together, forever. 

And here he was, asking that of me. 

I walked down that mountain with a step so free, I may as well have been bouncing between the clouds.  

Solid Ground. 

Us, forever and ever. 

Yes!  1,000 times Yes!

I will spend forever with you.

Love Story.

Guarantee

Posted on by Lauren

We want to freeze time. 

Even go back and relive with new eyes. 

But there’s a guarantee; 

And that is, 

Nothing ever stays the same.  

We evolve 

Or fester.

So, what’s it going to be?

Better Together

Posted on by Lauren

Oh, hey you. 

You now working upstairs in our house with four children. 

You who I fell madly in love with 13 years ago. 

You who is walking right. with. me. Along our journey. 

It ain’t always pretty.  

And lately, with our youngest, it’s been downright ugly. 

But there you are. 

And here I am. 

And we love just the same. 

I knew that day we took our vows. 

Baby, we are better together. 

I spent a childhood, dreaming of a fairytale. 

And I never settled. 

And you know, what?  

Neither did you. 

Alone, we are great. 

But baby, we are always better together. 

Lucky Us

Posted on by Lauren

In my dreams, I saw him all along.

He was kind and funny.

Simple and interesting.

He wasn’t intimidated by me; he could hold his own.

He was cultured but open.

Athletically competitive, but not to a fault.

He would make the best daddy ever and I knew it immediately.

His name was Emmett Carawan and he’s who I had been looking for all along.

Someone who would love me wholly.

Someone whom I could adore.

Someone I could live forever with and for.

His name is Emmett Carawan and today, we celebrate just 10 years of a lifetime of marriage together.

Lucky us.

Lucky them.

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Camille Vaughan Photography

Together, Always

Posted on by Lauren

He’s tired.

And I can see.

I sit on the edge of his side of our bed and rub his face.

Motherly.

I am here.

I will take care of you.

I love you.

And I support you.

Together, we will.

Together, my darling, always.

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Dee Akright Photography

Release

Posted on by Lauren

“There is no fix.”

That is what I told him after our last argument.

This is not a fixable issue.

This is just the way it is.

Him, working home full time surrounded by me and our four young daughters.

Me, overwhelmed with the rearing and education of our daughters on top of the insurmountable housework.

Our fuses are short. Lit quickly by the tiniest flame.

And right now?  During a pandemic with stay-at-home orders?  There’s no out.

No, there’s no way to fix that.

But we can talk.

We can argue and let. it. out.

“Keep talking.” I told him.  “And I will, too.”

No, we can’t fix it.  But we can talk.

And that’s our release.

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Camille Vaughan Photography