ABOUT

Hello, I’m Lauren!

Welcome to my cozy corner of the internet, where I share about life in our little cottage and our days of homeschooling in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

My husband and I are both second-generation homeschoolers, and we’re excited to now be educating our own children. We’re thankful not only for the solid academic foundation we received, but also for the hobbies we explored, the practical skills we learned, and the wide range of experiences that helped prepare us for the future.

One of the greatest gifts of homeschooling is the time and flexibility it offers. We love investing that time in teaching our boys useful skills and introducing them to new hobbies and interests. In a world that moves at a dizzying pace, we’re always looking for ways to slow down and live with intention.

I’m drawn to the quiet rhythms of home life—lessons learned around the table, meals made from scratch, the satisfaction of an afternoon spent creating. I never want to be so busy that I fail to notice the beauty woven into everyday life.

In my small pockets of free time, I enjoy reading, writing, and photography. Writing has been a love of mine since I was a little girl—a way to gather my scattered thoughts and arrange them into something meaningful. I’ve been blogging in one form or another since 2008 (with a few pauses along the way), and I’m grateful for this space where I can share my heart with you.

I’m so glad you’ve found your way here. Pour a warm drink into your favorite cup and stay a while!

four fun facts

1.

I consider myself something of a minimalist in most areas of my life, but I will happily expand my book collection until the end of time. Perusing used book and homeschool curriculum sales is my idea of a good time! I get a little giddy when springtime rolls around—and curriculum sales with it!

2.

With the help of my dad as our contractor—and plenty of subs handling the heavy lifting—Benj and I designed and built our little cottage. It was the biggest project we’ve ever taken on, but well worth the effort! Though… we may or may not still have a few unfinished projects waiting for us.

3.

I’ve had three amazing home births, each with a different—equally amazing—midwife. My second was a peaceful water birth, and I’d hoped for a similar experience with my third. Instead, he shocked us all and was born in just 39 minutes from start to finish! My midwife walked in with a minute to spare.

4.

Growing up as a lefty who was never properly taught how to hold a pencil, I struggled with art. I dreamed of drawing and painting beautifully, but it just wasn’t meant to be. After high school, I bought my first DSLR and instantly fell in love with photography. I’d finally found an art form that felt like home!

Our Love Story

Benj and I grew up on opposite corners of the country—Washington and Florida, respectively. While we had very different childhoods, we were both blessed with Christian parents who raised us with a love for truth, beauty, and goodness.

In 2011, we were introduced to one another through mutual friends who were starting a photography blog and had invited us both to be part of it. Over the next couple of years, I slowly caught glimpses of who he was through his words and photos.

Two years later, we met in person at a conference. Unbeknownst to me, Benj had gone partly hoping to get to know another girl—but left wanting to get to know me instead!

In early 2014, Benj finally worked up the courage to come visit me. My family had just moved to Alabama a month earlier, and my brother, Joseph, was opening his device repair shop. Hoping to offer customers quality coffee, Joseph asked Benj for his expertise. Seizing the opportunity, Benj traveled all the way to our house with a suitcase stuffed full of coffee gear—hoping to disguise his real reason for visiting! (Let’s just say we all figured it out pretty quickly.)

I was immediately struck by how easily we connected and by how much we had in common. We shared so many interests, and never ran out of things to talk about. It didn’t take long for either of us to realize we were far more alike than different—and we fell in love through writing, long phone calls, and video chats.

Long-distance relationships aren’t for the faint of heart, but when you’re with the right person, the extra effort—and the pain of being apart—are worth it. We managed to spend several days together each month, flying back and forth whenever possible. Those short visits were incredibly sweet, and we made the most of every waking moment.

By August, we each felt sure the other was “the one,” and we continued deepening our relationship until February of 2015, when Benj proposed. I knew he would be here for Valentine’s Day, but I didn’t know he was flying in two days early to surprise me! As a highly observant person, I’m pretty hard to surprise, but he managed to show up in a suit with a ring in his pocket, and I was none the wiser.

We were married on the last day of spring, just a few months later. Marrying my best friend has been the sweetest gift. I’m so thankful for the life we’ve built together—and for the three little boys God has entrusted to us. He is good!