How does one write about something words can’t justly explain? Something that crawls into the deepest, most vulnerable places of my heart? Wellllll, that’s truly what this special piece of the blog is all about. This is a glimpse into the most optimistic, Jesus-loving, determined, creative, and best hugger I know. 😉

My maternal grandmother was one of my favorite people in the entire world. She was the best playmate, an awesome cook, a keeper of special traditions, the most FUN babysitter!! (Mom if you’re reading this, you don’t know about the time in 3rd grade we watched a movie in a blanket fort with popcorn at nearly midnight). She was so crafty, the most obsessed scrapbooker I ever met and always willing to offer her sewing skills to alter and fix clothes. She always had a camera out everywhere we went, everything we did – or telling us about the latest cute picture frame she bought. She was the epitome of “if there’s a will, there’s a way.” I think roadblocks were actually scared of her! Nothing could stop the pure willpower or the out-of-the-box thinking from that woman. She taught me to celebrate the little things: the bright red cardinal she spotted on the bird feeder, the open parking spot at Central Dairy ice cream (if you know you know), the power of delivered groceries! There was always gratitude, always something to smile about in her rule book.

Most of all, my grandma loved Jesus with all her heart, mind, and soul and never ceased to reflect that to me from the day I took my first breath. Fun fact: I’m actually named after her as my middle name only differs from ‘Marlene’ by one letter. My greatest honor is living for Jesus with her always in my heart. I know through His gift of salvation I am promised to see her again one day. And what a glorious, beautiful day that will be. And in the meantime, she is watching over me in a perfect, eternal place, a place of no more suffering, no pain or fear, no conflict or darkness. She had many repeated phrases during her time on earth, but one in particular was special to my sisters and I – “I love you to the moon and back.” Over the years, the moon became a symbol, something that reminded us of her presence no matter where we found ourselves in the world. Little did I know just how meaningful this symbol would become today.

“He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.”
– Psalm 104:19 ESV

My grandmother was absolutely one of the most resilient, positive-minded people I knew. Even in the most challenging moments when negativity was expected and likely validated, she always maintained a fighting spirit of boldness and strength. Marlene battled a list of discouraging challenges – breast cancer on two separate occasions, an extremely rare autoimmune illness affecting her muscles and stamina, and plenty of emotional turmoil to name a few. The most distressing of them all, however, was by far her diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in late 2021. I was nearing the end of my first college semester at Liberty when this news rocked our world. ALS is, by prognosis, a fatal illness, for which there is no cure.

Even through every stage of her disease, my grandma kept up the same fighting, joyful spirit I always knew and remembered. I often wondered (and still do!) how she was able to do that. Its one of the countless things I admire about her. Her life story of selfless love, thoughtfulness, and generosity surely didn’t go unnoticed. So many people whose lives my grandma had touched surrounded her and my family in a blanket of prayer and support through this difficult season. God never stopped showing up for her, for all of us. and I know He’ll never fail even now.

So, if you haven’t figured it out yet, this blog holds a lot of different spaces and themes. But at its core, I aspire for Lately with Laur to be a mirror. A mirror of the woman who inspired me to chase my dreams, who always reminded me of my unique voice. Grandma, this is for both of us. And I pray every day that I can be the best Lauren I can be, with you by my side.