Happy Hour #138 : Lauren Casper

My guest for The Happy Hour #138 is Lauren Casper. Lauren is the author of It's Okay About It: Lessons from a Remarkable Five-Year-Old about Living Life Wide Open, and founder of the internationally read blog laurencasper.com. Lauren is a top contributor to the TODAY Parenting Team and has had numerous articles syndicated by The Huffington Post, the TODAY show, Yahoo! News, and several other publications. She and her family live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Lauren is an adoptive momma of two kiddos from Ethiopia. On today's show, she shares about her adoption journey, including their struggle with infertility. She also shares about the unique experience of adopting from Ethiopia and how they decided to keep their children's birth names. Lauren's son was diagnosed with autism when he was 2 years old. In our conversation, she shares about that life-changing diagnosis and how she has learned to reshape her expectations and see the beauty in the brokenness. Lauren's book about the lessons she has learned from her son is coming out next week, so make sure you scoot over and grab a copy here. {You can listen to the show HERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show Lauren's Blog Lauren's Book: It's Okay About It Anne Bogel's Podcast: What Should I Read Next Start With Amen by Beth Guckenberger + Love Does by Bob Goff + Love Lives Here by Maria Goff + Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos What Lauren is loving: Spring, all things dog and donuts Music from Jason Poe Connect with Lauren Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Sponsors: Taking My Life Back On April 15, 2013, Rebekah Gregory and her five-year- old son waited at the finish line of the Boston Marathon to support a friend who was running. When the blast of a homemade bomb packed with nails and screws went off three feet behind her, Rebekah’s legs took the brunt of the explosion. Seventeen surgeries and sixty-five procedures later, she made the decision to have her left leg amputated. This stirring memoir tells of Rebekah’s remarkable recovery—including her triumphant return to Boston two years later to run part of the race and her participation in the trial of one of the terrorists. Dear Mushka Dear Mushka seeks to create quality + affordable jewelry… on a mission. Every piece is crafted with a specific verse in mind and comes paired with a corresponding verse card meant to keep by your bathroom mirror, store in your heart, and then think on throughout your day. Each piece is designed to “tell the story with beauty” and can act as a gospel conversation starter to share God’s truths with those you interact with daily. Art prints, apparel, scripture packs, and jewelry available– all meant to comfort hearts & share truth in a way that feels authentic, doable, and beautiful. All jewelry comes packaged in an individual box ready for gift giving! Use code JAMIE for 10% off all orders until June 1. Messy Beautiful Friendship With engaging true stories and guidance drawn from Scripture, Christine Hoover offers a fresh, biblical vision forfriendship that allows for the messiness of our lives and the realities of our schedules. She shows you how to deepen relationships, overcome insecurity, and revel in the beauty and joy of everyday friendship. This book makes a perfect companion for every season of life. Pick up your copy here.