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our kind of
normal
I once read a quote that said, "Normal is just a setting on the washing machine." I didn't know how true that could be until Nolan entered our life with all of his energy and joy. He changed our perspective on everything! We live in a society that tells us that we have to be, act, and look a certain way to be accepted. Autism, with all of its ups and down, has changed the way our family sees the world and how we live our lives. I started this blog, Our KInd of Normal, with the hope that it will do the same for anyone who reads it. Hope you enjoy!
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Easter
For many years Easter was bittersweet. Everyone getting excited about dressing up for church, family pictures, and egg hunts. Because of...
Laura Harrell
Apr 18, 20223 min read
It Will Be Okay
Parts of autism get a little easier as Nolan gets older. He is expressing himself and using more words. He doesn't require supervision...
Laura Harrell
Mar 2, 20224 min read
Morning Always Comes
Sleep is something I took for granted as a child. Right now I would give anything to have somebody give me a blanket, tuck me in, and...
Laura Harrell
Feb 25, 20225 min read
Show Them
I grew up in church. I could sing "Jesus Loves Me," before I knew my ABCs. It all started in nursery, then Sunday school, and youth...
Laura Harrell
Feb 7, 20224 min read
Dear me -
Today is Febuary 10, 2014; one of the greatest days of your life! This morning your baby boy, Nolan Grant Harrell, was born. He is everything and so much more than you could imagine. Your dream for as long as you can remember was to have a chiild and a family. Today everything feels just right. You're exhausted from hours and hours of labor and waiting on this child who took his sweet time making an apperance. Get used to that feeling because it won't go away anytime soon. We
Laura Harrell
Jan 18, 20223 min read
New Year
I do this every time. I have such good intentions of keeping up with our lives on this blog and then our life gets in the way. I finally sit down to write and realize its been 4 months. Wow! What better time to sit down with an update than New Years! I've never been a big New Years resolution type of person. You see, I'm a perfectionist with anxiety. That basically means that I like things to be a certain way and I don't like to fail. So New Years resolutions stress me out! N
Laura Harrell
Jan 7, 20222 min read
A Great Start
We are five days into a new school year and as of today we are all smiles! Thursday, the first day of school, Nolan didn't really know...
Laura Harrell
Aug 11, 20212 min read
Surprise
I've mentioned before that every little milestone in the world of special needs is HUGE! From brushing hair, trying new foods, getting a...
Laura Harrell
Jul 27, 20212 min read
Look out school here we come!
Two years ago we were ready for the next step. Nolan had aged out of the speech program he was a part of in Oxford, MS at the age of 5....
Laura Harrell
Jun 30, 20214 min read
Harper
Today you turned six years old! SIX! I blinked and you aren't a baby anymore. Not even a toddler. You love dinosaurs and know them all by...
Laura Harrell
Jun 24, 20212 min read
Patience
We are smiling because we’ve reached a big milestone over here at the Harrell House! Remember when I told you milestones in our world are...
Laura Harrell
Jun 14, 20212 min read
Seven
You are seven years old today. Absolutely unbelievable. I always wanted to be a mama and you were the one that gave me that. I had no...
Laura Harrell
Feb 10, 20212 min read
Everyone Is Doing It
Biting nails Twirling hair Tapping feet Humming Whistling Pacing Everyone does at least one of these or something like it; whether they...
Laura Harrell
Jan 31, 20214 min read
Dancing on the Waves
I'm reaching out I'll chase you down I dare you to believe How much I love you now Don't be afraid I am your strength We'll be walking on...
Laura Harrell
Jan 17, 20213 min read
2020
Oh 2020 . . it was a doozy! Any routine we thought we had went up in smokes. Regardless of the chaos and set backs I am happy to say...
Laura Harrell
Jan 12, 20213 min read
Out of the Zone
My comfort zone is such a nice and cozy place. I don’t like to leave it very much. But who really does? Writing comes natural to me. It...
Laura Harrell
Jan 7, 20212 min read
Enough
I got curious the other day and looked back to see when I last made time to write. The last time I posted anything was in April . . right...
Laura Harrell
Oct 18, 20203 min read
Silver Linings
Hello from home! Between storms, power outages, coronavirus pandemic, and stay at home orders I've had a hard time finding the time to...
Laura Harrell
Apr 19, 20205 min read
Just Breathe
A year ago I couldn’t have survived a week like this. Heck, I could barely have survived a day. At home, all day long, inside the house,...
Laura Harrell
Jan 29, 20202 min read
Makin' some lemonade
We sat in a tiny office with two doctors who had just evaluated our son and heard the word "autism." It took my breath away. Never had I...
Laura Harrell
Jan 18, 20207 min read
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