OUR STORIES
LAUREN
Hi, My name is Lauren and I am 35 years old. I am a graduate of Hannah's House. I have two and a half years sober now! When I arrived at Hannah's House I had been using for almost 18 years. I have been to many different rehab programs but never a long term faith based one. During my using I burned many bridges with family and friends and ruined numerous relationships. I was on the verge of losing my two daughters and I decided I needed to make a serious change. I needed help, a type of help I never had before.
I was hopeless and I honestly thought that I was beyond help. I struggled for so long. I was starting to believe that it was too late for me. Surely if there was a way for me to get it together I would have figured it out by now right? No. I was wrong. I learned a lot at Hannah's House and sometimes it wasn't easy but when I finally let Jesus in to my heart I knew that with His help I could do this!
Graduating Hannah's house was a start. Now I was ready to go back out in to the world with my new found faith and the tools I learned to help me to stay sober! It was not easy at first. Life was moving so fast. I have good days and sometimes I have bad days. I get stressed out, I laugh, I cry, I get tired but what I don't do is give up. No matter what life throws at me I never give up because I have Jesus in my life. I have hope and I am so grateful for the life I have today! Today I have so many special people in my corner that are proud of me and support me. My brothers and sister's talk to me now and they tell me they are proud of me. My Dad was done with me but even he has started to come back around. My Mom and my stepdad helped me to get a place to live and a vehicle.
They have been such a great support through all of this. I went back to work doing hair. I was able to go back to the salon I first started at 18 years ago. I was fired from that job twice in my past. I never thought they would hire me back, but they actually called me and asked me if I would work for them again! The first thing my boss did was hug me and she told me that she was proud of me and that she loved me! When I was in Hannah's House a staff member there (Leah) told us that she would have stayed at Hannah's House for four years if it meant having the life she has now. I never understood that until recently. The other night I sat down to dinner with my family. We take turns praying each night. My four year old daughter never wants to pray and I don't push it, I figure she will when she's ready. We sat down and I said ok "I'll pray tonight". My 4 year old daughter said actually mommy I think I would like to say a prayer tonight. She said; "Heavenly Father thank you for this food.
Thank you for our wonderful family and all the blessings in our lives. Thank you for keeping us safe and not sick from coronavirus. Thank you for all this extra time we all get to be together now. We love you. Amen." It was so beautiful and I cried. At that moment I could hear Leah saying "I would have stayed at Hannah's House for four years if it meant having the life I have today." And now, finally, I get it! I love my life! I love my family, I love my friends, I love everyone who has supported me and prayed for me on this journey. Most of all I love Jesus for saving me and for loving me! I will forever be grateful for Hannah's House and the Warren Family Mission!