What's up everybody? Happy Well, that's Good Wednesday. I hope you're having a great week. But to everyone out there, it is about to get so much better. We have such an incredible guest on the podcast today. I've been following along her journey from afar

for a long time, social media friends, if you will. And she sent me a casual DM, like, I'd love to

help some moms out if you ever want just even an ad on your podcast for what I do because she does

this amazing thing called Choose Joy Nursing. And I was like, okay, yes, but more than that,

can you come on the podcast and share your testimony who you are, help mom is out there.

And so this podcast is definitely going to help moms, but it's really for everybody.

We just believe in the power of testimonies and her testimony can speak to anyone no matter

what season of life you're in. So we have Lauren Johnson all the way here in Monroe, Louisiana. Welcome to Monroe. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. This is so fun. It's so cool. I'm truly so glad you're here. I told you this. I've loved following you. I've been so inspired by your life. Been invested in your life. Christian, I have prayed for you. And so to see you in here today, I was just like, hey, as if we've known each other forever. And I thought, oh, well, I guess this is the first time we've met. But just you are a joy. Like, you're such a joy to follow and to learn from. And I'm so thankful for how you've chosen to share your life on social media because you did not have to share some of the hard aspects of your life and all of it. But I just want to say thank you for it. Before we get into all of it, can you just tell us a little bit about who you are, what you do, where you're from, all the things? Absolutely. Well, thank you so much for all the kind of words and prayers. We have felt them tremendously. that's why I felt like I knew you too because it's like you just know when people are praying for you. It's just like there's an instant bond and connection. But yeah, so Lauren Johnson, I'm born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. I've been there my whole life, which has actually ended up being such a blessing for all the connections and ways I've got to like love and serve families in Nashville.

Grew up in the Baptist Church, volunteering in the church nursery. So, of course, I started babysitting

at like such a young age as like a mother's helper. Always love babies, always loved helping

moms. And then went to nursing school at Lipscomb University. So truly, never left.

Loved Lipscomb. It was such a great experience and then got to be a nurse.

I was a private nanny at first and then went to get hospital experience.

I was like, this is so great of nannied forever and I love it and they wanted to nurse,

but I also wanted to get that hospital experience. So worked in the hospital and then

got offered a sweet job at a high school, which was incredible, but missed the mother baby aspect from the hospital.

And so started helping moms at night.

Like when everyone was asleep, I was like, I'll come help you at night.

Like, I'll bring you your baby to nurse or I'll give a bottle.

Wow.

And then the Lord really kept putting, like, I didn't have a name yet, but like you

could make, this could be a job, like you can help women like more than just one at a time.

...