The Days Ahead

Your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn.

[thejaslandrum]

@derekhaslanded made my dream of having a #littlelibrary come true for my birthday this year. This is the perfect tribute to the history of our house, one of the original space for the Johnson County Library before it was funded and built in the early 1950s. Derek designed and built the little library himself, modeled after our house and the #mcm design that inspired it. Our family and friends stopped by to celebrate with us today and filled it with books for our neighborhood. I’m so very lucky. #libraryhouse #jocolibrary #merriamkansas #explorekc (at Merriam, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVHOrwQr6jL/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thejaslandrum]

“Because finally, despite a child's scars Or an adult's deepest wounds, They are openly free to be Who they really are— and always secretly were, In the very core of their being Where true and lasting love can alone abide.” - An Excerpt from “To Love Is Not to Possess” by James Kavanaugh 9.8.2018 . . . . #husbands #anniversary #weddingreading #sharkfincove (at Shark Fin Cove Beach, Davenport, CA) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTke5l8rFI4/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thejaslandrum]

It’s a beautiful day to March with my brothers from @hmchorus! Thanks for the delicious support while we wait to start the parade, @lamarsdonuts. #pridekc #pride2021 #menschorus #explorekc https://www.instagram.com/p/CS1w1m9r9jE/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thejaslandrum]

One happy Peiton. #dogdaysofsummer (at Merriam, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSGOPadrnQs/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thejaslandrum]

Had a great time teaching @clairepblv and her sister about photography recently. Even had our own fun #explorekc moments to style the shoot. #portraitphotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CR2tQL2KYjt/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thejaslandrum]

Lately we’ve been less focused on documenting the moments and more intent on enjoying those experiences. Our photos are of one another, and not many of us together. Regardless, I’m grateful for the memories. Here’s to growing older with you—to better or worse. Happy birthday, Babe. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQpoQg7L8K9/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thejaslandrum]

Thank you, @derekhaslanded for the surprise trip to celebrate my new job! On Friday, I’ll officially be joining the team at @barkleyus, and I couldn’t be more excited! #explorestl (at City Museum, St Louis, MO) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQMTJtDJkF6/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thejaslandrum]

I think it’s clear who runs the show here. Photo credit: @pampeters13 #cadencecontrol #familytime #unclesandaunts #siblings (at Mound City, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPy_m5Spqm-/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thejaslandrum]

@derekhaslanded hung this beautiful flag up on Wednesday. We’re so fortunate to live in a very supportive and inclusive neighborhood, including an increasing number of our close gay friends! #thegayborhood #pride #merriamks #husbands (at Merriam, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPt367sJrBV/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thejaslandrum]

Three year later. It will always feel like a recent moment, the day Derek and my Mom hugged me before I was taken in to Operation: Evict Angie. I’m so grateful that it’s becoming more and more distant. I have so much to celebrate and appreciate. Thanks to my family friends, and my doctors, I’ve regained all speech and reading skills since surgery… and I’m at an amazing 28 months seizure-free. An MRI in January and review in February resulted in a great report from by surgeon, and he’s recommending a full two years before my next scan! I’ll have one additional follow-up with my Epileptologist this summer, then (fingers crossed) nothing until 2021. This will be the fewest appointments I’ve had since before experiencing my first seizure. I’ll never take it for granted. This also isn’t the norm. I see several friends battling seizures regularly. I see my friends with kids working with doctors to schedule multiple surgeries for their children in hope of a better future. This isn’t even close to over. We have a long way to go to understand what we can do to control—and hopefully someday prevent or even cure—Epilepsy. Please consider giving if you can. To learn more about ways to get involved or how to donate to @epilepsyfoundationmoks , please visit https://efmk.org/get-involved-2/ Cheers to the next chapter, cheers to finding evicting Epilepsy like we evicted Angie. #evictangie #evictepilepsy #seizetheday #epilepsywarrior #epilepsyawareness (at Merriam, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPjjd80pXPh/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thejaslandrum]

New pin, who dis? #vaccinationdone✔️ (at Merriam, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/COGXQYxJWsI/?igshid=ztglt5dqnnxw

[thejaslandrum]

Today, let’s paws and celebrate: - First, your reading this so you have technology and literacy. - Second, I got my first Pfizer shot today! We’re getting closer and closer to a safer world for all of is! Do your part and get your #vaccinationdone✔️ (at Merriam, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNN7ukspf7E/?igshid=1dc77ikzom8im

[thejaslandrum]

No place that I’d rather be. #hubsandhounds #explorehome (at Merriam, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLlGOFxplbX/?igshid=168bx2zm915gq

[thejaslandrum]

We hope your #ValentinesDay was as joyful as a puppy kiss! Spread love, crush hate. We all need warmer hearts and homes these days. #puppylove 📷 credit: @nicolebisseyphoto (at Merriam, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLTH7UgJNJH/?igshid=1csl18890jz01

[thejaslandrum]

“With each year, our color fades. Slowly, our paint chips away. But we will find the strength And the nerve it takes To repaint and repaint and repaint every day.” -‘North’ by Sleeping at Last Today marked three years in our home. It was a day marked with melancholy as it began with an exit after alarms greeted us upon our evening return home last night. The fire department came—followed by the gas company—with reports of raised levels of Carbon Monoxide. @derekhaslanded and I gathered our things and made our way to a hotel with our dogs at 1 a.m., leaving our home behind in its snowy state. Today was a day of calls, inspections, and a lot of unanswered direction. We’re stressed and rattled by worry and expenses we hadn’t planned on facing. But we know we can count on our home to be the place we can face this together. We have worked hard to keep it maintained and refreshed. Some days, it feels futile. Here’s to hoping these days are few and far between. Here’s to remembering the value we’re creating in our home. (at Merriam, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLDZvHgplH_/?igshid=kq37nehug5yb

[thejaslandrum]

Cheers to Super Bowl Landrum-Vetter. (And I guess there’s a football game going on, too.) #superbowllv #gay #chiefskingdom (at Lees Summit, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLAoThRJ6aF/?igshid=ickgwaojggoe

[thejaslandrum]

I met a girl today and fell in love with her. Truth is I knew I loved her before I met her. I had been waiting my whole life. (Oh wait, that’s Savage Garden...) @derekhaslanded and I couldn’t be happier for @amanda_landrum and my brother @josh_landrum. Your daughter is so sweet, so calm, and so innocent. I’ll try not teach her too many of my ornery ways... Bub and Amanda – It’s been a joy seeing your relationship grow over the past 12 years. I love all the memories we’ve build together along the way and I can’t wait for the ones we will build together one this new chapter. Cheers to parenthood and your beautiful new family member. I love you all so much. #unclejas #familytime (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/CK-cgGSpb0S/?igshid=11ws4hv0izlw4