Our Lovelogical Story -Simply Family — No Asterisks ♥
My part of the story starts when I was 18 years old. I was in a turbulent relationship and when I made up my mind to leave, I got pregnant while using two different forms of birth control. I continued to stay in that relationship and when I was ready to leave a second time, I found out I was pregnant again at 20 and again on two different forms of birth control. I finally got out of that relationship and proceeded to raise my children on my own. A few years later, after an incredibly traumatic situation occurred in my life, I was married for the first time to a different person who had no children of his own. We had our first child together again while using contraceptives. Yalaina, our daughter, was born with a very rare birth defect and only lived for 6½ weeks, never leaving the NICU. Seven or so months after her passing, we were pregnant while using yet another kind of contraceptive and that delightful little bundle, Orion, has Autism Spectrum Disorder, but he is such a joy.
Earl was married young to someone he had met in high school. They were buddies and had known each other for several years before they became an item. They were married for four years before the situation turned south. Upon the dissolution of their marriage, Earl proceeded to raise his two boys, Israél and Joél, on his own for around six or so years with the help of his parents. Izzy and Joél were and still are the light of Earl’s life.
Earl and I met in a college prep program in high school called CLD (Center for Leadership Development). I had a giant crush on him during that program, but my personality type at the time would have never allowed me to say anything. Throughout the years we would run into each other and be in touch for a while, but then lose contact. In 2010, after my marriage ended, I looked Earl up on Facebook and found him after fishing through the dozens of ‘Earl Townsend’s that were out there. We started officially dating in 2012 and were married in 2014. Earl’s former wife had since remarried and they moved, with the boys, to Texas for two years. Shortly after they moved back from Texas, the boys moved in with us in 2014, Brady Bunch-style, and here we are living happily ever after. Our clan includes myself (Ro Townsend), Earl, Emminence (Emmi) – 17, Calvin – 15, Israél (Izzy) – 14, Joél – 13 and Orion – 7. We also have a dog, Francis, and two cats, Claire and Stamper. We are definitely Lovelogical. We don’t differentiate the dynamics between us at all. In fact, Earl’s first wife and I are great friends and call each other ‘sister’. I also get along with my first husband’s new wife and we communicate openly. We’re all simply family — no asterisks ♥