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Truly Yours, Jen

Grief

You Say

Saying Goodbye

A Letter to My Children as They Head to School

Summer’s End: A Season of Change

“Oh Shoot”

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Hi there! I’m Jen, and I am so glad you are here. I write about faith, family, parenting, friendship, forgiveness, and my own struggles and joys in life (with a few recipes and decorating tips thrown in for fun). I hope my writing is like reading a letter from a friend, and that it brings you encouragement. Life is messy. We are all a little messy. Thankfully, God loves us through it all. Thank you for being here!
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Do you ever scroll through photos and find one and

Do you ever scroll through photos and find one and think - What is happening here?😂

The glasses.
The adorable donut pjs.
The cards.
The small, blue safe.
The cash.
But let’s forget about the cash - because the candy.

So. Hard. Core. 😂

To my children, Some may try to dull your sparkle

To my children,

Some may try to dull your sparkle.
Some may try to silence your voice.
Some may try to convince you that your dreams aren’t worth chasing.

Sparkle.
Speak boldly.
Chase your dreams.

Some may try to pursuade you that your gut isn’t something to follow.
Some may try to turn your faith to doubt.
Some may try to steal your joy.

Trust your gut.
Hold on to your faith.
Live into that joy.

Realize the gifts you carry with you every day. Those special gifts that are yours and yours alone that you bring to the table everywhere you choose to sit.

Know you can do hard things.
You can stand up for what you know to be true.
You can use your voice for good.
You can make a change.

Some may try to keep you from taking the plunge.
Jump anyway.

Take that plunge.

There is only one you and there will never be another you.

And that’s exactly what the world needs.

And always know no matter what you leap into next, I will be right there cheering you on.

Sparkle. Speak boldly. Chase your dreams. Trust your gut. Hold on to your faith. Live into that joy.

Take the plunge.
I believe in you.

Love,
Mom

#dreambig #havefaith #bebold

To never pick it back up again 💗

To never pick it back up again 💗

There is space for both. #joyandpain #emotionali

There is space for both.

#joyandpain #emotionalintelligence #healing

I used to worry about what people would think of m

I used to worry about what people would think of me.

Am I too much? Too goofy? Too loud? Too silly? Too opinionated? Not opinionated enough?

I would replay conversations in my head.
Why did I say that?
Why did I respond that way?
Did they know what I meant?
What if that came off wrong?

I would worry people were mad at me.
Or that they didn’t like me.

It took up so much of my head space.

And the reality is, people probably weren’t thinking of me at all. They weren’t thinking of the things I said. And they surely weren’t mad, unless I actually gave them a reason to be. And in that case, I would probably know it and apologize.

One of the things I love about growing older is the acceptance that comes with age.

Not everyone is going to like me.
I’m not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
Some people may think I’m too much.
Some people may not want me around.

And that’s okay.
I don’t need to change.
I don’t need to become whatever it is they want me to be.
I don’t need to fit a mold.

I don’t need to replay the conversations and worry about all the things I said or didn’t say.

I just need to keep being who God created me to be.
To accept who I am and accept others for who they are.

Not everyone is going to like me.
And that’s okay.
They don’t have to.

And the same goes for you, too.
We all have our own gifts and talents and strengths and weaknesses. We all are constantly growing and changing,

I hope I can keep growing more into who I am meant to be. To be brave and bold and not worried about what others think. To be myself.

Unapologetically.
Me.

#unapologetically #growingolder #healing #fyp

I am in a season of midlife sifting. It is not a

I am in a season of midlife sifting.

It is not a crisis.

Crisis implies something bad is happening and this isn’t bad. On the contrary, I believe it is very good.

I am in a season of life where I am becoming increasingly aware of how quickly time passes. I am seeing my friends care for both their children and parents. I am hearing more of people I knew in college or high school who have passed. I am attending weddings and graduation parties of children I have watched grow up.

And I am discovering more about who I am - and who I am not. I am growing more comfortable in my own skin and starting to realize more and more why it is important to invest in those things that matter - and let go of those that don’t.

I am holding my hands open and letting the things fall through the spaces of my fingers that need to fall. I am sifting through what is important and what is necessary and how I want to spend my time and who I want to spend it with.

I have said for awhile now that the 40s are my favorite decade yet. Midlife is so often talked about as a crisis, but I think what it really is, for me, is a time of reflection and better understanding.

I am in a season of midlife sifting.

A season where I am holding on to what matters, embracing what is good - and letting go of what is unnecessary.

And what a beautiful season it is.

#midlife #reflection #fyp

Let’s rest tonight knowing we tried - and it is

Let’s rest tonight knowing we tried - and it is enough. 💗

#peace #rest #enough

I don’t want to take myself too seriously. Or fo

I don’t want to take myself too seriously. Or forget how to find joy in the simple things.

I don’t want to get so lost in my struggles that I forget to look out and see the struggles of those around me.

I don’t want to stop marveling at the magnificence of a sunset or the way the sound of a baby’s laugh can make anyone who is within earshot start laughing, too.

I don’t want to get so lost in the world of responsibility that I lose touch with the child within who would stop everything just to take in the beauty of a flower.

I don’t want to become disenchanted as I grow older, but instead I want to find more ways to engage with the gifts that are all around.

I don’t want to stop learning or growing or healing or believing in the power of miracles and that there really are no coincidences.

I want to laugh. I want to dance. I want to sing.
I want to marvel. I want to rest. I want to discover.
I want to grow. I want to heal. I want to believe.

I want to hold tightly to my faith.
And loosely to the things that don’t matter.

I want to love others well.
And to never stop believing in the kindness of strangers.
Or the power of a hug.

#lifegoals #lovewins #kindnessmatters

“Do you know who my best friend is?” This is

“Do you know who my best friend is?”

This is a question I regularly ask my kids.

“Dad,” they groan in reply. Because they’ve answered this question a hundred times before.

But I will keep asking.

Because I think it’s important for them to know.

Romantic feelings come and go.
The butterflies in your stomach won’t last forever.

But friendship will.

So find someone who makes you laugh.

Someone who loves you for who you are - not what they hope you will be.

Someone who knows, and accepts, every part of your story.

Someone who gets you.

Someone you can be weird with.

Someone who will stand by your side in your best moments, and your worst.

Someone who knows when it’s time to press in, and when it’s time to give space.

Someone who encourages you and loves you and inspires you and cheers for you and wants the best for you.

Someone you want to be all of that for, too.

Someone you call your best friend.

#happyanniversary #cheerstomylove

And my heart is so very grateful. 💗 From @ordi

And my heart is so very grateful. 💗

From @ordinaryonpurpose

We need our people. Our family. Friends. Neigh

We need our people.

Our family.
Friends.
Neighbors.
Community.

We were not meant to do life alone.

I am an introvert by nature. An outgoing introvert to be exact. The older I get and the busier our schedules become, the more I find myself needing downtime at the end of the day to recharge.

But I know the importance of keeping strong relationships in my life, even as an introvert in a season of busyness when my natural bend is to shut off the phone and zone out on the couch.

So I find other times and ways to connect with those I love.

Coffee dates.
Walks.
Text check-ins.
Zoom calls with loved ones far away.
Weekend hangouts.
Intentional date nights and family outings.

God created us to be in a relationship with Him and with others, and my life is the most rich when I am spending time connecting with Him and with those I love.

I have just had to find what works for me in this season of life, and to also know when I need to take a minute to recharge by myself before engaging with those I love.

It’s a balance, but an important one to find.
Because we don’t want to isolate.

We need our people. And our people need us.

In whatever season you may find yourself in, I pray you can find a way to connect. That deep and meaningful relationships will be a part of your life. And laughter, too. Lots and lots of laughter.

#realtalk #friendship #extrovertedintrovert

Sometimes, we hold on to things we were never mean

Sometimes, we hold on to things we were never meant to.

#healing #lettinggo #youarenotalone

At all times. In all things. 🙏

At all times. In all things. 🙏

This was hard for me to believe at one time in my

This was hard for me to believe at one time in my life.

I thought God’s love was great for everyone, but me - I wasn’t so sure.

Now, I hold firmly to this truth.

His love never leaves. It isn’t dependent on my action or inaction.

It’s always and forever there. 💗

Sleep tight, my friend 💗 #encouragement #tomor

Sleep tight, my friend 💗

#encouragement #tomorrowisanewday

Just a cute little cat hanging out in the pantry p

Just a cute little cat hanging out in the pantry photo to make your day. 😻

@zillyandbeans
#persiancat #mycatiscute

I love our small town. Especially this time of ye

I love our small town.
Especially this time of year.

There is something so comforting and joyful about gathering with your community to cheer on your team.

The sights. The sounds. The contagious excitement from the student section that pulses through the entire stadium. The smell of popcorn. The sweat glistening on everyone’s foreheads until the sun goes down and we all breathe a collective sigh of relief because it is August in TN afterall. The roar of the crowd when a touchdown is scored. The cheerleaders. The dancers. The band.

And all of the younger kids running around the stadium, occasionally finding their parents on the stands to ask for some more money for some more candy - all waiting for their day when this will be their school.

There is something so magical about those Friday night lights. And there is something so comforting about small town living.

I’m in a season of learning. I’m learning it

I’m in a season of learning.

I’m learning it’s okay to say no, and that boundaries are both necessary and healthy.

I’m learning just because I’ve forgiven someone, that doesn’t mean the relationship will look the same. And that it’s okay to not allow unhealthy patterns and behaviors to continue.

I’m learning sometimes the best thing you can do for a relationship is to have the hard and uncomfortable conversations.

I’m learning to untangle myself from toxic positivity and spiritual bypassing.. It's okay to not be okay, and admitting I’m not okay doesn’t mean I don’t have faith and I’m not trusting in the goodness of God. It just means in this moment I am not okay.

I’m learning to let go of unhealthy expectations of both myself and others.

And I’m learning, as I lay things down, that there is so much grace.

It’s not a matter of if we will fall down - it’s simply a matter of when.

There is grace for each and every day and for every single one of us. It is a never-ending well we have been invited to drink from.

And I am learning to dip my cup into the waters and drink from that well without shame.

Because part of living is learning.
It isn’t always easy, but by the grace of God - I am learning.

#neverstoplearning #growth #grace #healthyboundaries

I’m learning to take breaks. To pause. To rest

I’m learning to take breaks.
To pause.
To rest.
To be still.
To listen.
To pick up a book midday.
To go on a walk in the afternoon, not for exercise, but simply to enjoy some time outdoors.
To slow down.
To pay attention to how I’m feeling.
To pay attention to how others are feeling.
I’m learning I don’t have to always be doing.

And that there is so much joy to be found in the stillness.

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