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Truly Yours, Jen

end of the year

This Busted Jar of Queso: A Story About Letting Go and Showing Up

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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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Truly Yours, Jen – Jennifer Thompson, Writer

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They have my heart.

They have my heart.

I’m learning to be grateful for the hard parts o

I’m learning to be grateful for the hard parts of life.

I’m not saying they are enjoyable, or that I like them. I’m not saying I look forward to them, or that I am happy when they are taking place.

Because the hard parts of life are exactly that - hard.

But after the dust has settled and the storm has passed and the grief is more bearable, and after the healing has started to take place, I can see the gifts that were planted in the hardship. I can see the growth that took place and the lessons that were learned in the pain and the suffering.

It’s the moments of pain that stretch us and test us and bring us to our knees. It’s the moments of pain that teach us we are so much stronger and braver than we ever even knew possible.

I don’t wish the hard parts of life on anyone.
My heart aches for those who are walking through valleys.
When my loved ones are hurting, I wish there was something I could do to take away the pain.

But I can’t.

Because walking through the hard is part of living. It is something we all must do at times in our lives. It is inevitable.

So, as strange as it may sound, I give thanks for the hard parts of life. I thank God for being with me in the pain and for seeing me through to the other side. I give thanks for the friends and family who were with me in the valleys. I give thanks for the lessons learned in the pain and the sorrow. For the seeds of empathy that were placed in my heart. For the healing that has taken place.

And for the gift of being able to lend an ear, a hand, and my heart to those who are going through the hard parts. Because once you’ve been through the hard, you want to help others to get through their hard, too.

Today, I bought a strawberry milkshake, cranked my

Today, I bought a strawberry milkshake, cranked my music and took the long, winding, Tennessee backroads home.

Shake in hand.
Sun streaming in the windows.
Songs I love playing loudly.

Do what brings your heart joy.

It may mean a few minutes stolen from something else you planned in your day.

But the joy it will add makes it totally worth it.

#livejoyfully #takethelongwayhome #thelongandwindingroad

A simple manger. 🙏

A simple manger. 🙏

Lucy Ellabe has only been here a few days and has

Lucy Ellabe has only been here a few days and has already managed to get into all sorts of trouble.

#elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #elfmischief #fyp

I pray I don’t take these moments for granted.

I pray I don’t take these moments for granted.

This time when we are together under one roof.

The gift of traditions being carried on with those we love.

Simple moments that hold so much.

I pray I don’t miss it.

I pray I don’t take it for granted.

Because time is fleeting.

And these days with all six of us under our roof won’t last forever.

She found peace.

She found peace.

A prayer for this holiday season🙏

A prayer for this holiday season🙏

I seriously could not stop. 😂😂

I seriously could not stop. 😂😂

This is one of my favorite mornings of the year.

This is one of my favorite mornings of the year.

The Macy’s Day parade playing on the television in the background - ending with Santa’s grand appearance that takes me back to that time when I was a child with growing excitement at the thought of the start of the Christmas season.

The food preparation that takes all day for a meal that takes just minutes to devour.

Football, naps and midday coffee.

The blessing of gathering around the table with family and friends.

The reminder to give thanks and prayers of gratitude lifted up to our Father in heaven.

Watching The Christmas story at the end of the day with full bellies and full hearts.

In whatever you face today, whether joy, sorrow or a mixture of both, I pray the Lord bless you and yours and that you feel His presence with you.

Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours.

I want my children to always know 💗 (Beautiful

I want my children to always know 💗

(Beautiful words from @girlivegotyou )

There is something so immensely satisfying about a

There is something so immensely satisfying about a hot cup of coffee presented at just the right moment.

Yesss! 👏👏 Love these beautiful words from @

Yesss! 👏👏

Love these beautiful words from @andrearobinsontv

Last week, I met my wonderful agent and friend, @k

Last week, I met my wonderful agent and friend, @kristycambron , in person.

Over the past couple of years we have talked, Zoomed, laughed - and I definitely may have shed a tear or two or more - but we had never met in person.

Until a couple of days ago.

And my heart is overflowing with gratitude. She is kind, encouraging, faithful, wise and oh so very talented.

I found out when we were together that I was her very first client she signed. I had no clue. And when she told me, my eyes filled with tears.

She has had faith in my when my faith in myself was waivering. She has continued to motivate me and encourage me to chase my dreams.

I am down to the final chapter in my book. A dream of mine is coming true. And her belief in me has made that dream possible.

So thankful for the gift of Kristy in my life.

For all the ways she has made an impact - and for all those ways she will continue to do so.

My heart is full of gratitude. 💗

#gratitude #dreamsdocometrue #fyp

If you are in Middle Tennessee you can watch this

If you are in Middle Tennessee you can watch this tomorrow morning at 8am on CTN Nashville - WHTN 💗

Chosen. Loved. Worthy. Forgiven.

Chosen. Loved. Worthy. Forgiven.

Yes! Thank you for this encouragement @grownandflo

Yes! Thank you for this encouragement @grownandflown 👏👏

I’m in the spend a lot of time in the car season

I’m in the spend a lot of time in the car season of parenting.

Driving to and from school, sports and other extracurriculars.

Waiting in carlines at drop off and pick up.

Waiting for kids to get out of practices and rehearsals.

Over the years, I’ve grown to actually appreciate this time.

I listen to music.
I pray.
I think.

It’s quiet.
It’s peaceful.

It’s just me and my minivan waiting to move from one thing to the next.

Waiting for my babies (because no matter how old they are they will always be my babies) to jump in the car and let me know how their day has gone.

Waiting for them to take over the music and adjust the volume.

Waiting for that moment when they get in the car with a lot of words, or a silence that speaks more than their usual words may speak.

Each day I wait, I grow a day older and they do, too.

Each day with them in my minivan is a new opportunity to learn more about them, to hear about their day, to sit in silence or sing loudly while we dance in the car ro music they chose.

I’m in the spend a lot of time in the car season of parenting.

The driving. The waiting. The singing. The talking. The silence.

I wouldn’t trade it for a thing.

#momlife #parenting #fyp #gratitude

Because you never know 💕 #gracefilled #holiday

Because you never know 💕

#gracefilled #holidayseason #bekindalways

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