Blessings and Raindrops

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seeking joy in the midst of the ordinary

September 12, 2016

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Hi there! I’m Jenny. I’m a wife and mama who loves all things creative. I am a designer, writer and passionate advocate for community transformation, family preservation and orphan care around the globe.

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Whenever we travel for work, we try to bring along

Whenever we travel for work, we try to bring along the kiddos or, sometimes, just one kiddo for one on one time together. This weekend, we had a speaking engagement in San Diego and our Sylvie-loo came along. We soaked up sunshine, walked thousands of steps, and laughed a whole lot.

If I’m honest, I wasn’t looking forward to this trip. Our schedule is so packed right now and I just wanted to be at home, I was nervous about traveling with all that’s happening in the world, and, if you are a parent of a child who has experienced trauma, you know how hard events like the ones that are happening in the world affect our trauma kids. It felt like the wrong time to step away from familiar and routine.

Before we left, I reached out to my girls for prayer over this time away. I asked that it be a time of continued healing and for increased connection. I asked that these 48 hours be full of bucket filling moments - core memories - that will continue to heal the lingering wounds from her earliest years.

God used this time away to remind me that He has always had our girl in His embrace and He always will. Adoption is never easy, it’s always rooted in immense loss. I’ll be the first to admit that fact. But, I also know that the blessings we have received are greater than I could possibly have imagined when we started this journey with our girl. I will always argue that she most certainly is not the lucky one, we are. And, I’ll treasure the memories we shared together this weekend with deep, deep gratitude. This is the good stuff. 🤍

We could all use a little smile this morning. Than

We could all use a little smile this morning. Thanks, Banana, for reminding us that God gave us dogs to show us what unconditional love looks like. Sometimes that love looks like intently watching your humans play soccer and silently cheering them on with your little ears. 🐾🤍

There’s been a lot of sorrow in the world the pa

There’s been a lot of sorrow in the world the past few days. I’ve been watching and praying and grieving for the families suffering in Israel. And, I’ve been holding one of our own crew members so close in prayer as we stand by him tangibly. He laid his wife to rest yesterday. A beautiful, young momma tragically gone from this earth way too soon.

I haven’t had any words to fill these squares. I still don’t. I just know that this world is not our home. And, I know that there is so much that I’ll never understand this side of Eternity. And, mostly, I know that there is always a reason to hold onto hope. Always.

Because, despite the heartache and suffering, there are still generous neighbors who stop by on their horse to bring your little girl on a trail ride. There are still beautiful fall days. There are still morning snuggles and a steamy mug clasped between my palms.

I won’t stop praying for my brothers and sisters and I’ll never stop fighting for joy. Joy and sorrow. Hope and suffering. Grace and peace. 🤍🙏

On the very last day of our animal shelter renovat

On the very last day of our animal shelter renovation, a timid little pup was brought in. She jumped right into my lap and reminded me so much of my beloved Chiquita (who had passed away exactly two years before). My heart hadn’t been ready for a new pup after losing Chiquita … until that day.

After I met her, the girls and I worked on Dave while we waited for Banana (named in honor of Chiquita) to be spayed and cleared to come home…it didn’t take much convincing and we excitedly ran to the shelter the moment Laurie called and said it was time.

Happy, happy family day, Banana! Two years have passed in a blink! Yes, you’re a lot chunkier than those early days with us but that just gives us more to love! 😆🍌♥️

#adoptdontshop

House + Love = Home officially hits stores on Nove

When I wrote these words two winters ago, I had no

When I wrote these words two winters ago, I had no way of knowing we would be reworking the spaces inside our home so soon (see yesterday’s post). Yet, as I read them afresh today, I’m overwhelmingly grateful the life we have built and continue to build right here in our little corner of the world... 🤍

“The life we have built here can be messy and is certainly a lot of work, but, gracious; it’s full of joy. Our memories have seeped into the walls, and these floors echo with the thrill of first steps and kitchen dance parties. Just as the biting cold of winter will eventually give way to the gentle warmth of spring and the sticky heat of summer, our home will continue to grow and change and evolve with the seasons of life.

Over the years, our family has grown and this home has expanded, baby gates have come and gone, rooms have been reoriented, spaces have been carved out to accommodate homework stations and toy nooks and cushions for reading by the window. As a family of seven in a 1903 farmhouse, we are busting at the seams. But I know the day will come—much sooner than my heart would like—when we will watch each of our babies step through the door to go and build a life of his or her own out in the world. Then, our home will be quiet, and we will once again rework the spaces inside.

From the first moment I set foot in this old house, I could feel the stories it held. On that day, years ago, Dave excitedly led me from room to room, and we started dreaming about restoring her former beauty and breathing life back into her walls. For over a hundred years, these walls have stood witness to celebrations and sorrows and first words and last breaths. That’s the beauty of a home: It stands steadfastly as the whirl of life inside unfolds.”

(Snippet from my very first book, House + Love = Home, releasing next month on 11/14!)

#houselovehomebook
📷: @adamalbright

We’re back on this side of the pond and it’s a

We’re back on this side of the pond and it’s all hands on deck in our current construction zone. We’ve lived at the farm for almost ten years and it’s finally time to tackle our main bathroom and closet AND shuffle kid rooms since they’ve outgrown their spaces once again.

When we’re done with this renovation: the twins will move into new attic bedrooms, Luke will move into their old room, Sylvie and Char will get an updated bathroom with additional storage for allllll the hair products (we added their bedrooms five years ago when we shuffled everyone to create a nursery for Luke so they don’t have to move) and Dave and I will move into Luke’s old room (which has been a nursery and/or toddler room since we moved here and I’m extremely emotional about it 🥺). In summary, it’ll be mass chaos here this fall.

I always say, your home should work for you in the season you’re in. It seems, we have entered into a new season in which my babies have all grown into big kids and teens and my heart and our home are just trying their best to keep up. 🤍

After Rebecca and Pierre purchased @camposasso, th

After Rebecca and Pierre purchased @camposasso, they found three barrels full of Vin Santo wine in the old cellar. They had it tested and it’s very high quality and will now be the mother yeast that will serve as the base for the wine they will produce here in the future. I can’t get over how amazing that is! 🥂

This makes me wonder - has anyone else found something really cool and/or valuable in an old home?? (I’ve found old postcards and newspaper in the wall but that’s about it 😆).

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