Please Welcome My Sister Jennifer for a 6 Week Series!
- Kristen, Jennifer, Me – 2011 Thanksgiving
I am so excited to introduce you all to one of my best friends – my sister Jennifer! One HUGE blessing in my life is that I have TWO older sisters – this means – 2 extra moms! lol! I feel SO exceptionally blessed to have them as role models that I’m practically bursting at the seams excited to share my sister with you…and hopefully my oldest sister Kristen will join us someday too {*hint hint Kristen} – believe me – I’ve tried 🙂 !
So I asked Jennifer to write and tell us a little about herself before she dives into her series – but I thought I’d give you a brief bio from MY point of view.
Jennifer is the middle sister (I’m the baby). She has always been the intelligent (hello Miss Valedictorian!) and sensitive one of the bunch. If I need a shoulder to cry on – she’s the first one in the family who will cry with you – bless her heart. She is very similiar to me in a lot of ways – she loves God, her family and holds fiercely to her beliefs no matter what storms she faces in life. She always has a smile on her face (we share that toothy grin 🙂 ) and she’s a fast talker – she’s very friendly.
But we do have some major differences in our personalities. She’s very perfectionistic – she got the award for perfect attendance through 12 years of school! Ummm…I did not! She was intense about her grades (she graduated with a 4.2 – who does that?) and it paid off with a full ride to a Christian college. She plays piano beautifully…umm I took piano from the SAME teacher for nearly the SAME number of years – and I still play like a 3rd grader lol! I got decent grades…but I’m pretty laid back. And let’s just say – she’s not a party animal! School for me was a lot about the social aspect and activities – Jennifer on the other hand has always been very focused and determined – and if you are at a baby or wedding shower – you do not want her there – she will win all the games and ALL the prizes! lol!
So that’s just some fun facts about me and my sis – now I’ll let HER introduce herself to you!!!
Jen writes:
I celebrated my 40th birthday in April. Now Courtney has given me the opportunity to reflect on those 40 years, as I introduce myself to you and summarize all of those years in a few short paragraphs.
I will start with some things that you probably already know. I was raised in a Christian family with two sisters. I am the middle sister. My older sister, Kristen, is actually the instrument that God chose to use to share the gospel with me. We were in the car on the way home from church and she bubbled over with how she had asked Jesus into her heart in Sunday school. She went on about how she was forgiven of her sins and was going to heaven when she died. Even though I was four years-old, the concept of death was very real to me since my grandpa had recently passed away. I asked my mom many questions, and she patiently led me to my Lord and Savior! I believe this is when I was truly saved and I’ve steadily grown in my faith from that point until now.
Growing up I had several “loves” that shaped who I am as an adult.
~First and foremost, I love the Lord!
~I also love children, reading, and school. I have always had a love for books and reading. In high school and college, I was blessed with the opportunity to work at the local library where I helped the children’s librarian with programs and summer reading club.
~My love of children led me to become a school teacher. I began my teaching career at a small, Christian school teaching 7th through 10th graders, and then I moved to a public school and taught in the middle elementary grades for four years.
~My love for children also led me to the man that I would marry. I met John in the college group at our church. I realized that I loved him on a missions trip to Chicago where we did a vacation Bible school in the Robert Taylor Projects area. Seeing John’s love for the Lord and for the children showed me what a wonderful husband and father he would be!
We have been married for 19 years this July and have been blessed with a son, Johnathan, and a daughter, Julianna. I became a stay-at-home mom when Johnathan was born and then went back to work part-time when Julianna started kindergarten.
My children attend a private, Christian school, and I currently coordinate a beginning reading program for kindergarteners and first-graders at my children’s school.
My love for the Lord has overflowed into a love for ministering to His people. John and I have been blessed to serve in two main ministries at our church.
~We served on our church’s high school youth staff for 10 years. My husband is still currently on youth staff and we’re looking forward to attending summer camp with the youth this summer as we have done for over 15 years!
~We have also just completed our seventh year of leading the young marrieds group at our church. Working with young married couples helped us see the need for a parenting class at our church, and we were blessed to be able to teach through the series “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” four times. John and I often comment that teaching this class so many times has helped us with the parenting of our own children as we taught our first class when our kids were 6 years-old and 3 years-old, and they are now in fifth grade and eighth grade!
I look forward to sharing my love of children, my love of reading, and my love of my Savior with you over the next several weeks!
~ Jennifer
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Hooray! I’m so glad Jen is here! She’ll be here on Tuesdays this summer sharing her suggestions for reading with your children, including picture books, chapter books, Bible education books and Christian parenting books!
Please give my Sis a warm welcome!
Walk with the King,
Welcome Jen! Look forward to hearing from you this summer! (Especially since we haven’t had anymore Aldi’s meet-ups! LOL!)
Woot!!! Welcome Jennifer!!!!! For the record, you do NOT look 40!!!!! I look forward to your series!
I was just going to say what Christin said!!! You don’t look anywhere near 40!!! and that your daughter is a mini version of you!!! :o) I’m excited for your series, can’t wait!!
Yes, I was thinking the same things–she looks young! Her daughter is EXACTLY like her!
Lol! We all agree – her daughter is a mini-version of her – it’s so fun!
Oh no way do you look 40 Christin!! A gorgeous early-30s I would have said if I hadn’t been ‘told’ your age!! … I’m really looking forward to your series! Sounds like you have a wealth of information up your sleeves, and I am ready and open to listen, soak in all you have to offer!! … And thank you to Courtney for sharing your gorgeous sister with us over these next six weeks!!!
Neat that your sister, Jennifer, can join in your online ministry!
I am VERY excited for your series, Jen! Love you!
Welcome Jennifer!!! So excited! You will be so awesome at this! Oh- btw ladies- these sisters DONT age! No fair! lol!!!
Lol!! Very funny Janelle! 🙂 I know somebody else who doesn’t look her age either – Miss Comfy in the Kitchen!
Welcome Jennifer. I’m looking forward to your series and know we will be blessed by you as we are through Courtney. As I was looking at the photo of your beautiful family, it was so sweet to see how close your son and Courtney’s son resemble each other. Those are some strong family genes!!
Can’t wait Jenn! Miss you
Welcome Jennifer….lovely name,it’s my daughters name as well!
Looking forward to the study and hearing from you as well as Courtney.
Thanks for your time, effort and encouragement from you both
Susan
Hi. I’ve really enjoyed the Proverbs 31 study and I’m looking forward to hearing from Jennifer. It would be great if someone could explain your school system for me. Is the number before the grade the age of the children? In England we have a different system! Thanks x
Hi Jane!
Our grades go like this:
Kindergarten – ages 5,6
1st grade – ages 6,7
2nd grade – ages 7,8
3rd grade – ages 8,9
4th grade ages – 9,10
5th grade ages 10,11
And so on 🙂 Hope that helps!
Thanks Courtney! That’s great. x
So excited for this series! I love books too (still buying “real” books despite the fact my husband got me a Nook to cut out what he calls the “clutter” of all my books!). I have two little girls and we love reading together and I am looking forward to sharing all of my childhood favorites with them as they grow older.
Welcome to Jennifer! I, too, am one of 3 sisters (I’m the oldest) and I am raising 3 daughters. I’m looking forward to your Tuesday series, and hoping there will be some suggestions/resources for teens.
Glad you have decided to share your thoughts and ideas Jennifer. I am really looking forward to your book selections. I would also love to hear if there is a specific Bible you feel is best for elementary age children. We have a few different ones for younger kids, but my 8 year old is asking for one with all the books and verses and not just the stories. Would love to hear any advice.
I’m not Jen – but I’ll share what both of my children read from – they have the NIV Adventure Bible and we LOVE them! Alexis has a pink one with the clip and Alex has the blue one with a clip – here’s a link to where we got ours on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Updated-Closure-Italian-Duo-Tone/dp/0310939518/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1339508627&sr=8-9&keywords=niv+adventure+bible
Oops I just realized I wasn’t logged in as me…
Welcome!! Looking forward to your story!
I recently found your blog and I’ve been doing the Proverbs 31 series with a facebook group! You have encouraged me SO much to be a better wife and homemaker. I can’t wait for this next series!
Hooray! I’m so glad you have a FB group to do this study with!! We need encouragement from our sisters in Christ! Enjoy!!! Keep pressing on!
I am looking forward to your series Jennifer. Can you suggest any books for a 13 year old eigth grader? Thank you…
So cool to see how you’re both sisters in blood and sisters in Christ. I hope this will forever be the case for my own daughters.
Blessings,
Lisa
Hi, it’s great to get to know you. Your wee girl is your image and yes you and Courtney have the exact same mouth. My dear dear sister in law had a very toothy grin just like you two and she was the most wonderful godly woman I ever had the pleasure to know, so there must be something in that smile…
I cannot wait to hear all about your recommendations for my own daughter.
Welcome Jennifer! I look forward to reading what you have to share! As a mother and teacher, I totally understand the importance of reading to and with children of all ages! Thanks in advance for what’s to come!
Nice to “meet” you and I look forward to learning from you!
Blessings!
YAY! I am so happy you are here! I know this is going to be a blessing in my life and many others lives as well. I am really looking forward to the next post!!!
My God Bless you and your FAMILY!
Thanks for being willing to take the time to share about your journey Jennifer. I had attempted to lead the Shepherding a Child’s Heart at one point, but was so convicted by it at the time that I deemed myself inadequate to be leading it and became very discouraged. I would love to go through it again now that the Lord has brought me through some major heart changes and is healing me from some lies that I had been believing. I truly need help in the parenting department and look forward to you sharing the wisdom God has given you in this area.
Looking forward to this series with your sister!!! Thanks, Jennifer, for sharing your time and talents with us.
Welcome! I was wondering if you could give me a recommendation for a family bible study or devotional? We want to do one with our 7 year old son. After reading about all your experience with children and doing the Lord’s work I thought you would be the one to ask. =)
Thank you and bless you!
Welcome Jennifer! Thanks for giving us a glimpse of your journey. I have a 12 y.o. daughter and 14 y.o. son…I homeschooled them through 4th and 6th grade, involved them in many library programs and instituted daily reading in our home but; they sadly, even though they read well, they do not enjoy curling up with a good book? I would love to know how I could make that a happier experience for them. Looking forward to your posts at Women Living Well!
I’m really looking forward to this series! I too am a teacher (but off for a few years right now with young children). I love to read (for myself and to/with my children). I can’t wait to see what you will recommend!! I have a soft spot for books!
Yay…I look forward to reading what Jennifer has to recommend for young readers…especially boys!
Welcome Jennifer!!!! Look forward to your series:) Especially for the boys.
Welcome Jennifer! I love your name lol 🙂 Can’t wait to hear your series!!!!
Yay! Welcome Jennifer! Super excited for this series!
Yay! Welcome, Jennifer. I’ll look forward to your perspective on reading. We are huge readers in our family and are always open to new ways to approach those precious books.
Btw, I’m just “certain” that Kristin will join in and share from her heart at some point. She’s the oldest sister so how can she not? No pressure. 😉 😉 😉
Blessings,
Toni
I was nice to read about sisters that get along. I have an older (62)and a younger (48)… they do not even speak to each other. I am the one in the middle that hears everything and can’t repeat anything because even though it seems like a triangle… they can’t get anything out of me to spur on their ‘feud’. We also have 4 brothers … some of them don’t speak to each other either… Mom and Dad are both gone …. so the family is dying, too. But, on a positive note… I am thankful to hear or read about when other people have loving happy families.
Looking forward to reading her posts and her lists of books, we love reading over here and like to learn about new books. Thanks.
Hi Jen – Looking forward to hearing from you – love your story so far and that you are serving the Lord!! Love that you will be working with your very lovely sister here – she has encouraged me so much! Also, I don’t think you look 40 either – honestly, I would have guessed in your 20’s!! You 3 sisters are all beautiful!!
Welcome Jennifer! Before children I taught high school English and have always loves anything having to do with books! I have home schooled my 13 yr. old daughter and 10 yr. old son since preschool and have always read aloud to them…it has given us some of our best memories. I’m excited to see what suggestions you will bring 🙂
Hello, I’ve just recently started following your blog and I love it. I’m very excited to read the upcoming posts from your sister. As a mother of a soon to be three year old, I’d love to hear about some of the things you taught in your parenting class. Can’t wait to read your upcoming writings.
Welcome Jennifer! How wonderful that you and Courtney can share this venture together! I love books myself ( I don’t think I could get used to all this e-reading!) Looking forward to all that you can share with us. My almost 6 year old loves books as much as all of her three sisters did before her and is a pretty good reader for her age.
Good morning! I first want to say how lovely all 3 of you girls are! I am so blessed to have recently found this website through a friend and have been so touched by Courtney’s sharing and encouragement. Now I will be doubly blessed with Jen! I look so forward to clicking open Women Living Well. Thank you ladies!
P.S. 40??? I would have never guessed it. I remember 20 yrs ago (my 40th birthday) and it was a wonderful time of my life. I’m also looking so forward to my 60’s! God is the keeper of our hearts and He brings so much love and excitement to help us deal with senior-itis! So, for all of you younger ladies, enjoy the years that each milestone brings, no matter the number!
Looking forward to the reading with children (grandchildren for me) suggestions. My grandson will be in 2nd grade next year and my granddaughter is almost 2. I want to encourage my grandson to read over summer vacation.
I am really enjoying the Proverbs 31 study and I like the fact that it takes a few verses each day. This is the third online study that I have tried and the only one (at least so far) that I have managed to keep up with. 🙂
Hooray for spelling Johnathan with the extra “H”! My husband’s middle name is John, which is why we chose this spelling, and I’m sure you did for the same reason since your husband’s name is John!
Welcome : ) Looking forward to what you have to share.