The Real Jen

Should I or shouldn't I? Do I have something to say? Do I have enough to say? Do I have enough time to keep up with this? Does anyone care or am I just another voice in the massive abyss that is the internet? So many questions! But I'm going to GO FOR IT!! (cheers for myself)

I warn you that my punctuation and spelling and form will be bad. I write fast to keep up with my crazy brain that absolutely never slows down, not even for a second. My fingers often forgettokeepupwithmybrain...see.

This will eventually become my journey towards simplifying but first let me also start off with describing myself to you so you will think of me as just a normal lady and not some incredible, flawless, perfect housewife that does everything the organic, healthy, organized, natural way. I mean...not that I'm all bad. My kids and my husband tell me I'm pretty incredible. My recent goal has been to see my strengths instead of my weaknesses, I'm doing okay with that...somedays.

I am a thirty-nine year old wife, mom, piano teacher, pickle maker, organizer, homeschooler, and aspiring home designer. I struggle with eating healthy. I HATE to exercise. I have extremely curly hair that I have managed to fry off with the cursed straightener. I love having things clean but am often a very grumpy mama trying to manage keeping a house clean with three small boys running around it. I'm learning to keep my plants green but will admit to you that I had to release some of them to their early graves after putting them up in my freezing attic this winter. Because of that mishap, many of the plants you see in my Insta account are new babies. I struggle with patience. I always worry that someone might not like me (which really is crazy cause I'm really likable!). I have a wonderful husband that works hard to support this crazy family. I married him when I was seventeen and he was nineteen (crazy huh?). We have lived in three different states and eleven different homes in 21 years of marriage. Our marriage has been a difficult journey but God has made it stronger through those difficulties and I am very grateful that He kept us together because I sure do love that sweet man of mine!
I have six children ranging from twenty down to six. Three girls, three boys. They say that boys are easier than girls but I disagree. Also girls smell better. Have you noticed? But boys snuggle better.

Over the next few months I will share with you my story. It covers many years and many challenges but I can't wait to share it with you. I cannot promise to post daily. I only write well when I don't get interrupted and that happens like...never.  But I promise to read your comments and I promise to be honest and I promise to be myself.