End of Year: Jenna

I love this time of year for so many reasons but one of my favorite things is the chance it gives us to reflect. To review what we liked about our year, what we’d change and what we’d see different. This year brought our family many blessings, many changes and many insights as we faced different challenges.

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Quinn is going to be 8 on New Years Eve, I seriously can’t BELIEVE how big of a boy he is! He loves Pokemon, baseball, riding his bike, being happy and being a friend to all. When I pick him up from school, he is like a celebrity, everyone is waving and saying “Hi Quinn!” He really is the friendliest kid, I hope he always stays that way. He always encourages me and supports me, tells me I’m awesome, he’s the best cheerleader.

Jude is 5 and my favorite middle child. His demeanor started out very intense in his life but now he’s developed in to such a sweet, even tempered boy. He loves giving hugs, his best friend is Lolly, he is professional on his scooter and loves baseball with his Dad. You just don’t want to be around him when he’s hungry 🙂 He really is so so so so fun.

Lolly is almost 2 and it breaks my heart. She is still our tiny girl so a baby to us. She is the happiest little thing and is spoiled rotten by all of us but especially her Dad who is her very best friend. She says a lot of words, loves her babies and loves to eat. Every day of her 2 years she has lit up our world, I find myself so unbelievably grateful for her presence every day.

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I learned so much this year about who actually stood in my corner. I think living away from family, friends and everything you’re familiar with makes you keenly aware of those who will show up for you. Not necessarily in their physical presence, but their emotional one. It’s a scary and sad realization, but I think it’s necessary for regaining the focus and clarity of mind you need to stick with your priorities and goals you have set forward for yourself and to take a long the people who really fill you up and give you space to flourish.

One of the very hardest lessons I’ve learned is no matter HOW hard you try, it is impossible to change people’s perception of you. Even when you do your best to operate from joy, abundance, service and love, there is always a way for people to see you for something other than you intended. It’s soul crushing to not have people see you the way you want to be seen, but you absolutely will kill yourself trying. Write down who you intend to be, pray for the strength daily to be that person and to forgive your shortcomings in being that person. And then in the end give yourself grace and move forward knowing you have intention in your life.

This year was a year of growth as I made goals for myself physically and worked to shed the last of my baby weight, 20 lbs down in this last year and I’m really proud of that!

Lastly I think the biggest change of the year was our decision to move home! Yep, we are moving back to Utah! Not till summer because we are building our home, but it is coming fast and furious!

It’s scary to say because I love what California has given us. We have many friends and we’ve grown together as a family so so so deeply, in a way I know we never would have if we had been in Utah all this time.

I am the poster child for moving away from your family, do it!!! It has changed my life, my perspective, my heart. I know now how strong I really am, how strong my marriage and family are, and the challenges of being independent I have loved so much. I will miss the boundaries we have established here and have a prayer in my heart as I move home that I can maintain my priorities, goals and my intentions. We are excited to be back  with our roots, to have cousins for our kids and to be around so many of the people that we love so much. I feel ultimately just really blessed that we have the flexibility to do what we want, that has been the greatest blessing 2016 has brought us.

I hope that this year has brought you miracles, blessings and love. I heard once that change is inevitable but progress is not. Believe that you can make progress in your life amidst all the changes. Thank you for reading our blog, for supporting our families, for being here all these years.

xo

J

3 Comments

  • Nancy
    December 26, 2016 at 4:05 pm

    Thank you for sharing Jenna. Your words are inspirational and uplifting . I have enjoyed following you these past 6 months. You inspire me to set goals in my life, to dig deeper in my faith and to put family first. I don’t have all the privileges you have however you show me that isn’t a necessity and if you give, help and serve, life treats you back . Thank you for opening my heart and encouraging me to have goals .

    Reply
  • Jodi
    December 26, 2016 at 6:19 pm

    That was beautiful! So happy that you can move…I’m sure it’s bitter sweet. Blessings t you in 2017! We’ll look forward to seeing pics of your new home being built.

    Jodi

    Reply
  • Susan
    December 26, 2016 at 10:21 pm

    What a beautiful recap of your year Jenna xo

    Reply

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