Hi, I’m Jennifer! I live near Memphis, Tn, in a little suburb town that I lovingly refer to as The Ville (Collierville). I am a wife, a stay-at-home/homeschooling mom to four boys~ages 16, 15 and 12 year old twins. I am a lover of Jesus, my man, my boys, teenagers and homeschooling~the older I get, the more I love all of the above. I work with teenagers on Sunday mornings and nights, and the Lord made me fall in love with them so that I could invest into their lives~if I can make a difference for just one, it’ll all be worth it, to the glory of the Lord. I also love spending time with like-minded women, so I am really passionate about leading women around me, and the ones the Lord has placed in my Thursday morning Bible study.
How do you take care of yourself so that you’re physically and mentally prepared to be your best self for others?
The first thing I do when I get out of bed each morning is to offer up a thank you to the Lord for another day of life on this earth. I spend time with Him in His word before my day starts, then I spend time praying. Praying is not just offering up a “laundry list” of things I need or want~it’s spending time praising Him for who He is, thanking Him, asking forgiveness of things I’ve done or said, then just sitting and basking quietly in His presence. Sometimes I incorporate music into this time, and often times, He lays a worship song or an old hymn on my heart. After this time of quiet and rest, I journal about it and write out the verses I’ve read that might stick out to me.
In your house, how do the mundane parts of life get done?
We are a homeschooling family, so all of these mundane tasks get added into our daily routine. The boys love to help me plan meals, and I involve them in every aspect of that. They shop with me (and for me, sometimes!) and they help in the preparation of meal time. Laundry gets done first thing every morning~I try to start and finish one complete load a day. When I do this, it never overwhelms me. Shopping happens in the afternoon, usually right before it’s time to start getting dinner ready. I have found that when I make several small trips to the store each week, I spend less and enjoy this task so much more.
What is one tradition or routine that’s really important to you? And why?
One tradition that we have had since we started our family is having dinner at the kitchen table each night. This is when we catch up on our day~my husband hears about school work they’ve loved or hated, they hear his funny tales from work, and we pray and laugh. This keeps us connected as a family, and it involves my husband in every detail of their lives. The older our kids get, the less time we have with them, so we try to be really intentional about how we spend our evenings. We are very selfish with our time, too, often saying no to certain sports or activities that might take away from this.
Your PICK SIX: What 6 products can you absolutely not live without?
1. My Bible: I am currently using a Women of Faith study Bible, in the NIV translation. It is purple leather and is much-loved and colorful on the inside. I write in my Bibles so that someday my boys will have them to look back on.
2. A good journal: I have used many kinds over the years, but my newest favorite is a pretty spiral-sized notebook. I love to write in them~I keep record of my quiet time, funny things that happened and a list of things I pray about.
3. Sharpie fine tip pens: I am a colorful pen addict. No other explanation is necessary.
4. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser: This little tube of magic erases dark circles (Can I get an amen, Mamas?!) and brightens the corners of my eyes.
5. OPI nailpolish: I have been guilty of buying bottles of polish for the names alone. My all time favorite color is Lincoln Park After Dark.
6. Yummy smelling candles: My current favorite is a kind that is sold at Walmart~they are very inexpensive and as yummy smelling as a more expensive kind. Right now I have a hazelnut scented one in my kitchen that inspires me to cook.
Anything else you think our readers would love to know? Any additional tips or systems that help you keep it all together?
I certainly do not have it all together, but I am a busy mom with several kids~and I am always, always around them. Something my husband and I have done over the years is to teach them the value of being a hard worker. They help out in every area of our home, and they are given areas that they are responsible for keeping clean. I do my part and my husband does his part, but we all work together as a family. Because of this, I am not overwhelmed with a cluttered, messy home. Each evening, we take about ten minutes and straighten things around the house. One thing that inspires me to do this is the thought of unexpected guests dropping by~I love having friends over and am more likely to say ‘yes’ to someone coming over if my house looks somewhat presentable (not perfect).
Follow along with Jennifer:
Instagram: @all4boys
Blog: http://all4boys.blogspot.com
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The Simplicity Series features busy gals, in different stages of life, making what matters happen and tips and tricks they’ve found to be helpful. Simplicity is about building margin into your life and spending time on and with that which fuels your heart. While we love to share products and services that help us day to day, but simplicity is about HEART and intentionally choosing the thing that matters most (your TREASURE) more than anything money can buy. We wear many hats and we know you do too, so we’d love to hear your thoughts as well! For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34