What’s a Jenn Story?

The Jenn Stories

The adventures and misadventures, both real and imagined, of a middle aged American woman.

The Jenn of the Stories

Stuff you should probably know:

  1. I got married for the first time ever in 2012, just under the wire when it comes to being middle aged. My Paul is wonderful, and has an equally word-geeky sense of humour to mine.
  2. In October 2015, I was appointed to Campus Ambassadors through Missions Door to launch The Pilgrimage, a ministry to Campus Ambassadors alumni and other people more or less on the fringes of Christian community. Before that, I was a director of faith formation and outreach at a church. Who used to be a Starbucks barista, while occasionally simultaneously being a paralegal’s assistant and/or a freelance writer/copyeditor. Who used to be a living history interpreter. Who used to work with churches and refugees in East London. Who used to be a nanny. Who used to be a university student. Who spent her early childhood as a missionary kid in Honduras. Did I miss anything?
  3. I had breast cancer once. Then I had breast-cancer-induced migraines. Now I try to work out, and drink Shakeology when I have the money.
  4. I have a published children’s novel and would love representation (or, what the heck–just a publishing deal) for a second not-specifically-children’s novel about a rather well-known woman in first century Israel.
  5. My previous blog is located here. In case, you know, I haven’t said enough already.
  6. I like interacting with you and I like when you interact back. Go ahead–say hi!

How May I Help You?

Need proofreading or writing services? Let’s talk. Shoot me an email at jenn@thatsajennstory.com.

Been thinking about getting healthy but not sure where to start? Let’s talk. Shoot me an email at jenn@thatsajennstory.com.

Need something to read this weekend? We don’t necessarily have to talk–but I’d love to if you want to. Or you can just pick up a copy of Trees in the Pavement without talking at all.

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135 thoughts on “What’s a Jenn Story?

    • Thanks so much for introducing yourself! I’ll check out your blog. My grandfather had Alzheimer’s for 15 years before passing. I’m not sure my mother will get it, but I’m almost certain I will (which probably doesn’t help!). I’m interested in what you have to say.

    • Completely. But…kinda fun? I don’t think I’d have it any other way, even when one of my hyper-conservative friends says, “If you travel in the middle of the road, you get run over both ways”!

      • 1st, let me thank you for following our blog. We hope you’ll enjoy it. 2nd, I’m excited to find another middle of the roader getting run over from both directions! We’ve been in that position for decades – too socially liberal for our conservative friends, too fiscally conservative for our liberal friends, always being “wrong” at any gathering. Sigh. We learned to keep quiet and smile, but have to remind just about everyone that just because we don’t argue with them doesn’t mean we agree with them!

  1. Dear Jenn
    I was surprised with this very cool award, so now I get to nominate some of the bloggers whose musing, writings and rantings are the highlight of my day (or night).
    So, this one is for you.
    The Wonderful Team Member Readership Award
    Bit of a mouthful.
    If you’d like to accept, you can…
    Get your award here!
    Or if the link doesn’t work…
    http://furrynuff.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/yay-i-got-an-award-and-now-i-get-to-give-one/
    Love Victoria

  2. Hi Jenn, Love the humour and honesty of your blog, it’s such a joy to read, you have such a smooth and comfortable writing style.
    Good luck with your books 🙂 and all the best x

  3. What a great place to keep your thoughts, stories, etc. Sounds like you have had an eventful life and had many wonderful (and one not so great) adventures so far. I like that despite a setback an current migraine (I understand I have had migraines since I was little and at one point had them daily for over a year) you have a great outlook and great goals 🙂 Hope if you and your hubby someday want a farm you get that dream. I love animals and can’t wait until we can have more 🙂 Keep up the good work 🙂

  4. I’m adding #7 to your about me, The Jenn of the Stories, list…”I leave comments on other people’s blogs that make them feel good and laugh.” – at least this is the case for me. Thanks for giving me good chuckles now and then!

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  9. Hey,
    Just happened to run into your blog. You have got a beautiful space running here. Loved your work. Its very subtle. I guess I will be hanging around here a lot. 🙂 Great work

  10. Jenn: your genuine, enthusiastic, witty, and wonderful self is truly great! I love reading through your posts, you are a very encouraging person. Keep it up!

    • It’s a pleasure. I confess you probably won’t see me at your blog much until seminary’s basically over, but . . . at least you’re in my reader now, which ensures I’ll get over there as soon as I can! Thanks again for coming over here, and for your patience.

  11. My story is just putting life in words – and so apparently is yours, and you do it well. It’s probably a gift for a reason… I’ll look forward to going back over your years of posts.

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  13. Thanks for visiting my blog. I love your backwards life story and all the things you have done. I share your principles and compassion, but not your faith. I would love the world to live and let live, everyone following their chosen faith, but not imposing it on others. For myself, I have long been an atheist.

    • Thanks so much for reading, commenting, and sharing a little of who you are. I’m always fascinated by people’s “faith” journeys, whether it’s in a divine being, or in NOT-a-divine-being. 🙂 I’m very curious how you came to be an atheist.

  14. Hmm, I’m trying to think of a way to compress this journey. Mother methodist, father atheist, an early childhood with Church of England, 3 years boarding school in a Roman Catholic Convent in Belgium, 4 years in an English boarding school with a wonderful Quaker headmistress. A dawning realisation, starting at age about 11 years old, that no one religion was right or wrong and that most of them contained what (to me) sounded like a lot of fantasy. Going to lectures by theologians and discussing the subject through my teens, but already convinced that the idea of a supreme being was an invention of man to help understand the curiosities of the universe. Finding no evidence throughout life of anything other than the human brain in religious thought, action or history. Seeing much to admire in the kindness and compassion of religious individuals, but also much to abhor in the bloody and contentious actions of religious bodies throughout history – which look no different to the power struggles of any political entity. Finding no difference between myself and, say, an ant except brain size. So, personally, I would prefer to take responsibility for everything I say and do here and now and have no dream of any afterlife or guiding hand from anywhere else.
    An interesting exercise. I have never tried to put this down as a potted ‘journey’ before. I’m not sure how much such compression really conveys, but thank you for asking.

  15. Hi there. Glad I found this blog. You have built a very impressive site! I blog on everything from politics to film review. Would be lovely if you can follow back. Thank you!

  16. Thank you for sharing. God is using you in a mighty way. Please pray for a greater listening ear to His leading. He will definitely expand your spiritual horizon. Amen.

  17. Hi, Jenn, you followed my blog after we interacted a bit on Tim Fall’s blog, so I thought I’d check out your blog. (How many times can I use the word “blog” in a sentence?) I’m glad I stopped by. I look forward to reading your stories.

    • Hey Keith–thanks for saying that. As you may have figured out by now, I no longer blog here (which is why I only just now saw this comment–so sorry about that!). I’m not really blogging much at the moment at all because of a lot of writing I need to do in other (mostly academic) contexts these days, but there is a sort of occasional blog I have over at http://www.the-pilgrimage.org, if you’re interested. Thanks for visiting!

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