Hey friend,

You’re in for such a rich conversation this week. I sat down with Lauren Fernandez — author, mother of five, and a woman who knows what it means to hold both joy and pain in the same breath.

Lauren shares so openly about her journey of faith, what it looks like to keep showing up in dry seasons, and how joy isn’t about everything being perfect. It’s about trusting that God is still working, even when things feel messy or mundane. Together we talked about the power of remembering God's promises, the importance of sharing our stories honestly, and how we can each find purpose right where we are — dishes in the sink and all.

Here are two takeaways I hope stick with you:

✨ Joy isn’t the absence of pain. It’s rooted in hope — and you can hold both joy and grief at the same time.

✨ Your ordinary matters. God meets you in the carpool line, the quiet morning moments, and even in the overwhelm. None of it is wasted.

This conversation felt like a deep breath and a gentle reminder that faith isn’t always loud — sometimes it’s just the quiet decision to keep showing up.

Truly Yours,

Jen

Hey friend,

This episode is a little different, it’s just me, and I’m inviting you into something personal.

As the holiday season unfolds, I wanted to pause and reflect with you. No guests, no plans, just an honest conversation from my heart. This year has brought some unexpected challenges, the heartbreaking loss of my mother-in-law, some health scares, and the kind of moments that remind you how much we need rest, community, and the peace only Jesus can give.

If the holidays feel a little heavy for you too, if the joy is mixed with grief, or the traditions feel like pressure instead of comfort, I want you to know you’re not alone. In this episode, I share what I’m learning about accepting help, letting go of the stress I usually carry, and finding the sacred in the simple.

Here are two things I hope you’ll carry with you:

You don’t have to do it all. Let the simplicity of Christ’s birth remind you that peace often comes when we release expectations and return to what truly matters.

It’s okay to need help. Community is a gift, and learning to receive is just as holy as learning to give.

I close this episode with a prayer for peace and acceptance, for you, for me, and for all of us navigating the holidays with tender hearts.

Let’s keep returning to Jesus, together.

Truly Yours,

Jen

Grab your copy of Return to Jesus HERE - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/

Grab your copy of Grace in All Places HERE -

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Jen Thompson contact information:

www.trulyyoursjen.com

www.jenthompsonauthor.com

email - jen@trulyyoursjen.com

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

Hey friend,

I’m so excited to share this beautiful and deeply honest conversation with Jillian Benfield. She’s a writer, speaker, disability advocate, and mom who knows what it’s like to walk through unexpected seasons — and still find joy on the other side.

Jillian and I talked about the idea of living with awe not in the big, flashy moments, but in the ordinary rhythms of life. She shared how her morning routine overlooking the river grounds her, how she's learned to hold grief and gratitude together, and why it’s okay if your life looks different than you imagined.

We also talked about the danger of toxic positivity and how important it is to let our scars remind us not only of what we’ve endured, but also of how we’ve healed.

Here are two takeaways I hope land gently in your heart:

You can hold both joy and sorrow. Life isn’t either-or it’s, both-and. And God meets us in that sacred in-between.

Pay attention to awe. When we slow down enough to notice beauty, even in the chaos, we remember that God is still near.

Jillian's vulnerability, wisdom, and truth-telling will stay with you long after the episode ends. I pray this one helps you breathe a little deeper and return to Jesus, no matter what kind of season you're walking through.

Truly Yours,

Jen

Grab your copy of Return to Jesus here - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/

Jen Thompson contact information:

Blog - www.trulyyoursjen.com

Website - www.jenthompsonauthor.com

email - jen@trulyyoursjen.com

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@trulyyoursjen

Jillian Benfield contact information:

FREE Ebooks: www.JillianBenfield.com

Facebook: @jillianbenfield

Instagram: @jillianbenfieldblog