My name is Jennifer. I have been a strong and joyful daughter of the Most High, on mission to help women see and feel hope in their circumstances by listening to their stories, telling my own, providing resources, and sharing God’s love.

I am also a wife to a law-enforcement officer, a mama of seven (ages 21 down to 2), and someone who has spent more than two decades now pouring myself out for the care of others on both ordinary days and those with extraordinary challenges.

Motherhood has been my greatest joy and calling. A privilege - but it has also meant that any and all extra time, energy, and resources almost always go to caring for my beautiful family. I haven’t lost myself, but I haven’t had much space to reflect, refresh, or be renewed either. With dynamics in our home life shifting this school year, renewal - and the quiet it requires - seems more possible. And even timely.

That’s why I’m returning to Discovery this weekend for D1/Basecamp, the first level in a life recovery program that deeply impacted me back in 2012. (I like to joke it has done more for me in three days than a life time of therapy - but it’s no joke.) My husband is supportive, even rearranging his military commitments, and my mother-in-law has kindly offered to step in to help with our kids - but I haven’t yet bought my ticket! I haven’t because I know each level of the program is at least a week’s-worth of groceries for my family of eight. Even with careful planning, the energetic, time, and financial costs are significant for us.

I have definitely put my purchasing ticket off till the last minute because asking for “medicine” is hard, but your support would allow me the literal relief and mental space to fully engage with all three levels of the program.

Anything I raise above my goal, I will use to cover a simple hotel room so I can rest and process instead of rushing home into and out of the chaos of family life and help provide ease for my family at home while I’m gone. Funds raised beyond that, I will donate back to Discovery so maybe another mama like me can have access to this life-giving experience.

www.DiscoveryPrograms.org

My commitment to my donors as I enter back into this program is to “go first,” “play hard,” and leave nothing in my “backpack.” If you know, you know.

Raising seven kids for His glory has been the heart of my story over the last 13 years. Now I’m hopeful to take this step - not to escape that calling, but to have the opportunity to be renewed so I can continue living it more fully.

With gratitude,

Jennifer