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Learning to let happiness & heaviness co-exist
Jen Mininger • Nov 22, 2019
There is more to me than just brokenness & heaviness
hey friends...if you listened to my podcast then you heard a little preview from a film that we had created for the Restorable project. This project is so real, so raw, so very very personal to me… and that broken girl that speaks in the video, thats me, its my heart.
But, what I want to hear today is that little excerpt of my story is not ALL of me.
Yes, my brokenness and creativity leaks out into so many parts of my life...but there is more to me than just learning about my brokeness.
So here’s a couple little stories...or maybe some fun facts for ya…
How about I start with my roll model...its Carolyn Ingles. I know she’s not real..she’s a fictional character on “Little House on the Prairie”. I just think she’s the coolest! I love her presence with her kids and her dedication to Charles’ dreams. I love how she made everything from scratch and walked her chicken’s eggs to the Mercantile for some spending money I even love how she didn’t take Harriet’s crap, but was still kind and loving to her. I really could go on and on about her ..but, I’ll spare you! You probably don’t think as much of Mrs. Ingles as I do...and by the way.... No, I did not read the books, but I do think that I would be cooler if I did.
But, some books that I have enjoyed are written by Margaret Feinberg. My favorite of her books, is the one where she visits a shepherdess’ farm and learns more about our Good Shepherd. If you want to check that book out its called “Scouting the Divine.. I also get such a kick out of David Crowder in his book “Praise Habit” His book is deep if you want it to be, but it's also a book that makes me laugh out loud... and I think laughing out loud feels so good!
Currently I’m finishing up a book by Jess Connolly called “You Are The Girl For The Job”. It is SUCH a good book and I am going through with eight other women, but honestly, I think men could really benefit from it too! My husband and I usually have a few books sitting around. We read a page or two in each of them here and there...like “Sacred Enneagram” by Christopher L. Heuertz ...its very interesting... and it's can be alot for my brain to take in. If your into the whole enneagram discussion, then you might want to know that I’m probably an enneagram 2.
Anyway..enough about books..
Here’s a little story for ya… its about my name, not my real name… rather my nickname, for itunes. I recently learned that podcasts are helped by people who leave reviews..idk..somehow itunes knows that and then the show gets higher in search engines or something..(yes, this is also a little plug to subscribe, rate and WRITE A REVIEW for HOPE LAYER PODCAST https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/hope-layer-podcast-jen-mininger-DNK2XtbT7EF/ ..lets get these hopeful messages out!!). I wanted to leave a review for a podcaster that I enjoy listening to, so I left her this well thought out meaningful review and was happy I helped her podcast out. Later when I went to see if it was there, it took me quite some time to find it, because APPARENTLY my itunes nickname is "poop emoji, poop emoji, poop emoji 123456789"!! That's right, thats me! I have no idea how that became my lovely respectable podcast review writing name… and neither do my kids! Though, one of them must have done this some time ago, and we can’t for the life of us figure out how to change it back!! What ya gonna do? We got a really good laugh out of it!
Other than discovering my unique identity online... what I really love to do is hang laundry on my clothesline. It was the first thing that I have asked Korey to put up for me in each of our homes. It's a big part of being at home for me. Seeing those clothes swaying in the breeze, or freezing and stiff in the winter...it's just something that I’ve always been drawn to. Actually, being outside is something that I’m drawn to. In fact, I think it'd be pretty cool if my kitchen was outside since that is where I spend most of my days. It takes a lot of kitchen time to feed our crew! You'll find me at my stove pretty much every day, my mixer quite a bit and even my blender on a daily basis. You see, I'm one of those people who ENJOYS eating healthy food, and right now an occasional organic coffee with some cinnamon and ghee blended till its frothy... mmm..so good!
Other than discovering my unique identity online... what I really love to do is hang laundry on my clothesline. It was the first thing that I have asked Korey to put up for me in each of our homes. It's a big part of being at home for me. Seeing those clothes swaying in the breeze, or freezing and stiff in the winter...it's just something that I’ve always been drawn to. Actually, being outside is something that I’m drawn to. In fact, I think it'd be pretty cool if my kitchen was outside since that is where I spend most of my days. It takes a lot of kitchen time to feed our crew! You'll find me at my stove pretty much every day, my mixer quite a bit and even my blender on a daily basis. You see, I'm one of those people who ENJOYS eating healthy food, and right now an occasional organic coffee with some cinnamon and ghee blended till its frothy... mmm..so good!
You might find it interesting to know that I just entered another decade...like, I just had my 40th birthday a couple of months ago? People ask how I feel about it.. Too which, I’m like, “ehh...whatever”. I guess it's just another number to me… we’ll see?!
How about, did you know that I was raised with eight older brothers who loved me well but didn’t tolerate much girly “drama” from me. I am grateful for my upbringing, grateful for my guys who taught me how to throw a football and throw a good punch. And...my daddy...he was my favorite of the guys...and I can’t say enough about his influence in my life.
And then came along another guy… my boyfriend! At age 15, I started dating the boy who has been my husband for 21 years. This boyfriend who is now my Man friend is also the father of our 5 children. Yep..we’ve got 5 kids...who are currently making us parents of 4 active teenagers and a 10 year old. I adore my four sons and one daughter...they truly bring us SO much joy! You’ll learn pretty quickly here that being a wife and a mom was actually all I ever dreamed about, so I can honestly say that Korey and our kids are a dream come true!
God is teaching me that He is dreaming of even more than that for me. You see God has used my long time hobby/side gig/small business of photography to blossom and bloom into something very powerful and meaningful… even something that is now used to help others along in their therapies…
...and I call that service “layered photography”...because its not just your normal portrait that shows your new sweater or whatever. Rather, Layered Photography is a service where I meet with you and listen to your story, then together we create an experience to capture the deep layers of your heart. Friend..it has been really moving to GET to walk with others in this way
But first...it had to be used for my own therapy… for my own heart.
This photo is one of many from my Restorable project. This is the project that has completely altered my photography business that I love. It is the project that has impacted my heart..my life on a daily basis…
The personal project is SO SO close to coming out loud and bold, yet safe and gentle for your eyes and your heart. And while I'm nervous and hesitant about sharing this big thing, I am itching to share it with you all. I am excited to give to you what has been given to me. I believe in the very powerful message that I received from the deep heart work of this project….
So...just a couple more final details (because...honestly, computer stuff is so daunting for me) and RESTORABLE will be in front of your eyes...and hopefully the truths from it will be sinking into your heart. It sure has been quite a project to get this message out there so that a world of hurting hearts can receive another message with hope. I have taken teeny tiny baby steps to launch restorable and huge leaps of faith. Somedays I feel completely exhausted of it and want to throw the towel in. I want to quit this whole idea of offering what I have received to others..to you. But then I’ll have another day where I feel like I got some fresh wind under me and I can hardly WAIT to share all the goodness...to let YOU receive hope and comfort for you heart!
One of those recent fresh winds came from my friend Rachel Kline. Rachel was a girl I followed on instagram who I hoped to hire SOME DAY to create a professional website for my business. When I finally felt God was confirming with me that it was time, and that HE also valued a good website...I got all kinds of excited!!! I contacted Rachel and we set up our first appointment. I sat there telling her how important this website would be, as it is not only a home for marketing photography services, but more importantly...a new and professional home for my blog to be a meaningful space filled with hope and inspiration. I needed this internet home to help communicate what Layered Photography is and who might benefit from it. Aaaand...i wanted ALL of this done for the launching of my Restorable project.
So, I sat there telling her all about it, and as I did, she leaned in, intrigued by what God is doing through this mom and a photographer. And then she said, “Jen, I’d really like you to be a guest on my podcast”…I was like, “.What?!! Seriously?”
But ya know what, I didn’t even have to think about it, (which I typically do…actually, I typically over-think these things!!) but I just knew that this was something that God had for me. I wasn’t completely sure why, but I knew that I was to move forward in it!
So a couple of weeks later we recorded that podcast with Christine Campbell … and If you wanted to listen to it click here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-family-photography-with-jen-mininger-e50/id1363598827?i=1000448211733
This podcast recording was a fresh wind for me. It was used to whisper to me that God was, in fact, directing me to go audible with you. It was one of the dominoes, in a long line of dominoes to continue to propel me forward. I’d love for you to read about it on my blog at LINK“voices that lead me”...
So, Rachel and I continued the work of building a website. You guys, Rachel was so patient with me and supported me as we pursued creating a useful and powerful tool online. AND...we did it...Rachel did it!! With Rachel’s help, I now have a beautiful professional website for you to easily navigate! This website was another marker for me...another domino down, and another fresh wind for me to help me do my next right thing… take then next step of creating this podcast so I can now communicate hope to more hearts in need.
I am so thankful for the boosts that I receive ..the fresh winds that keep moving me forward to take my next right step ...and this one wind came to me because of the talents that God placed inside of Rachel...cause Lord knows i have NO talent when it comes to computer stuff! And Lord knows...we were NOT meant to do life alone. So… if your needing help with creating a website or help with social media marketing...then go to rachelklinecreative.com/jen
cause she is offering all hope layer listeners a huge discount!!! If you need a website..then you get $350 off of that...and if you need social media marketing ..she’s got a package that she is offering for $299..typically its $459. These are REALLY big discounts and just might be the fresh wind that you need….so go to rachelklinecreative.com/jen to get all the details!
Guys...I could tell you story after story of how God has led me...what fresh winds He has given me. How I’ve felt defeated and discouraged time and time again, how my brokeness has gotten in the way and held me back...AND how my brokeness was thing that moved me and directed me to more beautiful things.
Something that I was encouraged to do while in the depths ..was to remember that my depths, my brokeness is not all of me..it doesn’t define me… and Ecc. 7 says that it is good to look at both side of a matter…
So, here I am … a 40 year old wife and mom who has a lot of fun capturing hearts through my camera lenses...and who is leaning into God for comfort in all her broken places and discovering a beauty that I didn’t know before.
AND...here you are...joining me!
Maybe you're here to receive hope and encouragement… or maybe you’ll be journeying with me so that you can receive inspiration to discover how uniquely beautiful God made you, and how He might be directing you to discover what more He can do with your story.
Whatever the reason that you’re here...I hope that you will embrace hope...choose life...and discover what these words might mean for you!
Thanks for journeying with me, because we were not meant to do this life alone! I hope you’ll join me for my next post which will be the beginning of a series of episodes where I launch the project that is known as The Restorable Project!
See ya soon!
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Bobbie went from full hustle to full halt and discovered what God can do in a valley season.
It ached to hear the harsh words that she knew could be her own, yet it felt so safe and reassuring to know that God sees her and wants her to have new lyrics in her own heart.
Acknowledging the dark as well as the light feels so honest and helpful in these moments. Although, I will warn, that it can also feel raw and not always easy, YET it is a kindness to ourselves when we start with honesty, isn't it? It is both, difficult and kind.
Letting go.. or saying "no" can be SO HARD ! We don't want to, we'd rather be awesome, all the time, in all the things! BUT... is that really working for you and your people? What do you need to steward (manage, maximize or multiply) better? Do you need to let go of something so that you may better steward something of more value… for a season?
Tracy leaned into the old car unafraid of the dirt and rust that she was now touching.
As I said in an email to my Belize Trip Prayer Team.. “ I am thankful. Actually, I am dumbfounded, humbled and in awe.”
C O N T A C T
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