Becoming a wife and mother so young meant life didn't exactly wait for me to figure out who I was.

In Chapter 5 of Becoming JENuine, I look back at becoming a young mother to three beautiful daughters, the financial struggles we faced, the family who helped us along the way, and the memories of those early years that now come back in pieces.

Some of the baby years are blurry, and as a mother, that's been emotional to admit. But I've realized something while telling this story: maybe I don't remember every day, but I remember my daughters. I remember their personalities, the love, the laughter, and how hard we worked to build a life for our family.

And just when life seemed to be settling into place as a family of five, something I didn't yet understand began to surface anxiety.

This chapter is about young motherhood, sacrifice, gratitude, family, and giving ourselves grace for the seasons we were simply too busy living to fully remember.

Real Stories. Raw Truth. Beautiful Becoming. 🤍

At sixteen and eighteen, we were married but that didn't mean we knew how to be adults.

In Chapter 4 of Becoming JENuine, I look back at our first years of marriage: a simple honeymoon through New Mexico, our little single-wide mobile home, learning to cook on a budget, working to make ends meet, leaving school, navigating the growing pains of marriage, and eventually preparing to welcome our firstborn daughter.

We didn't have much, and we certainly didn't have life figured out. But we were covered by love.

Looking back, I realize we were learning marriage while still learning ourselves and building a life with the tools our families and generations before us had given us.

We were just kids... and God was still growing us. 🤍

Listen to Becoming JENuine on any of your favorite Podcast Platforms such as Spotify, Apple, iHeart Radio or YouTube.

One minute I was the chubby girl with thick glasses trying to fit in. Then came confidence, cheerleading, first love and suddenly, life began moving faster than I ever imagined.

In Chapter 3 of Becoming JENuine, I reflect on my teenage years, the desire to feel accepted and chosen, teenage pregnancy, the loss of my first baby girl and becoming a bride all at sixteen.

Looking back, I don't see that young girl with shame or regret. I see her with grace and with the understanding that long before she knew her worth, God already did.

This chapter is about identity, belonging, loss, love and learning that being chosen by someone else was never what determined my value.

You're not behind. You're not forgotten. You're still becoming.