Nine Lives Later with Jenn

01/01/2026

2025 was not the year I expected. Personally and professionally, it stretched me in ways I never saw coming. Losing my job shook me more than I wanted to admit. For someone who has spent years leading others, solving problems, and staying in control, this year reminded me of a truth I couldn’t ignore: I am not in control of much at all.

There were times when it felt like everything I had worked so hard to build simply vanished. I have questioned my identity, my direction, and what the future will look like. I have grieved the loss of what used to be, the job, the stability, the version of myself I thought I had to be.

And the internal battles? It’s been a daily struggle.
The shame. The disappointment.
The feeling of being “less than.”

Some days these emotions were louder than everything else. But even in that daily struggle, one truth stayed steady: I don’t have all the answers but He does. And He already knows the plan for me.

2025 held both moments of pure joy and gut‑wrenching grief. Fullness and loss. Confidence and confusion. But through every high and every low, one thing has remained constant: God’s grace carried me.

2025 has taught me how to keep going without clarity and how to trust without proof.

2025 forced me to slow down and focus on rebuilding a healthier, more grounded version of myself so I can show up fully as a wife, a mom, and a woman with purpose.

If it weren’t for my faith and the people God placed around me, this year would have been unbearable. My husband has been my rock loving me through the confusion, the tears, the frustration, and the days when I didn’t even understand myself. My kids have loved me in my best moments and my worst, without hesitation. And my family and friends have extended more grace than I ever felt I deserved.

I fail daily. I stumble. I question. I fall short.

But I have been surrounded by love, support, and compassion in ways that have humbled me and carried me.

I’m ending 2025 tired, but grateful.

Still a little confused, but choosing to remain faithful.

Because even in the unknown and the waiting, I know I am being guided,
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
~ Jeremiah 29:11

His mercies are new every single morning, and His plan for my life is still unfolding in ways I can’t yet see.

I am stepping into 2026 with more love, faith, hope, and confidence leaving the weight of the past behind and trusting that His grace is enough for every season ahead.

My wish for everyone in 2026 is simple 🌟:
that you find healing where there’s been hurt, clarity where there’s been confusion, restoration where there’s been loss, and joy and peace that stay. May you feel God’s presence in the quiet moments and His strength in the hard ones, and may this new year unfold with purpose, grace, and hope in every step.🩷

12/22/2025

We made it to the Christmas service at Southland tonight.
Steve was able to meet us there after work and all of our children were with us, plus a few extras, which always makes it even more special. Afterward, we shared a lovely meal at our favorite Mexican restaurant.

We don’t get many pictures with all of us together, but we managed to snag a few tonight. This mama heart is full 💚❤️💚❤️

12/21/2025

Today, we kept the spirit of 🎄 Christmas going with our annual shop‑and‑wrap day for families needing a little extra blessing. For the last few years, our immediate and extended family has adopted Angel babies for Christmas.

The kids love this tradition. Each adult gets a child’s list, and our kids team up with us to shop within a set budget. It’s become such a fun learning experience, choosing thoughtfully, comparing prices, and keeping the child they’re shopping for in mind. Then we head back home, share a meal, and wrap all the gifts together.

In those moments, I step back and see how present, focused, and joyful my kids and nephew are. I can’t help but be inspired by them.

I am proud of my children every day for the unique talents God has given each of them. But when I see them using those gifts to serve others and do His work, I am humbled and in awe. Their greatness isn’t just in what they can do it’s in how they choose to love, give, and shine for Him.

Thinking back to last weekend’s blanket and coat drive and then this weekend’s Angel Baby shopping, each one of them could have chosen comfort over service, but instead they showed up with heart. Together, they turned compassion into action, reminding me that true greatness is found in serving others.

So today, I am extra proud of my kiddos and my nephew for their big hearts and their desire to serve others.

I am also incredibly grateful to all of our friends and family who contributed. Seven kiddos will be blessed this Christmas because of your love and generosity. Love you all!! 💖

12/19/2025

✨ One Year Strong ✨

A year ago last week, our girl bravely underwent cochlear implant surgery. Today, at her annual checkup, I was reminded once again of just how extraordinary this girl is.

Starting high school while relearning how to hear at age 14? That’s a challenge most of us can’t even imagine. But she has faced it head-on with determination, grit, and a spirit that shines brighter every day.

Her report today was amazing: hearing at 90–95% in her right ear and about 50% in her left—an ear she hasn’t been able to hear from in 13 years! That’s nothing short of miraculous.

She is still learning to advocate for herself, but she’s growing stronger and more confident with each step. She is stubborn and determined like her mama, but even more resilient, courageous, and inspiring.

Khloe, I wish you could see what we see: a beautiful, funny, big-hearted young woman who is thriving and doing big things. Keep shining, keep pushing forward, and keep showing the world your strength. We love you endlessly. 💖

11/28/2025

~Our Village~

They have supported us in ways we could never have asked for, welcoming each child with open arms, adapting quickly, praying faithfully, listening when we were at our wits’ end, and loving each child the moment they laid eyes on them. It was a choice, and they chose to rally with us.
I’ll never forget the time we anxiously said “yes” to a newborn when we had nothing prepared. In a matter of days, our family, friends, and even friends of friends showed up with more than we ever needed. Cribs, clothes, diapers, bottles. Every detail was covered. Talk about God’s provision! He didn’t just meet the need; He overflowed it.
And then there are my parents and in-laws, who jump in, often at a moment’s notice and help. Their love and sacrifice have become another layer of God’s provision, reminding us that we were never walking this road alone.
I think back to the formula shortage, when our friends and family searched high and low for the exact kind we needed to keep our baby healthy. They wouldn’t stop until they found it.
Even our neighbors joined in, showing love in the sweetest ways. They stock their fridge with Hershey kisses and let the kids wander over daily, offering small tokens of love and care that speaks volumes.
And then there are the holidays and birthdays. That first Christmas, our friends and family made sure our kids had more than enough, showing up with presents for days. And during COVID, when we threw a drive-by birthday party for one of our sons, officer after officer, friend after friend, and family members drove by to wish him a happy birthday, many showering him with gifts, making it one to remember after learning he had never had his own birthday party before. Wow! That day was unforgettable.
And then there were the friends who took our sons for sleepovers, making them a ten-course breakfast every time, or taking them to car shows and sporting events.
I’ll never forget the time I showed up on a Moffett family vacation with all of the kids and an emergency placement of two days. Talk about wild! I know it was awkward and at times uncomfortable, but our family showed up with open arms and made it a great vacation for everyone. Honestly, they probably needed another vacation after that one, but they embraced it anyway. That’s love in action.
And then there were the adoption days. The Police Chief himself attended multiple ceremonies, along with a slew of detectives and officers who clearly had other things they could have been doing. Yet they chose to stand with us, to celebrate with us, and to honor our children. That’s love.
And look, we are a lot. We have a lot of birthdays and milestones we celebrate. I get it. We are not for everyone. Steve has coined a phrase he says often (though he succumbs to it!): “Every day is a holiday and every meal is a feast.” Of course, he was alluding to my princess-like nature and tendency to go over the top with everything,😀 but I believe we should celebrate as many moments together as possible. These kids deserve to be celebrated and loved. I hope no one ever thinks we take any of it for granted. Every act of love, every sacrifice, every celebration means the world to us.
These are just a few examples of how our village and community show up for us. God knew we wouldn’t be able to do it on our own, and He provided through the hands and hearts of those around us.
I am so beyond grateful for our family and friends and friends kf friends, their constant love, their prayers, their sacrifices, and their support.

Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🩷

11/26/2025

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11/25/2025

11/23/2025

When I look back, I see how comfortable life once felt, three beautiful children, steady jobs, and a new home. By all accounts, we had what many would call the perfect life. Yet even in that comfort, God was stirring something deeper in us, a quiet but persistent call to open our hearts wider.

For Steve and me, that call became foster care. We weren’t perfect, and we knew it. But we had room in our hearts, a streak of stubbornness, and just enough faith to say yes.

In 2017, we welcomed our first sibling placement, a brave young girl and her little brother. Their arrival was both beautiful and heartbreaking. They taught us quickly that foster care is not about control, but about surrender, laying down our expectations and trusting God with the unknown. In 2019, we adopted them, and our family grew.

More children followed. An emergency placement. Then an energetic boy longing for stability, and his baby sister, who reminded us of new beginnings. In 2021, we adopted them both. In 2022, another emergency placement touched our lives. Though her time with us was brief, she left an imprint on our hearts that remains.

And just when we thought our days of raising babies were behind us, God surprised us again. A tiny fighter arrived, only ten weeks old, already carrying the weight of hardship. Later, her little brother joined us too. In June, we adopted them, closing our foster journey and completing our family.

Each child carried both brokenness and brilliance. Each one stretched our hearts wider than we thought possible. And through it all, God was faithful. We didn’t have the strength on our own, but He provided courage, patience, and provision each time we said yes.

What began as a simple prayer became a family of eleven, stitched together by grace, courage, and love.

I share this not because we had it all figured out, but because we trusted God enough to say yes. Our story is proof that His plans are greater than our own, that He equips us for the calling He places on our lives, and that love, when surrendered to Him, has no limits.

So if comfort whispers, “You have enough,” but calling stirs, “There is more,” I encourage you: lean in. Say yes. Trust that God will provide. Because He always does.

November is National Adoption Month, a time to honor the children who long for belonging and the families who open their hearts to provide it.

11/21/2025

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11/18/2025

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11/16/2025

If you’d like to help but don’t have gently used blankets or coats to donate, please consider purchasing from our wishlist. I’ve put together a list of items we could use for our blanket and clothing drive. We’re collecting now through December 12th.

You can drop off donations at any of the police sectors in Lexington, or send me a message and I’ll be happy to arrange pickup. For those in Harrodsburg, items can be dropped off at my parents’ home or at Bruce and Elizabeth’s.

Thank you so much for supporting this effort—your kindness truly makes a difference.

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