This is the fourth installment of a new series where I let you my readers encourage each other by telling your stories. We are here to learn and celebrate with one another. It’s amazing how much we learn from hearing other people’s stories. This is a little unique as I’m writing this post. But you will understand in just a moment. I believe I am a better person for witnessing Erich’s story.
 

 
I am so excited to introduce you to one of my favorite people, Erich Kruger. I had the pleasure of getting to know Erich last year when I was room mom in Emily’s class. That’s right, Erich is only 9 years old. And I have a confession to make – I adore him and like him almost as much as my kids.
 

 
Erich is a twin and one of 6 kids in his family. His family is very close, has dealt with major health care issues, and as a result the Kruger children have warm, compassionate hearts.
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This is the third installment of a new series where I let you my readers encourage each other by telling your stories. We are here to learn and celebrate with one another. It’s amazing how much we learn from hearing other people’s stories.

Today, I’m honored to introduce you to Jen Russell. Jen’s husband and Jeff are old college buddies. Josh and Jen are two of the most fun and generous people that I have ever met. Jen has sent me such encouraging emails since I started this blogging journey. I’m so thankful that she is here to share her heart. I think many of you will be able to identify with her story…
 
I am so honored to be featured on Jenny’s blog and be part of this community she has started.

I am a 35 year-old woman. I have been happily married for almost 10 years and I am the mom of two children, ages 4 and 7. I am a school teacher who is about to finish my 13th year in the classroom. My husband and I are happy people and despite experiencing some unique challenges (losing possessions in a house fire, fathers going through open heart surgery, an anorexic sister, an addict brother in prison), I believe I have lived a charmed life.
 

 
In the last 15 years I have struggled with my weight. Up until about 21 years old I was small. I had always been athletic and exercised. But all of a sudden I had some extra pounds on my small frame. I became self conscious about my body. A lot of it can probably be traced to my college diet of Captain Morgan and mac and cheese. After college, my diet changed for the better, but I still averaged about 5 pounds of weight gain a year.
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This is the second installment of a new series where I let you my readers encourage each other by telling your stories. The Learn with Jenny community has proven to be incredible and diverse. We are here to learn and celebrate with one another. Today I am pleased to introduce you to Michelle Bostinelos. I have enjoyed following along with Michelle and her family at her blog. She has such a lovely spirit and deep love for her family. Here’s Michelle’s story…

My dream, like many other young single women, was to get married and start a family. I never imagined that things would happen the way they did.

 

 
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While I am excited to have a great friend of mine, Sam Jacobs, do a guest post today, it does feel like I am “guest post cheating” on Jeff. But when Sam sent this post to me in an unsolicited email this morning, I felt like it was something I needed to share. I love men that are comfortable sharing their stories.

Finding where we belong, our purpose, what God wants for us, is difficult sometimes. Pain and injustice stand in our way and knock us off the right path. But comfort and joy can be found when we understand that God made us how we are for a reason and those traits fit with the path He wants us on. Repeat after me: He didn’t make a mistake on any of us. Please enjoy Sam’s story…

Before I get started, I have to say the Jenny Meyerson is the best! There I said it, and we all know it’s true! It is her ability to reflect on life and truly get to the heart of the issue that has inspired me to take a moment and share my challenges, anxieties, fears, desires, and heart for God as I take on the next stage in my life. So here we go.

My Life Test is on Monday. And the Question that keeps running through my head is, “Am I ready?”

I was born into a family of amazing people. We were often referred to as the Cleavers. I had two wonderful parents and two over achieving siblings who demonstrated how to eat excellence morning, noon and night. And up through high school, I did my best to follow suit. I was student body president, captain of the football team, and graduated number 4 in my class. Looking back now, I feel that God was grooming me for leadership.
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