Author Archives: 365 days of marriage

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About 365 days of marriage

I started this blog in April of 2011. At the time, Bret and I were wedding photographers and it was a way to share how marriage is more about the day to day and so much more than the wedding day itself. For about 5 years, I blogged about the joys and sorrows of the Christian walk, marriage, work, family and friends. I’ve blogged every day since a few weeks after I started. In May of 2015, we photographed our last wedding. Now, I have become passionate about simplicity, particularly in marriage, Christianity, business, travel and life. For a number of reasons, we have become minimalists. I’ve found that having simplicity makes life so much deeper, refreshing and joyful. I hope that this blog will help others see the benefits of living simply.

Day 2941 – Paperback Book Day – or – 2017 Paperback Book Recommendations

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Ah fun days, I love you. 🙂 Especially when those fun days are about things I love like reading.

While I prefer paperback books over hardback books, most of my current reads are hardback. This is mostly due to the fact that a lot of the books I read are new, kid’s books or it seems most business books are only hardback.

Jennilyn’s 2017 Softcover Recommendations


Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget* – well, of course I had to include one of my books. 😉 I have to say, I really like the quality of the softcover books from Amazon. Have you ordered a softcover book from Amazon? What did you think about the quality?


The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper* This was a fun book about a widower who goes on all kinds of adventures learning about his recently deceased wife. It was an interesting example of how you can never fully know someone.


A Fall of Marigolds* This was a fascinating book set mostly in 1911. It followed a nurse on Ellis Island in New York. I don’t read much historical fiction, but this story was right up my alley. I love stories that combine lots of random things (9/11, a fabric store, nursing) into a story that makes sense.


What Alice Forgot* I mentioned this book back in March and related it to my drinking experiences. It was an interesting idea – what would it be like if you forgot 10 years of your life? It was a page turner that I read pretty quickly.

As I’m looking back through my list of books read, I’m realizing I really don’t read that many softcover books! Do you read many softcover books? Is your to be read pile filled with hardcover books? Or are you all about the digital books? Let me know in the comments below.

* Amazon affiliate link – no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order
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Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
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Day 2940 – Honesty Is The Best Policy

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I mentioned yesterday there are times I want to toss my alcoholism memoir manuscript. It is just not fun sitting myself down, forcing past Jen to remind me of what happened those times. Taking an honest look at those memories. Those times hugging the toilet. Those times doing really stupid things. Those times I can’t remember. But through the process, I’ve realized how nice it’s been coming clean. Sharing my testimony was a big step in living a truly honest life. Having my alcoholism and sobriety out in such a public fashion has helped me take major steps forward in a lot of areas in my life.

A few days back, we were having dinner with a dear friend. Our conversation was about how I embarrass easy. My past Jen definitely embarrassed easy, but my current Jen is much harder to embarrass. I am much much much more comfortable in my skin. I embrace who I am so much more. Living honestly has been so freeing. And as my 5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Me post can attest, there isn’t much y’all don’t know about me.

So I encourage you to live an honest life. Express who you truly are, warts and all.

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Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
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Day 2939 – Getting Drunk In Gettysburg

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As I’m making my way through my alcoholism memoir, I’m remembering some of the experiences where I got drunk and ruined the experience. There are so many experiences I wish weren’t marred by my drinking problem. So many times when I was hungover and not able to enjoy the day. So many embarrassing experiences.

One of them popped up in my On This Day today. We went to Gettysburg three years ago on a pretty cheap Groupon deal. We did a little exploring. We also got alcohol. What followed was me drinking so much that I broke an entire bottle of beer on the bathroom floor. So much time was spent cleaning that up. What could have been a really fun experience (the hotel had an indoor pool and it was a bit of an oasis), turned into what normally happened when we went away and I drank. Great day before I started heavy drinking in the hotel, then the drunk emotional Jennilyn came out, the next day the drive home was filled with a regretful Jen who said “I’m done drinking.” Which would calm the situation, but I would still be filled with sorrow and regret for how I acted….but I would repeat the process the next time we went away.

As it turns out, this trip to Gettysburg was my last trip where I overindulged and ruined the time. We did take another trip to Harper’s Ferry, less than a week from the start of my sobriety, but I was able to spread out my drinking, and that was a great trip. I guess I’m glad I ended on a high note?

Taking these walks down memory lane with my drinking have not been fun. Really diving deep into who I was, what I did, what I experienced, looking back and seeing how much I messed up is an uncomfortable experience. There have been a few times I’ve wanted to just toss the manuscript, let this book go. Thankfully, past Jen has written some things that have kept me going. Basically, past Jen exists to show how much work God has done in me. She exists to show that God is mighty and gracious. If I have to dig up my past to give God more glory, I’ll do it.

Now I think it’s high time Bret and I went back to Gettysburg so I can experience it sober. 🙂

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Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Day 2938 – What I Wish I Knew About Writing A Book When I Started

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When I was a kid, I wanted to be a writer. I wrote a few stories, a bunch of poems, and journaled a lot. I’m so thankful that my younger self kept a journal like she did. It let’s me look back, and know where I’ve come from and how much I’ve changed. It wasn’t until I was grown that I knew I had to write a book. It took me SO long to write my first book.

I think most people have a book in them. I think that YOU have something to say. So what do I wish I knew? Here’s a few things, and hopefully, they will help you as you start (and FINISH) your book.

– You will start from scratch several times. That first time that you have to start from scratch is really difficult. It feels like you’ve wasted all this time, but it is needed in the process.

– Just write. Getting anything down on paper is a good exercise.

– You will think you’re done, but you are far from it. (Rinse and repeat this one)

– You will print out many, many drafts of your book.

– You need to love the editing process. You need to love ensuring that your words are having their desired impact.

– There are smarter people than you, use them. I’m SO glad I hired editors for my books. It brought my books to another level, and made them much more helpful.

– Reading continually will help you as a writer. I’ve gotten some great ideas, and received inspiration through the books I’ve read.

– Have a music playlist at the ready for your writing time. Classical music or soundtracks are my go to for this. In particular, I listen to a playlist of 40 cello classics.

– Have a set place you write, or at least a routine. It really helps to get your brain into writing mode.

– Don’t hold your words too tightly. You might think they’re beautiful and perfect, but they might not be clear. It helps to read your words out loud.

– Enjoy the whole process. Once you learn it, you won’t freak out when you have to start over, when you have to have your words chopped up, when you want to throw in the towel….again.

– And above all – keep writing.

When can I read YOUR book?

How do you like my editing pen?

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Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Day 2937 – A Huge Email Time Suck Off My Mind

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Hi, my name is Jennilyn and I’m an education junkie. I watch webinars, read articles, watch YouTube videos, read books, and sign up for a million email lists. When I set up the Journey With The G’s website, social media, and email, I started using that account to sign up for marketing emails. Now, I get dozens of emails each day that I just don’t have time to read. Yesterday, I finally had it. I’m all about minimalism in life, which I strive for, but fail often. Hi, my name is Jennilyn and I’m not perfect.

Now, if you didn’t know, Google is amazing in how they have their email set up. There is a way to route your email so it doesn’t clog up your inbox. I took the time to add a filter to EVERY email list I’m on. I took a few minutes with each to put them in sub categories, some with a little note, so when I DO have a minute to sit down and read some of the excellent content coming my way, I’m reminding myself WHY I signed up in the first place. If you have this problem too, let me walk you through what I did.

How to set up filters in Gmail
Copy the email address
Open a new window and open your settings, this makes it easier to add a bunch of filters for each email at once
Click on Filters and Blocked Addresses (at the top of the screen)
Click on Create a new filter at the top or in the middle of your screen (depends on if you have filters set up or not)
Paste the email address into the From box
Click on Create filter with this search
this is how I did mine, but there are lots of options to choose from. I wanted to file these emails right away.
Check Skip the Inbox (Archive it)
Check Apply the label:
Select New Label in the drop down
Check Nest label under:
Select to read (or whatever you call the label)
Type the company or person’s name as the new label
For example, if you signed up for the Journey With The G’s email list, you might say “Journey With The G’s (travel advice)”
Click Create
Check Also apply filter to XX matching conversations
Click Create filter

All the emails that fit that description will be moved!

Go back to your inbox window and refresh. Repeat the process until your inbox is empty. In the future, I will be adding filters when I join a list. If you’re like me, and go on a sign up binge, you totally forget why you signed up for someone’s list. I’m hoping adding this small switch in my education workflow will help me really learn and not be bogged down with 20-30 email notifications every day that I honestly won’t get to in that moment.

Now, this is what I see when I go into my gmail. 🙂

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Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel