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Jen Bradbury
Jun 12 · 5 min read

Why opening presents is an important part of toddler birthday parties

My daughter, Hope, recently turned four. Of course, we wanted to celebrate her well, with a duo of Frozen themed parties, one for friends and family, and one for a handful of her school friends.

Having gone to a number of toddler parties in...

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#gratitude #Community #toddlers #parenting

Jen Bradbury
Sep 07 · 5 min read

Review: Growing Up Social by Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane

Filed in Book Review

Being a parent is hard.

So, too, is navigating technology and screen time with young children.

For this reason, I was excited to read Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane's Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids in a Screen-Driven World.

Growing Up Social

The...

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#gratitude #introvert #parenting #books

Jen Bradbury
Jul 23 · 5 min read

The Maternity Leave Sabbatical

Maternity Leave

Eight weeks ago, I had a baby girl, Hope.

My pregnancy was wrought with all kinds of trouble and fear.

As a female youth worker, one of my early fears was how my church would react to the news.

I hoped it would be unashamedly excited for me,...

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#babies #pregnancy #miscarriage #youth ministry #Women #brave #Missions #breastfeeding #c-section #Prayer #maternity leave #gratitude #parenting #church

Jen Bradbury
Jun 02 · 5 min read

What I'm Into (May, 2015 Edition)

Reading:

Fiction:

I read three fiction books during April: Nora Roberts' The Liar, which was certainly not my favorite of her mysteries; David Baldacci's The Memory Man, which was fantastic; and Lisa Scottoline's Every Fifteen Minutes, ...

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#books #movies #TV #What I'm Into #hope #mentor #miscarriage #gratitude #ALS #babies #c-section

Jen Bradbury
Apr 02 · 5 min read

Can you be a youth pastor & a mom?

32 Weeks

I'm at the stage of pregnancy where people no longer have to wonder whether or not I'm pregnant. At 32 weeks, this pregnancy is obvious. In fact, my new entertainment is watching my stomach move as the baby shifts.

As my pregnancy has grown...

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#vocation #gratitude #Women #pregnancy #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Mar 31 · 5 min read

Stuff You Can Use: Blended Families Prayer Station

I'm a big believer in the power of experiential learning. To this end, instead of giving a talk about prayer, I'd much rather create a series of prayer stations designed to give students the opportunity to pray in a variety of ways.

Over the next...

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#Stuff You Can Use #gratitude #Prayer #Family #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Feb 09 · 5 min read

What's saving my life right now

I typically love winter. 

Lake Louise

I love the holidays and our annual winter ski vacation. 

This year, however, winter has drug for me... And since I live in the Chicago area, I know it's far from over. 

Being pregnant, I can no longer ski....

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#pregnancy #books #gratitude #Prayer #story #Community #hope #grace

Jen Bradbury
Sep 26 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: Wonderstruck by Margaret Feinberg

Filed in Recent Reads and Recent Reads

Wonderstruck

What the book's about: Wonderstruck by Margaret Feinberg is about cultivating wonder in your life through creation, rest, prayer, friendships, forgiveness, and gratitude. 

Why I read this book: I have been a fan of Margaret Feinberg ever...

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#tragedy #gratitude #Community #hope #Prayer #books

Jen Bradbury
May 12 · 5 min read

Grateful

5minutefriday

Today, I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker‘s Five Minute Friday. The rules: Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. 

This week's prompt: Grateful .

Last week, I spent 45 minutes on the phone discussing a...

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#Five Minute Friday #gratitude #hope #affirmation

Jen Bradbury
Mar 24 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: Unexpected Gifts by Christopher Heuertz

Filed in Recent Reads

Unexpected Gifts

What the book's about: Unexpected Gifts is about the formation of community. In it, Christopher Heuertz explores 11 things that often inhibit the formation of community. He then reframes these tensions by exploring the unexpected gifts that...

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#gratitude #Community #hope #doubt #youth ministry #books

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Latest Posts

  • Why opening presents is an important part of toddler birthday parties
  • Review: Growing Up Social by Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane
  • The Maternity Leave Sabbatical
  • What I'm Into (May, 2015 Edition)
  • Can you be a youth pastor & a mom?
  • Stuff You Can Use: Blended Families Prayer Station
  • What's saving my life right now
  • Recent Reads: Wonderstruck by Margaret Feinberg
  • Grateful
  • Recent Reads: Unexpected Gifts by Christopher Heuertz

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