about Jen

I am just thrilled that you have stumbled on my little corner of the blogosphere. There’s nothing I’d love more than to sit down over a cup of coffee with you on our porch and share life together, but if we can’t set up that time, this is the next best thing.

My family

What a joy it is to introduce you to my family. I am a wife to an amazing man, Gregg, and we just celebrated our 27th anniversary. As I type that, it astounds me. I can barely believe decades have flown by since in my mind I still feel like I’m a 27 year old. I’m privileged to be the mom of five blessings, one precious daughter-in-love (who we prayed for long before we knew her name) and a few too many animals.

Our home is loud, loaded with love and life, and it’s a place where we embrace both the beauty and bedlam of the every day. Our door is always open and everyone is welcome, but be prepared. We love to engage in deep conversations filtered through the lens of truth and grace, so no topics are off limits. Pull up a seat, get cozy and come as you are. I am all about seeking out the beauty hidden amidst our chaos. What a joy to live in that tension of life abundant.

 

Decades ago, my parents gathered all their children together and described a dream that had been stirring in their heart.

We now call it our 200 year generational plan.

With over 50 acres, two of my siblings and our children (nineteen cousins) have grown up together on our “homestead” (fancy word for “we live next door to each other, but not too close since we can’t see each other’s homes”), it’s created the kind of life full of beauty and bedlam.

In the process of this journey, we’ve encountered challenges and celebrations, life giving moments and tender filled tensions, but through it all, we’ve grown more in love with our Savior as we learn more what it means to be made in His image.

So whether I’m diving into God’s Word, saving money on our budget, finding fun things at the thrift store, repainting old furniture, creating new recipes for this gang, implementing family traditions or living Life to its fullest, I love gathering in community, both in real life and online, so settle in with some coffee and join me as we journey together.

Professional Bio

Short Bio for Speaking Introduction:

For over a decade, Jen Schmidt has been encouraging, challenging, and cheering on women to embrace both the beauty and bedlam of their everyday lives on her lifestyle blog, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

A popular speaker, worship leader and the founder/host of the annual Becoming Conference, Jen shares with humor and authenticity as she invites others to join her on this bumpy, beautiful life journey. As the Lifeway author of “Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation,” Jen believes that an open door is the launching pad for some of His most significant Kingdom work. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, five children, a few too many animals, and an available sofa for anyone who needs it.

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Do you want to know a little more about Jen?

As a mom of five blessings and full time family manager, Jen Schmidt has learned to balance and embrace both the beauty and bedlam of every day life. As a sought after bible teacher, speaker, worship leader and author, Jen shares with humor and authenticity on a myriad of topics, many which fall under her passion for understanding “It’s the little things, that are the big things.”

As Jen teaches, not only does she dive deep into scripture, but she gleans nuggets and applies them to her everyday life in a fresh and inspiring way. Can you be challenging and encouraging at the same time? That’s Jen.

She’s also a sought after teacher on sharing practical, yet tangible, lifestyle ideas to encourage women and families with their finances and understanding a “living on less” mentality.

She lives it, and invites you along for the journey.

After graduation from Taylor University with an emphasis on Biblical Studies and Christian Education/Youth Ministries, Jen served in full time ministry as a Director of Music and Youth in Milwaukee, WI before she and her family moved to NC.  This suburban girl, turned country mom, lives on a family homestead with her siblings and their families, along with a few too many animals.

In 2011, Jen desired to bring the blog topics that she wrote about straight to her readers in real life. With that vision and dream, she launched the annual Becoming Conference  and approximately 600 women attended their inaugural year.

Jen writes about her never-ending pursuit of balancing it all at her personal lifestyle blog: Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, as well as her food blog, 10 Minute Dinners. She is a best selling author of Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation, Open Door Living: Easy Ways to Share Hospitality, along with a Lifeway Bible Study.

Jen’s favorite ministry is gathering women around the table and is honored to share yours. 

You can find her on any given day dreaming about a clean house, chauffeuring,  couponing, meal planning, home schooling, thrift store hunting, or quite possibly on a stage sharing both her beauty and bedlam as a daughter of the King.

Follow Jen on Instagram at jenschmidt_beautyandbedlam and facebook www.facebook.com/ beautyandbedlam

Jen serves in ministry at her home church in Greensboro, NC. Find the Westover Church statement of faith here.