Hi, and welcome to My Happy Homestead. I’m Jenny.
Nearly 12 years ago, my husband Ed, our four kiddos, and I knew we were meant for more—so we traded our city roots for country boots. Once corporate professionals and city-born, city-raised kids ourselves, we stepped into life as small-town business owners in rural America.
We eventually settled in a town of just 300 year-round residents, where we began building a life rooted in simplicity, purpose, and connection. What started as a mission to seek the good life—through intentional living, practical parenting and schooling, leaving a legacy, and pursuing work that truly mattered—has given us far more than we ever imagined.
Today, we own multiple small businesses and carry a wealth of stories, lessons, and lived experiences.
Through My Happy Homestead, it has always been my hope to inspire, educate, empower, and encourage others to turn tomorrow’s dreams into today’s reality. Along the way, I’ve learned powerful lessons about finding passion, seeking purpose, living simply and healthfully, cultivating happiness, and making a meaningful difference—and I now look forward to sharing those lessons with you.
Jen is the dreamer, entrepreneur, kindred spirit, and teacher of the family. She recently completed her MAE and is entering her sixteenth year of teaching, three of which have been in the public school system.
When she isn’t in the classroom, assisting with one of the family businesses, or driving the ever-busy “mom shuttle,” she can be found cooking real food, cleaning, working out, gardening, or tending to the family’s many animals—the true heart of the homestead.
Even in the midst of a full life, she somehow still makes time to read, write, and drink a little too much coffee (or matcha!).
Abby is now twenty—where did the time go? Always an eager-to-fly little bird, she has left the nest with flying colors. While she no longer lives under our roof, her warm smile, gentle spirit, love of music, and passion for animals are still very much alive at the homestead.
Now building her “big girl” photography business and showcasing her incredible ultra-athletic abilities, Abby continually makes us proud. From running three marathons to earning her real estate license at eighteen and graduating at just seventeen, she embodies determination and independence.
She is the true definition of our wild and free child.
Katie is a high-school senior with a 4.0 GPA, dual-enrolled in an unofficial early college program, and she has some pretty sweet post-graduation plans U.P. (wink) her sleeve. She’s still sugar and spice—and everything nice. You never have to wonder what she’s thinking because, like her momma, her eyes say it all. Always ‘cooking’ up something special for someone—whether in the kitchen or on paper—she truly wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s the quintessential introvert-extrovert: from busy barista to irresistibly cute ice-cream scooper, and then happily a homebody, tucked in and in bed by 10:30 p.m. like the princess she is.
Nathan is a ninth grader who is still all boy—athletic, adventurous, helpful, smart, and a steady calm in a house often filled with chaos. He is, without a doubt, the most easygoing soul in the household. If it involves the outdoors, he’s your guy. His work ethic is something to admire; you can often find him alongside Dad cutting wood, mowing grass, working at the hardware store, shoveling roofs, or helping out a local contractor. He loves to hunt, fish, play basketball and soccer, and hang with his buddies (and his siblings). And how blessed are we? He doesn’t even mind hanging out with Mom and Dad.
There’s no doubt this boy is going to move mountains.
Daniel—our not-so-“baby” anymore—is in seventh grade. He’s funny, (mostly) happy, sometimes a little negative (LOL… if you know, you know), incredibly smart, and quite strong-willed. He has no trouble keeping up with all the “big kids,” that’s for sure. He plays on the varsity 7–12 basketball and soccer teams, maintains a 4.0 GPA, and despite being a bit of a stinker, he still melts his momma’s heart with his love of back scratches and snuggles.
Daniel can often be found hamming it up for a crowd, crushing it with his sales skills, running his own business—The Yooper Stand—or out fishing, hunting, or off-trail snowmobiling with big brother and Dad.
A well-rounded young lad with a whole world of adventure ahead of him.
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