Meet my best friend and twin, Jenny. We may not look so much alike in appearance, but the similarities between our backgrounds and personalities are uncanny (our husbands both agree). Although we've known each other since those awkward middle school years, we didn't become close friends until college. We've run half-marathons together, we were in each others' weddings, and my day feels a little empty if I haven't messaged her on Google Hangouts at least twice.

Jenny is radiant, both inside and out. Her smile is contagious, her encouragement is endless, and her heart is golden. God used this faithful friend in my own redemption story and He continues to use her in my life daily. I am so excited for you to get to know her better over coffee this morning!

JENNY CONSTANTIN

What is the first thing you did this morning?

Rolled over and kissed my husband. Married life is pretty great! Then I jetted off to teach Jazzercise at 5:45 AM.

What have you been loving lately?

My office (I painted the walls and I'm working on organizing!) peanut butter and banana, and the fact that Downton Abbey is back - I even named my cat Lady Mary.

What is something you struggle with, and what are you learning as a result?

That God desires my heart, not my feeble attempts at bringing him perfection. So much of my identity pre-Christ was enveloped in trying to be perfect. It's exhausting and ultimately attempting to be God. He is perfect, I am not.

My junior year of college was the year Jesus finally opened my eyes to who I am. My identity lies solely in Christ. I am NOTHING without Him. He gives me worth, purpose, and breath. Everything else is non-essential but amazing grace all-the-same: wife, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, engineer, Jazzercise-lover and slightly type-A.

Life can get stressful. What are some things you do to simplify?

Whew... if only I were better at this! So much of my stress is self-imposed, making me thankful beyond words for my husband. He is the instrument God has used to keep the first priority at the top, and all the things that aren't so important can wait until later.

We plan out our week on Sunday, getting all our activities, meals and "hope-to-get-dones" out on the table. This saves a LOT of petty fights from invading our home. Matt also makes me grocery shop every Saturday. I really don't like to go, so his accountability helps. Getting it done makes Sunday our rest day, where all the shopping and cleaning is done and we can relax.

I strongly suggest keeping Sunday as the Sabbath, a day of rest. Resting in Christ, resting physically. God knew what He was doing!

And just for fun, what is something that made you smile this week?

So we got our wedding pictures back and my nephew has some HILARIOUS faces. I'm going to be keeping these on my desk... and saving one for display at his wedding one day :)

For more encouragement and daily happenings from Jenny, head on over to her blog, Abandon & Abide.

It's your turn to join in the conversation! What are some things you have been loving lately? What was the first thing you did this morning? I hope you have a wonderful weekend, sweet friends. Happy Friday!