How Jenay and I Met: A Journey in Moments

Every relationship has a unique story. Some are serendipitous, others are gradual, but every one of them is worth telling. Our story began with a simple moment that snowballed into a journey we’ll never forget. Here’s how Jenay and I met and how our connection grew over time.

November 2022 – How I Met My Best Homeschool Mom Friend at a Teen Jam Session

It was November 2022, and at that time, my kids and I were fully immersed in homeschooling, just like Jenay and her family. We were also in the middle of an ongoing musical journey—our kids were really into music, and we were lucky enough to have a homeschool dad who hosted monthly “teen jams.” These jams were legendary—local homeschool teens would get together, bring their instruments, and just let loose with some awesome music. It was such a laid-back and fun environment.

My kids and I were going to these jams for a few months already, and we were pretty well-established in the group. So, when Jenay and her family showed up for their very first jam, I was excited to see some new faces. As usual, I dove right into the “meet the new mom” mode and started chatting with her. But apparently, Jenay remembers it a bit differently. According to her, the first time I met her, I completely ignored her! 😅 I guess I was a little too focused on the music and the event, because I only managed a quick “hi” before moving on to the next convo. But hey, sometimes I can get caught up in the excitement of an outing with other adults, right?

Either way, I’m pretty sure our paths were meant to cross that day. And little did I know, this brief encounter would be the beginning of a friendship that would soon grow into something much more.

December 2022 – How Music Strengthened Our Homeschool Community & Friendship

By December 2022, Ari and Josh had been practicing with the homeschool teen jam crew for a few weeks. The group was insanely talented! Seeing the potential, our homeschool jam dad organized a Christmas performance for families and friends. Ari, an incredible vocalist, and Josh, a super-talented guitarist, had never really spent time together before, but it was pure magic when they teamed up for a duet of Silent Night. I’m not exaggerating when I say the performance brought a little holiday magic to the room. I don’t know what it was exactly, but something about their harmony clicked, and I thought to myself, “These two need to practice together more often!”

Now, here’s a little detail you should know about me: I’m very outgoing. If there’s a new face in the crowd, you can bet I’ll be the first one to say “hi” and strike up a conversation. Jenay, on the other hand, well, let’s just say she’s the opposite—she likes to joke that everyone needs an Ashley to get them out into the real world! 😂

So, after seeing how well Ari and Josh gelled musically, I walked straight over to Jenay. I probably didn’t waste any time with pleasantries. In my usual direct (okay, maybe slightly bold) fashion, I said something along the lines of, “Hey, these kids need to practice more—what’s your schedule like? When can we come over to get them jamming?” I’m pretty sure it wasn’t quite as smooth as that, but hey, the point is, we set up a time for the kids to practice together at their place. And let me tell you, that was the start of something special. Jenay and I quickly realized just how much we had in common—not just musically, but in how we parent, how we homeschool, and how we navigate life. And if that wasn’t enough, our kids? They were basically instant best friends. I have two girls and a boy, and Jenay has two boys and a girl—each of our kids falling into the same age categories. It didn’t take long before they were inseparable. Honestly, it was almost like watching a little group of kindred spirits form before our eyes.

February 2023 – Building Strong Homeschool Friendships Through Music & Family Connections

Now, February 2023 is when things really started to get interesting. If you know me well, you probably know that I don’t exactly rush to introduce my husband to new people. In fact, most of my friends in the homeschool community didn’t meet my husband until we’d been friends for over a year! I even had some people jokingly tell me they thought I was making him up—haha. The truth is, my husband is a total homebody (much like Jenay), and he’d rather stay in his comfort zone than interact with a bunch of new people.

To put it simply, he’s really familiar with me dragging him into awkward social situations. He’s ex-Army, and even back then, I had to practically force him to meet the husbands of my new friends. I mean, c’mon, I wanted friends, right? So, after seeing how much I’d clicked with Jenay and how well Ari and Josh played music together, I finally told my husband about it all. I told him how much I was looking forward to having a friend who truly “got” me within the homeschool community.

Well, being the loving husband he is, he reluctantly agreed to dinner with Jenay and her family. Reluctantly being the key word here. But y’all, by the end of that dinner, we were not only talking about our kids and music, but both of our husbands were planning our first ski trip together! 😂 It was honestly one of the most random—and yet somehow perfect—decisions we made. It was like everything clicked in that moment. And before we knew it, we were already making plans for an adventure that none of us saw coming.

Present Day – From Homeschool Jams to Family Travel: How Our Friendship Grew

And from there, the rest is history. Over the past couple of years, our kids have grown incredibly close. Ari and Josh, who started out as musical partners, formed “Josh and Ari Music,” for a short amount of time and they’ve performed at all kinds of venues—everything from farmers markets to 4-H state competitions, and even weddings! It’s been so amazing to watch them not only grow in their music but also in their bond as friends.

Our first family ski trip came and went, and since then, we’ve gone on countless adventures, supporting our kids at their competitions and milestones. And now? We’re gearing up for our first-ever adult vacation to Jamaica! Yes, the kids are definitely upset they weren’t invited—haha, but it’s time for some well-deserved adult time! 😄

Homeschool Music Sessions, Parenting, and the Power of Lifelong Friendships

To wrap up this rather lengthy blog post, I’ll just say this: it has been nothing short of refreshing and amazing to find someone who truly feels like my yin to my yang. It’s almost as if the universe had a hand in bringing us together for something bigger than just a friendship. (But more on that another time… 😏)
Our story has just begun, and we can’t wait to see where this crazy, spontaneous, and unpredictable ride takes us. We hope you all follow along as we continue to build memories, make new adventures, and—most importantly—cherish the bond we’ve found.

Have you ever made an unexpected friendship through homeschooling? Tell us your story in the comments!

Ashley & Jenay