Jewels by Jena Studio

My very special children (each in their own way) have shaped and re-shaped my life path. My endeavors on their behalf have channeled my energies. No matter the abilities and disabilities of each of my children, I, as their parent (with much prayers to Our Lord God and Grace from Him), have tried over the years to lay the groundwork for their unique futures. 

Over a decade ago when my Jena was in middle school, with the help of my older daughter Lydia, we started Jewels By Jena and Friends crafts, working with Jena and other students at our therapy center to bring hand-crafted Jewels to neighborhood farmer's markets and craft fairs. Unfortunately, due to the side-effects of Jena's seizure medications (there was much uptake in Jena's seizures as she entered her teen years), Jena's tremors increased. It was heart-breaking to see Jena struggle with her fine motor activities. This (and her sister Lydia going off to college) put hard brakes on the endeavor. I do not easily give up on things but I had to admit defeat. 

Fast forward to many years later in 2020, as Jena graduated from special education and autism waiver, her seizures were being managed with a new medication. 

Although the devastating seizures continued to plague her, the side effect of tremors improved slowly but surely. Jena's long time care giving team member Rita started trying beading with Jena. Not only was Jena now able to bead without tremoring fingers and hands, beading calmed her. She loved "working." Her enthusiasm far beading spread to her other friends at JIT, particularly Alexa. Jena and Alexa have been working hord under Rita's guidance in creating beautiful jewels. Together with the whole Jewels by Jena and Friends on-line establishing team, Rita, Stephen, Erica, Samuel, Elisha, and Deborah. I am so excited that we are launching our online store in time to market for Mother's Day gifts. 

Please send your warm encouragement to our beginning endeavors and support us (spread the word to everyone you know!) by making our online store a success. I pray that all this hard work will bear much fruit and provide meaningful work for our children graduating into adult life. Help us nurture them, assist them and love them! We are depending on all of you, our blessed community!