Hey — we’re Juan and Jen.
If we’re being honest, we never thought we’d end up here — sharing our story with the world. But here we are. Not because we have it all figured out, but because we’ve learned how to keep showing up even when everything feels upside down.
We were teen parents. We’ve walked through separation and nearly lost our marriage. We’ve started from nothing, lost it all and started over again. We’ve raised 3 beautiful kids who are now stepping into adulthood, and along the way, we adopted a daughter with Down syndrome and autism who’s changed our world — and also wrecked us in the best and hardest ways.
We’ve had moments we didn’t think we’d come back from. But God had other plans.
Raising Peanut isn’t about a perfect family. It’s about fighting for what matters — even when it’s messy. Especially when it’s messy.
This is our place to share the wins, the breakdowns, the lessons, and the laughs — in case you're out there wondering if you’re the only one just trying to hold it together.
You’re not alone.
The Real Story
We got married young — like, really young. We had our first child while we were still trying to figure out who we were. Life didn’t wait for us to get ready.
There were years we struggled hard to pay bills, to communicate, to stay married. We’ve dealt with job loss, miscarriages, depression, betrayal, and seasons where everything felt like it was falling apart.
In 2011, we almost lost our marriage. There was real pain and real damage. Everyone around us would’ve understood if we walked away… but we didn’t. God had a different plan. He met us in the wreckage and began to rebuild something stronger than what we had before — not perfect, but honest.
Then came Jana.
Our adoption story is one of those “only God” moments. We adopted her as a newborn, and she came with a diagnosis of Down syndrome. Later, she’d also be diagnosed with autism. She’s our miracle, our daily dose of reality, and our biggest teacher. Loving and raising her has stretched us, broken us, and grown us in ways we never expected — and we’re still learning.
Through it all, we’ve come to believe that legacy isn’t built in the big moments — it’s built in the small, hard, faithful ones.
Why We're Still Here
We’re not here because we did everything right. We’re here because we didn’t quit.
Raising Peanut exists because we know what it’s like to feel like you’re drowning in chaos but still want something more — more purpose, more peace, more connection.
This space isn’t about showing off. It’s about showing up for the families who feel alone, the parents who feel like they’re failing, the couples who wonder if they can make it through one more fight, and the people who’ve lost their footing but not their faith.
If that’s you, you’re in the right place.
Let’s Stay Connected
If any part of our story sounds like yours, we’d love to stay connected.
You can follow along on Instagram, check out the blog, join our weekly Legacy Letters, or listen to the podcast.
You’re not alone in this. And you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
