Jennifer’s Journal

Honest words from the quiet corners of this life.

Stories about becoming, belonging, resilience, and the quiet moments that shape us.

Jennifer’s Journal is a collection of personal essays inspired by life in and around the Western industry. Some stories are joyful. Some are difficult. All are true.

Whether you’ve followed The Trainer’s Wife for years or you’ve just found your way here, I’m glad you’re here.

Jennifer's Journal by Jennifer Bishop, featuring personal essays about resilience, belonging, and life in the Western industry.

Start Here

New to Jennifer’s Journal?

These are the first stories I’d love for you to read.


Open journal, necklace, sewing needles, thread, and coffee cup for Two Needles & a Necklace

August 16, 2026  •  Jennifer’s Journal

Two Needles & a Necklace

This morning, I cleaned the vacuum. I mean, doesn’t everyone do that on occasion? It’s just been stinky, so I took it apart, washed it with Lysol and put it back together. Back in business!

I also dusted, decluttered, organized and have been having an amazing time hauling stuff to the trash bin. It is so satisfying!

After my first time through with the vacuum, I shut it off and it puked something on the brown throw rug I finished up on….

Continue Reading →

Tent beneath evergreen trees at a high alpine mountain campsite

August 2, 2026  •  Jennifer’s Journal

The Flowers and the Marmots and the View

For some reason, the same conversation keeps surfacing in different ways with different people, and it always seems to lead me back to the same place.

I’m just not super competitive. At least I don’t think so.

Maybe if I’m competitive, it’s about the destination and the win. But if I’m not, it’s about the journey… to anywhere… and figuring out what the destination is along the way.

I think there are a lot more opportunities for wins on a twisty path like that.

A path with marmots frolicking at tree line, wildflowers surviving harsh conditions, and at least one metaphorical mountain goat getting to the top.

Continue Reading →


LYRIC

July 19, 2026 • Jennifer’s Journal

LYRIC

We spend a lot of time celebrating strong women in the Western industry.
As we should.
But strength isn’t the whole story.
Sometimes strength looks like slowing down long enough to buy yourself flowers.
Sometimes it looks like praying over a baby you’ll probably never see again.
Sometimes it looks like making room for beauty in an ordinary Tuesday.
This week’s Jennifer’s Journal is a reminder that behind every capable cowgirl is still… a woman.
And she deserves flowers, too.

Continue Reading →


Lonely in the Quiet

July 5, 2026  •  Jennifer’s Journal

Lonely in the Quiet

Everything is fed except for you, which begs the questions: “Drive thru or Uber Eats?” Horse show days, Clinic days… you know the ones.

Continue Reading →

New Journal entries are published approximately every 10 days.

If these stories resonate with you, I hope you’ll visit again.

If these stories resonate with you…

Finding Center Retreats was created for women just like us.

It’s a weekend to reconnect—with yourself and with women who understand the journey.


Learn More About Finding Center Retreats →