Jonathan & Teresa

“This is my mom and dad, John and Patricia’s wedding day. The beginning of a 64 year love story that broke the chain of both of their dysfunctional family histories.” —Jonathan

“This is my mom and dad, Miriam and George Stenmark. Joyfully married for 41 years until George’s premature death. Together they created a healthy family for a baby girl they would adopt in 1966—me.” —Teresa

“I was born in Victoria, BC in 63.” —Jonathan

“I was born in Kelowna, BC and adopted when I was 10 days old.” —Teresa

“Meeting my mom and dad along with my three big brothers.” —Teresa

“Even though my dad worked long hours 6 days a week, he always reserved a full 24hrs from Friday evening to Saturday evening every single week to spend time with his kids. He loved to take me out in nature to explore my world.” —Jonathan

“For as long as I can remember my parents told me I was adopted. Chosen, just for them. My mom use to say, ’You were born in my heart, not in my tummy.’” —Teresa

“This is when I was 2.” —Teresa

“I’m not even 6 yet, but I can still remember how cool I thought it was to wear that sailor’s outfit.” —Jonathan

“15 going on 16 and somehow I thought modelling would be something I’d like to try.” —Jonathan

“On a whim I thought I’d enter the Miss Teen Duncan and Cowichan Summer Festival Queen pageant and ended up flying to Toronto to compete in the Miss Teen Canada Pageant.” —Teresa

“High school was hard. I experienced the trauma of being bullied well into my 30’s” —Teresa

“We met at a recording studio in Victoria (Roan Sound); started dating January 1 of 89’; and got married August 13 the same year.” —Teresa

“Recently our kids found this poster promoting our first concert in Vancouver. (Totally cheesy.) Our kids think the photo is hilarious.” —Jonathan

“This was the year our world forever changed (for the better). Gabriel George Penner was born in June. Not only did he rock our world, he changed the way we would think about our world.” —Teresa

“This is our first photo as a family of 3. Looking back we had no idea what we had signed up for. Parenting is probably the the most wild, encouraging, disappointing, joy-bringing, and fear-inducing journey I’ve ever embarked on… and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” —Jonathan

“Even as a baby, Gabe would spend time with me in the studio. Today he is not only a talented musician and gifted performer who is extremely well read, articulate and funny. He is also a great husband and daddy.” —Jonathan

“April of 94’ we became a family of 4 when Joshua Jordan, our second son, was born. From a young age Josh was empathetic, kind, compassionate, and could fix anything. He’s also an accomplished musician and has always had a heart for those who struggle.” —Teresa

“In 99’ the last member of the band Her Brothers, was born. Talented, driven, routinized, and a genuine lover of people, Levi joined the band and learn to play every instrument he touched. As a gifted emotive, he has created all kinds of emotionally moving art, music, and film.” —Jonathan

“The calm before the storm. Little did we know that our daughter to be would become such a mover and shaker. Changing her world and those in it for the better.” —Teresa

“We have a daughter! November of 02’ Tiana Terese was born. A natural leader, Tiana is strong willed and a fierce defender of her friends and family. As a gift-giving-ninja, she is not only generous and thoughtful, but highly organized, loves to sing and play, and a natural counselling support to those who know her.” —Teresa

“Growing up, dirt biking was not only fun, it was a way to bond with my brother. So when our kids were old enough, they saved up and bought dirt bikes, continuing that tradition.” —Jonathan

“Homeschooling three kids with a toddler was often overwhelming. Parenting is HARD! But it is also so rewarding. Each of our kids has now graduated and are either working or continuing their studies.” —Teresa

“This was a family bike ride near UBC in Vancouver. But it could have been anywhere. To this day, riding together as a family is one of Teresa’s favourite things to do.” —Jonathan

“Sometimes just having fun is the best reason to put your heads together.” —Teresa

“Moving both our parents onto acreage with us, not only allowed us to care for them in their twilight years, but also meant that our kids had amazing mentors for over a decade as they were growing up. Best decision ever.” —Jonathan

“On our 20th wedding anniversary we took our kids back to Victoria for a trip down memory lane. I can still remember taking Teresa inside this little heritage church and handing her a proposal letter that I had written (because I didn’t want to forget to say all I wanted to say.) She said yes! —Jonathan

“This was the church where we got married. 20 years, 4 kids, and a whole lot of life later, it was good to share the memory with our family.” —Teresa

“You never know where life will lead. In 2011 we co-opened a restaurant called Tossed in downtown Vancouver. It both stretched, stressed, and strengthened us as a family.” —Teresa

“Almost every year since Levi was born, we’ve done a one-nighter at Harrison Hot Springs Resort. It’s a favourite family tradition.” —Jonathan

“An unexpected summer road trip to San Francisco landed us on a sailboat under the Golden Gate Bridge. Not only was it a great memory for the family, but it was also where we met Sidney and Candy Sweet who have become dear friends, wise mentors, and key leaders of LifeApp.” —Jonathan

“November 14, 2014 we launched the first LifeApp Live event with the help of an amazing team of volunteers. However without the support and full participation of each one of our kids, we would not have launched.” —Teresa

“Family Christmas card created a couple weeks after launching LifeApp.” —Jonathan

“Her Brothers (made up of Gabe, Josh, and Levi Penner) play their first headliner concert at Chief Sepass Theatre.” —Teresa

“Family road trips are a favourite way to connect. Between the close quarters, long distances, and changing scenery, there is something about a road trip that leads to some amazing and intimate conversations.” —Teresa

“Soundcheck at Mighty Peace Day with Her Brothers. Having spent the first half of our marriage as a music producer and studio keyboardist, it has been a privilege to be invited, as their Dad, to play some of their live gigs. This one was to inspire over 3500 kids from various communities in northern Alberta.” —Jonathan

“We have a daughter in law! Gabe and Jen are married Sept 10, 2017. Becoming a mother and father-in-law for the first time reminds us of just how much more there is to learn about being parents and in-laws.” —Teresa

“Our first Christmas as a family of 7.” —Teresa

“Working the Gottman “Conflict Repair Process” on stage at a LifeApp Live event with our kids Levi and Tiana. We identified several regrettable incidents or fights from the week before, intentionally did not repair them when they happened, and waited to process them live on stage.” —Jonathan

“Touring the new Her Brothers album Tribe, focused on starting conversation around what it means to be human and how we find and form community.”—Jonathan

“LifeApp partners with Envision Credit Union to start a conversation around gratitude and the importance of creating a culture of appreciation.” —Teresa

“Fall of 2019 we launched our first LifeApp 3 Day. Our second was in February 2020 with our third booked for spring. And while the pandemic brought things to a stand still, our amazing team is simply on stand by and can’t wait till we are running again.” —Jonathan

“2020 was one of the most chaotic and crazy years world-wide, but right in the middle of it all we received the best news ever, we are going to be grandparents!!!” —Teresa

“Christmas 2020. We are now a family of 7 and loving it. But it was a tough year as COVID shut down most of our LifeApp programs and we had to rethink everything we were doing.” —Jonathan

“Baby Rowan arrives and in the blink of an eye we are grandparents. It’s hard to believe life is unfolding so fast. It seems only a few years ago and we were holding Gabriel for the first time.” —Teresa