LOVING LATELY

This is what I like to call a pause-worthy list of simple loves. Sometimes, for the thrill of it, I will write out a few things I’m really into as of late that take very little time to invest in. There’s something about a quick jot of a joy that kindles the creative fire within.

R E A D I N G

This month has been quite the transition for our family. Andrew enrolled in seminary and reading has taken over our lives. Reading, reading, reading… every spare minute, Andrew is reading. He is currently conquering book 14 in a timespan of 2weeks. Guys. That’s a book a day, and these are no regular chapter books! These are deep, reality-shifting, sometimes thousand-paged beasts. Naturally this leaves me spending quite a bit more time doing... well everything else that needs to be done! I’m currently sitting on the hood of our guest-bathroom toilet after a long, full week typing this out as Jack takes a bath (my first break of the day). And even though the mornings and afternoons seem a lot more full, the nights have been pleasantly quiet, calm and refreshing. We aim to be intentional about quality time despite the new schedule-shift, but still I find myself alone much more often at night. I decided as soon as Andrew began taking classes, that I’d set some goals to read myself… and even though I’m still on book 1 it has been the biggest blessing! Learning is such a gift and this season of having spare time once Jack goes to bed and Andrew turns in to the office, I have been digging into Jen Wilkin’s “IN HIS IMAGE” -and to this I say, get a copy for yourself!! It has challenged me and humbled me each time I’ve picked it up!

What are you currently reading? Share the title and your favorite quote in the comments!

M O R N I N G M U S I C

Our home typically stays in an untroubled state until about 7:30am. By this point in the morning, Andrew has been up several hours already conquering the world somewhere and I’m more often than not just turning the corner of awakening my brain with a coffee and a Bible. But come 7:31am things start to get crazy. Jack (our two year old) often starts his day by demanding waffles with syyyyyyrup and he does it all while dancing loudly around the kitchen. Recently he’s asked our high-tech friend Alexa to turn on his favorite jams (you know the most obnoxious disney playlist), and one by one they come blasting through her speakers! You can imagine my face. So all this to say, morning music has always been a big part of our post-sunrise routine. However, I just recently started creating playlists specific to this time that allow us to slowly ease into the day. I try to mix things up, but my go-to is David Baloche —specifically his album “LABYRINTH”. Click, listen, and thank me later.

Do you have a morning routine? Does it involve a lot of noise? Share your playlists with us in the comments below or email us here: hello@reverycompany.com.

P R A Y I N G

I’ve always had a difficult time removing the noise and distraction long enough to pray intentionally from my heart. To be extremely honest, it’s a desire I have been putting so far down on my priority list for years that I knew I had to make a change. And the change had to be life-lasting. Let me tell you! Having a prayer journal has COMPLETELY changed this habit (or lack there of). My best friend gave me an amazing prayer journal for Christmas after I had cried and complained about not making my conversation with God the one most important. Now, I write them down and say them aloud and it has changed everything - and that is no exaggeration. Though, it is not the tool itself that has brought such restoration in this area, but rather the use of it in drawing near to The Lord and seeing clearly His work in the lives of others around me. Prayer is so so important and in the 5years of professing Jesus as Lord, I am just now understanding the meaning of it. When we are focused on others and their needs, our agendas grow SO dim. This has been a beautiful reminder as a believer in Christ to not settle for Sunday gatherings, weekly devotions, or even daily readings in my walk with God.

Do you journal? Do you journal your prayers? We’d love to hear more about your prayer routines - comment below or email us here: hello@reverycompany.com.

M A K I N G T H E B E D

This is probably the most functional, practical and completely lame little joy, but the simple action of making my bed has allowed me to begin my day with purpose and grace. This week, my sister was telling me about something she recently read in psych class —essentially that our brains aren’t formed to process the level of information that we do with social media, audio, etc. and before the rise of man-made technology, the amount of information we would receive and process in a week is what we now consume in one day. So the making of one’s bed may seem silly, but I do it first thing… no matter the list of tasks I have set before me. You could say, it’s my way of sticking it to the man of culture-influence. ;) Plus it makes me feel bright and renewed each time I walk into our room!

Confession time: do you leave your room messy in the morning?

L O C A L H A N G S

Last year we traveled SO so much. We had weddings in 7different states and went on a few out-of-town trips for fun (including our first strip as a family to NYC) so this year we made a deal to “hang local” as often as we could. One of our favorite finds since moving to Lakeland has been Cob & Pen - an old home revamped into a bar. It’s historic, they serve my favorite bourbon, and it’s walking distance from our house. We take Jack here often when we want to get out. They serve the best burgers in town and their lawn is perfect for entertaining a toddler! Though our travel bug bites more often than we care to admit, we are thankful for an easy spot we can get to in seconds.

What is your favorite spot around home? Do you live in an area where you can walk to hang local? Share your favorite spots with us!

If you find yourself with a spare moment or two, feel free to join in on these simple pleasures! Or better yet, add to the list by leaving a comment below. I’d love to hear what you’ve been loving lately. Cheers!