Advent Devotional + Thoughts on 26 + Mini Newsletter

Thoughts on 26...

As you’re reading this, I’ve just turned 26. Can I tell you something weird about it? I think this is the first birthday since I was ten years old that I haven’t felt angsty about getting another year older. 

I have this crystal clear memory from my ten-year-old birthday party. My grandma said, “Wow! Double digits! How does that feel?” And I just remember this rush of sadness that I could never get my single digit days back and this angsty feeling that I hadn’t lived them to the fullest. Now, I don’t know how a nine year old can approach living her life more fully, but I’ve experienced that stress about getting older every year until this one. 

So I’ve been thinking about what the shift has been and I think the difference is that this year feels exciting to me. I don’t feel that familiar dread of moving forward too fast because I am just plain looking forward to it. I’m ok with being 26. In fact, I want to savor this moment because I’m learning that getting older means leaving bad behavior, low maturity, ill-advised decisions in the past and since I get to make all the choices now, I get to make my own investments on the lifestyle I want to move toward. 

This year of 26 is going to be about throwing my doors open even wider, both to my home and my heart. It’s going to be a year of big parties, low drama, long roadtrips, at least a little peace and quiet, and continuing to cultivate creativity and curiosity. I want to leave behind habitual overwhelm and embrace a slower pace. I want to continue to ask myself hard questions and practice getting comfortable with not always having the answers. 

I’m choosing to walk into 26 with anticipation for the future, rejecting melancholy over change because change is a blessing we get handed along with the blessing of living. I’m going to live this year wide open so I won’t ever have to look back and note all the ways fear stole my joy. This year (and every year that follows) I’m going to embrace not just the cake and candles and presents that come with a birthday, but the getting older too - because getting older is a gift not everyone gets and I am grateful to receive it. 

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Big Announcement! 

I am so excited to tell you that I have been hard at work on this year’s ADVENT DEVOTIONAL! This devotional, called A Spacious Place, will drop into your inbox every morning at 5:00am from December 1st - December 30th.  

If you joined us last year, you know we spent advent in pursuit of an Intentional December. This year, we are pressing even deeper into that hope. The Lord does not offer a hurried and crowded life. He can and He will bring us into a spacious place. In this place, we will find ease and light and goodness in our days. Will there be inconveniences and even tragedy along the way? Yes. But we are welcomed into a space that is wide enough for our disappointed dreams not to crush us and deep enough that we can be honest and thorough in dealing with our heartbreak. 

Everyday we will spend time with scripture from the Common Book of Prayer, read some of my thoughts on the passage and the topic of the day, and pray together. Then, as an addition this year, I invite you to listen to the song of the day. You’ll see the playlist link and the song I’ve paired with each particular day in every email. During the song, I’ll encourage you to meditate on the one word at the top of the email; its place and meaning in your life. 

I am anticipating BIG things this year. I have felt Holy Spirit as I’ve been writing it and I can’t wait to get it into your hands/inboxes. 

You can sign up at the link right below, or if you’re reading this on the blog, by clicking the “sign-up” tab at the top of the page. 

Also, little favor to ask, if this devotional has impacted you in the past and you know anyone who would like to follow along, PLEASE share it with them. It would mean the world to me. 

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Mini Newsletter

Finally! I just want to provide you with a mini version of the newsletter since this email is already so full. Here are my TOP FIVE favorites from the last month. Enjoy! I’ll talk you all again on December 1st for our first day of Advent!

To Read: I finished the book The War that Saved My Life the other day. I cried twice and read it in like, two sittings. Just gorgeous.  
To Cook: I made these with one of my besties and got asked for the recipe at least 10 times. Your people will gobble them up. Also a great way to use up all the apples from your orchard photo shoot haha. 
To Watch: IF YOU’VE NEVER LISTENED TO BE ABOUT ANYTHING BEFORE LISTEN TO THIS NOW! You must watch the Mr. Roger’s Documentary called “Won’t you Be my Neighbor” on HBO Go or wherever you rent movies. I’m not exaggerating, I had a spiritual experience and bawled like a baby at the end of this, but in the BEST way.  
To Listen: I’ve been using the Overdrive app to listen to audiobooks for free and I have been binging my way through the Three Pines mysteries by Louise Penney. These are sweet and cozy and incredibly well written. If you’re looking for some immersive fall reading, this would be a perfect listen or read! 
To Buy: I’ve been trying to be more creative lately so I’m challenging myself to try lots of new things. I bought this beginners kit to teach myself embroidery and I had the best time! It’s cheap enough that if you don’t like it, who cares! But if you do, let me know because I think this might be my new thing and we can talk!