Reverent's Origin Story: New Baby & New Building Secured!

Allysha Kitsen
Sep 26
3 min read

Updated: Oct 6

Welcome to PART TWO of our Reverent Origin Story! If you missed part one, check it out here: Reverent's Origin Story: The Park Days

In August of 2022, after about 7 months of searching for an available building and submitting several applications, we FINALLY connected with our now landlords who were in process of purchasing a building on Lamona Ave.

At this point, I am about 38 weeks pregnant with our 3rd child, we are finishing up our summer camps at the park, preparing for our older two kids to start back at school, and planning for a delayed fall season at the park so we can continue growing Reverent after the baby is born.

Our first visit to our future building. Standing near the back wall, looking toward the front of the building. Aug 2022

As mentioned earlier, our landlords were in process of purchasing the building, so we were graciously able to unofficially secure our lease with them while they closed escrow and took care of some initial repairs. We now felt able to rest in knowing Reverent would have it's first home to move into while enjoying a little time to focus on our family before this MASSIVE season of change really begins.

To say this flexible timing was a blessing is an understatement - we just didn't know quite how much, yet..

In early September of 2022, we welcomed our wonderful baby boy! Emic likes to say he literally "flipped" into the world to join us.

Big brothers meet baby brother! Sept 2022

Truth be told, this was my most challenging postpartum season, mentally and emotionally. I was so ready to get home from the hospital, felt great physcially, and just wanted to be in our own space with our family together! But very quickly after getting home, I started to experience an unusual sense of lonliness and fear, even if Emic was only 10 feet away from me.

About a week later, at just 9 days old, our baby developed a very high fever and we had to head back into the hospital for a couple days. This was still during a season when hospitals weren't allowing "extra" people around - even though I was still earlyyyy in my own healing process and wasn't doing well on my own, we had to fight HARD for them to allow Emic to join me in the emergency room and stay to help throughout our time there.

Emic and I are so grateful for the prayers and support we received during these early weeks and are incredibly thankful that the immediate concerns faded into his healing pretty quickly.

For those who where in our life during this season, from family & friends to our Reverent team - I want to say THANK YOU! Many may not have known quite how challenging this season was for us, but I do know my communication and demeaor was a bit "compromised" for over 18 months, requiring extra grace from just about everyone at one point or another.

And to Emic - thank you for everything you are! For leaning on Jesus, for your patience and kindness, for leading our family through tough waters, for always finding ways to make us laugh, and for taking on so much extra weight even when you had your own to carry.

I wasn't planning on sharing too in-depth about the details of this season here, they feel very out of place admist our life of handstands and backflips - but it felt like something was missing when I tried to write our story without it.

For those who want to hear more of my story, or are experiencing any postpartum struggles of their own, please know I am here. I'm ready to pray, I'm ready to listen - you aren't alone!

And because this is how it happened in real life, I'm going to abruptly change the topic and get back to us OFFICIALLY securing the building only 5 days after being back home from the hospital.

Toward the end of September 2022, we got our keys and were able to take all of our kids with us to the empty Reverent building on Lamona Ave for the first time! Watching them run around and join us in dreaming up all the things this space could be for our community was magical!