Choosing a Slower Way of Living
There’s a version of life that moves fast and asks very little of us except to keep up. And then, there’s another version that is quieter, slower, and more honest. It’s the version that asks us to actually be there.
Willabrook was born from choosing the second one.
Life, Simplified on the Road
Before there were candles, before farmers markets and wax and vessels, there was a year on the road. Our family packed up an RV and traveled through the American West visiting places like Tahoe, Moab, Zion, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, Yosemite, and countless places in between. On paper, it sounded adventurous. And it was. But it was also uncomfortable, uncertain, and deeply formative.
Learning Presence in the Quiet
Living in an RV strips life down to the essentials. There is no excess. No room to hide. No space for busyness just for the sake of it. Everything is smaller including the living space, the storage, the margin in-between, and because of that, everything matters more.
What surprised us most wasn’t the scenery, though it was breathtaking. It was the stillness.
There were mornings when the world felt impossibly quiet. Desert light spilling through the windows, pine air moving slowly through the trees, coffee warming our hands while the kids slept. In those moments, we weren’t rushing toward anything. We weren’t multitasking. We weren’t distracted. We were just… present.
Perseverance When Comfort Falls Away
And that presence followed us.
Even on the hard days, the breakdowns, the rerouted plans, the moments of tension that inevitably come when you choose closeness over comfort, there was a grounding sense that we were exactly where we were meant to be. We were learning perseverance not as grit alone, but as commitment. Commitment to our values and to our family. It was a journey of becoming more ourselves instead of more busy.
What the Journey Taught Our Family
That year taught us that less really can be more. Fewer possessions. Fewer obligations. Fewer distractions. And in their place: deeper connection, clearer priorities, and a renewed understanding of what actually adds richness to life.
When we eventually (and abruptly – different story for a different time) settled into a home, we carried that stillness with us, but we also wondered how easy it would be to lose it again. Life has a way of speeding up if you let it.
When a Simple Candle Sparked Something More
Not long after, a simple experiment with our daughter that involved making candles to sell at a local market, unexpectedly brought everything full circle. What began as a small, creative project became something more meaningful. People lingered. They asked questions. They shared memories tied to scent and place. The candles sold out, but more importantly, they connected.
That connection felt familiar.
Willabrook Home exists to hold onto that feeling. The pause, the grounding, the reminder that presence is something we can choose again and again. Our candles are inspired by the landscapes that taught us to slow down, to notice, and the live more intentionally. They are an invitation to step out of the noise and into a moment that feels honest and rooted.
Creating Objects That Hold Meaning
This brand isn’t about perfection or aesthetics for their own sake. It’s about creating space for reflection, for family, for meaning. It’s about honoring the quiet seasons, the persevering seasons, and the moments when you choose values over convenience.
An Invitation to Slow Down
If you’ve ever felt tired of the rush. If you’ve ever longed for life to feel a little more grounded. If you’ve ever believed that presence is worth pursing, even when it costs something…
Then you belong here.
Welcome to Willabrook.
Light a candle.
Slow down.
You’re exactly where you need to be.
