What’s Brewing? The Coffee in Your Cup Helps Bring Children ‘Home’
She drew people to her, young and old alike. She just lit up the room. Was it her smile? Her naturally friendly manner? The curly red hair and sparkling giggle certainly caught your attention. But beyond all that, what illuminated the face of my friend Chris was love -- the love of Jesus that she spread all over those in her path. Before Chris...
When Standing in the Stream Is an Act of Faith
A spring-fed creek cuts a quiet path through our valley, rambling over stones and through clumps of watercress and swamp lilies before ducking under the road in front of our home to join a larger creek at the edge of the field. The water that flows from our spring and creek eventually travels into a larger river and dumps into a nearby lake....
What’s Brewing? In Celebration of Small Successes
One should never discount the value of even the smallest successes -- like having your name added to the "barista" chalk board. For weeks I've looked with envy at the names artfully written in glowing marker on a chalkboard sign at Great Lakes Chocolate and Coffee. I knew that it would take time to earn the right to be introduced to our coffee...
What’s Brewing? Finding Satisfaction in the Work That Finds You
The rain fell steadily on the pavement outside the coffee shop Saturday morning as a steady flow of customers kept our drive-thru busy. One brave soul, a woman I judged to be a little younger than myself, ducked through the front door and shook rain from her hair. Ordering a small mocha with whip, she told me she had dashed over from the...
What’s Brewing? Because It’s Really Not Just About the Coffee
There's a sweet little lady who comes into my coffee shop several times a week to get her special "brew" -- a smoothie made with ingredients she gives the baristas along with specific instructions about how much and what to add to her frozen peach beverage. The dear lady chats a bit then finds her favorite booth where she taps into our free...
When All You Can Do Is ‘Do the Next Thing’
When I learned earlier this week of the passing of author Elisabeth Ellliot, a warm rush of gratitude washed over me -- gratitude for what her life had taught me and for the joy she must be feeling now that she is reunited with those she loves and is sitting at the feet of Jesus. Last fall, I wrote a piece about Elliot as part of the challenge...
What’s Brewing? When Age Is Just A Number
A part-time job at my favorite local coffee shop provides a front-row seat to everyday life. I'm sharing a few observations here on Mondays. Enjoy! This isn't exactly news to me, but from my vantage point behind the coffee counter I've taken note this week of this truth -- age is just a number. Here are a couple of examples from my recent...
With Christ as my Blueprint, There Will Be Fruit
I can't believe I wanted to give up on these, but earlier this spring, when I assessed the state of my weedy patch of strawberry plants, I was discouraged. "Just till them under," I told my husband. But, stubborn man that he is, he kept a wide strip of the struggling plants. "I like picking fresh strawberries on my way to the barn," he said. I...
What’s Brewing? Where Everybody Knows Your Name
My part-time job at my favorite local coffee shop provides a front-row seat to everyday life. I'll be sharing a few observations here on Monday mornings. Enjoy. There's a ring of truth to the words in the "Cheers" theme song: "Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries,...
What’s Brewing? Observations from the Coffee Shop
Why in the world would a 60-something chick who has waited through three careers and four children to have time on her hands decide to work in a coffee shop? Because it smells SO GOOD...... No, really. There are plenty of reasons. And when I got up at 6 to be at work by 7 this week, I had to remind myself: It's a chance to get out of my...
