Coffee

Gracelaced Retreat

November 10, 2017 by Rachel

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking through one of my links, I may receive a {very small} commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this blog! It means the world and a cozy fireside chat to me.

I had a surprising and wonderful opportunity to attend a small retreat in the mountains of Colorado with Ruth Chou Simons, author and artist of the book Gracelaced.

>>>insert excited jumping up and down<<<

On a mountain adventure! Left to right: Shae, Kaitlyn, Me, Kristi, Ruth, Gina, Deborah

In celebration of the launch of her book, the Gracelaced team held a drawing for those who ordered multiple copies and I, along with four other lovely ladies from around the country, was randomly selected to attend.

Or, as we discussed over the course of the weekend, perhaps not so randomly selected! We all share a belief that God ordains our days and the smallest details of our lives, therefore, we were together for a purpose and for His glory. I think I forget that sometimes. I believe it in my head, but my heart forgets in the ordinary rhythms of life that God is always present in both my small and big moments.

Our view from the back porch of Vista La Plata.

The retreat was held at Vista La Plata, Ruth and Troy’s mountain home which you can actually rent on Airbnb! {I hope to do this myself sometime in the near future so the rest of the family can enjoy the wild beauty of southern Colorado as I did.}

The setting sun at Vista La Plata was a lovely sight! Pepper was indifferent.

I was trying to think how I might put into words my experience at the Gracelaced retreat weekend.

Restful. I will lead you beside quiet waters. {Psalm 23:2}

Encouraging. Build each other up. {1 Thessalonians 5:11}

Convicting. Hold fast to Him. {Joshua 22:5}

Awe-filled. The mountains speak of a Creator. {Romans 1:20, Nahum 1:5}

Those may feel like overused descriptors yet they couldn’t be truer for me. I never cease to be astonished at how remarkable the body of Christ is. How a group of people who’ve never met before, from different parts of the country and different life experiences, can share a common bond and connect like family!

It wasn’t just Ruth who made our visit welcoming and delightful-the entire Simons family contributed, from Troy giving us an off-road mountain tour to all the boys helping in some way….with made-to-order coffee drinks, s’mores preparation, hauling luggage, and many other practical acts of service.

And let’s not forget the heart of the house-Gina, our wonderful chef!

Gina & Ruth show us how a proper mountaintop photo is done! #gorgeous

Still thinking of her Mexican corn:

I’m super thankful for the time I had at Vista La Plata, and wanted to express my gratefulness to the Simons family, Gina, my fellow travelers for their kindness and friendship, Pepper the dog for his hilarious antics, and others who contributed to the event by sending us gifts. It was absolutely a highlight of my year!

{Be looking for two more posts about the retreat; one sharing all the lovely gifts sent for us attendees, and one giving away a copy of Ruth’s book!}

Update: Gifts from the Gracelaced Retreat

Photo credit goes to…everyone. We shared so many photos that I’m not exactly sure whose is whose. The photos without people (except for the corn!) are definitely mine; surely you can tell by the quality? Heehee! ♥

Letter 18 {Road-trips & Deodorant}

May 12, 2017 by Rachel

Dear Candace,

Today the children and I drove the four and-then-some hours to my parent’s house. It went fine, except for all the usual roadwork (everywhere I go=roadwork) and that weird smell the van develops after housing boys for a couple hours. I’m always telling the kids, “Drink more water!” except for when we road-trip. Then I insist they dehydrate themselves so I don’t have to make numerous bathroom breaks. “Are you chugging that water bottle? Noooo!

I had to take a bathroom break for moi on this trip.

Also a stop at Starbucks. But I was fast. I used mobile order as soon as I arrived and by the time I walked in my order was ready and all the people standing in line glared.

This letter may not be very coherent, since my eyes and head are tired from being the only adult and having to concentrate so much today. My mom gifted me a massage from her friend, Ann, who is remarkably good at several different styles of massage therapy. This evening she gave me a therapeutic massage. It was relaxing and wonderful after a busy day on the road! I think I will sleep well tonight, even if I am sleeping in my little sister’s old twin bed.

As I relax here, writing to you and thinking about the day before I turn the lights out, I can hear my mom watching a nature documentary in the downstairs living room. I’m starting to recall all the things I forgot to pack, deodorant being the most notable item. I don’t have to wear it much in the winter, and with my brain being the sieve it is lately, I’m forgetting to incorporate it back into rotation. I always recall my neglect at the most awkward moments, such as when I’m getting a chiropractic adjustment, standing in line at the store, or being introduced to someone. All true scenarios which occurred this week.

I’m looking forward to a weekend with family (smelling good, of course, since mom already bought me new deodorant) and celebrating all the spring things: birthdays, Mother’s Day, time to be together outside, all the lovely things….mom’s documentary soundtrack is totally putting me to sleep now. The earth is so beautiful.

Much love,

Rachel

Letter 17

Letter 19

Letter 14 {Coffee Machine Fascination}

April 15, 2017 by Rachel

Dear Candace,

This week my new Ninja coffee machine arrived, and then the sunshine came right after so I think the two are related. My belated Christmas gift turned out just right! After trying to decide between 287 different types of espresso and fancy automatic machines, I finally did the blessedly simple thing and purchased my first ever programmable coffee maker. It’s not like I’m cheating on my beloved French Press. It’s just that there’s room in my heart for all the coffee things.

Did you know…with a few beep-beep-boo’s of the machine (add water + grounds + pick a setting) you can wake up to hot coffee at any hour you desire? I hear this phenomenon has taken the modern world by storm! It’s not at my bedside, true, nor does it play opera music but it is fantabulous nonetheless. The first night I tried to program it for next morning’s wake-up, I wasn’t fast enough the with delay start feature and kept making fresh coffee as a result. {The accidental coffee now sits in my fridge pretending to be a cold brew.}

Now that we are done with the kids’ intense school semester classes, a family wedding, music recital, and all strains of the flu, we’re back to our “homeschool lite.” I picture endless warm days ahead of coffee, books, and art museums. Kidding! I guess at some point I should also dust, get this house in shape, and accomplish yard work (hmmm). I’m also deeply considering all the educational options for next year. It’s a season of shifting lanes, for sure.

With my trusty Ninja by my side, I shall go forth and figure stuff out! Or at least, walk into the kitchen and pour myself a cup.

Raises coffee cup,

Rachel

Letter 13

Letter 15

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Letter 10 {Matcha Latte}

March 17, 2017 by Rachel

Dear Candace,

After those first few hard days of DST*, I’m always grateful for the extra light in the evening. Suddenly the end of winter feels cozy (me to winter: “you’re not so bad after all”) when my days aren’t cloaked in darkness on either end.

I would not do well in Alaska.

Today I had my first matcha latte. I met a friend for brunch, since brunch fixes everything and makes you strong. Being St. Patrick’s Day, I felt like the green latte was inevitable. I generally love matcha, but I wasn’t thrilled with that particular latte. I felt like I was cheating on coffee. All I could think about as I sipped the foamy green drink was how nice a hot breve flat white is. My friend is a fellow foodie and instagrammer who recognizes the need to stand up over the table to take 49 pictures before that first sip or bite. My photography skills are quite lacking so this is especially challenging for me. People at nearby tables must think I’m a phone-obsessed exerciser who keeps bobbing up and down.

After brunch, I went to my sisters’ apartment to take care of Tabby. Tabby is the one and only cat I’m not allergic to so far. It’s very odd. Cats are not my favorite but I grudgingly accept Tabby. He is solid white with a tail like a brontosaurus. His strong white tail knocked over and broke a glass French Press before I could react quickly enough to save it. (Me to sisters: “your cat is alive your French Press is dead please don’t leave me this long again”)

I also did various errands today which always, always take longer than they should. Drew had a break from school and spent time with a friend while I was brunching and then using 100 lint roller sheets to remove white cat hair from my dark wash jeans. The older kids stayed home to study.

At the end of the day, when brunch had worn off and I felt like a weak, regular human a friend from church called. What we were doing for dinner? Would we like to come over to their house for a traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal?

Since my dinner plan consisted of frozen chimichangas and we miraculously had a free evening, it was an easy and delighted yes. Seriously-that was the nicest thing. I really appreciate how they blessed us-it was the best of times!

As the Irish say-

May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

A farewell and a blessing,

Rachel

*Daylight Savings Time, aka Week That Royally Messes Up Kids’ Sleep & Moods

Letter 9

Letter 11

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Letter 6 {Coffee Memories}

February 17, 2017 by Rachel

Dear Candace,

I had an unexpected memory sensation this week. After reheating my remaining day old French Press coffee (made by the ten year old as part of my special served-in-bed Valentine’s breakfast) I leaned over to inhale the delicious strong blackness and was immediately seated at my grandparents’ kitchen table. Grandpa and I were across from each other, coffee in hand poured from the always-on percolator. Grandma floated around the kitchen in her familiar manner. Never was there sugar or cream. I would sip slowly out of an old train-car coffee cup leftover from Grandpa’s days as a conductor. Sometimes when I visit diners in St. Louis I’m reminded of those cups-perfectly thick, not tall.

I’m wistful about those coffee conversations. Tuesdays with Grandma while Grandpa went bowling and shopping. Coffee before he left, coffee after he returned, Pepsi with Grandma and watching the Ellen show in-between. Fish and fries from Long John Silver’s for dinner. It was tradition-Tuesday was fish day for Grandpa! The ordinary and hardness of those Tuesdays is missed.

I’m thinking, too, about all the conversations we’ve had over coffee. Tears and laughter in our cups. A lot of life has happened around coffee. I’m all nostalgic and grateful for that coffee-life right now.

Short but sweet and definitely sappy,

Rachel

P.S. If we ever have to stop drinking coffee because of some bizarre health reason or shortage in the world let’s try this instead. It looks strong and delicious enough to handle whatever we may throw at it.

Letter 5

Letter 7