One of the most beautiful things to have come from our marriage has been an appreciation for simplicity. When you marry at 19 and 20, living on a budget becomes a priority and when you spend the next 20 years of life facing giants and overcoming obstacles, that way of life just sticks with you.
J and I had to learn early on how to make the most of what we have and make hand me downs, clearance, and thrift store items beautiful....and, by the grace of God, we did. This same experience forced us to choose between wallowing in our tight circumstances or trying to find beauty and enjoyment out of everything we could.
And thus, our obsession with coffee.
Over the years, coffee dates became a relatively cheap way for us to get away from our world without breaking the bank. Whether we would steal away at a Starbucks prior to getting groceries, grab a cup to window shop with under twinkling Christmas lights, or sit together as the sunshine filtered through our windows on a Sunday morning, this "friend" of ours has become a constant.
Sitting down with a fresh cup of coffee represents life to us. It represents the simplicity of enjoying a moment together without placing too much pressure on our budget or our expectations. We know that when we walk into a coffee shop, no matter where it is, we will take time to slow down and just be for a little while. While there, we may make life-changing decisions, discuss the trivialities of a busy schedule, dream our biggest dreams together, or sit in silence and just relax.
Because of grace, we've learned to take a simple pleasure and turn it into a life-defining experience that will stick with us throughout our years. And while we want to see the world, what we look forward to the most is all the places we will be allowed to sit with a warm cup and discuss this wonderful life we have been gifted with.
"I think this is how we are supposed to be in the world. Present and in awe." ~ Anne Lamott
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