That's what this weekend has been and for good reason.  We have had some fabulous travel opportunities this month.  Field trips, soccer tournaments, 7 on 7 football.  It was all trucking along incredibly well until I picked up what we think was either norovirus or food poisoning which flattened me for a few days. Now that I am back and on my feet again it felt really good to freshen up the house.  I had a good chance to do that while my guys were busy with football this weekend. I deep cleaned the master bedroom, did some food prep, watched some Downtown (yes I am so behind on anything screen related) and finally, snatched a little conference inspiration watching some of the recorded Refresh discussions.  It will probably take me all week to get to the end of them.  Well worth it!

Meantime, winter has returned and the snow finally arrived after a long dry stretch. We have been out taking pictures and pushing the sled down the little hill and getting very wet and silly.  The little girls have done some shopping with their nursing student sister helping her prepare for her first hospital job.  Our wonderful daughter in law flew to be with her momma after they lost their elderly grandfather/father last week.  Another adult child has been keeping us abreast of medical tests happening.  Life is quite different than it once was, with more than half of them grown and on their own now.   I'm grateful for their calls and updates even when they are brief.  My mind is littered with little mental post it notes tracking the big and little things they are all working through.  So many prayers, both of gratitude and intercession. 

So with that bit of an explanation as to where the past two weeks disappeared to, here is a peek at our tour of a local coffee roaster.  Such a great trip! The staff was so enthusiastic and informative.  I'd say energy was high, but well, duh, right?  Safe to say I have never seen people with higher job satisfaction.  God bless the magic coffee bean.  

After learning all about where and how coffee grows we got to see and feel the green beans.  Then watched a whole batch roast with a careful eye on them at all times.  We smelled the hot beans pour out and watched them weed out any over or under roasted beans.  Then we bagged our samples to take home.  This morning I ground the first bag and have to say that first sip blew me away.  Like the heavens opened for a moment and all my senses heightened while I scrambled to articulate the new tastes that hit me.  Up 'til now I thought we drank good coffee too.  Nothing compared with this.  

So, armed with extra incredible coffee and restored good health we are off to another full week with all the good ideas gleaned from the conference and nice tidy bedroom to start from each day.  Back on track.  

God bless all our people, and our ventures, both big and small.  Amen : )