The old saying “If you build a better mousetrap the world will beat a path to your door.” is true.  I say that - not to brag or boast  - but because, Praise the Lord!, our coffee business continues to grow.  The number of fans for our baked goods continues to grow, too, but it is the growth of our coffee business that is most inspiring!

During the past few weeks I have had an increasing number of people rave about my coffee - the taste and the smoothness.  That is what I meant by building a better mousetrap - only in this case it is better coffee.

Though roasting and selling fresh-roasted coffee is my business, it is as much about sharing JOY with others, one cup at a time.  I had a friend, years ago, who was doing the “12-step” program as a recovering alcoholic who shared what they were learning that the word, JOY, meant; Jesus first, others second and you last.

In addition to the increasing number of customers I referred to above sharing with me how much they are enjoying my coffees, I have also been asked by a few businesses in the area during the past couple of weeks to supply them with coffee to serve - in a cafe and a restaurant.  These new businesses will be in addition to a number of other businesses who are already featuring our coffees.

Again, I am not boasting or bragging.  I am  just thankful that our business is growing.  Perhaps it might help to put things into perspective when I share this, which I have found of great help especially during these challenging times…

¹³I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who ^[a]infuses inner strength into me; I am ^[b]self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. - Philippians 4:13, Amplified Bible

Thanks for stopping by.  Until next time…be blessed!

Tom

Well…we are back from our brief camping vacation at Virginia Beach.  Considering this was our first camping experience in a tent, let alone our first experience camping as a family, it went rather well.

I noticed up on the wall of the campsite a placard that said,”It’s not camping.  It’s Kamping”.  If you haven’t figured it out yet from that reference, it was a KOA where we “camped”.  After having camped in Algonquin Park, Bon Echo Park and even Sandbanks Provincial Park in Canada, I struggle to call this most recent experience, “camping”. 

I do have to admit that having running water and electricity right at the campsite was most convenient, practical, and even enjoyable.  There is something to be said being able to wake up early in the morning and, first thing, plug in the coffee maker and enjoy a nice, fresh-brewed pot of Grains of Sense Full City Roast, Vienna Roast or Italian Roast coffee.  The same can be said about being able to do the same after dinner, but to enjoy a nice pot of fresh-brewed Grains of Sense Dark Roast Decaffeinated coffee (though not listed on our website it is available).

In some respects we actually did feel as if we were camping in Canada as where ever we looked, there were cars and RV with license plates from Quebec and Ontario.  In all honesty, at least 70 percent of the vehicles we saw were from Quebec.

There was one very humorous moment, after the fact, from our trip.  On the third day of our trip, in the late afternoon, a KOA representative was driving through advising all of us that we needed to prepare as a possible tornado had been spotted about 15 miles south of where we were camping and was heading our way at 40 mph.  Hearing that information galvanized us, frantically springing into action taking down things, throwing supplies into the back of our truck, folding tables, tying things down, etc…before hurriedly piling into the truck and leaving the campsite within minutes.  Meanwhile we were busy panicking, our neighbors from the north were looking at us with passing curiosity while they simply continued to go about their business, eating supper, preparing supper or simply just relaxing around their campsites.  You get the picture.  Perhaps it was a language issue where they simply did not understand the warning they were being given.  Regardless, in the end the storm ended up missing us and all ended well.

Speaking of endings, I will end this post by inviting you to share your comments, try our coffees and baked goods, and check-back soon.

Grains of Sense coffees…sharing joy one cup at a time!