A good post relishing the utter joy found in a robust cup of coffee is long overdue. So, in today’s post I am excited to finally write about the numerous and varied ways God blessed me with fantastic cups of coffee in beautiful places with some of my very closest friends this summer. After months of sheltering in place, I was itching to get on the road again. The hassle of traveling during a pandemic is well worth the friends and family on the other side.

My first trip, at the end of the first month of my sabbatical, took me to Orlando, Florida to visit my dearest friend, Jacqueline. We met in college at the University of Utah and shared a room together in a house on The Avenues for a season. We were in each other’s weddings and have journeyed together through many highs and many lows as friends and followers of Jesus. Jacqueline and I can always pick right up where we left off when we are together. Don’t you love those kinds of friends? Upon arriving at her house, she beckoned me into her kitchen, “I have a surprise for you.” There on the counter were FOUR one-pound bags of freshly roasted coffee beans from Airboss a local roaster in her area. Each bag was chock-full of a different blend that originated from beans grown in Malawi, Rwanda, Costa Rica, and Sumatra. We enjoyed different delicious roasts each morning…and afternoon. There’s no friend like an old friend.

Bob and I headed to Granby, Colorado for a Kelly Family Reunion with my siblings and their families at the end of the second month of my sabbatical. The love of coffee runs deep in the Kelly veins, so pour-overs were endless during our few days together. I brought a pound of B&W’s Classic from Raleigh/Durham, my brother contributed a few tasty roasts from Treeline in Bozeman, and my brother-in-law provided a Starbucks specialty blend that was full-bodied and yummy. We all love the fellowship of the bean, and it was especially wonderful to chat over coffee in person!

My sabbatical summer wrapped up in Carlsbad, California where Bob and I spent time with our dear, lifelong friends Greg, Charmaine, Ryan, and Sophi who all love a good cup of brew. I felt really known and loved when they presented me with a list of the best coffee shops to visit in the area. Lofty Coffee and Steady State Coffee Roasting topped the list and served up full-bodied dark roast brews and cool vibes. A coffee highlight was a morning with Sophi over Lavender Lattes at Sleeping Tiger Coffees that nearly convinced me of the need to include lavender syrup in my coffee every day!

Then there was The Goods, oh my gosh, The Goods…the BEST gluten free donuts ever! Oh how I love a good donut…but this post is about coffee.

We also had the pleasure of having lunch, and coffee of course, with our longtime friends Don and Sandy at Venice Beach. We sat in small metal chairs at a small metal table and ordered coffee from a tee-tiny shop called Groundwork Coffee Co and enjoyed a few hours of uninterrupted catchup with iconic friends at an iconic location.

Now, almost two months later, as I sit here today reflecting on my sabbatical and my travels, my fondest memories are of those shared with lifelong friends over fabulous coffee.

Let’s meet for a cup sometime!