Day 6

It may seem silly but today I'm thankful for coffee.  Actually, I am very thankful for coffee most days, especially in the morning.  Today was a gray, wet and cool fall day--a perfect day for a big mug of hot coffee.  You're probably assuming that its just the caffeine that I like or crave, but actually, we make our coffee primarily decaf (in an attempt to not be totally addicted to caffeine).  So, its less about the caffeine and more about the comfort. 

Coffee has long been a conduit of developing relationships for me.  In college, my roommate and I would frequently head into Chicago (from Wheaton) to different eclectic coffeeshops where we would study and drink coffee by the hours.  Sometimes we stayed in the suburbs and I'd head to the local Caribou with friends for "study dates." 

A long time ago when I first met my friends Sead & Tamara, who had recently moved to the US, we weren't able to speak to each other because we spoke different languages.  We were however able to sit across from each other and enjoy a cup of coffee.  They suffered through my American version of coffee and I was treated to a very strong cup of Bosnian coffee.  Over many cups of coffee, we got to know each other and able to understand each other more.  Coffee can bridge language barriers. 

The first few weeks of dating Jon (who is now my husband) consisted of many coffee dates.  We actually were teased about how frequently we met up for coffee in the early days of our relationship.  Our coffee dates ranged in their scope and included the following:  independent shops like the Bourgeois Pig, chain restaurants like Cheesecake Factory, the 95th floor lounge of the John Hancock building, a dive dinner on the south side of the city and even a trip to the grocery store to buy supplies so that we could make the coffee at the house he lived in with 5 roommates (because nothing says romantic coffee date like hanging out in a house full of 20 something guys and their levels of cleanliness).  Coffee can fuel a new romance.

Coffee has become a staple in my life.  It seems to be a great way to spend time with people.  Just this week, I had a playdate with another mom who I recently met and don't know very well.  Our plan had been to meet at a local play area with our younger children while the older ones were in school.  When we got to the play area, her son didn't want to go in, he just wanted to go home.  So, she invited us over to their house.  We spent a lovely morning chatting and getting to know each other over a pot of coffee while our boys warmed up to each other and played.  Two weeks ago, the ladies from my small group got together for a coffee playdate.  The big kids played downstairs, the babies toddled around the living room, and the four of us moms sat around chatting while holding our coffee cups.  Coffee can grow relationships, both new and old.

Coffee opens doors relationally which is one of the main reasons that I am thankful for it.  Of course, it doesn't hurt that it tastes delicious and has a little pick me up from the caffeine.  I am keeping up with four REALLY active boys after all.  I'll take all the help I can get!