Over the last several months I’ve seen the same saying pop up on social media sites and bumper stickers that says, “Grow where you’re planted.” On the surface this may be easier said than done but, hey, what isn’t?

Take the coffee plant for instance. Some of the most sought after beans come from plants grown at an altitude that stifles many other plants or, better still, grown in the shade of larger trees. Would it be easier to grow in a thicker atmosphere or in the full light of sun? Maybe, but the fruit wouldn’t be as distinctive.

As you look at your life, you can probably pick out situations that have shaped you into who you are. They may be happy, joyous occasions, they may be trials or difficulties. Often, the times of most difficulty are the ones that mold us the most, developing that part of us that makes us unique. In addition, those experiences that we would rather soon forget have been the ones that make us grow the most.

I remember when our four month old went for heart surgery. I said to my wife, “Some day we’ll laugh about this.” We may not have laughed, but we have been very grateful for those who make their life work helping children. The experience was difficult, but it brought us into contact with people we wouldn’t have met otherwise and gave us the opportunity to be thankful for each situation. Even the hard ones.

Lesson: The next time you are faced with difficult situations, pause to remember that, like the coffee bean, struggle makes you stronger, unique, and ultimately in a position to help others through their difficulties.

One day, through a strange series of Internet readings and searches, I found that I could roast my own coffee. Once I started down that road, there was no return. Freshly roasted coffee had a full, unique flavor that I had never gotten from other coffees.

For the last several years, as I stand between the twin five pound roasters prepping orders, I have thought about the journey of a coffee bean and the lessons that we can take from it. Over the next series of posts, we will explore some of these lessons.

Lesson One: Grow

Lesson Two: Ripen

Lesson Three: Harvest

Lesson Four: Rest

Lesson Five: Roast

Lesson Six: Brew

Lesson Seven: Share

I would LOVE to make this a discussion, like it would be if we were all in the same place; simply leave your comments under each section with your thoughts, experiences, and other feedback.

When I was a kid, I would wake up early and go along with my dad to a local restaurant for coffee. Well, to be accurate, he and the rest of the guys had coffee, I drank hot chocolate. Several adjoining tables of gentlemen would solve the world’s problems in about an hour while the waitress constantly refilled their steaming cups.

One day, I said to my dad, “Why don’t I get refills like you do?”. It was then that he explained to me that the price of hot chocolate was for one cup, but because coffee was comparatively cheap, it afforded unlimited refills.

Over the next several weeks, I tried to get myself to like coffee. I added milk and sugar, until there was more sweetened milk in the mug than coffee. It ultimately took several failed attempts to make the bitter liquid drinkable by my standards. (To say the least, I succeeded tremendously.)

Fast forward thirty years.

My 7 year old has been joining my dad and I at our local restaurant on Friday mornings before school. As he sipped his hot chocolate this past week, the waitress walked by and refilled our coffee cups. “Dad,” he said, “why don’t I get refills?” before I could answer, my dad responded, “I remember that question.” It’s all just history repeating.

This would be a great time to think about your own historic moments over a cup of Sumatra Mandheling. (Pronounced MAHN-deh-ling.) In a dark roast, it’s deep and rich with aromas of dark chocolate. Learn more at mistergcoffee.com.

Better yet, make your own history! Take a couple tablespoons of coffee and pepper, press onto a couple New York strip steaks and cook in a frying pan over medium high heat. When the steaks are done to your likeness, put them on a plate and cover with foil. Pour half a cup of white wine into the pan and bring to a simmer. Scrape the little pieces off the bottom if the pan. Add two tablespoons of butter and half a cup of heavy cream and bring to a simmer once more, tasting for salt. Spoon over the plated steaks and serve with your favorite sides. History on a plate, and history worth repeating.

(“History Repeating” can be found on the Propellerheads album ‘Decksanddrumsandrockandroll’)

Garrison Keillor, author, humorist, and storyteller best know for the radio show “A Prairie Home Companion” and Lake Wobegon insists that a hard, reclusive winter is required for the human soul. He reasons that there are times when a person must be alone with themselves in order to process their surroundings, their thoughts, dreams, and desires.

I think that winter is required for another reason; appreciation. When we look onto our once green surroundings and see them covered and dormant, we appreciate their foliage and offerings that much more. We also appreciate spring more after a hard winter, I think, because it’s a a sharper contrast. To see the perseverance of the spring flowers and grasses as they regenerate provides not only hope for warmer weather but also hope for the spirit.

For this winter time of reflection, may we suggest a relaxing, cozy cup of coffee. Mexican Altura has a medium body, so it’s easy to drink for breakfast as well as after dinner dessert. In my opinion, this is also a great evening coffee to enjoy in a French press with a bowl of vanilla bean ice cream. Learn more here.

If you’re more into tea, might we suggest the Fireside Blend from Compass Teas. The aromas of citrus and spice evoke nights by a fire, wrapped in a blanket with a good book. Learn more here.

Look forward to spring, but take time to enjoy the winter.

I had visited the island three years ago, and I must say that I was totally unprepared for what the park had to offer.   The carraige roads to walk, the lakes, ponds, and streams to explore and kayak, trails to hike, and mountains to climb.  I was so moved by its beauty, majesty and serenity that I never stopped thinking about a return trip.  My return trip left me waiting for the next.

I often (half) joke that my first trip to Acadia was the closest I had ever come to death.  After walking a couple miles of carraige roads by scenic Eagle Lake, we came to Bubble Pond.  My best friend and I decided, rather hastily, to hike to the top of Cadillac Mountian, the highest peak, along a relatively short path on the map.  At this point, I had not fully put together the fact that a short path plus a drastic change in elevation equals, well, straight up.  The wives decided to walk back to the car and meet us at the summit.

As we started the trail, it ascended gradually and was very rough.  Blue dashed marked our way and kept us on track.  Then we got to the first obstacle; three stacked granite ledges, each about four feet high.  At this point, I knew I was in trouble.  We made our way past, carefully, to be faced with a forty-five degree granite slab.  We would actually traverse several of these slabs, some by walking across, some by walking up, but each very carefully.  One missetp would result in a very long fall.

After an hour or so of very rough climbing we did make it to the top; 1530 feet above sea level and the best view of the island.  I must admit, since I’m terribly afraid of heights, I didn’t do much looking around on the way up, but my friend tell me the view was outstanding. 

This time in Acadia, I wanted to climb Cadillac again.  I was more prepared, both physically and mentally, and was bound and determined to enjoy more of the view.  So, last Friday, my friend and I set out again, up the West Face Trail on Cadillac Mountain.  The views were amazing.

I awoke on that Friday at my normal time; 6ish, got the first bus to campus at 7am and was drinking coffee in Ottos at Kern before my 8am music theory class.  After a day on campus, I ran home, grabbed my bag of extra clothes and shoes to get to the White gym next to the HUB by our 5pm meet time.  After our initial briefing we had dinner and laid on the floor with our feet in the air.  By 7 we were on our feet and would stay that way for the next 48 hours.  I had already been awake for 13 hours by the time THON started.

I remember very little of the next 2 days.  I remember yo-yos, bubbles, playing four square with Four Diamonds kids, and lots of foot rubs.  Visits on the stage from Kerry Collins, JoePa, President Spanier, and others passed the time.  The official THON line dance every hour was something to look forward to, and there were always kids wandering around.  All of a sudden, it was Sunday evening and we were getting close to the end.  I’ll never forget it: one of the last songs they played was by the group Alabama called “Angels Among Us” and they announced the totals: “NEVER STANDING ALONE” had 566 dancers and raised over $1.2 million for the Four Diamonds Fund.

I have many fond memories of Penn State.  Those 48 hours in February where we fought exhaustion and fatigue to help kids and families in the fight of their lives tops them all.

This past weekend it happened again for the 37th time.  Over 700 dancers pushed themselves for 46 hours (dropped from 48 to satisfy some Big 10 rule).  The final tally forms a lump in my throat; over $7.838 million for the kids. 

The Mister G Coffee Company is a proud supporter of several dancers and has already started setting aside for next year, where 46 hours in February will touch countless lives and create countless memories.  You can help make a difference today by visiting www.thon.org and making a donation.  If you’re a coffee drinker, you can order THON benefit coffee from www.mistergcoffee.com.  At any rate, do something… FOR THE KIDS!

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOU KNOW…. THE KIDS NEED YOU!

Early this week I decided to make one of my family favorites; potato soup. I thumbed through the recipes, finally remembering I didn’t have one, and sat to remember the ingredients and process.  Through contemplation I assembled ingredients and began the task.  I can’t, however, make potato soup without recalling a nor’easter in 1993.To those of you unaware of the term, a “nor’easter” is a winter storm.  It dips to the Gulf of Mexico and pulls in moisture then turn north-east, following the line of Appalachian Mountains toward Maine.  Tremendous amounts of snow and wind can result when the moisture from the south meets cold air dipping from the north. In January of 1993 conditions were perfect for just such a storm and central Pennsylvania was the target.  Snowfall amounts ranges from 28-38 inches, but accumulation was difficult to measure due to the amount of drifting and blowing that accompanied the storm.  Living in a rural area, our electricity was out for several days and roads were impassible for about a week.That’s when things got interesting.  During that time of being homebound, we had heat, thanks to a wood burning stove in the basement that was large enough to heat the rest of the house.  Without electricity, however, water from the well was not possible, so we melted snow, which as I mentioned, was plentiful.  And we had potatoes.One afternoon, with boredom and hunger on the horizon, we made potato soup from melted snow and stored potatoes.  To this day, that’s the experience I remember most vividly from that storm, and I have never since made potato soup without remembering the days we were snowed in during January 1993.Many years have passed since then, but, like any parent, I didn’t miss the opportunity to tell my boys about the time we made soup from melted snow on a wood stove.  It’s never tasted as good as it did then.

As years passed we would have our annual conversation, spending a few minutes to catch up on each others’ lives.  I heard about her grandsons going through junior high school, high school, and into the workplace.  She heard of my college experiences, teaching, marriage, and the births of my children.  We would pick up each conversation where we left off the previous year.

I always liked school, but third grade was great!  Mrs. Hall, who occupied the basement room of Benson Elementary, was the kind of teacher that cared about her students, never forgot them or what made each one special.  It was her genuine love of kids and teaching that made such an impression on so many of us.  She is one of the reasons I became a teacher. 

Thank you, Mrs Hall, for your friendship, your willingness to listen, and the care and love you’ve shown countless children while teaching them to be caring and loving adults. 

I wonder how much we could accomplish if we had more Mrs. Halls.

(Did you have an influential teacher?  Click on “Leave a Comment” and tell us about it!)

Early November allows us a moment of relief from the sugar induced frenzy that was Halloween. (You understand this all the more if you have small children, as I do, who had been wearing their costumes and practicing their “Boo!’s” for weeks.) We stare down the barrel of what lies ahead; Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, a wild ride that will leave us in early January wondering, “What happened?”

Remember this. “What happens” is family, friends, children, and community. As families gather for what may be the only time in the year to catch up, reminisce, and enjoy each other’s company, it’s easy to be distracted by other things. Resist. The dishes will wait. The sales will return. Take time to listen, talk, and laugh. Watch children get excited to see Santa. Take a stroll or ride to look at lights.

In the words of “Til The Season Comes ‘Round Again”, recorded by several artists including Amy Grant, Kenny Rogers, and Linda Eder;

Come and gather ’round at the table
In the spirit of family and friends
And we’ll all join hands and remember this moment
‘Til the season comes ’round again

May this new year be blessed with good tidings
‘Til the next time I see you again
We’ll all join hands and remember this moment
And we’ll love and we’ll laugh in the time that we have
‘Til the season comes ’round again

I hope you have a great start to this wild ride, but don’t forget to enjoy your fellow passengers.

One last thought… Feel free to pass this along…