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“…surely God has blessed”
By Kyle | February 5, 2007
On Friday Elizabeth and I drove north by northeast to one of our favorite places on earth. Camp Barakel is where we first met over five years ago. It was my privilege to lead singing in the beautiful east side chapel for about one hundred twenty Jr. High school students and their leaders. The fires where large, the singing loud, the preaching done well and Jesus-focused, the air bitter cold, the snow deep, the conversations refreshing, the food excellent, the coffee exceptional (more on that later). It was a great weekend and it all began on the drive north by northeast.
Elizabeth and I loaded our little black Civic around two o’clock and we took the route up US 31 along our beloved Sweetwater. Then east on I-196 into the north end of Grand Rapids. From there we took 131 for a few miles. We were ahead of schedule so I couldn’t help but take 10 mile road east to Rockford for a stop by two of our favorite places in the world; The Corner Bar and Hermans Boy. We don’t drink alcohol, never have or will. We have vowed to God we won’t. The Corner Bar serves the best coney dogs I have ever had. You don’t even have to enter the bar to buy them thanks to the walk up window. The dogs were as good as we remembered them to be. Then we drove up the road to a farmhouse that has been remodeled into the new shop for Hermans Boy coffee ranch. The finest coffee in the world is roasted here. I have enjoyed coffee from Hermans Boy for over ten years. Now Elizabeth shares my bias to this wonderful coffee. She ordered her own half-pound of Swiss water decaf Butterscotch Toffee blend. I smiled while she ordered. I think I saw K2 kick also. We couldn’t leave without taking our little share of Peanut Butter Fudge also made on the property and a pair of turtles. And of course a large cup of the house blend. As we drove out of Rockford over the Rouge River and up the hill my belly was full and thankful for the thirty minute foray.
The rest of the drive was wonderful. Elizabeth slept for some of it while I listened to podcasts of “In the Studio with Michael Card”. After we reached Cadillac I found a Moody Radio affiliate and we enjoyed class radio while a full moon rose. As we got off the highway in Cadillac we noticed the moon over top of the pines, it was a dull orange and beautiful. As we reached Lake City and drove past Lake Missaukee we realized the moon had changed colors to a bright white. The lake was lit by it. We commented on the fishing shanties. We remembered our stop there last summer during a street festival and scrounging money together for a Blizzard at DQ. As we turned east again we held hands.
Saturday morning stated with a blessing. Matt McAlvey has quickly become a close friend. He spoke to our Sr. High kids last week for our retreat, then this weekend I led chapel for him at Barakel. Last weekend we found we share a love for coffee. Good coffee. He had a Solo French Press mug from Starbucks. He made a cup for me. We had good conversation. I decided I needed to invest in a French Press mug also. Saturday morning at breakfast Matt walks into the dinning hall with two French Press mugs from Starbucks. One was for me full of fresh, black, strong coffee. Matt is a good friend. I drink from it now as I write this tome.
The rest of the Saturday was wonderfully restful. I pulled a comfy chair into our little room below the dinning hall, turned on a space heater by my feet and read all afternoon. I read the book of Jeremiah while Elizabeth slept.
As I think of the weekend all I can really say is …surely God has blessed.
Kyle
Topics: thoughts... |
February 5th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Thanks for your help and for a great weekend and for all your input on Saturday night. It is too bad that we didn’t get to chat much. That is always the case during a weekend here. Here is a picture for you…
http://www.campbarakel.org/campshots/a2.asp?album=./2007-Winter/02-02-ES/JH2006.JPG
February 6th, 2007 at 11:54 am
this is so nice to read I love you both and can’t wait to be called “GRANDMOTHER LOIS”
February 7th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
hey Kyle what is going on
I like the post. and I love the picture of you leading worship. Are you playing the Guild wanna be Tak
Let me know
Go look at the comment I left at Matts site
Love you Kyle
Chuk
The Earth Is The Lords
February 8th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
I have never written anything better than this. I could taste the coffee man…
February 8th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Awww….Good JOb good post I love you Kyle! I love Elizabeth too..sounds like Elizabeth gets a lot of sleep.
She needs it I think…. tell her to enjoy it while she can. Love you both!!
Keep updating!!
February 8th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Sure they can visit you, they would love it.
February 9th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
I like the new layout man. can’t wait to see you.
love