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quickly speaking from the heart

Okay.

I've tried to kind of keep people updated on my life via Facebook recently, I just haven't had the time for blogging like I used to. Coffee, ministry and friends have filled up my once open schedule, but I want to speak quickly from my heart for a second because I think what is happening in my life needs to be documented and talked about.

God has been so good to me. I know that God has always loved me. Even before He created me He knew me and loved me. I know that the greatest act of love and kindness from God is when He sent His only Son to die for me, there will never be a greater act of love than the demonstration of love on the cross when Christ reconciled us to God, but I must say that recently I've felt so loved by God.

Coming to the Northwest a year ago I was super open handed with my life. I didn't have a ton of friends, I didn't have a job, the church hadn't started. I basically didn't know what I was doing but I was waiting for God to show up in some way. I had no idea He would show up the way that He has.

What I've learned:

Living an abandon life to God is the only way to experience the abundant life He has to offer.

I can't say I believe in God because of science or because it makes sense in my brain, but I know that I've given God the opportunity to work in my life and provide for weirdly specific things that I've needed and He's provided it. I mean, I know I didn't provide these things. I know that the last year hasn't been about me at all. I've just tried to follow where God has told me to go and wanted so much to obey Him probably more than ever and mostly out of complete fear in not knowing what to do but trust Him. I feel like I kept moving along even though I was completely uncertain and now I'm standing amidst amazing opportunity, friends, relationships... I wish I could be totally vulnerable and state specifics but it would take forevs.

It just needs to be said... we're always amidst the love of God. I feel like I was totally stripped of everything not because God made that happen but because I wanted it. I moved so far away because I knew it would be hard, I knew I would grow in Him and knew that there was great potential for Him to draw me close and I needed that. So I came and it was completely not what I thought and way harder than I had imagined it would be. Now I'm standing here 14 months later a completely different person and amidst a completely new life with completely new people and opportunity and there's no one else who can have the credit other than Him because I knew I had nothing to do with it.

I dunno, I'm just speaking openly.. so. thankful.

Brooke Fraser - Love is Waiting

I forgot how much I loved Brooke Fraser, and how much I loved this song, until recently.

Four days from now!

It's my last week of full on practice in the shop before our opening. Monday morning at 6am we'll be unlocking the doors of Sound City Coffee and welcoming in the people of our community. I've never been so excited for something yet so nervous at the same time! Let's just be honest.. I'm a bit scared my abilities aren't up to par at this point. However, I know without a shadow of a doubt we're serving coffee that's a million times better than anything else Tumwater has to offer at this point (no offense Starbucks).

It's a crazy time, but I know that it's going to turn out just fine. God has provided so much for this to happen and so.. ready or not here we come.

The coffee aspect has become soo important to me over time. I do want to share the best product available and I do want to grow in my barista skills, not just because it's really fun for me, but because I want to love my community the best I can. By working hard and providing some great espresso, some nice looking latte art, some amazing local breakfast foods and some pourover coffee, I really think we'll be showing the community that we care for them. That's what it's really all about.

Though I am a bit nervous, my excitement to meet people in the community and actively give as a nonprofit organization trumps all! I think it's going to be so neat to give back and to stand behind the bar and chat people up. With everyday I keep thinking... "I wonder who our regulars will be." It's soooo exciting :)

So.. only four days away! I'll be sure to keep you updated on all the happenings of Sound City Coffee in Tumwater, Washington. Next week is sure to be a wild one!

I can't wait!

Last month's post said, "Sound City Coffee set to open June 17th". Now, that's laughable.

However, things are progressing quickly! Our opening day will without a doubt be August 15th. So much has happened over the past month: Our tables are complete and looking amazing, our bar construction is done and looking stellar and super original, all equipment is in place and we're brewing and grinding Olympia Coffee Roasting Co. single origin coffees by the cup using various pour over methods! Training has begun with Will Frith of OCR. It has been totally solid spending time with him and chatting about coffee, music, literature and life. He's such a solid dude and becoming a pretty solid friend as well. Basically, the only step left to take before we can serve our community is acquiring our occupancy and other various permits from the city. This Tuesday we will be having appointments to try and get these permits in our hands. August 15th is a perfect time to open not only because by then will we be very confident in our product, but it also allows for time to obtain the permits needed to open.

I'm so super stoked! I can't even begin to tell you! I can't believe that all of this is happening. I can't wait to wake up every day when it's still dark out and go open the shop. I can't wait to serve my community and meet people. I can't wait to serve a solid product and discuss all things coffee with our customers and our roaster. I can't wait for cupping events at our awesome cupping table. I can't wait to actually be good at latte art. I can't wait for my friend Honor to come join me in the shop and help me improve my barista skills. I can't wait to grow as a barista. I can't wait to have a pay check. I can't wait to work with my friends. I can't wait to make some friends. I can't wait to love on the people that walk through the door regardless of whatever walk of life they are on. I literally can. not. wait. It's going to be so, so, sooo fun!

As slow as this whole process has seemed to go at times I am amazed that I am approaching the end of what has been my first year here in Olympia. So much has happened. It's mind boggling. It's crazy to be sitting in the shop and looking at all of our gear, tables and our bar. It's weird to think that there are going to be people sitting in those seats every day that I can chat with and relate to on some sort of level even if it's only coffee. I can remember back to December thinking, "How in the world am I going to make it through this year?" But God sustained me and provided for me, and I'm super thankful for that. I'm super thankful that I didn't decide to go home and that I now know I'm not leaving any time soon. This whole year has been a process of being refined and learning more about God and who He has created me to be. It definitely hasn't been easy and it's still not, but there's also a lot of peace amidst it all.

I'm sure if you flip back through posts I had written in September and October of 2010 you would read something like "It's so strange that I live here and work here". I STILL feel that way and I can't believe I'm STILL here. It's not a bad thing. It's a great thing! I am in total awe of what God has done in just a year and I'm super excited for what He can do in another year, and another year and another year. I'm so super thankful that He let's me be a part of all of it. I get to work in an industry that I love and serve God all the same. It's such a huge blessing.

So that's kinda where I am right now. Baffled by God's goodness. Sound City Church has seen progress as well over the past month! We had our fourth preview service in the coffee shop today! Nearly 40 people attended and we had about 11 first time guests! Russell did an awesome job speaking and I got to play some good music with some good friends for some good people. All in all it went without a hitch. The church also had a few visitors come out in June and July to investigate Sound City Church and decide on whether or not to move out and get involved.

People all over are hearing about Surround the Sound and wanting to help church plants in the Northwest. In June we got a visit from a boy down south, Wil Sanders. Wil had never met Russell, Belinda, me or any of the church planters with Surround the Sound, but heard about the opportunity through a mutual friend of his and Russell's. He took a huge step of faith, came to visit anyway, loved it and is now back home in Mississippi raising support to move in about three weeks! He's a bold guy and is going to be a HUGE asset to our team. It's definitely something to be excited about. I've been praying for so long that God would build a team of young people within our church and I think this is just the beginning of it. I can't wait to have Wil here! I mean, he's pretty great.

It's been so encouraging getting to have people come out and take interest in what's been going on and watching Surround the Sound grow. I keep thinking over and over "What in the world is going to happen in another year!?" :)

Things are moving along quickly here in the great Northwest! Pictures to come soon along with more coffee updates! Totally stoked for August 15th!!

Moving right along..

Isn't the sound of woodworking music to your ears? Well it has been for me. Sound City Coffee is getting stuff done and moving right along! I've posted a few visuals for you below, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

This was the night that the wall was painted red. I went over that evening and it finally hit me "Man, I really wanna hang out in there". It felt good.

Bar construction has begun. Can't wait to tack up our black bar and install our live edge pieces.

Early stages of cabinet and bar construction.

This is one of my favorite bar features at Sound City Coffee, a pull out recycling bin.

We found some awesome wood with live edge to make our four seater tables.

This is our buddy bar where we will be holding our cupping events with our roaster, Olympia Coffee Roasting Co.

Live edge for our two seater tables

Pour over bar!

Training day!

This coffee is delicious!! Brazil Cup of Excellence

Learning

My blog isn't the only thing that is changing around here. The weather is getting somewhat better, which of course changes the mood of things, the space has been painted black and tan and my love and passion for coffee has grown and grown.

I've always been a fan of coffee culture, even in Morgantown, West Virginia where coffee shops are pretty sparse. I've always enjoyed a warm drink and the quietness that comes with enjoying it while reading a book. It wasn't until my move to the Northwest that my blinders had been removed and I could see how that cup of coffee I was drinking back home should be brewed and cared for.

What I've heard most recently, and jokingly I'm sure, is "Mollie, you're a coffee snob" and that's just not true. It's laughable how little I actually know about coffee and amazing how much you can continue to learn and grow while studying it. It's never ending. I met a guy once who said he's been studying coffee for eight years and still doesn't know everything about it (my guess being because the market keeps changing and technology, and farming, continues seeing advancements) The passion and knowledge that these local roasters have is enough to bring me in to buy some coffee from them. I'm not a coffee snob, I just prefer small business, passionate service and a good deal. By purchasing from these local roasters you're definitely getting more for you buck, it's so good! So, my research is ongoing and hopefully that will help Sound City Coffee set the bar high.

Today I bought a legal pad for coffee only. I just finished my first read through of David C. Schomer's "Espresso Coffee" and now I'm going through my second round and this time taking more notes. Heck, I will probably read it a third time.

Let me be transparent here.. since moving to the Northwest from West Virginia there have definitely been times where I've questioned my purpose, but after our meeting with Oliver last week (and knowing that there are coffee professionals in the area who are genuinely excited about our shop) things have started to change a bit and for the better. I'm looking forward to each day that we get to meet with our great roaster. The knowledge that these coffee connoisseurs have is definitely respected in my arena where I'm just learning. Last week Oliver also gave me a list of blogs that he follows so I can keep up and continue to learn.

I tried to explain to him last week that in West Virginia specialty coffee like this doesn't exist, well I mean, outside of Rich Johnson at the Daily Grind (he knows what's up). I'm just now becoming educated. I proceeded to explain to him that the first day I walked into the shop I was impressed when I realized they brewed fresh by the cup, that I could have any choice of coffee I wanted- they had eight choices that day. Rich wasn't kidding me when he told me I was moving to coffee heaven.

Though it is really exciting for me it is also a bit intimidating to be surrounded by so many coffee elitists in the Northwest. I am in the market of finding a coffee mentor in the area. I just need to have a friend to sit with so I can pick their brain. I love reading all these books and blogs, of course, but to have discussion would be great. I'm anticipating this day.

Until then I'll continue to jot down notes in my legal pad.

(Sound City Coffee set to open June 17)