All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. – Psalm 38:9 This year has been an entirely different experience than all the years that came before. With the current state of the world, that seems like an understatement. Daily life is uncertain and unstable for many of …
Two Years + Beyond: Our New Focus for 2020
We can become anyone we want to become. It takes focusing on the aspect of ourselves we want to change and reflecting on the beliefs that cause us to act in ways that are counter to the change we seek. –Vanessa Diffenbaugh I’ve been blogging at Coffee + Camo for two years. That’s hard to …
12 Things I Learned This Winter
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection – Thomas Paine If you’ve been visiting the blog for a while, you know that I’ve adopted Emily P Freeman’s quarterly habit of reflection. Reflection, in one form or another, has been a part of my journaling routine for years. …
Learning to Dance in the Rain
Into each life, some rain must fall – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow When it rains, it pours. But I’m learning rainy days are good too, even if they don’t always feel like it.
The Work of Winter: A Season of Growth and Renewal
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter – Rachel Carson Winter is the loneliest season. The bustle of the holidays seems like a distant memory. The house is empty of decorations, and gifts have found a home. Life has …
New Year, New Word, Same Me
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream – C.S. Lewis I’m sitting in “my” spot on the couch, sipping tea, listening to Explosions in the Sky. Fred is, as always, to my right, making sure I don’t do anything too crazy. Life is, generally speaking, the same …
9 Things I Learned – Fall 2019
Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards – Søren Kierkegaard The new year is prime time for reflections. Especially this year as we mark the movement into a new decade. I’m a bit late on my reflections for the fall, so it seemed like a good idea to start here. …
Saying Yes: The Practice of Inviting People In
Eating is so intimate…When you invite someone to sit at your table, and you want to cook for them, you’re inviting a person into your life – Maya Angelou This post was not originally on my calendar. To keep myself motivated and in the habit of writing, I do have a loose calendar of what …
My Mountaintop Experience: Climbing Mt. Fuji
A wise man climbs Mt. Fuji once, a fool climbs it twice – Japanese proverb Although the climbing season for Mt. Fuji ended this week, I feel like now is a good time to share my experience. As usual, I like a little time between the “doing” and the “telling.” I plan to put out …
5 Coffee Shops Worth Returning to
I was taken by the power that savoring a simple cup of coffee can have to connect people and create community – Howard Schultz Given the name of this blog, it might surprise you that this is my first post about coffee! Despite a deep love for the stuff, I’m still learning to put words …










