Navigating the Avalanche: Store Updates, Grief, and Grace

Boy, has it felt like an avalanche of activity these past few months! The momentum just keeps going and going, and I know many of you can relate to that feeling.

But amidst the chaos, we have some incredibly exciting news: we have reached the decoration phase inside the store! We have also successfully dialed in the roaster, turning out beautiful 7 to 10-pound batches at a time. Right now, we are exclusively selling to our friends and family, but soon we will be ready to open up to local businesses and retail stores. If you know a business owner and would love to see Larson’s Land coffee on their shelves, please let us know—we would be so grateful for the introduction.

While all this busyness is a blessing, if I'm being honest, it also serves another purpose for our family right now. The end of the school year is always a tough season for us. I've noticed that we naturally find ways to fill our idle time—and we certainly did that this year by juggling the store, work, farm life, golf, and everything else. We stay busy because we are approaching the anniversary of losing Larson.

Nicole coined the phrase, "It is easier to be mad than sad," and boy, is she right at times. Frustration can flare up so quickly. We have to actively stop and take moments to breathe, ensuring we don't get wrapped up in a net of emotional entanglement. I know other parents and families go through these exact same emotions when it comes to loss and the heavy dates on the calendar. Please know you are not alone.

To be completely transparent with you all: a therapist I had while in rehab once told me that the easiest way to get past these heavy emotions is to actually go through them. You have to experience it, feel it, and deal with it. You start by simply talking about it—acknowledging out loud, "Right now, I'm feeling these emotions build up as the date of Larson's passing gets closer." It is incredibly tough to deal with. As I think about it, fear can slip in, causing me to question what I'm doing every step of the way and threatening to make me stumble. But talking about it helps. It keeps the grief from festering and turning into anger or isolation. It reminds me of the promise we are given in Scripture:

Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

God doesn't ask us to hide our grief; He meets us right in the middle of it. This season of pain will pass, and we hold firmly to the hope that one day, we will all be together again. For those of you out there grieving right now, I hope this encourages you to open up. Don't hold those feelings in. You are loved, and there are people who want to listen and help, even if they don't always know how to start the conversation. Let this be your invitation to start it.

Moving through these seasons together is exactly why we are building this roastery. Speaking of which, we have been experimenting with some incredible new coffee beans to share with you. Over the past two weeks, the clear favorites have been the Timor Heritage Dark and the Panama Finca. I have also set up a meeting with a local green coffee importer who will be coming out to the shop over the next few weeks.

It is an exciting time as we keep adding to our building and our journey. Every bean we roast and every conversation we have is aimed at our ultimate goal: helping others get closer to Christ. Thank you for being on this journey with us.

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."

We are trusting Him with every step.