The Valentines Banquet

Julie did say yes to Mike's invitation.

It is so funny to think about how things have happened since Mike first asked Julie to the Valentine Banquet.  This is the point in the story that begins for me.  There was a young a man attending our church and Bible College that had asked me out.  I was a little hesitant for the sole reason that he was a bit younger than me.  After pondering for a while, I did agree to go out with him, after all, he is a good guy and who knows what could happen?  His name is Matt McKendree.

After the delightful night, a new Java Script was written.  So here it is detailing our evening together:

Three people of the Exclusive Coffee Group were spotted out and about with another gentleman, decked to the nines for what looked like an evening of fun-filled adventure (and maybe a little romance mixed in as well).

Yes, it must be said for our group that adventure may be too mild of a word.  The evening began harmless enough as we arrived at the WHBC Cafeteria and found our seats.  "A Moment in Time" was the quixotic theme of the banquet this year.

The lights were low, and romantic music played softly in the background as the whole gang spoke in low tones while the banquet was getting under way.  There were two in the group that were causing quite a stir as they were getting pictures taken.  The cooks in the cafeteria could be heard loudly whispering to one another, "Could this be?"  "Why, yes!"  "It must be true.",  were just a few of the phrases that could be over heard from that general direction.

After feasting on the scrumptious fair, the gang all took a few more pictures and headed out to what would soon be a great adventure.

They all arrived at what looked to be an upstanding coffee house.  From the outside looking in, one word would come to most people's mind - cozy.  Looks, that night, were slightly deceiving.  As the group entered the establishment, a loud racket coming from the restaurant next door could be heard.   A wild party was going on next door - and even though Mike was tempted to join them, one look at the lovely lady that he was escorting changed his mind. 

After listening to the drunk people rotating in out of the party we decided to take our group some where a little more quiet.  Mike had heard about another coffee shop from his pal Robert, on 31st on May.  That turned out to be a pool hall - it made this little foursome wonder how much time our Chief Percolator-N-Grinder has spent in there.  (Confessions anyone?)

At the request of the lovely lady with Mike, we drove around the Chesapeake campus - Mike showing us his work place proudly.  It wasn't until we entered the third parking lot that the trouble began.  Mike in the middle of his explanation about how his company had just bought the property on our left - noticed some flashing lights behind him.  As he fumbled for his Chesapeake ID Card a serious police officer approached our vehicle and threatened to haul all of us to the slammer for trespassing!  After a tense few moments, Mike successfully found his ID card - and we were free to go.  Whew!

After much discussion on what our options were, we decided to go to a quiet Starbucks.  As we kept driving, and driving, and driving, I finally asked, "Where are we going?"  As it turns out, Mike has a favorite Starbucks on 50th and Western.  We arrived safely at the Starbucks in Timbuktu and settled down for a nice bit of quiet conversation before our evening ended.

None of the events above been exaggerated (too much).

Debby Clark

Coffee Correspondant

The Beginning of the End

The blustery cold air in January has a bight to it like none other.  It seems like in Oklahoma it is colder in January than in December.  The January of 2006 was  no different...but the cold air didn't stop our little group from hanging out and my friend Julie was about to celebrate her 35th birthday.  It's hard to believe but Julie and I have known each other since we were in high school.  It was about to mark our 20 years as friends and we wanted to do something special for her birthday.

Jules picked the place we were going to eat at to celebrate this special day.  We all met at the Olive Garden (her favorite place at that point) with gifts in hand.  Little did we know that Robert had a serious conversation with Mike prior to us meeting there.  It went something like this:

"Mike, are you sure that you want to give her that for her birthday.  Once you do, there is no turning back."

Mike didn't even hesitate when he confirmed that he was prepared for whatever may happen.

When we were seated at our table there was much discussion about whether to open presents now or later.  We opted for later and we all ordered our food.  It was so much fun.  Great food (especially the bread sticks - who doesn't like Olive Garden's bread sticks?), great company, and great conversation.  Could we ask for anything more?  More was about to happen. 

Julie excitedly began to open her presents.  Oooing and Awwing over the things her friends had given her.  Then she came to a little bag that had a little box in it.  It was the gift from Mike.  She carefully opened the box and there was the most exquisite necklace - an Opal Star of David in a silver setting and a silver chain. Mike had liked Julie from the beginning of our group and he had purchased the necklace six months prior while on a missions trip to Jerusalem.

Julie gulped, unsure what to do.  She loved the necklace, but she also knew there was more meaning behind it than just a pretty piece of jewelry.

She graciously thanked everyone and her party was over, but she had much to ponder.

A few weeks went by and it was a Sunday night.  Jules, Sandra and I were standing around talking when Mike approached Julie.  He whipped out the February calendar and pointed to a Friday and said to her, "See that date right there?"  Julie smiled and nodded at him.  "I believe there's a Valentine Banquet going on, would you do me the honor of attending with me?"

It's hard to imagine now, but Jules was very nervous.  I need to back up a little bit.  Jules had gone to talk to our pastor about Mike a few weeks prior.  She knew of his feelings for her and the necklace had confirmed it. You see, she had always felt that she would eventually serve the Lord as a missionary in full time service and she knew that Mike was not called to such a thing.  So, when she talked to Preacher she was expecting him to advise her against dating him.  Much to her surprise he told her quite the contrary.  "Mike is a good man, and you'd be a fool not to date him."

So here she was faced with having to make the decision, should she say yes and take the plunge into the scary unknown or stay "safe" and say no... 

A Coffee good Christmas

Christmas is such a great time of year.  It is time to remember not only the greatest gift that God gave us - our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - but also the many blessings bestowed upon us.  It was no exception that first Christmas that the Java group shared together. 

The gentlemen invited the group to dine in Guthrie and experience an "Old Fashion Christmas".  They made dinner reservations and purchased theater tickets to "A Territorial Christmas Carol" to be watched at the famous Pollard Theatre. 

The gentlemen picked us up promplty at 2:00 PM that Saturday afternoon. We girls gussied ourselves up and then bundled up in our nice winter duds.  There was a chill in the December air and we knew that we'd be enjoying the outdoors walking down town. 

It was such a great night!  The merchants in downtown Guthrie were dressed in their late 1800's clothes and offered hot apple cider and goodies in each one of their stores.  There were carolers on the corner and horse drawn carriages driving along the streets.  It was a sort of magical night and one that we will always cherish. 

The play "A Territorial Christmas Carol"  is an Oklahoma take on Charles Dickens' classic.  The setting of the play, of course, is in the old west.  It was so very enjoyable, even if Jules got a little nervous every time a spirit appeared to old Ebenezer.

After such a delightful evening, we all exchanged gifts.  We gave the distinguished gentlemen their favorite Peanuts characters - Mikey received Charlie Brown (who to this day is an important mainstay in the home of the Millers), and Robert got Snoopy. 

Mikey, meanwhile, was hanging onto a little gift that he had for Jules, who was not quite ready to receive it...

I'll never forget something that Robert had said in reference to our little group, "Things will eventually change, and we will all go our own way, but the coffee group has meant the world to me."  Little did we know how quickly things would change and the dynamics of our group would forever be different.

Java Script - the beginning

One Friday, in late September, Robert and Mike took us to the gun range to teach us how to shoot.  After all, a girl needs to know how to defend herself.  We took some great pictures and  we were all sitting around the table drinking our java, when the possibility of having our very own periodical became the topic of discussion.  Something fun, that we could share with each other.  Our Editor in Chief, Mike Miller, promised that he would publish something the very next day.  We waited with great anticipation for his promised post, which to our utter disappointment, never materialized.  This started a barrage of e-mails:

A letter to the editor(s) of the JAVA SCRIPT

Dear Editor(s),

As a subscribing member of this fine periodical, I wanted to write and express my disappointment in not receiving the first issue as was previously promised.  I sincerely hope that it is not due to the humbling experience of Friday night when "Keep 'Em Jumping" Jules and "Sure Shot" Sam out shot Mr. Robert "Cap 'Em" Cartmell and Mr. Mike "Magnum" Miller.  As an unbiased spectator of the whole affair, my expectations for the first edition in the magazine was high, as I knew that such fine gentlemen as yourselves would not prejudice your reporting and just state the facts (along with some fine photographs) of the event.

Sincerely,

 A disappointied Subscriber

This was his reply:

Dear Disappointed Subscriber,

     Production details and in-state licensing have unfortunately, caused a temporary delay in the maiden edition of the Java Script.  Not to fret, we the editors of Java Script assure you the first edition of Java Script Magazine will have been well worth the wait.  It goes without saying, all reporting done in the Java Script will be maintained without personal bias and sensationalism.  

     It also need be mentioned that due to unforeseen technicalities, start-up procedures of our dark room facilities over here at Script Headquarters have been temporarily put on hold.  Unfortunately, all photos of "Keep Em Jumpin" Jules and "Sure Shot" Sam spanking the founding editors of the Script last Friday night will not be available to the staff of Windsor Hills Baptist Church, nor the public at large.  We the publishers of the Script deeply regret this small inconvenience, and hope that you will accept our deepest apologies.

Sincerely,

Mikey "Magnum" Miller, Founder & Editor-In-Chief, Java Script Group International  

       

 Jules then responded with this:

Thanks for all the explanations.  At least I'm not still wondering if the neighbor stole my paper.  I do have a few thoughts on the matters as explained, and a few ideas for that superb periodical, the Java Script!

Production details and in-state licensing -- What's this????  You mean they can do that??--to an internet periodical???? 

goes without saying  (does it???), all  (Is that "all" as in "ALL" or "all" as in "most" or "some"?) reporting done in the Java Script will be maintained without personal bias and sensationalism.  (That's a pretty high standard.  Time (and subscribers) will tell.)

Keep Em Jumpin" Jules and "Sure Shot" Sam  -- Word has it that those two outlaws and their sidekick, Deadeye Deb, hightailed it out o' these parts before sundown last weekend, mumbling something about "gittin' to Kohl's" in time for the early bird special.

As for gunsmoke tales, as far as I know, you and your co-founder may still hold your heads high around Windsor Hills Baptist Church.  The word on the Arab street is that someone told Preacher about the incident, and I know three someones who it wasN'T.  So, if there are any defaming gunsmoke tales being spread, let me assure you that they have been promulgated by the likes of Pete and Re-peat, co-founders of this fine publication.  No apologies necessary for the withholding of photos; we still hold the evidence.  :  )

Maybe the Java Script should include an occasional weather report.  My 5-year-old niece informs me (rubs it in, actually) that tonight in Carbondale, Colorado, it is snowing.  I dream of such a blissful day.  They say the weather tomorrow might be headed in the right direction--down, down, down will go the thermometer all day long.  Things are looking up!

Chef Rober or Debby Crocker might contribute a recipe now and then--though the stipulation should be that the recipe contain coffee (even if it is served on the side).  What do you think? 

Anticipating the release of the premiere edition of the widely acclaimed Java Script,

Jules

Needless to say, we eventually did get the Java script started and in my next blog I will share some of these fine, and mostly truthful publications...

Time Goes By

We settled quite nicely into our little group of friends.  We'd meet every Friday night at the Java Joint, have the lattes of our choice, and play dominoes to our hearts content.  It was such a great time in all our lives and we often look back fondly on those memories.

In June of that year, Robert and Mike took a trip to Israel.  What an experience it was for them, and us ladies waited with great anticipation for two weeks for them to get home.  They even sent us postcards from Jerusalem.

Finally, they arrived home baring many tales and many gifts for their fair friends.  There's a spiritual change that takes place when people go to Israel.  Christians cherish the experience to walk where Christ has walked and to visit the garden tomb.  It was such a great night seeing the pictures and hearing the stories.  The gentlemen gave each of us a tapestry bag with a scene of Israel embroidered on it, lotion from Ahava, and a necklace.  Little did we know that Mike had purchased a special gift for a special lady that had caught his fancy.  He kept his secret for six months...

Julie Joins us for Java

A couple of weeks went by and Sarah was back in town, so we decided to make a visit to the Java Joint and see our new found friends.  My best friend, and almost sister, Julie was a bit hesitant.  She was going through a difficult trial in her life at the time and wasn't sure if she wanted to join us.  "It'll be fun, and you'll add so much to the group." I cajoled her.  She finally decided to join us and on our way out the door she asked, "Should I bring my little bag of games?"  We all agreed she should.  This was the beginning of a new Friday night tradition - coffee and dominoes.

(I know, I know, most of you are thinking that dominoes is an old folks game.  But, Jules and I actually started playing this "old folks" game as teenagers working at Silver State Baptist Youth Camp with "Uncle Bill". Those were good times....)

When we arrived, the fellows jumped up and asked us what we would like to drink.  At the time we were all working at the church, and these fellows new our income was small so they bought our lattes.  What nice guys!

 As we made our way to the table we all settled in to what eventually would be our normal spots - Sam on one side of Bob and me on the other, Jules beside Mike, and Sarie in the middle.  When Jules pulled out the dominoes, the fellows eyes lit up!  There became the most competitive group of domino players I have ever seen with Bob declaring to be the King of Dominoes.  We had such a marvelous time and while we were seated talking and laughing a thought entered into my mind and little did I know the same thought entered into Roberts mind...

Second Encounter

It was a few weeks later, and my friend Sarah was in town and staying with my friends and I at our house.  She was home for a short furlough from her mission work in the Philippines. She and Sandra called me while I was doing my normal jog and wanted to know if I wanted to meet them for coffee at the Java Joint.  I was all for that, of course.  (Let me just insert here, Sarah is a coffee connoisseur.  Any chance that we could get a cup of Joe, Sarah was there!  As she always says, "Today is a five cup of coffee day!")

I came in the Java Joint that night and spied my two friends.  As soon as I got over to them, Sarah informed me that Robert and Mike were around the corner at a table in another room.  As I went to the counter to order my coffee, I figured I'd better stop and say hello.  After all, they had purchased my latte a few weeks prior and I did not want to snub them. 

Robert and Mike asked me what I was doing there and I told them that I was meeting my friends, Sandra and Sarah.  They then invited me and my two friends to sit at their table.  It was a fun night filled with lots of conversation as they inquired about Sarah's work in the Philippines and Sandra's job at the church.  Time slipped quickly by as we really enjoyed each others company.  It was getting pretty late and as we gathered our belongings to leave the two gentlemen shot out an open invitation to come and join them anytime we wanted.  They were always there on Friday night.  They probably never expected us to take them up on that offer, but what else do three single ladies have to do on a Friday night?

Backing Up a Bit

I am going to back my story up just a little.  As Robert has said, that was not the beginning for him. I am going to give some background information about the two gentlemen who purchased my latte that night.

Robert had been attending Windsor Hills Baptist Church for some time.  He was out wandering through Borders Bookstore one Friday night and he saw a man that he recognized from church.  In a church that runs about 400 on Sundays it is hard to get acquainted with everyone, so Robert went up to him and introduced himself.  They chatted for a little while then Robert left and went on his way.  A few weeks later Robert was back at Borders and once again Mike was there - drinking a latte and reading.  They struck up a friendship and began meeting every Friday for dinner or coffee or both.  With each get together they would solve all the world's problems and then go home.

One Friday night, Robert suggested they go to a quaint little coffee house in Bethany that he had heard of.  This was the beginning of their adventures at the Java Joint where Isis (the barista) made the "meanest" vanilla latte around.  They were hooked and the Java Joint was their regular spot from then on.

Little did they know how buying a latte for a missionary lady, who happened to wander into their spot in the world,  would change the course of their lives.  We often joke about how expensive that little chai tea latte  became.

The Beginning

There are moments in everyone's life that change them forever.  Such was the case on a cold Friday evening in Oklahoma City when I walked into a local coffee shop.  I had been jogging in the park nearby and decided to treat myself to my favorite beverages, a chai tea latte.  Sitting near the coffee bar were two gentlemen whom I was a little acquainted with.  We were members of the same church and I had seen them from a distance.  They, recognizing me, offered to purchase my drink.  One to never turn down a free latte, I readily accepted their offer. I sat down with them for a few minutes and chatted.  I do not recall what we talked about, and after about 5 or 10 minutes I thanked them for my drink and went on my way home.  (Let me just say here that I once was a missionary, and they just "wanted to be a blessing to the missionary".  Little did they know that this brief exchange would have a profound affect on all our lives.)

This was the very beginning of what we later called The Elite Coffee Group.

This blog is about a group of seven friends: Robert, aka "Bob, Chief Perc and Grinder"; Mike, aka "Mikey, Editor N Chief"; Julie, aka "Jules, The Score Keeper"; Sandra, aka "Sam, the resident Canuck", Sarah, aka "Sarie, Our Foreign Correspondent"; and myself - Debby, aka "Debster, Coffee Correspondent".

(This info may not seem relevent now, but as the story progresses it will make more sense.)