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Happy Go Stuckey

Tethering Grace & Togetherness

Brown Sugar Lattes and Finding Home

November 18, 2016 by HappyGoStuckey 11 Comments

Sometimes we must open our hands fully to let go of what we hold so tightly.

If you read Simmer, then you know how it stung to leave North Carolina. For almost two years, we didn’t go back to visit. The decision was one part necessity; one part self-preservation. Much of my heart still resided comfortably in the 919; I needed to invest fully in where we were– in sincere hope that it would become home as well.

After some time passed, we found ourself back among the oaks for, wait for it– a job interview. By then we were happy to call Augusta home but the job that had taken us there eventually placed us back in limbo.

We rambled to Raleigh in the frigid mid-January wind and pursued caffeine and warmth. One particular coffee shop opened shortly after we moved away and their instagram feed had taunted me for months. We sat with lattes & a liege waffle between us, this new place in our old comfortable town.

We sipped long and looked around for familiar faces. But of course, it had been a couple of years and the only familiar face I saw was the one across from me. We brought home with us when we sat at that tiny table.

The coffee was amazing, the day was gorgeous and the best part? It was all brand new– and it wasn’t ours. 
Something happened in that short trip, a warmth in my heart beyond what coffee could produce. When I thought I wanted familiar, I found something better.

The knowledge that I was a visitor was stronger than my slight homesickness that I always carried with me. What I missed for ages, I came back to and realized– it wasn’t mine anymore.

Mine was a blue house in Georgia with two little girls and the man smiling at my deep-in-thought-ness. Mine was the sunny kitchen with the cabinets which we painted ourselves. Mine was the moonlighting barista I brought with me who was already figuring out how to recreate my drink. It was all mine. This town, this place, this seedbed of sweet memories– was no longer mine.

I do believe cities keep a slice of us when we go. I know that they wind deep around our hearts like our roots that go way back then. Perhaps it depends on the life that we lived while there, but I know that it etches just the same.

We hope we leave marks on these towns and coffee shops and churches, but the truth is– they leave their marks on us as well.

I may still grin when I sit behind a car with a North Carolina license plate. I swallow my wistfulness when friends send me photos of the neighborhood we lived in. I loved it then and I love it still. But as much as I adore the place of our beginning, I cherish where we are today.

I’m grateful we let go of one so that we could grab onto the next. With both hands and whole hearts.

For I know that holding on to one thing too tightly prevents us from wholly holding the next. That next thing which God has given us for His glory and our growth. And I want that, I want to hold on firmly, unabashedly planted in today– where I’ve been thoughtfully, lovingly, placed.

My dear husband (who, if you’re wondering, never did take that job but instead waited patiently for the right one in the right place,) makes coffee that would make you call your Mother. (I can’t say that other Southern phrase about slapping mothers, my Mother happens to be a faithful reader and I know better.) He made this lovely Brown Sugar Simple Syrup and creates beautiful lattes with it. Swoon.

Brown Sugar Latte

This simple syrup is called that for a reason, it’s as easy as pie!  Add it to your latte, Iced Coffee, or morning cup right out of the pot. I use about a 1/2 an ounce because I like just a hint of sweet, but you do you.

Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

12 oz filtered water

16 oz. brown sugar

a tiny pinch of kosher salt

Bring the water and salt to a rolling boil. Add the brown sugar. Whisk in and return to a boil for three minutes. Cool for 10-15 minutes before pouring into a bottle or jar.

For a brown sugar latte or brown sugar cafe au lait– we add between a half an ounce and an ounce to the mug before the espresso/ coffee. We froth heated milk using a frother similar to this one, and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy!

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What I’ve Learned & Loved Lately (Fall Edition.)

Comments

  1. 1

    Susan Arico says

    November 19, 2016 at 7:11 am

    Love this. Having just moved to Crete and still in the “settling in” phase, I can totally relate.
    This is my favourite part:
    “But as much as I adore the place of our beginning, I cherish where we are today. I’m grateful we let go of one so that we could grab onto the next. With both hands and whole hearts. For holding on to one thing too tightly truly does prevent us from wholly holding the next, the next thing which God has given us for His glory and our growth.”

    Reply
    • 2

      HappyGoStuckey says

      November 20, 2016 at 7:52 am

      I can imagine you are, Susan. That’s quite a move– isn’t it?
      It has certainly been a lengthy process in my own heart, and many days I still need to be reminded to “Be all here.”
      Thank you for saying hello and I do pray the next few months will be ones of settling in in heart as well as body for you. <3

      Reply
  2. 3

    Laura Baareman says

    November 19, 2016 at 3:40 pm

    Great post on a topic that I can really relate to. I think I’ll always carry a piece of homesickness along with me. I have to depend on Jesus to give me joy in the present! Thanks!

    Reply
    • 4

      HappyGoStuckey says

      November 20, 2016 at 7:54 am

      Hi Laura. I’m glad you can relate.

      And yes, the Peace that we are right where He has placed us makes up for so many areas of uncertainty, can’t it? He is sovereign over even this.

      Reply
  3. 5

    Angela says

    November 19, 2016 at 10:19 pm

    Thank you for putting into words what I’ve been experiencing over the past year! I can finally go back to our old roots and not be an emotional wreck! Letting go is difficult but once we do it’s amazing!

    Reply
    • 6

      HappyGoStuckey says

      November 20, 2016 at 7:56 am

      Hey Angela! If you did it in one year, you are much stronger than I was! I pray you continue to feel even more nestled in home as the months roll by. Thank you for stopping by. <3

      Reply
  4. 7

    Robin says

    November 20, 2016 at 4:37 pm

    I feel the wistfulness with you.

    And I’m gonna go make some brown sugar simple syrup. 🙂

    (Stopping by from h*w and this was beautiful.)

    Reply
  5. 8

    Connie Sizemore says

    November 21, 2016 at 1:34 pm

    Oh, Cynthia!
    I’m just now getting to sit with these thoughts of yours. As God always does, He allowed me the time to enjoy at just the right moment. We haven’t moved to a new place – still here in the same stretch of the woods – but are in a totally new and strange stage of our lives. I don’t like it a bit, today. We’re in the waiting. God told us to leave the familiar and safe business we’ve been in for years and just wait. I just thought I trusted Him before. I confess I don’t like stepping out into the unknown. I imagine I’ll be coming back to read this post again over the next days. Thank you for faithfully and transparently sharing where you’ve been.
    In a Bit of a Heap,
    Connie

    Reply
  6. 9

    Stacey Weinberger says

    September 16, 2018 at 10:41 pm

    Sweet Cynthia- I read this when you first posted it, and today I am reading it again… both times with tears… you are such a beautiful writer, and as I read your words they truly transport me to wherever it is that you are describing. I am two years into this move now, and still struggling to make this place home… God has a plan, and I trust Him, I have just been impatient with myself… thank you for reminding me that I am not alone. I miss you dear friend!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. What I’ve Learned & Loved Lately (Fall Edition.) says:
    December 1, 2016 at 11:23 am

    […] I know that making a home, building it from the inside out, is a gentle process and not one that can be rushed. I also know it doesn’t come easily for all of us. I wrote more about that here: Brown Sugar Lattes & Finding Home. […]

    Reply
  2. Loving Lately in November says:
    November 22, 2019 at 9:53 am

    […] Brown Sugar Syrup for coffee-shop quality lattes at home. Mmmm. We had the first real drop in temperature this month and I immediately made a batch of this syrup to have on hand. […]

    Reply

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Hey There!

I'm Cynthia and I'm so glad you're here. I am an introvert with an extrovert's love of gathering people together. I love good books and capturing moments. Whether you visit me here or on my own front porch, I'll be the one holding the Iced Coffee for us both.

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happygostuckey

Instagram post 2191701631330368631_396980240 This year, the 🍋lemon tree🌿 gave fewer lemons than normal. I asked my Dad and he confirmed, just a slow year.

So we picked (still armfuls,) and I’ll love every one.
If you read #feastingandforaging (have I mentioned I wrote a book? Gosh, that is never not awkward.😅) If you read it, then you know how special this tree is to me.

Again this year, I’m reminded all over again that our sweetest gifts are sometimes cloaked in harder things. Often our ‘unexpected ugh’ makes way for what we truly need.

And I just want you to know that if this December is already more than you wanted or less than you hoped, if you’re sitting at the end of a very long year— take courage.
Take peace.
Take hope and as you pass around the gift of the Advent to those beside you, don’t forget to also take some for yourself.

Don’t forget to remember that the Hope of this season (and every other,) cannot be squelched by sickness, pain, or the general ugh of life in a broken world.

We have this Hope and it is one that won’t be diminished by anything that could land in our laps today.
#prepareHimroom
Instagram post 2191016735687527448_396980240 Sometimes I think I could live in New York but I’m low-key afraid I might eat bagels every day. 🥯🍎☕️ (TB to October when @friar_stuck and I took our Pio Bagels to @devocionusa and pretended we were regulars.) ✨What city would you love to live in if it didn’t mean leaving where you are?✨
Instagram post 2189510127085979732_396980240 Home sweet merry little home.🎄This December will be busier than most for our family, so I’m treasuring every single slow moment we are gifted. Starting today with homemade lattes and little white lights.✨ #merrymerrystuckeys
Instagram post 2187513959237917323_396980240 We can all agree the point of the charcuterie platter is to get as many family members into one room at once, right? The cheese is just a bonus. {yes, second charcuterie pic this week. Because holidays. And family. And the sweet full feeling that comes not from eating too much pie, but seeing almost all of your entire family in one day.} ❤️🦃 Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends. 
#feastingandforaging #charcuterieboard #f52byyou #allthecheese #gratefulforhome #savourtheseasonalshift #simplethingsmadebeautiful #merrymerrystuckeys #almondavenuecrew
Instagram post 2185903851697559572_396980240 🍁Maybe she’s born with it.
Maybe it’s Maple Leaves.🍁 I know that when the clock strikes midnight on Thursday, everyone switches to Christmas— but I’m probably going to be here with leaf spam for just a bit longer... 😏
Instagram post 2183058239117455684_396980240 ✨In a world where you can be anything, be the one who volunteers to bring charcuterie. ✨
🧀🥖🍇🌿
Bonus points if your flannel shirt- wearing husband can hold said charcuterie while you take a million photos of cheese in the golden hour.

#feastingandforaging #charcuterieboard #thanksgivingdinner #onthetable #f52byyou #foodie #savourtheseasonalshift #simplethingsmadebeautiful #chasethelight #bluehousekitchen #merrymerrystuckeys #gratefuldays #cheeseboard #gratefulforhome #iwentlookingforbeauty #ofsimplethings
Instagram post 2181659993774021605_396980240 You’re Kale-ing me, smalls.

Listen. Kale is that self-righteous leafy green that everyone feels like they should eat, meanwhile many of us are secretly not enjoying it and I just need to say— yes, but... have you massaged your kale?

No, don’t go. I promise this is not a joke. Kale is packed with vitamins, but it’s kind of bitter and grass-clipping-like. However. 3-5 minutes of prep work and it’s downright tasty. Here’s my three step process—

Remove the stems and rip your kale in large bite sized pieces.
Add it to a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of kosher salt. 
Massage it. Really. With your hands. For 3-4 minutes. The kale will darken in color and will release that bitter smell.

And... you’re done. Now build your kale salad with the total certainty that you won’t get tired of chewing before the end of your meal. 
Pictured: Kale Caesar Salad with Ten Minute Croutons from #feastingandforaging 🥖🌿
Instagram post 2179451951070532163_396980240 Another fall.
Here in this city we love.
Here in this BlueHouse where we’ve learned to mark our days in falling leaves & saturday morning pancakes.

I’m not sure where you are and how you feel about tomorrow, or next month even. But before the weekend wears the clothes of Monday preparation, here is your friendly reminder—

Even if the future is obscured by foggy uncertainty, the present can still be shimmering with lovely. 
#feastingandforaging #hopewriters #hopelenses #simplethingsmadebeautiful #savourtheseasonalshift #daysofsmallthings #ofsimplethings #beallthere #weareplacemakers 
#nothingisordinary #lifegivinghome #learntolovewhatmustbedone #chasinglight #everydayfaithfulness #gratefulforhome
Instagram post 2175841201919747949_396980240 There is nothing like a blustery, drizzly day to remind you of all the reasons why November is lovely in all its getting-dark-early glory. ✨
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