Cherish the Normal

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return." "

-Mary Jean Irion

Sometimes it is the normalcy of our daily lives that grinds at us. Bless those times of refreshment, of lull, they are the days that prepare the mind, body and soul for the onslaught of activity that we call family life. Thank God for "normal" days!

Pocket Challenge # 2

This was actually my first idea for a pocket, but it was a much bigger project than I had planned...However, it is wonderful! I love my new music/writing area! Check it out!

WOOHOO! It's finally here!

I received my proof copy of my very first book today! I am so excited about it! I can't wait to get the final revisions taken care of so that I can tell all of you how to get one! ;)

I have already been asked by several people to do book signings and small speaking engagements around the release, and, get this...got contacted by a publisher today to pick up my little devotional! What? I haven't even fully distributed yet!

So be in prayer for me about this project and where to go from here with it. Many decisions to make. I just want to make sure God is in it and not me.

What else? Oh, I started earnestly fundraising for my mission trip to Brazil this summer. Committing to raise $4000 was a HUGE step of faith for me since quitting work to focus full time on Strings Attached Ministries has really put a crimp in our finances. Please pray that all is provided. On that note, I am desperately seeking donations (you can donate through paypal through the chipin link above or send a check to: ATTN Cari Kaufman, IG L&L Camp, PO Box 2547, Rogers, AR 72756. ANY little bit will help...

Hmmm...and I think that is pretty much it for me this week...you know...nothing big...just MY FIRST BOOK! Did I mention, I published a book?:)

Can't wait to see what all you other Company Girls are doing this week...if you would like to join us link up with us here at Home Sanctuary.

Pocket Challenge #1

Okay, so maybe my first pocket challenge was less of a pocket makeover and more of a total room overhaul. I haven't given up though. I will turn our little corner into a music area, just not today. That's a project for the weekend.

Instead, I chose to follow along with some other Company Girl's idea and makeover my kitchen table....and wow! what a difference!

Check it!

Before Pocket Makeover...wow...I swear there is a table under there!

After Pocket Makeover...I promise this is the same kitchen!

I'm Joining the Pocket Challenge...and for my first trick...

So a Company Girl friend mentioned that she had started a Pocket Challenge, to create little pockets of beauty within her home using items she already had around the house. I just love the idea, so I am joining her...(you can too! check it out here. )

My first mission is to transform a little nook that I have always loved the idea of in our bedroom, but that has become the ironing room. I will post a photo later. Charlie and I have both been messing around with our guitar of late, but don't have a place to play. I want to turn that space into our music/reading nook. I have some ideas, but the biggest thing that has to happen is that I have to get our ironing under control. This will take an action plan, and really isn't within the scope of the true pocket challenge...but it is a great way to motivate me, so here I go. I will put some photos (and maybe asking for suggestions soon!)

The Great Surprise!

Welcome to my Company Girls! Pour yourself a cup of Jasmine Green Tea (it's supposed to be seductive-at least that is what the box says!) and have a sit...I have much to tell, but not too much time to chat so I will try to sum up quickly!

First of all, last night was amazing! Charlie and I went to see John and Stasi Eldredge (John wrote Wild at Heart, The Ransomed Heart, Sacred Romance, and Walking with God- and many others, and his wife, Stasi wrote Captivating)All of which are fantastic books! They have a new book out about marriage called Love and War and WOW-WOW-WOW! It is awesome! Literally changed my marriage and my relationship with my husband in a weekend. Mind-blowing stuff...I highly recommend it! You can purchase it here. You won't be sorry! Beyond reading the book, seeing them in person and getting to see the authenticity of who they are was beautiful! I am so excited to be going to the Captivating retreat in April and now I am just over-the-moon!

Now, I know you ladies are dying off to discover the surprise I talked about last week. I wish I had more pictures to show you, but my photographer is off romancing his bride, so I will post pictures as soon as I can. My dear husband turned 40 on the 2/1. His birthday came and went in the middle of a snowstorm with little fanfare. He was sure that I had something big planned, but with the weather all those "big plans" got "cancelled". We went to our local favorite Mexican restaurant and had a quiet unassuming dinner with just us and our kids. I think he was a little disappointed. Little did he know that the big surprise was coming the next Sat.

So last Friday night, a friend of Charlie's from grade school flew from Maryland to "hang out for the weekend"/ attend Charlie's surprise birthday party. Oh it was priceless...he was like a little kid when he walked in from work and found his friend, Ron, who he hasn't seen in 2 years, sitting in our living room! Totally blown away! And that wasn't even the big surprise!

So Sat evening (after a day of Razorback basketball- we beat Auburn- woo pig!) and hanging with his buddy, we went to a "new restaurant" (a catering venue I had rented for his party) and walked in to forty of our close friends and family screaming "Surprise! Happy Birthday!" Oh! It was fantastic! Charlie truly had no idea! We had family from all over come in, friends of ours from the military, friends from college, from work, from church....I'm getting teary just thinking about the love that poured out for my dear sweet husband that night....He felt loved greatly...and THAT was the best present anyone could have given him! Thank you to all of you who made it! And, Company Girls, THANK YOU for praying about the weather...the snow stopped and did not interfere with any more of the guests getting into town. Here are the only two pictures that I have right now to post...I promise that I will post more when I get them.

My sister's band, "Victor's Dad, Hugo" played (they are awesome!) and even helped me prepare a version of "Danny's Song" for Charlie (it's kind of our song)..So here I am singing to my man!

Some of our good buddies from University of Arkansas ROTC days...it was so awesome to see them!

And finally, my book is finished! I am officially a published author! The big debut is Monday March 1! You can pre-order Living Life with Strings Attached by February and receive a 10% discount! You pay only 8.75 plus shipping! If you are interested, send an email to stringsattachedministries@gmail.com.

Visit www.stringsattachedministries.com to find out how you can receive a free autographed copy!

Ok...got a run...million things to do today! I will get around and visit everyone this weekend...can't wait to find out what all is going on!

Company Girl Coffee 2/5/10

Good Morning Ladies! I hope you all doing well! Thanks for stopping by!

I only have a few minutes, so this will be quick, I am planning a huge surprise for someone I love! I can't tell you about it yet in case this person is actually reading my blog, but I am about to burst with the excitement and I will for sure tell you more about it next week! I do need your help though, ladies...would you pray? Pray that the weather doesn't interfere and that all the pieces come together without driving me insane!

Also, I have to give a shout out to fellow Company Girl, Ashley posted about her new editing business. I have to sing praises of this girl, she rocks! She has been a total Godsend as I prepare to send my book, Living Life with Strings Attached, ready for press. I highly recommend her, she edits just about anything from big projects to small. Check her out here: www.ashleydaoust.com.

Check my ministry blog for an excerpt of my book! I can't wait, it's almost ready!

Gotta run! Have a great day!

Oh! and I just read Rachel's post about a recipe for everyday food:

My favorite quick recipe (and my son's favorite soup) is called Chips and Salsa Soup:

Chips and Salsa Soup

This is the recipe for Xander's favorite soup...it is quite yummy! Xan man likes spicy, so this is his version. To, uh, tame the fire in this recipe, sub diced tomatoes for rotel and go with mild salsa. Serves 6-8.

2 cans diced new potatoes, drained
2 cans sliced carrots
2 cans diced tomatoes with italian spices
1 can original Rotel
1 cup medium Salsa
4 cups gluten free vegetable broth
Sliced avocado
tortilla chips (we use Rice Works, rice torilla chips)

Combine first 6 ingredients in a stew pot. Heat over medium heat 15-20 min. Serve in bowls over tortilla chips and sliced avocado. He loves leftovers at school the next day! Just pack him some chips to dip and he is happy.

(The original recipe used black beans and corn in place of the potatoes and carrots, but since we can't eat those, we substituted. I like the carrots and potatoes better. It is heartier.)

So there you go! I really gotta run now...pray ladies...pray real hard...it's snowing cats and dogs here...ugh! have a great day!