Where in the world have I been?

Wooo!  My sweet blog friends....where in the world have I been all month?

Let me just say that the month of May has been INSANE....INSANE good...but crazy nonetheless....

So I wanted to catch you up, first of all, at little admin....

Let me first tell you that the mission of Signs of Life was to be an encouragement and a place for me to post short stories that would eventually lead to the publishing of the devotional, Signs of Life: Adventures of an Everyday Soul. And it's been a great run of that....then I made friends and now Signs of Life is more of a true journal....and I like it that way....so I am transitioning this site to be more of a "What's up in my/our life" place. That being said, I will be posting my stories on www.carikaufman.com and/or www.stringsattachedministries.com.

I just posted about God's eternal love and forgiveness over on www.carikaufman.com- check it out!

Ok, now that all that is out of the way...what have I been doing?

Well...the short answer is speaking to women's groups....it's been such an awesome month of meeting new friends and sharing God's message for women and their friendships, and Strings Attached is really starting to gain momentum.  Pray for discernment and guidance for me as I navigate the waters of women's ministry...they are sometimes murky.

I spoke to my home church on May 15 and just returned from a trip to Burlington,  KS to speak to a budding support group there...Both great experiences in very different ways!

Let's see what else...Xander started baseball and is doing really well! We are enjoying watching his games!

My sister graduated from college and we spent some wonderful time with family celebrating that awesome accomplishment.

The kids are out for the summer and I am so looking forward to the next few weeks! We are headed to Maryland for a few days to attend Charlie's brother's wedding and then on to the Outerbanks for a week at the beach! YAY! I am so excited! As an aside, I am looking for a place to speak while I am in  town, so if you are east coast NC or western MD and have a group for me to speak or would like to host a book signing  June 9-19, message me!

Other than that not much going on! So nice to catching up! What are you guys up to?

Company Girl Coffee 5/7/2010- Estou com saudades de Você!

Or I missed you in Portuguese! I did! ALOT!

Oh, Girls, where do I begin?  I'm not sure...let's go back a couple of weeks to April 22-25...I had the awesome opportunity to join 406 other women at "Captivating" in Fraser, Colorado.  Captivating is based on John and Stasi Eldredge's book, Captivating: Unveiling the Mysteries of a Woman's Soul. If you have not read it, Girls, don't read another book until you have read this one! I am serious....do it now!

Anyway, after years of trying to get to one of these conferences: it finally happened! My friend and I traveled by plane to Denver, and then by shuttle bus the two hours to Fraser.  I volunteered to be one of the four shuttle commanders- which entailed a little more than I had imagined.  I was thinking more shuttle van than shuttle charter bus...200 women, 4 buses, 4 very different shuttle bus commander personalities- it's a good thing I'm a teambuilding coach...just sayin...

Fortunately all that military leadership training didn't fail me:

We ended up snowed in on the mountain...it snowed ALOT...beautiful...which forced me (and i needed it) to STOP and BE. To REST and LISTEN. God met me there and I am forever grateful for the renewal I experienced.  

Transitioning has been a bit more difficult than I thought and getting back to the "real" world while trying to cling to the truths I learned while on the "mountain top" (figuratively and literally) has been a jarring experience.  Frankly, and this is completely outside my normal M.O., I haven't wanted to be around people at all...I just want to sit with God, bask in His love for me, feel the weight of His delight in me....ah, what a lovely , soul refreshing place to be! But he calls me to be in the world, so I can be of use to Him and well that's where I need to be...I don't have the words yet to fully describe what happened to me and for me up there on that snowy mountain....so I apologize if I don't make sense...maybe soon...;)

So that is where I am...preparing to give a Strings Attached presentation on May 15 and working through where God wants me and this ministry he's given me.  Lots of writing to come....you may want to subscribe...some of the best stuff I've ever written is flowing from my pen these days...God is showing me so much and I pray that my human words can do it justice....Until then, I will share a journal entry from my first morning quiet time at the retreat:

Big fluffy snowflakes fall, muffling the sounds of four hundred women beginning to stir. The beauty of the mountains surround me. We have all come here together seeking the same answer to the same question, a question every woman bears- "Am I captivating?"

We all ask it different ways-but it is the ageless question on every woman's heart. On mine.

"Lord, am I beautiful? Am I truly yours, Lord? Do you really love ME so much that you would send you son to DIE...FOR ME?

I wish I could say that I am a woman who didn't need that question constantly answered. I wish that the blessed assurance that I am God's BELOVED DAUGHTER- bought and paid for...no RANSOMED..by the blood of Jesus Christ would sit, would stay put in  my heart forever. But the understanding of that sacrifice escapes daily, sometimes hourly, sometimes by the minute.

The world and the enemy of my soul they tell me it's not true, they tell me I am not lovely, I am not captivating, I am not beloved....even worse- they tell me I am not His. 

And I wish, God, I pray, that I did not believe that lie so often. So Lord, I come to ask you , "Do you see me? Am I lovely? Am I yours, Lord?

In this room, where others are asking the same question in each their own special way...I hear You shout, not whisper, but cry out a definitive, "YES!"   And my heart cries out in joy...in response.

I see it now, all around me...your extravagant love for me...like a beau bringing flowers to his lady. I see it in the fluffy snowflakes on my eyelashes- like kisses form God. And in the beautiful smiles of the sister hearts I meet all around me. And the breathtaking views of the mountains. And the vivid blue of the sky. And I hear it in the 400 voices raised in song and worship, and the shouts of praise and the whispered prayers of intercessors.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for meeting me here. For bringing me here. For loving me here. I love You.

"I kept running around it in large or small circles, always looking for someone or something able to convince me of my Belovedness. 

Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved". Being the Beloved expresses the core truth of our existence." 

— Henri J.M. Nouwen (Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World

Company Girl Shout Out! 4/6/2010

Olá!, minhas irmãs da menina da companhia!Como é você todo? Won' t você junta-se me para algum chá? (Hello my Company Girl Sisters! How are you all? Won't you join me for some tea?) Check me with the Portugese!  I am learning....oh so slowly, but enjoying the process! 

How are you girls these days? Life is going well for me! Have a seat and some CHOCOLATE quinoa breakfast brownies...oh man, these puppies are even better than the regular quinoa breakfast brownies (of course they are...they have more chocolate!) I missed last week so let me catch you up!

First of all, I want to say thank you to you girls for all your prayers. I was really struggling to put my breakout session together (talk about reinventing the wheel, ladies...it was a tough one for me) and struggled with a great deal of self-doubt and spiritual warfare last week. Your prayers were needed and felt so dearly at the crucial moment....thank you.  

As for the keynote and breakout I presented at the Jonesboro Young Professionals Network Leadership Conference, I thought they went well. I got great feedback, and met some outstanding people. I was blown away by the welcome I got, and just can't say enough good things about the group! I made new friends, and found new sisters and simply fell in love with the group.

Came home to choir practice in preparation for our Resurrection Sunday Presentation. I had a solo in the presentation, and simply did not feel prepared for it. Sunday went really well, though. We had record numbers in attendance and the presentation itself went nicely.  I think God was blessed by it...but you wanna know the coolest part? We had EIGHT baptisms! ON RESURRECTION SUNDAY! Oh man, it was awesome to join in celebration of the new life Christ gives us! 

This week has been a week of much needed rest. Taking my friend Mary Ann's advice, I scheduled myself off this week. Each morning during my prayer time, I have been asking for God to give me his priorities, his to do list for my day....WOW! It's been an amazing week of seeing how God is so present....ESPECIALLY in the little things. I won't share all the details with you because well...there are so many small ones...but suffice it to say I have been greatly blessed, refreshed and in awe of all that he does for us. I did get to work in my garden this week and God showed me this. It was an amazing day of reflection for me. And I am so grateful to my friends for reminding me that this time of rest is needed, and to my God who so graciously refreshes my weary soul and heart.

In homefront news, Xanman started baseball this week.  We will see how this all plays out, but for now, he is waking his father at 6 am to throw the ball.  Yep, that's right...the sun isn't even up yet.  I love it....love seeing his heart come alive with the joy of learning a new skill...it's been great to watch.  LizzieLou is doing quite well with her Vision Therapy and got a great report from her progress exam last week. We are definitely seeing big leaps in her reading levels. 

I am half way to my goal of $3500 for the International Life and Leadership Camp and have sold over 50 books! YAY! If you would like to donate, or to buy a book...just click on the paypal buttons in the sidebar! I would really appreciate your help!

So that's my life this past couple of weeks....what about yours? How is all going with you?

Company Girl Coffee 3/26/2010- SockMonkey Invasion!

Olá!! Meninas da Companhia! (Portugese for Hello! Company Girls! Can I just say that whoever told me Portugese was just like Spanish was SORELY mistaken! Well, come on in...I am actually NOT running out the door this morning, so perhaps you can stay for some tea and...wait for it....Triple Chocolate Fat Pants Cake....got your "fat pants" on? You'll need them AND and adrenaline injection to drag you out of the sugar coma that follows.  

Oh, man is this gluten free, vegan, and processed sugar free (don't get me wrong...there is a LOT of evaporated cane juice up in that mama), but Erin McKenna really out did herself with this one! This recipe is featured in her book, BabyCakes....and oh, wow...yummmmmm....Anyway, I would love to share a bit with you!


Let's see, why don't I catch you up on all the craziness?


Last week was my sister's wedding. We were so excited because the week leading up to her big day, weather was stunning! We are talking sunshine and 70 degrees! I actually wore flip flops and capri pants on FRIDAY! On Saturday, IT SNOWED! Welcome to Arkansas my friends, this is how it is! It didn't just snow a little bit....it snowed 12 inches! Insanity! They say rain on your wedding day is good luck...what about snow? Thankfully, we had talked her out of an outdoor wedding and the ceremony itself was unaffected...and absolutely beautiful.  There were so many wonderful moments and my baby sis looked so beautiful....I was so happy to be a part of that special day.  Hopefully, soon, I will share some photos with you!


ANYWAY, so I'm not sure if it was a combo of the three inch heels, the massive stress I put on myself the week before, or holding her EXTREMELY heavy dress up as my mom steamed the tulle, but I threw my back out! Seriously? Wow, laid up by high heels...not good. So I was on my back Sunday and Monday and am just today recovering full range of motion....thank goodness for my chiropractor who restored any motion at all on Monday...Needless to say, this week of spring break has not at all been what I expected.


Sunday is my big book launch party and I am super excited about it! Which reminds me...if you would like a book...all you gotta do is click on the button over there in the sidebar...be sure to fill out who you would like me to sign it to.


I am in full on fundraising mode for Inspired Girls Life and Leadership Camp and looking forward to the blessings that trip will bring to me and the girls. I can't wait. I am blown away by the outpouring of my friends and family. As a family of teachers, education is such an important part of our lives, to think that there are girls whose only obstacle is a $20 set of uniforms.  We can be the difference for them...we can change their lives! You can too! Just click the Donate button in the sidebar. I am about half way to my goal of $3500...  Every little bit helps! 


My Girls, I covet your prayers...I am seriously struggling with a speech I am writing for an event next week. Please pray that God gives me the words...and helps me supernaturally prepare for this event. 


OH...and now for the Sockmonkey reference! I am so excited...my Improv group (we're a fledgling comedy group), Sockmonkey, is having it's first annual weekend intensive this weekend...We have an experienced player from The Roving Imp in Kansas City coming down to put us through our paces and get us ready for our big Comedy debut (May 1). I am so excited about it I can't hardly wait!  If any of you is looking for an activity that pushes you as a person, forces you out of any semblance of comfort zone, and makes you laugh til your face hurts...you should give Improv a whirl! I love it!


What about you guys?  What's up in your world?

EEK! There's a Big Spider on my Bible!

Good Morning, Company Girls! As promised, here is the post about the Spider and the Bible...I was going to post a picture of the kind of spider, but it just eeked me out to much....sorry, for the lack of media, but well...I hope you enjoy the post anyway! It may be late Sun before I get to anyone as sister's wedding is this weekend, but I will make the rounds I promise! Have a great weekend...and be sure to check out the blog at www.stringsattachedministries.com, I posted on beauty for a friend of mine this week, I would love to get your feedback on it!

This morning the Lord woke me early. Well, earlier than normal…I am ex-military and am often told that my early and the rest of the world’s early are two very different time frames. Normally, when this happens I am ashamed to say I grumble like my second grader for “a few more minutes,” snuggle tightly into my husband’s warmth and, well, tell God to bug off until my usual 0530 wake up.

I am happy to say that today I was obedient. When my eyes popped open at 0445, instead of grumbling and rolling over, I asked, “What do you have to tell me today, Lord?”

His answer? “Plenty.”

So I roll out of bed and bound down the stairs. I break out Charlie’s cozy blue Snuggie (these are awesome by the way) and curl up on the couch with my new Bible study (“Live Intimately: Lessons from the Upper Room”), my Bible, my pretty prayer journal that I got at our retreat in November, and an open heart and mind. And I dig in…I tear into the scripture, I madly jot answers and notes…really one of the best quiet times I have had in years. It was awesome!

Then, just as I am pondering an additional scripture reference….an uninvited guest joins my quiet time….and, well…it wasn’t so quiet anymore…

Across the pages of John 13:7-9 walks a ginormous, hugemongous spider….I ain’t gonna lie, ladies, I went full on girly-girl. I shrieked like a banshee and threw the Good Book as far off my lap as I could heft it, jumped up, grabbed a house shoe and proceeded to beat the tar out that spider.

Uh-Oh…metaphor for life alert.

How many times have I abandoned the shelter of the Word of God because the message was something I didn’t want to hear or see? Because in my feeble mind, I was too afraid, too immature, too….undisciplined. Oh, too many to count. Like the spider crawling across the Bible, I use fear as an excuse to run away, or worse…to squash the messenger.

I felt the sudden tug of a repentant heart. Repentance far beyond, “Lord, I am sorry I killed your spider…and threw your book on the ground,”

but more like-

“Oh, MY GOD, I am sorry that I run from your difficult messages. From my ugly places. From the light that you shine on my strongholds of sin. Please, forgive me for lack of discipline, my lack of strength, my lack of obedience. Fill me with Your light, Your strength, Your will. I’m scared to look…but I am ready. Show me.” What I beautiful time I had with the Lord…scary, but beautiful.

Ok…so wanna hear even more God-coolness? In my brand new, super pretty, extra girly prayer journal every even page has a scripture verse. I opened the journal to write this epiphany down. And I see:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”- Psalm 51:10

Wow…I guess eight legged creatures are good for more than just killin’ mosquitoes afterall….

Has God showed you a life lesson through “metaphor” lately? I’d love to hear it!

Company Girl Coffee 3/12/2010

Hola, Mi Amigas!

I pray your week went as wonderfully as mine. Despite allergy issues with the entire fam (gotta love spring- I will deal with some runny noses in trade for some sunshine though), this week was a pretty big week for me.

Ummm...let's see where to start?

Oh yeah...with a shameless plug! BUY MY BOOK! Check it out- you can order your very own autographed copy just over to the right in the sidebar! Fill the little text box in and I will even personalize it!

AND-please consider a donation to Inspired Girls Life and Leadership Camp- any bit will help...we are trying to provide 180 teenage girls in Brazil the opportunity to go to school. They are currently unable to attend because they can't afford uniforms...wanna know how much they are? $20 US...For less than the cost of a tank of gas you can help a girl get a leg up on life. I've committed to raising $3500. Will you help me make a difference in these girls' lives?

Ok...enough with the solicitation...on with the visiting...

The past weekend was stunning weather wise. Sadly, I spent most of it in a caffeine and sugar overload induced fog. My sister's bachelorette party was Friday night. My middle sister rented a limo (it was my first limo ride) and a group of us went to dinner, and then back to my sister's house for a lingerie party. It was fun, but I learned two things: 1) I am no longer capable of functioning at a high level after staying up and talking til 2 am and 2) I have crossed squarely over into the "mom" category and am simply not much fun by 23 year old standards;). Saturday was her wedding shower. The happy couple are going to Rome for their honeymoon, so the shower had an Italian theme..complete with a cake that looked like a pizza. It was awesome!

Monday, my Lizzie (she's 6) had what we think was a migraine-type headache, and needless to say was not her usual exuberant self, so I picked her up from school before lunch. She's feeling better now, but still isn't quite herself. With all the strong weather fronts moving through I am hoping that is the main culprit.

Tuesday, I met with some folks who want me to teach a series of bible studies for them, and met with several others who want me to partner with them in some way. Pray for me, my sisters. I am a jump-in-with-two-feet kind of gal...and with Strings Attached starting to gain momentum, the temptation to change focus is great. Pray that I hear and obey God's guidance in these days of opportunity.

Wednesday, I registered Strings Attached Ministries as an official business. Ya'll this was a big deal for me. I was in a near cold sweat the whole time I was at the county clerk's office. I am not sure why...perhaps simply because it seems like such a concrete commitment now that I have a paper with a fancy seal on it. Anyway, now I am all official and stuff...it's cool, but SCARY!

Thursday, I made some strides with my website and wrote a great deal...They aren't quite ready for posting yet, but I feel a flurry of blogtivity looming....watch out....deep thoughts ahead;)

One of the oddest things that happened (and spurred an interesting upcoming blog post- look for it next week) was during my quiet time Thursday morning. God woke me extra early (about 5 am) so I went down, opened a new bible study, curled into my husband's snuggie and started reading in John 13. As I am reading, this HUGE SPIDER crawls across the Bible! I went full-on girly-girl, shrieked, threw the Good Book on the ground and proceeded to beat said spider to death! It was quite a rude interruption to my quiet time...somehow, with God's help, I have managed to craft an object lesson out of the whole thing so the poor spider didn't die in vain. I hope to share that story with you next week.

Wow...I am long-winded tonight...I think I might miss you girls a bit... the last few weeks I just haven't been able to get around to everyone. I hope to this week. Let's all link up over at RachelAnne's place! Have a great weekend!

Company Girl Coffee 3/5

Come on in! I have gluten free/vegan blueberry muffins and quinoa breakfast brownies for snacks and some lovely tea for drink...yum...I hope you enjoy!

Life has been so hectic these past weeks, I don't have much time to stop and write, but just to catch you up...here's an updated:

Living Life with Strings Attached launched on Monday and is now available for SALE! YAY!

You can order a copy by clicking on the "buy my book" link at the top of the page OR if you would like a more socially conscious way to get your copy (and would like to have my "John Hancock"), send a check for $15 to Strings Attached Ministries, PO Box 187, Lowell, AR 72745 (leave a comment and let me know that you are doing this so I can be sure to have enough books in stock). For every book purchased this way $5 will benefit The Inspired Girls International Life and Leadership Camp in Brazil. I am so excited to share this message and ministry with you!

My first Book Signing Party is March 28, in Bentonville, AR for those of you who are local, message me and I will send details, and I make my big radio debut on Tuesday at 1235 EST on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cwa-radio. I am a bit nervous about it, but I know that God will meet me at the mic.

My ministry partner and I just returned from a great conference in The Woodlands, TX last weekend called Share Fair 2010. It is a ministry of Reflective Life Ministries and was an absolutely awesome experience. There were fantastic speakers, break out sessions, sweet times of connection with new friends, and over 85 ministries represented. We had a blast!

The kids are out of school today, and well, the sun is shining! It is a glorious day here and we are going to get outside and enjoy it! I have my sister's bachelorette party tonight and her wedding shower tomorrow (pray for energy for me...eek...that's a lot of parties to pull off in one weekend!)

I think that's everything...I have a couple of other things in the works, but they aren't quite ready for unveiling yet! I can't wait to tell you all about them!

Got a big weekend ahead, but I hope to make it around to all the Company Girls...might not be til Sunday night, though! Link up with us!

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!

Company Girl Coffee 1/29/10

Well, hello gang! Please come in from the snow and ice!

I am on a special diet for the next six weeks, so I am only serving coffee and tea this morning, but I don't have any yummy baked goods this morning...so sorry! However, I have lost 4 lbs this week and am well on my way to a slim figure for my sister's wedding!

Update on this week...well, there's not much to say really, other than I am really working to get this post out before power goes out due to the ice storm. Last year was AWFUL and we were without power for two days, but there were many in our city that went without for ten days or more. The isolation of that storm, first seeded the idea for Strings Attached, and the need to form different kinds of relationships for the coming world. I was amazed by the resourefulness of people during the storm last year, and heartened by the way our friends and neighbors opened their hearts and homes to one another...it is how we should live our daily lives.

It is currently snowing here, but sleeted and iced all night...we have about a half inch of ice on the ground and it is snowing at a rate of a half inch or so an hour, so we may be stuck here for a while. I am hoping to go back and do all the Small Things that I missed this week, but I have also promised myself a couple of hours to write today as well...

On that note, my book is going well and coming along nicely. My deadline to upload to the publisher is 8 Feb....So I will be so excited to share it with you when I publish!

I am so excited about my upcoming trip to Rio de Janeiro...the girls that we have chosen so far to go have been amazing young ladies, and I am continually impressed by the quality of the young women who are applying. I would love help, though! The trip is expensive and the work we are doing will change both our lives and the lives of hundreds of Brazilian girls who will be able to get an education because of our uniform donations. I would love ANY help you could muster. Just click on the ChipIN badge up at the top of the page! If you would like to learn more about the trip, Inspired Girls Life and Leadership Camp or Inspired Girls Success Summits- I have linked their websites and would be happy to answer any questions you have.

On a last note, Company Girls you rock! Thank you for your support, your wisdom, your comments and encouragement last week. I desperately needed to feel like I wasn't just being whiney about things...and you ladies not only came through, but also helped me to feel better. Which is what this whole thing is all about...Thank You!

Oh! For the Love....

The space in my closet where my vacuum USED to live!

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.” – Helen Keller

On December 17, 2009, we were robbed.

Yep, sure enough, in the middle of the day, one week before Christmas, we became one of the thousands of families every year that experience a home invasion.

Invasion is such a perfect word to describe that break in because the thieves didn’t really take anything of real value. (Not that we really own anything of real value cause all of our stuff is just that- stuff.) But you can’t ever retrieve that feeling of security once it is gone. It makes me angry. I have worked hard to make a sure that my family feels safe, particularly in our own home. I understand that safety is just a perception. That it is not reality. But the thought that someone destroyed that perception for my children enrages me.

That is exactly how I felt that night…enraged. My husband kept saying (in front of the policeman no less) “I’m just glad you weren’t home. You would have killed them.” It’s true…I believe I could have hurt someone pretty badly in those moments. Mama was NOT happy!

As we walked about trying to determine what all was missing, Xander discovered his GameCube had been taken (along with the Wii and the PS2). I watched as the emotions flickered across his face: first, anger; then , disappointment; and then, in a flash….compassion.

That’s right. Compassion. In that moment I was so proud of my son and so ashamed of my own heart that I could burst. He looked at me with eyes full of tears and said, “Mom, we should pray for the robbers. If they have to steal stuff for Christmas, then they must not have enough. And if they think it is ok to steal, then they must not have Jesus. That’s the worst part, Mom. We need to pray for them to find Jesus.” Wow….nothing like the child-like love of a seven year old heart to put life in perspective.

As I go through this season, I am humbled and blessed by how my children have responded and dealt with all of this, and I desperately try to hold on to the compassion and love that Xander showed that night for those thieves. It isn’t easy….especially as we are still periodically stumbling on things that are missing. But then I remember my munchkins’ hearts and how we pray for those thieves every night, and I thank God that I was blessed with an opportunity to see Christ’s love in action.

I learned so much from this experience and I am so excited to share it with you. Man, Company Girls has Home Sanctuary rocked this week or what? I am loving the focus on organizing my life and time...I feel more peaceful already! Thanks for connecting today! Oh, and make sure you head on over to www.stringsattachedministries.com to check out a great post about Jesus and the Car wash!

Watch out for flying snowballs!

Good Morning, My Coffee Friends! I don't have the tea on yet this morning, but I can offer you a bowl of fruit and some rice milk?! Come back soon, I am baking something warm and yummy this morning, I just don't know what yet!

This week? What happened this week? Not much really except that we here in the South are experiencing CRAZY COLD! Today it is -15 degrees outside...Girls, in Arkansas, it just doesn't get that cold, and frankly we are not prepared for it!

But before it got too cold to go outside we did have a beautiful snow!

Doug Larson said,"The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball."

I guess that I am still young at heart!

Xander started it! Right in the petushky!

I am out for revenge! stalking my prey!

He turned right into me! I wasn't aiming for his face, I promise!

My little angel makes the best snow angels!

The snow was too powdery to make a snowman, so the kids decided on a snow fort! The men supervise the building!

The finished product!

Wow it was cold! Warming their feet by the fire waiting for some homemade hot cocoa!

As for other stuff, because the kids have been home from school, I've been able to stay up with all of the Small Things this week! Yay! And get some work done on Strings Attached (my testimony and calendar are up as well as a first blog post)! Oh...and I had my first email newsletter sign up over at www.stringsattachedministries.com! SO excited about that! My intention this year is to give 12 Strings Attached Presentations around the country....I would love to come speak to your group!

I also resumed work on my book with a fervor and have completed another chapter! I am working through a write a book in a weekend program and am really seeing it all come together!

I guess that's all for now...I am off to make something warm and gooey....hmmm maybe some pear polenta muffins...so stay a while, roam around...I'll have it out of the oven in about an hour!

Company Girl Coffee 1/1/2010

Quinoa Breakfast Cake

Karina's Kitchen

Happy New Year! 2010 is so gonna rock!

My Company Girl pals, and all my other pals for that matter...THANK YOU! Thank you for encouraging me and supporting me and providing a nice swift kick in the pants every now and then, too. I am so excited about the new year I can hardly wait to get started.

But let me catch you up since my last post. I am cleaning out the cupboards today, so I have a wonderful assortment of hot teas, some vegan hot chocolate, some yummy vegan/gluten free rice crispie treats, and a little left over vegan/gluten free chocolate cake to share with you. Sorry no scones today, but stop back by cause I am making some Quinoa breakfast brownies (from Karina's Kitchen- www.glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com- yummmmm!) a little later. So snuggle in cause I have a roller coaster ride for you today!

My last post was on the day after my birthday which was wonderful! From there our Christmas season started to roll a little downhill.

On Dec 17, someone broke into our house and stole a bunch of stuff. Nothing of terrible importance- our gaming systems (ok, my son might argue those are important)-our Wii, PS2 and GameCube, our cameras- including several rolls of film we hadn't developed yet and pics not yet downloaded from Thanksgiving, and...wait for it...our VACUUM CLEANER! Yep, robbers stole my vacuum cleaner! I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating that is...but I think that of all people, you guys would understand the frustration. Through the past couple of weeks, we have discovered other sundry items missing, but again, nothing irreplaceable. What is irreplaceable is the sense of security we had. Helen Keller said, "Security is mostly superstition. It does not exist in nature." And I know that so well...I teach personal security and self defense to women....but I am frankly angry that someone has crushed the perception of security that I have worked hard to create for my children. Anyway, this is a whole other blog post, which I will have up next week...needless to say, it was food for thought.

December 20, my family finally succumbed to the stomach virus that had been making the rounds at school. First my son, then two days later my daughter, then the next day, me...which left my poor husband for Christmas...My dear hubby spent his Christmas holiday absolutely miserable in hotel room, while we spent time with our family in central Arkansas. Unfortunately, we opted not to get separate rooms, so I got to re-experience the stomach virus the weekend after Christmas. I pray that we are all finished passing it around and that no germs survived the onslaught of Lysol and hot water that I followed my second bout with.

So that brings us to today. I have the high hopes of cleaning out my kitchen (fridge and pantry) today to start the New Year off right. As this is the first day that I am feeling human since my second battle with yucky germs, this is probably ambitious, but we will give her a go! Please excuse the mess in the kitchen...but you are welcome to help out if you would like!

As for the coming year, it is my intention (notice this is not a resolution), that I give 12 Strings Attached presentations this year....so if you know of a women's group who could use some real bonding time...get in touch with me! The site is up and filling out- my calendar will be up soon- I was shocked at how full it already is! Check it out at: www.stringsattachedministries.com . My testimony as well as what people have to say about the retreat itself are up now, and I have an email devotional you can sign up for about living life with strings attached. I super excited about all of the developments.

I have many other projects in the works, but one of the most pressing is a talk I am giving to a local mom's group about stepping away from Superwoman cape and living our lives without that expectation. I would love to know what your idea of "Supermom" is. Is it a good image? Is it an attainable one? Please feel free to comment with ideas!

Well that's all for now...I am off to put on my black eyed peas for lunch and start cleaning out my (ick) fridge! I look forward to hearing from you...oh...and check out the rest of the coffee girls over at home sanctuary and share a cup of coffee (or tea) with them!

Company Girl Coffee 12/11/09..The Passing of Another Year

I am getting older! (Notice the distinction between getting old- which is just kind of sad and getting older- which is a mark of wisdom, passage and a cause for celebration!)I am happy to say that yesterday I celebrated my 35th birthday!

Oh, Ladies, it was a wonderful birthday! One of the best yet! Full of heartwarming moments, tender hugs, MANY refrains of "Happy Birthday to you!" (sung in wide variety of keys- G, C and Off;), and lots and lots of love....Absolutely wonderful! Not at all my usual- plan a big party, have everyone over and eat lots of cake type birthday, but low key...good morning birthday hugs from my munchkins, breakfast with good friends, coffee and a new book at Borders, lunch with my dear husband, a little shopping, visiting with my business partner and the mini-stirfry, and then dinner with my family. Absolutely beautiful. My heart is overflowing with gratitude.

As for this past two weeks, much has happened.

1) My partner Kim and I are working on a new online project for moms. Look for it to debut in the next couple of weeks.

2) I have been asked to come on as a facilitator for a company called "The Peaceful Woman," which leads spiritual women's retreats in Maui - be in prayer for me about this decision- it is a huge time commitment, and I haven't fully gotten the green light from God on it yet, but am very excited about the possibility!

3) I got the dates for my summer tour with Inspired Girls, Inc. We will be doing Success Summits for young women ages 13-19 in 9 cities around the nation this summer. It is a fabulous program and I am so excited and blessed to be a part of it. Watch for more info on IG Success Summits to come soon!

4) Inspired Girls is taking 15 young women to Rio de Janeiro in July to experience International Life and Leadership Camp. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to be a part of this camp! We will be serving in a Brazilian orphanage while focusing on several aspects of personal development for the girls. If you know a young lady who would like to apply, check out the website at www.seegirllead.com

5) Last, but not least, Strings Attached Ministries FINALLY has a home! I am so excited to share my heart with you! Please go check it out...roam around and let me know what you think! www.stringsattachedministries.wordpress.com

I love you guys! You have been such fabulous cheerleaders and supporters and I truly look forward our weekly check ins...Thank you so much! Have a great Company Girl Friday! www.homesanctuary.com

Company Girl Coffee 11/19/09

!Hola! He echado de menos a todos mucho!

(I THINK that is Spanish for "Hi! I have missed you all so much!" But for my Spanish readers out there, I would love to KNOW that that is what I have started this post with!;)

The past two months have been an absolute whirlwind for me. In a crazy wonderful way, which is exactly how I like it. My friends have taken to calling it my fall tour. I like the sound of that. I think I will call it that as well. My "fall tour" started in October with a trip to Maryland. That trip doubled as both a vacation for my family and work for me. It was a wonderful learning experience. At times both difficult and beautiful, and at times fun and exciting- I came away from that trip a changed person. As did my husband...interestingly enough. He discovered a delight in our children in a new way, and it has transformed him into an even better father and husband than he was. I discovered limitations within myself that I hadn't encountered before, that I am now working to break through to improve both myself and my retreats. I learned an enumerable amount about my Gracious and All Powerful Lord, and about the enemy of my soul and his weaknesses. It was a ten day trip that has changed my life forever as well as the movement of this ministry.

Strings Attached is growing in both recognition and quality. With each retreat, I learn new things, about myself, about the ministry and about the women I work with. I love it, and am daily filled gratitude that I have found my purpose in this life. What a blessing!

We are moving forward with our website development and hope to have it up by the end of the year (YAY!) I am working on two books: one a ministry leader's guide to connecting with women in the church and a second that explores friendship through difficult times. The curriculum of Strings Attached is slowly being recorded to DVD format and will hopefully soon be available as a church enrichment program. So needless to say, the past few months have been crazy busy!

The retreat last weekend was wonderful! I led it for my home church, Immanuel Baptist Church in Rogers, Arkansas. Not only was a wonderful weekend with friends, but it was the best Strings Attached retreat yet! You can check out the slide show in the post below.

Before that, Charlie and I went to Cancun, Mexico for his brother's wedding. That trip is a blog post in and of itself (check back on Monday- it's scheduled to post then!)...all I can say is that my heart belongs to the Caribbean! The beautiful blue ocean and white sandy beaches were literally awe-inspiring.

So we come to today. The week before Thanksgiving 2009. I find myself prone to reflection on this crazy wonderful year. So much growth, personally, for me and my husband and my business partners and my family. So much is different, and yet it all feels like such a natural progression that it is not shocking in any way. What an amazing year it has been...and you know what one of the best parts is? I started this blog...finally! After years of saying I would. I did. And as a result, I found you guys- my coffee buddies! So sit with me, have a cup of tea (or coffee if you must), maybe a few of my gluten free scones, and reflect on what we are thankful for this year...I'll go first: I am thankful for you all! Now it's your turn...what are you thankful for?

Have a cup of tea (or coffee) and stay a while....

!Bienvenidos!

Hello Ladies! It has been a long time....lots has happened in the last few weeks. First of all, uber-busy....craziness....and I wish that I had time to tell you all that has been going on, but I am preparing to leave to lead a retreat this weekend. I did want to touch base and say hello to you all! I have posted several new posts in the last several week, I would love it if you stayed a while and checked them out...feel free to comment!

By the way....Mexico in November rocks!

Company Girl Coffee10/23/09

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Scones from Karina's Kitchen

www.glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com

I am getting a little bit of a late start on the Company Girl Coffee this morning...so welcome to afternoon tea! I am just beside myself with joy, ok, well, honestly...I was beside myself with joy until I just sat down to right this and realized that it is already 2 in the afternoon...ugh!

Anyway, today we had parent/teacher conferences. I want to take a moment to say how blessed I am that my children are able to go to such a wonderful, Christian school and are taught by such a wonderful Christian woman. My children got glowing reports and I was so pleased! Most wonderfully, Mrs G talked about how responsible they were becoming and how they were always fantastic at being lights for Jesus! My babies are so awesome!

I say that kind of in reminder, because they are home from school today and I realized that I am desperately trying to fit them into MY daily routine. This is NOT working. And I am growing increasingly frustrated with the situation (not to mention I forgot to take my hormones this morning, so Lack of Estrogen Rage is starting to set in. ;) So I am desperately reminding myself that they are blessings and that this is a special day, so it is ok to put my schedule, agenda and routine on hold for today. I think instead of the usual house blessing that I do on Fridays, we are going to go shopping for our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Yep...that's what we are going to do....Thanks for listening to my ramblings and well, sorry to sip tea and kick you out the door (but here's a beautifully decorated bag of gluten free, vegan strawberry choco chip scones for you!) Have a wonderful weekend!

Company Girl Coffee 9/18/09

Wow! I missed a week...want to know what is really sad? I didn't realize it until today! Life has been a whirlwind of activity over the past couple of weeks.

I spoke at a women's retreat last weekend, forged a new friendship with a couple we just met, helped prepare a women's banquet for 160 people (with Michelle Duggar as the guest speaker), oh and debuted my budding business at the Northwest Arkansas Business Women's Conference. All of this while fighting off a pesky cold. I rock!

Seriously though, the push through the first part of the week seriously drained my physical energy, and I spent Wednesday and Thursday recovering (this is not such a good thing....now my house looks like a trade show exploded in it and I am existing in survival mode with the laundry....are you familiar with the survival mode setting on the washer? It's the one where you HAVE to put a load all the way through so the family will have clean undies in the morning.;)

Today is the first day that I have felt up to par and I am struggling with the overwhelm of all of the chaos. So I am starting with Small Things (thanks so much RachelAnne for your blog and your inspiration) and going from there. I hope you all have had a wonderfully productive week (minus the cold!) and can't wait to see what everyone is up to!

9/4/09 Company Girl Coffee

Wow! Another week? What? I am rushing out the door to buy some Xander safe "ice cream" (Rice Dream) for a school function and don't have much time...but I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all the gals who stopped by last week and commented on "Strings Attached."

I am currently working hard at the HOW Strings Attached is going to look and operate. I am trusting that God will take care of that (he has so far) and kind of trying to keep my preconceived notions out of the way.

I will be posting more about it soon....but I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who took an interest and expressed your support....you guys rock!

Check back soon! I promise more is to come!

Company Girl Coffee 8.28.09

Well, the first full week of school is almost finished, and it has been a great time for me to get back into the swing of a full work week. My book is flying along (3 chapters complete and one in the works). I have finished putting the final touches on a the Women's Retreats I am leading in October and November and am gathering up the supplies I need for my booth at the Northwest Arkansas Business Women's Conference which is just around the corner. Woo! No wonder I am dragging a bit today!

I want to take a minute to tell you guys about my latest brain child, though, because I am soooooo excited about it! It's called "Strings Attached." And much like the story behind the meaning of Company Girl, it is all about developing deep, lasting relationships with one another. One thing that I have noticed in the churches and groups that I have spoken to over the last year is that their is a great disconnect. People spend a lot of time connecting online and through FB and Twitter, but have stopped taking the time to form deep, meaningful connections face to face. We are relational beings and are, whether we realize it or not, seeking ways to connect to one another. I believe this is the driving force behind our need to be involved in activities. We are trying to connect, but because we don't get deep with our connections, we continue to feel incomplete and say yes to more activities. I believe that developing trusting and intimate relationships with the women in the pew next to us can help to break the "I'm to busy to breathe" cycle. I know it seems counterintuitive. I promise it works. I have seen it turn churches around!

Ask me about "Strings Attached: An Adventure in Connecting, Communicating and Conquering." I would be happy to share it with you. For more information about it, comment here or send me an email at cari@gps4life.net.

Company Girl Coffee 8.21.09

Hola, Ladies!

So sorry to have missed our coffee last week, but I was off inspiring future company girls! :)

This time last week I was in Huntsville, Alabama speaking with an organization called Inspired Girls. Check them (well, I mean us now, I think...long story) out at www.inspiredgirlsevents.com. What a wonderful opportunity and blessing it was to be able to share my story, testimony and life learnings to bring teenage girls into a closer relationship with God and with each other! And, they loved me (which always helps!) I came away from the experience with the joyful exhaustion that comes from doing that which you are called to do, and doing it well.

This week has been a whirlwind of activity. I returned home only to be hurled back into the realization that my life did not wait for me while I was off fulfilling my dreams. My sweet babies have returned to school (1st and 2nd grade) and we are now shuffling through homework and PE clothes and tired munchkins every night. But all in all it has been a fantastic week for me. One of renewed vision and purpose (check back soon, I will be blogging about it shortly! ) and crystal clear focus on my dreams and mission in life. I am so excited! I can't hardly wait!

What about ya'll? What has this week held for you?

Let me add this final thought for you this week...I found this quote when I was looking for something to close with in my last presentation. It has been crucial to my being open to the new direction my life is taking. Perhaps it will help you too!

"We should always pray for help, but we should always listen for inspiration and impression to proceed in ways different from those we may have thought of."

John H. Groberg