SEE accompanying Villager Photos, below.

 I first met Cheri Mueller of Chanhassen and Sally Miller of Chicago about a year and a half ago when they wrote their first book together. "Walk With Me: Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey Together," was a collection of thoughts, poems, recipes, and conversations the two best friends from college sent to one another, back and forth via letters, emails, and phone conversations, first as friends living in the same city just outside of Chicago, and then as long distance friends who didn't let the miles get in the way of their heart to heart talks and exchanges about love, marriage, motherhood, life and their faith.

The book was selected as the winner of The 2005 Spirit Award contest. In the forward of the book, Louann Werksma, editor, FaithWalk Publishing said this about why Cheri and Sally's book was selected from a hundreds of worthy manuscripts.

"...Walk with Me emerged as the winner not only for its...mastery of the writing craft...," Werksma wrote in the in the introduction, "but because it does what all good books do; transcends individual experience to expose universal truth..."

 Since then, the two have written a second book, "Play With Me: Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey with Kids," about being moms and how their faith is strengthened and reaffirmed as they have learned to experience God and live their faith by seeing the world through their children's eyes. The results are often simple, but profound, funny but meaningful.

 Last night, the two friends hosted a book signing evening at C.J.'s Coffee and Wine Bar at Market Street Station in Chanhassen. Dozens of friends and family listened as Cheri and Sally read from their new book and told stories about parenthood and faith.

 What makes their faith books eminently readable is that they write with self-deprecating humor, wit and humility. The warmth of their friendship and their openness to each others strengths, weaknesses, foibles and celebrations makes the reader long for a similar friend in life.

 I don't even have kids and I enjoy their stories because they avoid sounding sanctimonious, and chirpy, preachy about "The Good News," like some Christian writers can be. I enjoy their approach, that faith is part of your everyday life--you just have to open your eyes, savor it and take it in without ceremony or affectation.

 I also enjoyed Carol Zimmerman's performance between readings. She's a local singer and musician. She writes her own songs which are witty and sharp observations about life. Her musical themes about motherhood, living in frenetic times, yet enjoying the simple joys of family fit perfectly with Cheri and Sally's book themes.     

OK, so now that I've got you all worked up to read Cheri and Sally's books...where do you get them? You can get the books ($12.99 each) online at Amazon.com, or visit Cheri and Sally's Web site at www.millermuellerblogspot.com. Or, log onto the publisher's Website at www.faithwalkpub.com...

 PHOTOS

Villager Photos by Unsie Zuege

SALLY 1 --Sally Miller tells a story to the audience about her family's recent adoption of a 1-year-old Chinese girl.

CHERI SIGNS--Cheri Mueller signed books during the evening at C.J.s.

AUDIENCE--Cheri and Sally entertained a full house for their book signing and reading.

 SINGER--Carol Zimmerman entertained with her original songs.

THE AUTHORS--Cherie and Sally were on hand to sign books and mingle with their readers, friends and family.