wanna see something cool?

giveaways. giveaways. giveaways.

need i say more? lookie here...

http://modmom.blogspot.com/

(there's also lots more fun things to see and read about there.)

they are amazing.

introducing michael's band... cyrus. they've been creating music for a long time now, and just released their second album, source. they played at a fancy schmancy fundraiser last weekend. i got some smashing photos.

michael is an amazing musician and songwriter. i love how passionate he is about it. and he sure looks good up on stage ;)

this is chris, the drummer. his wife jessica said there aren't any good photos of him because he's always behind a drum set. so i took this one...

and here's jude... also an amazing songwriter. the lighting was pretty dark, so this is the best image i got of him.


this is nathan and sarah... nathan plays electric guitar. just as he leaned down i snapped the shot. it was a genuine moment... they're about to celebrate their first anniversary.


they will be at Jake's in Lubbock on March 6th. if you are nearby, go see them. if not, check out their music at http://www.cyrusonline.net/.

will she see beauty?

Don't we all struggle with self-image? While I was working in youth ministry, I heard countless girls saying "I'm fat" or saying "I'm just not perfect". These girls are 12, 13, 14 years old. I even hear statements like this from the women in my life today. We're are immersed in a world where we see (on tv, in magazines, on the web) images of skinny, beautiful girls. Did you know that the images you see in magazines and on billboards are digitally altered? The arms are made to look thinner. The hips are made to look smaller. The skin is made to look perfect. It makes me want to scream.

Beauty isn't just skinny. Beauty isn't perfect skin. Beauty is you. Beauty is me. Beauty is my daughter. I want Sarah to have confidence in herself, as God made her. I have to model it for her. I have to have confidence in myself, as God made me. If she sees me looking in the mirror, frowning and squeezing the places I think are fat... she'll learn to do that. I am taking part in a club called "I see beauty". You can learn about it here...






Today when you look in the mirror... see how beautiful you are. Today.

blessings, evan

i gave birth to a cowboy

so excited...

i hear he'll be in Lubbock February 28th!!!

peanut butter & jelly

as a momma, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a staple in my house... almost always the answer to the question "what do you want for lunch?" me and my valentine are like pb&j. michael is not only my husband, but he's my best friend. we were friends before we became a "couple" and this friendship that we have is precious... i don't know where we'd be without each other.

here's to a fabulous valentine's day... cheers! e

an old friend

i have a friend who's coming in town today. rachel and i lived together in college and she was the maid of honor in our wedding. we have the kind of friendship that no matter how long we don't see each other, no matter how long we don't talk... when we reunite it's like we were never apart. she's amazing and fun and i'm excited that i get to see her...

and just for fun i thought i'd share a shot of the church that rachel and jason attend... it's right outside of austin... it's really old and really beautiful. i took the picture back in september when we were in austin for the acl music festival.

big brother

It's getting close to one of my absolute favorite holidays of the year. So I'm going to try to post some sort of valentine-y something each day until February 14th. The picture below was taken literally because Isaiah wanted me to... he got his sister and put his arms around her and said "MOMMEEE TAKE A PICTURE OF UUUUUSSSS!!" So I did... isn't it sweet?

Isaiah is an amazing big brother... he loves his sister so much. He and I were at the grocery store and he wanted to buy a flower for her... and then he wanted to by her a sucker. It was all his idea. What a sweetheart... he gets it from his daddy;)

i haven't had a weekend like this since college

seriously. here's a rundown...


friday: got to spend the day with michael:) and then got a call from the in-laws saying "Can we keep your kids overnight tonight?" um, yes! so we had to be at Alderson for the First Friday Art Trail, which went GREAT! there were lots and lots of people. and i discovered something new about why i like to paint. when people look at my work, they (most of them) smile. i like that. here's a shot of all the beauties on display...


and check out these pretties... by the lovely sarah timmons. you can find her on etsy too at pinkstreet.etsy.com!

after the art trail, we ate dinner at Freebirds (yum). next comes the crazy part. i got a tattoo. yep. it was something i had been wanting to do for some time. michael had actually given me a gift certificate to get it for christmas. yes, i said gift certificate.

saturday: i was in pain. but i did get to take a nap, which was good because we had tickets to see a bullriding championship. yes, i said bullriding championship. we are not cowboys... well, isaiah is, which is why we went. michael had borrowed a hat and boots. yes, he "duded up" for the event. we even listened to kenny chesney! here's some evidence...

sunday: we went to some friends for the super bowl, where we enjoyed food, beer, and margaritas. no pics from that. it wasn't really crazy, but fun nevertheless! pretty good game, too!

i'll return with a shot of the tattoo as soon as it isn't crusty.


enjoy your week. e