NOLA {the Zoo!}

Here we are! Finally made it to the New Orleans zoo. Not to be disappointed!

Great, great zoo.

Luke and Isabel got to pet this HUGE elephant!

one happy boy with his daddy

"Look at me! Swingin like a elephant"

making our way through the cool spider web

gorgeous.

bye!

we'll be back to see you.

Matilda Jane is here!

The skirt of every little girls dreams. Cute online. Amazing in person.

It's here! I recieved the trunk full of darling clothes yesterday afternoon!!!! I have never done anything like this before, so this is kind of making me nervous...but excited too : ) Here's how it works....I can start taking orders on Friday morning, and I have 36 hours before i have to close the show out...so all orders have to be in by sat night. I want to share with you a few of my favorite peices, now that I have seen them in person!! The bottom ribbon of the dress above says things like....blueberry picking...you&me...fall asleep under a tree...share a secret. very sweet.

This little top is precious and would go with lots of the pants and skirts. Everything in the entire line is mix-n-match because all the fabrics coordinate. I think that's the reason it's so easy to love!

I wasnt a fan of this top online....but is adorable in person! Ruffles along shoulders and back, with layered sleeves...and long enough to wear with leggings or belt.

So what is your opinion on these pants? I'll tell you mine if you want to know : )

These are just precious! Great cut.

Just to name a few!! They are ALL CUTE... u can't go wrong !!

Yay...it's beginning to look like fall!!!!!

No BOWS required!!

I am venturing out of a very thin, unknown, branch and introducing Matilda Jane, {a little sweetness that should be in every little girls closet} to my friends down here in

Ala-baaama next weekend. No bows required when you are wearing THIS STUFF! {although you know I love a bow on my girl} The clothing is precious on it's own, and I think it's some of the cutest, comfortable, sweetest clothing out there for little girls. The girls that run this company are so down to earth and GREAT! It's just fun and I want to share it with you!

Browse and let me know if you want something for your little girl or you! Can't order online.

Go on their website, make your wishlist, then email to me.....jkevans@me.com

Place order by 8.28!

I will have all the clothes in the new line

for you and your girl to try on at my house next weekend!!!

It's going to be a LOT of fun!

a mother's voice

Fern Nichols, founder of Moms In Touch {A non-denominational prayer organization for Mothers who meet weekly to pray for their children, their schools, teachers, peers...etc} has been a guest this week on Focus on the Family. You can listen here. At the end of the discussion, she says just a simple prayer that really touched me. It was just simple, raw, and honest. I want to share it with you because I hope you'll pray this prayer for yourself as a Mother. I know I will!! So I typed it up for us! Anytime you want to read it, go to the bottom of my blog. As encouragement.

A prayer for Mother's from Fern Nichols....

Oh heavenly Father, To think that you long to hear our voice, how you desire to have communication, fellowship with us, is just so humbling, and we are so grateful. And so I pray for all of us, Lord, whatever Satan wants to rob in our joy of knowing you, I just pray that he will not.

And so any Mom out there who's feeling like, you don't care about her prayers because maybe she doesnt feel her life is all just slicked up nice and pretty. Oh Lord, that you would show her that that's truly not You. That's not Your heart, that's the lie of satan. You long to hear her voice. So Father we pray for the whole body of Christ, that we would arise, that you would awaken us out of our slumber of prayerlessness. That our prayers do matter, they make an eternal difference, that it's truly the best ministry we can be a part of. It's a legacy that continues on long after we are dead. So Lord I pray for your whole body, that God the Holy Spirit would speak to us, and that we would step up our praying. That you would take us to a wonderful level of truly knowing that You through our humble little prayer, will do a mighty work. In Jesus Name, Amen.

her place in the sun!!!

Just want to say a little CONGRATULATIONS to my Shelly on her unbelievable new job and new beginning in sunny California!!!! She is totally deserving of this long awaited opportunity. This girl has more artistic ability in one pinky finger than i have in my entire body, and I can not wait to see what the future brings her. Shelly, i love you and we're all so proud of you!

Now Josh, I need a plane ticket asap!

good morning weekend!

Good Friday Morning!!

I love the weekends. It means family, relaxation, and productivity!

I plan to paint and get crafty...and maybe see the Help...and hit a few antique shops!

Oh and perhaps get my husband to build a sink like this for our bathroom...i bet it was just an old dresser someone had a vision for!

Taken from design sponge.

I love this. simple. clean. earthy. elegant. relaxing.

you can go on website and see the before.

Remember a few years ago when we soded the back yard? Well...it didnt take as well as we would have liked, so we are trying it again!!! We had so much shade in our back yard...so we recently had the trees trimmed back to allow more sun in.

Here's a picture from early this morning of the finished, growing, thriving grass...

I snapped a picture of my Rose bush that is in need of some tlc. so very dry from this heat. HOpefully a little pruning and love is all it needs. It's so beautiful in the Spring.

But amongst the dryness...look what was there, one single, beautiful blossom.

Perhaps a lesson of HOPE.

And this little weed is a growing too.............. oh my baby boy is getting sooo big!

And someone is enjoying reading adult books these days. Funny thing ~ she likes to get my books and pretend she's reading them..

Have a SUNNY weekend!

blessing of the power pills!

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

I was very shy as a young child. I am still a "quieter" person {unlessI'm around my family} When I was in the 3rd grade, I would sometimes get nervous about going school. Not because I didnt love it once i got there, but because God made me

this way, and it's just how i was. This was the one year that my Dad would take me to school one day a week. We would ride in his "taxi" {I think it was a maroon caprice classic} Anyway...you know - the old early 80's taxi cab model! It was awesome. But he would do something soo special. He would stop to get me a sausage and biscuit. Then, we we pulled up to the school, he would reach into the change drawer of his car, and pull out a box of mints. Then, he would tell me that this was my "POWER PILL"! How awesome is that? My sweet Dad, encouraging me, strengthening my little heart. Then we would recite this verse together...."I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me" Phillipians 4:13. Looking back, I really felt so confident going in after those mornings. And it was just so simple what he did, but it made such a big impact on me. Ok, now i am crying. Dad, I love you so much.

I read this below recently, and thought it was such a great reminder as we will soon be entrusting others to care for our blessings as they go to school...We can't go with them, but our GREAT LORD can go BEFORE them!!!!!!!!!! Awesome. That ignites my heart.

To all you BEAUTIFUL Mothers...............

You can’t be with your kids 24/7. God can. Help them memorize inspirational Bible verses for children, and they will carry God’s Word wherever they go.

Children's spontineity, funny, touching - and often inspirational - faith expressions serve as winsome illustrations of what Jesus meant when he said we must enter his kingdom like a child...

I hope you don't mind me sharing my heart today .... :)

"Daddy did my ponytail!"

I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
Who loved his daughter more than I love you

Isn't it the sweetest thing when Dad's do their little girl's hair? I didnt say the cutest, but i think it's so sweet. Isabel came down from her bath last night........

"Look! Daddy did my ponytail" !!! She was SO proud.

Used a clip...AND it's upside down! Ha! That's major good Daddy points to me!

{not that he needs them}

Beauty for your Monday

Meditate within your heart.....and be still.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

And put your trust in the Lord.

Psalm 4:4-5