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Birthday Giveaway: Free August York CD

Im going to give you a present! It might be you, in fact. It all depends on what Mr. Random.org decides. It is Birthday weekend for me, so what better way to celebrate than to give away a lovely piece of musical genius.

My brother and his wife just recorded a full- length album, this music is unique and beautiful. The musicality is briliant while the vocals are riveting and jazzy in nature. The words are intricate, fun and poetic while the whole album paints a picture of love and freedom. This music is not easily put into a genre, I can tell you it’s not corporate worship, I can tell you it’s not CCM, it’s not country, it is simply something you have to hear.

Do you want to enter to win? It is two easy steps.

1. leave a comment and tell me that you are either going to like their face book page or start following on twitter.

2. Either follow on twitter or like page on facebook

Drawing will happen Monday morning at 9.p.m via random.org

Official Website
iTunes Link
Facebook
Twitter

They also just released a music video which you can find on their home page, It was recorded in New York, where they were engaged!

Today. Is. The. Day.

by CyleAugusta Leave a Comment

I, often the bearer of many words have few words to share today. I will try to talk like a man and keep it simple.

Our new Single “Your Mighty Hand” is available on iTunes today! This would not be possible if it were not for the many supporters who backed the project through kickstarter. Thank you! Check it out on itunes.

“Your Mighty Hand”
by Saint Lewis
(c.)2011
written by David Dalton & Shannon Lewis

The other night we went for a drive to check the mastering quality of the song and found that the kids know all the words:

Perspective: I didn’t even see him take it!

by CyleAugusta 2 Comments

All I remember was that my iphone was sitting on the console between the driver and passenger seats, how he grabbed it? – I don’t know. I didn’t see him take it, but I heard the clicking noises.

He had taken my phone. I verbally recounted the naughty behavior and instructed him to put my phone back. He obeyed, while explaining that he saw something beautiful had wanted to remember it.

I dropped him off at school and later began to sort through 50 one-second videos he had taken, apparently he thought he was taking pictures. Then I stumbled across one photo that he had managed to take with the still camera.

It was taken with instagram and he even chose his own filter for the image. I was seeing through his eyes, his perspective. This is what he thought was magnificent. I took note that the electricity lines complement the composition! If you look closely you can see the really dirty window in my van.

I was so inspired by his perspective that the next day I handed him the phone and asked him to take photos of unique and beautiful views along the way to school. I described inspirational scenes as: those views that seem to pop out at you and stir your thoughts. He nodded an excited ,”ok”! I have combined the best of from his journey of the car ride to school. You are viewing these images through the eyes of an imaginative five year old.

Do you have children? Try this sometime, you might like what you find, and there is no doubt that there will be perspective you had not seen before, or you were too busy driving to notice.

the WRONG way.

by CyleAugusta 6 Comments

Noisily, it slid shut, raising my awareness that the automatic van door was slowly approaching death. I sped out of the Montessori school parking lot, hit the red light, and mentally replayed the morning.

Why did the morning seem like such a battle with the kids?

Why was I feeling a brick of heaviness in my chest?

Why did I play on facebook last night instead of doing laundry? The house is a mess and it’s Monday.

I have pending work that trumps the housework! What should I do when I get home? Run, pray, clean house, work, write? After all, I only have three hours.

I could feel the avalanche of self inflicted insults coming down – they would soon bury me. I recognized the pattern and knew I had to get a shovel to plow out of the approaching mental disaster.

I asked myself the questions; What do I need to do for myself ? It was a no-brainer indeed: de-stress… slow down.

Going home and tackling a to-do list, overly focused on productivity was my plan, but I soon realized it was the…

While pondering what to do I heard something with my heart’s ears: “Go to the beach.” I argued with the idea, critiquing my self-indulgent motives, but spontaneously shifted into left lane and onto causeway, heading towards my favorite spot.

I grabbed the empty coffee mug and ran towards the sun that rained sparkles across the water – the sand felt warm and relaxing as the sound of crashing waves stilled my thoughts.

I started to drop beautiful found things in the empty coffee mug. Hurricane Irene made sure the beach was full of treasures.

I prayed, skipped, waded in the water and breathed deeply.

Heading back down the beach I felt like a new woman. The heaviness was gone, I was livelier, healthier and most importantly I had perspective on the day!

The morning was such a healing agent for me that I convinced the whole family to go out after 5 p.m. to collect interesting items. We scoured the crevices of driftwood beach for treasures.

It was just what the doctor ordered.

He was right. I was wrong. Kickstarter 2011

by CyleAugusta Leave a Comment

I am learning some things about those little dreams that live in the heart.

Are you ready?…..ready for the cold, hard truth?

You have to go after that dream. You have to take intentional steps to see it happen.

As creatives seeking to grow to our fullest we have to come to terms with the fear of success. We will shamelessly wave the “Scared of Failure” flag, when in reality we are scared to death of “making it” – new levels of growth and responsibility come along with achievements.

Here is an account of how I learned this lesson, taught to me by the dear ‘ole husband.

It all started one late night as we assessed the recent batch of songs we had written. These songs written over the past year all point toward the same themes: brokenness, the need for a savior, hope, and the realization that morning will come after the long, dark night. It only made sense to call this one “Morning will Come“.

Now that the name was decided I figured we’d get to it in about five years. As you can imagine I was a bit perplexed when Hubbylove told me he thought we needed to get started on it now. Here, I’ll give you a sneak peak of on an exchange on the matter.

Husband “I know it sounds crazy – it doesn’t really make financial sense to do this right now, but I am constantly reminded in prayer that this project needs to be done soon”

Wife: “Okay, well if you really think the Lord is telling you to do it, Where will we come up with the funds to carry out your plan?

Husband: “As crazy as it sounds, I think we need to do a campaign, like Kickstarter, for this project. I know it’s a lot of money to raise (we needed – at a minimum – $5,000 to make this happen) but I feel like we should move forward on this.”

Wife: “You mean you are going to go seek out financial backers in a timed online campaign? I just don’t think it will work out right now – the economy is terrible.” (Insert massive amount of negativity from the sweet wife)

Husband: “I really feel like the Lord has said he will take care of it and all I have to do is demonstrate obedience right now.”

Wife: “Okay, I will support you in this under one condition, I don’t want to send anything out to anyone or really have any part in raising the funds.”

Husband: “I plan to do it all.”

Truth be told, I was flat out too full of pride to ask people to back our project. More sad truth, I had no part in writing the content and posting the video for our campaign. My husband did it all.

COLD HARD TRUTH: I was also armed and dangerous with the “I told you so” weapon. Yes, I sit here saddened by the reality that I expected it to fail. Somewhere in my heart there was a flicker of hope as I watched my husband go after this with confident resolve.

It began, and pledges started to trickle in – we were attempting to raise 5,000 in 14 days. I thought we were crazy. I also had a sick feeling when I anticipated another perceived failure to deal with. Click to view our Kick starter page.

The days rolled on and backers trickled in, & the awareness that people were actually backing our vision began to sink in. To back means literally “to get behind”.

Husband would let me know when new backers emerged – he would also tell me who. I humbly tell you that at times tears flowed as I was moved by the generosity. Occasionally I would blurt out “I didn’t even think they liked us” or “I barely know them.” This brought to light some unhealthy thought patterns and an inability to see the ‘bigness’ of God. He worked truth in me as I exmanined my heart through the process.

One group of backers fell in the category of youth musicians Shannon had worked with over the past seven years – some of them in the professional world now – who invested generously in the project. I was blown away and encouraged!

Shannon made plans for us to start the project in the studio while the Kickstarter was still in progress – having faith that God would cover it all. The campaign was set to end at 12 noon on the second studio day. With two minutes left, the last pledge came in putting us over the mark. Yes, Shannon said “I told you so!” It was a joyous moment in the Mall parking lot hovered over his Droid & my iPhone!

Lesson learned: Sometimes the Lord is calling us to jump out on a limb and do something risky, waiting for us to make the first step and get out of the boat. I appreciate my husband’s ability to hear the nudge to do this and I am ashamed at my negativity in response.

We had a blast in the studio, working on our first single “Your Mighty Hand”.

If you are reading and you were a backer, we were so inspired by your generosity and willingness to invest in this project. If you are a friend of ours and didn’t pledge, please know that we love you all the same and are beyond blessed for your friendship, support, prayers and plain ‘ole fun you bring to our lives! Can’t wait to share these songs with you! Thanks!