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I have been blessed to do what I love -- photography, writing, teaching -- and to financially support my family, while having the flexibility to spend time with them. About me and my Family We have always been a homeschooling family. Kayla and Kristin are juniors in high school. They are very bright, but most importantly (to me), they love learning. My goal wasn't to just teach them "things" through the years, but rather to teach them "how" to learn, to nurture curiosity, and to give them the resources they need to expand their knowledge and to achieve their dreams. Among their many interests and talents, they are talented artiststs with creative souls. Kayla is a talented actress/singer and artist. Kristin is a gifted photographer. I love it when she works with me; it's fun to see how her artistic vision differs from mine. I feel that I learn as much from my girls as they do from me. They have a large group of friends and enjoy being typical, bubbly teenagers. They are addicted to the internet, love all kinds of music, and enjoy reading and going to movies. My husband Mike and I have had an amazing life together - we've had our share of struggles, but our strong bond always brings us through. Read our story about my husband's "Miracle on Lake Travis," his true-life miracle rescue back in 1995 when we lived in Austin! The television show "It's A Miracle" (PAX) expressed an interest in Mike's story, and The Montel Williams show contacted us a few years ago about appearing on his show (We respectfully declined.). In 1999, Mike suffered severe neck injuries due to an accident. He's undergone numerous surgeries which have only made him worse. His health has continued to deteriorate over the years, and he lives with constant, severe pain. He is permanently disabled, often confined to bed, and unable to work. Despite all of this, he has a cheerful, loving attitude, and he is my number one supporter and encourager. Everybody who knows me knows that my sweet husband and my wonderful children are my heart and soul. Everything I do, I do for them and for Christ who strengthens me and blessed me with this amazing family. About Teaching: I have homeschooled my daughters since they were born, officially since they were 4 and 5. They are now teenagers, in 11th grade. We have always participated in homeschooling coops that provided classes and social opportunities. The first year, when my girls were in kindergarten, I taught a class called American hiSTORIES. I taught the kids basic history lessons by telling stories. I was hooked. Every year, I taught different classes, eventually working my way to getting paid for my efforts, including teaching for Montgomery College [now Lone Star College], Extraordinary Education, and The Lighthouse. Today, I focus on high school classes in my specialties - writing and literature, what I call "right brain classes", through my own business - www.RightBrainClasses.com. I also tutor students for the SAT and PSAT. These tests are logic-based, containing lots of hidden patterns. I teach students the strategies they need to succeed on these tests. Of all the work I do, teaching brings me the most joy! About Writing: I've always been a bit of a word nerd, always carrying a book to read and a notebook to write in (and a camera strap around my neck of course). I've written numerous short stories and poems over the years, but it's my non-fiction writing that has been widely published. As a freelancer, I've had over 100 articles published over the years from features in trade magazines and newspapers to editorials in publications ranging from Texas Monthly to Parenting Magazine to the Houston Chronicle. I also worked as Assistant Editor for a community weekly, writing several stories each week and editing other articles for press. I've written curriculum for the classes I teach, including writing classes and photography classes. Currently, I teach/tutor writing, as well as provide editing and mentoring services for writers. About Business Consulting: I have been a successful entrepreneur since graduating with a BS in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin in 1989, operating successful photography, writing, and education services firms. I am a registered tax preparer and bookkeeper providing financial services for individuals and small businesses. Visit Houston Tax Practice for more details. About Photography:
I was first bitten by the photography bug in college when a family friend
gave me a manual 35 mm SLR camera. A photo-safari in Kenya back in
1989 guaranteed my life-long love of both photography and nature.
I am mostly self-taught and continuously work
to improve my skills and creativity!
www.DebEvansPhotography.com My goal in starting my own
photography business back in January 2003 was to provide families a creative,
artistic alternative to the standard photography studio - from the overall
experience, to the quality of the portraiture, to incredible, personal
service.
I offer a truly unique, personal, and valuable experience for my clients, specializing in natural light, on location portraits of babies and children. My photographs have been published throughout the Houston area, including The (Conroe) Courier, The Villager (The Woodlands), Houston Family, and The Bulletin newspapers (Montgomery County, TX), among others. Several of my photographs were featured in the Community Section of the 2003 and 2004 TXU Communications phone books (The Woodlands / Conroe)! I have taught photography for several years as well. For info on classes, visit www.photoclasses.ning.com. SuperFriends! I lead a homeschooled teen social club in Montgomery County, Texas. We have regular activities including attending concerts and other musical events, lake & park outings, a book club, and more. Email me for more information and/or join our Facebook group. Christian Youth Theater (CYT). We are new recruits to the CYT family. Kayla performed in her first production with CYT this month - Fiddler on the Roof, and she's looking forward to the next show. I teach a creative writing class for the Spring CYT location called Collaborative Playwriting for Actors. www.cythouston.org Daughters of the American Revolution: My mother and I are members of the Alexander Love chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. I am the VIS (website) chair and Constitution Week Chair for our chapter. My daughters and I are officers in our local Children of the American Revolution. I also present programs to the chapter on various topics including recent programs on the Electoral College, the Faith of our Founding Fathers, and Women's Suffrage. That's probably way more than you ever wanted to know about me! If you made it this far, then you were either very bored, or you're my new best friend!
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About
Deb Evans: 
