My Everyday Featuring ... Crystal Lewis

[#1] Share with us a snippet of your story.
i started in christian music over 25 years ago, as a teenager. i married young, at 19, and my husband and i started Metro One, a record label, a couple of years later. shortly after the start of our label we had 2 kids... first a boy, Solomon. then, two years later, a girl, Isabella. they have traveled all over the world with us, living on tour buses, in and out of hotels, on and off of airplanes. it's been an incredible adventure living the dream together. our dream/busy/crazy life took a dramatic turn in 2006 when we decided to pull up our roots and move from the beach of southern California, where both my husband and i were born and raised, to a ranch in Montana. culture shock indeed! but as a long time homeschool family that had already logged countless hours on the road together, it proved to be the best thing we could've ever done. 

i continue to write, sing, record and travel; our label has miraculously remained intact, although the current artist roster has but 2 names on it... mine and our daughter's, Izzi Ray; our son was married this past summer and continues to work with us making music and helping to run Metro; Brian manages Metro One, as well as the kitchen here on the ranch! we are all also heavily involved in our church, FreshLife.  the church began shortly after we arrived and we can't ignore the fact that God has us here in this heavenly place for such a time as this.

[#2] What is your favorite part of the day with your kids?
since my kids have been homeschooled for years, we've spent an enormous amount of time together.  what's crazy is that, while they are both now graduated...one married!... we still own and run a business as a family,  so they are still here almost every day!! my favorite parts of each day they're here are our times around the table sharing meals and our times around either the computer, the piano or a guitar (or quite often...all three at once).  it's an incredible blessing to get to work with my kids. they are both immeasurably talented and both beyond where i was at their ages (almost 17 and 19).  i love their input and what they bring to the table.

[#3] Name three Instagram MOMS who inspire you.

@novembertwentysixth / @kristenhowerton / @rubyellenbratcher

[#4] The chores are done, there's nothing expected of you and you've got 45 minutes of personal free time...how would you spend it?
i would head to the barn, hopefully with my daughter. she and i began riding together almost 9 years ago and it's been a life-changing experience for me. horses teach humans valuable life lessons. God has used them to help me conquer many fears, grow in physical strength as well as in patience and confidence.  and the biggest blessing of all has been the fact that Isabella and i do it together.

[#5] What challenges have you faced in balancing motherhood and your passion for creativity?

in years past i faced massive challenges as i attempted to maintain a crazy travel schedule, constantly feeling pressure to churn out new, creative material while desperately wanting to be home living a 'normal' life. in addition to the creative aspects, balancing the business end of things with being creative is never easy.  pressure and stress are not catalysts for creativity, rather they tend to suck the creative juices dry!  i've found it necessary to separate myself from the stress inducing part as much as i can. setting aside specific times to write and think and pray and create are so important. even now, with older kids, i have to set that time aside because we all work from the house! i literally have to shut my office door so no one will interrupt me! either that or i sneak out to the barn...

[#6] What are your staple go-to pieces from your closet this month?
my current go-to staples include any pair of skinny jeans with these 2 gold bracelets i scored from urban outfitters on a recent trip to california; an army green coat with little metal studs on the sleeves from Zara that i found in San Francisco: a white v-neck mens t from Ralph Lauren that i picked up in New York; and a pair of boots. 2 things about Montana dressing: 1) unless you buy things at target, which i often do because it's awesome, there aren't alot of other options. so i'm extremely grateful that i get to travel! and 2) you must have a closet full of boots. because winter lasts a really long time.

[#7]  If you could give us a peek inside your home - what image would you share and why?
this is the messy kitchen filled with food and friends. i tossed around the idea of showing you my amazing handmade wood headboard, or my vintage indian blanket + leather covered chairs... but truly, the life blood of my home is in the kitchen. we eat, drink and congregate there. we laugh and cry there. we live there. messy as it typically is, it's a reflection of our messy but beautiful life as a family.

[#8] Share a photo you wouldn't typically post on Instagram but depicts real life happenings
every morning and every evening the horses have to get fed. no matter the weather. no matter the season. sometimes i do it alone. often Izzi and i do it together. if i'm out of town Brian does it. horses/ranch life require an enormous amount of work. traveling and all that entails does too, but the physical labor of maintaining a large property is quite different. and yet i relish the quiet moments spent walking to the barn and feeding these massive animals.  it's calming. and they don't care if i have on make-up or if i'm still in my pajamas. or if i have wrinkles. or if i'm feeling totally uncreative that day. 

Be sure and follow @thecrystallewis on Instagram! You can also keep up with the series by following@kelliandvanessa or #myeverydaymoms