Life with an Arist

As many of you know, Josh is an artist. This past year he received an amazing commission. A new high rise residential condo in Downtown Dallas, Park 17, wanted him to 6 huge paintings in their lobby plus a giant mural. It really became a much bigger project then we could have ever anticipated. But boy did it turned out great!

We had to completely transform our WHOLE upstairs into a studio. He took over the 3 bedrooms, bathroom, & loft. After all that he really didn't have enough space.

See the works in progress! I'm so proud!




Josh went on top of a high rise one night to get a picture of the Dallas Skyline to use in the paintings below. He took the pictures on film and then did photo emulsion onto the canvas. They came out awesome! see below

The 40 Ft. Mural! It's huge!

Universal Truths

This is so funny!

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than K.

20. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent an ass from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

28. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

29. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

30. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my behind everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

Do it Anyway...

I came across these quotes today on another blog and just had to share!

They are often attributed to Mother Teresa but actually written Dr. Kent Keith. My hope is that it might inspire you, too.

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
be kind anyway.

If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies;
succeed anyway.

If you are honest people may cheat you;
be honest anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
do good anyway.

When you blog about your life, others may make judgements about you;
blog anyway.


If you try to parent the best way you know how, someone will still find something wrong with your mothering;
parent the best way you know how anyway.

When you kiss your children, they may not return your kisses;
kiss them anyway.

If you stand in clear support of something you believe in, others could seek to make you look foolish;
stand anyway.

When you offer your children vegetables, they might scowl;
offer them vegetables anyway.

Your husband may be grumpy and distant, and you might not want to love and respect him;
love and respect him anyway.

When you share excitedly about what Jesus has done in your life, people may call you pompous and proud;
share anyway.

After you forgive a friend, she may wound you again, causing you to not want to keep forgiving her;
keep forgiving her anyway.

If you do good acts, people might accuse you of doing them for show;
do good acts anyway.

If you share about your faults, others might ridicule you;
share about your faults anyway.

If you live a public life and try to point to Jesus, others may seek to point out your many imperfections;
keep pointing to Jesus anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the end, it is between you and God;
it was never between you and them anyway.

Things I love lately...

1. I really love looking at other people's blogs. It could be a personal blog, a blog about their kids, a decorating blog, it can be someone I know, or someone I have never met in my life. I just find it very interesting to see how other people are living their life, almost like reading a story. Thus, my decision to start blogging again. If I have time to read other peoples blog, then I have time to do my own. (not that anyone is reading it)


2. Yellow & Gray
I LOVE this! Not really sure where I could incorporate this in my house, but I just am loving this color scheme.


3. Decorating!
I am really into decorating our house right now! Really though, I just thinking decorating is interesting and love looking at decorating blogs and magazines to get different ideas!


4. Breakfast on Saturdays with My Hubby!
Now if you know me then this will come as a shock! I hate breakfast! I hate the type of food, I don't wake up hungry, it makes my stomach hurt, & I NEVER eat it! But Josh and I have kind of started a Saturday morning ritual where we go out to eat (usually IHOP)! Shockingly enough I've come to love this time. I think it's really more about the quality time with my hubby then the food, but still, never thought I'd come to love breakfast.


5. Running
I know, I know, I have always loved to run. BUT, that doesn't mean I always do it. Ever since I started teaching I find it so hard to come home from work and go for a run. I'm usually just so worn out, physically & emotionally, that the last thing I want to do is go be on my feet for 30-60 more minutes. Everyone always says that you really will have so much more energy if you work out, so I thought fine I'll fight the urge to sit on the couch after work and try it. And guess what? Everyone is right! I do have so much more energy! Running has also always been so theraputic for me and is a great time for me to think. Boy did I forget how much I miss that time!


6. House Beautiful Magazine
This really probably should have gone after #3, but oh well. Anyways, I just love this magazine!