My “Why”

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Hey Friends!

I’m so glad you’ve made it here! Although I prefer to paint rather than write, I wanted to include a blog portion of my website to give you a little glimpse of my “why.” Our “why” is really just our reason for doing what we do. I paint because I love to paint, but my “why” goes deeper than that. I will start by saying I desire for my “why” in ALL of life to be to glorify God. I believe we can glorify Him in all that we do whether it's painting, teaching, or waiting tables.  I also believe that what we do flows out of who we are, so for this first blog post, I will share a few little things about myself.

~ I’ve been married to James, who truly is my best friend, for 23 years and we have three amazing children who have all outgrown me! Pierce is a sophomore in college, Blair is a freshman in college, and Stuart is a junior in high school.  

~ I graduated from Auburn University nursing school and worked as a nurse for several years before I stayed home with children. In the midst of various jobs and kids, I’ve always found a way to create something. I can remember painting wine glasses, floor mats, ornaments, and really anything that stayed still long enough! I even had a little business hand-painting monograms on candles many years ago.

~ I am an introvert at heart, but sure do love sitting with a few friends sipping on a latte or cup of Chamomile tea. 

~ Whether I’m decorating my home, painting, or wearing it, my favorite color palette always involves various shades of blues and greens. There’s just something about the way those colors add so much energy but calm the senses at the same time.

 ~ Finally, I have been most inspired by Emily Freeman’s book, Million Little Ways. Her writing speaks straight to my heart and has encouraged me to let go of fear and embrace God’s design on my passions. She writes, “Releasing the art alive within you is about waking up to God and responding in worship.”

So “why” do I paint? Because I desire to live awakened to the passions that God has given me. Painting is one of the ways my heart is awakened, finding ways to express what I feel inside. Now let me be clear that my “inside” is certainly not always a pretty picture! In fact, I often have to fight the fear and doubt screaming inside my head. But it is certainly a journey that continues to bring me back to my ultimate purpose... to glorify God. I’m so glad you have joined me on this creative adventure!