When I was in early middle school, my math teacher called in my sweet and spicy mama for one of those scary parent/teacher conferences. I sat terrified in a front row desk while Mrs. V informed my dear mother that she should expect problems from me later, because I "simply would not focus and constantly drew on my desk". I watched as a thundercloud rolled forth in Mamacita's Mexican chocolate eyes as she responded with a terse, "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't blow out her candle!" I was dumbstruck. And eternally grateful for her solidarity. My mom is as much a free spirited artist as one could meet. Years later, I remember those moments of unwavering support and I try not to cry.
Of course, Mrs. V was right, and I did give my parents trouble later. Oh, I certainly stayed away from the usual suspect difficulties of adolescence, but I did skip Algebra class often enough to go over to the art room to work on whatever project my beloved art teacher-goddess-extraordinaire required of me, her faithful servant. She was (and still is) so glamorous and I wanted to be just like her, making art, living in a plum painted cottage with stacks of original fiesta-ware in my cabinets, and, most importantly, traveling the world.
But, time, as it does, marched onward, and I soon met and fell in love with my husband. We were married before I graduated college, though he already had a grown up job and I was still trying to figure out what to do with my life.
Four kids and a few moves later, we somehow find ourselves living on a summer camp in the southern wilds of Texas. My husband is a director of operations and I guess I am too as I keep our house running and homeschool our four sons. We have a beautiful community locally and spanning states and seas (Thanks in part to my friends over at www.RabbitRoom.com). The stories that are threaded with ours flood my soul with thanksgiving. Art + Community have always beat in rhythm to the heartbeat of our home: our hope in Jesus.
We take superheroes and good stories very seriously around here. Books stack themselves around our casita. My walls are littered with illustrations from very serious blossoming artists and the floor is generally smattered with LEGO creations and scraps of paper from whatever art project my boys are creating. It's glorious to have a household of imaginative souls. My husband, the sensible one, can be counted on to motivate us to finish our homework or do our chores, but we know he secretly loves the daydream believers that surround him.
If I could have any superpower, it would be to travel through time and space to any location or era. The world is full of possibility and I want to see and do it all.
Some fun Jade facts:
Dr. Strange is my favorite Marvel-verse hero. Well, the current cinematic Dr. Strange. I can't attest to the personality of the original comic fellow. But we all know that it was really Ant Man who saved the worlds from Thanos.
I love movie theaters!
I also have zero willpower with vintage Doc Martens, flower crowns, and all things 90s.
I garden. I fell in love with gardening about 7 years ago and have fought year after year to grow things out of this prickly and dry south Texas soil. And God blesses it.
I once convinced my husband to drive me across the country to see a tree. I love trees. I have a hashtag. #jadelovestrees You should look it up.
When I was a little girl, my dad would read me the encyclopedia at night. The story of the eruption of Vesuvius always fascinated me and I remember offering the story up during show and tell one year. My boys now read those same encyclopedias.
I love books even more than I love art. If I had the choice of going to a museum or going to a used book store, I would choose the book store every single time.
When my darling husband and I travel, we always seek out book stores and National or State Parks. We are trying to road trip the lower 48 states with the goal of seeing all 50 eventually. We want to raise our children with a sense of wonder for the world! We have seen 23 states so far!
We believe in good stories. But most importantly we believe in the Author of all good stories. Our faith and hope is what draws us near to the earth and to the people, nearer to the Creator of all things. Our hope is built on Jesus' name.
Thanks for taking a peak into my life. If you stick around, I'm sure we shall be good friends.
“I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was.” ― Ransom Riggs
“You must be filled with expectancy. You must be awash in hope. You must wonder who will love you, whom you will love next.” ― Kate DiCamillo
"How do you describe music? It's basically the sound of math....and it can make you cry." - Ben Shive
“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” ― Frances Hodgson Burnett
“I want to be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien
“There were thousands and thousands of forms of joy in the world, but all were essentially one and the same, namely, the joy of being able to love.” -Michael Ende
“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.” -E.B. White
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -C.S. Lewis
“Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth.” ― Madeleine L'Engle
“Besides, the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters. We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are.” -JK Rowling
