There are times, as I’ve shared before that I would like an inconspicuous life with a 9-5er husband, bio kids that no one stops me in the grocery store about. You know. Plain.
Both of my parents were artists. My mom’s sage advice when looking for a spouse was to not choose an artist. But when it came down to it, even she could see Sean’s passion for the Lord had to trump the downside of being a musician. You are, for better or worse, drawn to what you know. Sometimes it is detrimental sometimes it is just one of those weird things you carry into adulthood. I knew first and foremost I wanted a warrior for God. But I don’t know if I could be with anything other than an artist.
Having artists for parents is not always easy. I wonder sometimes what the girls memories will be growing up or if they will think we were total nuts. Now, as their mom, I want to nurture in them the very unstable lifestyle I would try and run from.
Even though, that plain life I dreamed of as a child creeps in from time to time, the truth is I truly LOVE this life. It is unpredictable financially and scheduling wise. It is quirky and filled with goofy little songs and dreams of floating walls so the kids can draw on them. I love the craziness of it all. I love that my kids write songs and draw and paint every day. I love that they know words like melody and chords and s-line of beauty. Or say things like “Let’s compare these Hickoks.” As a child I would long for something practical and stable. As an adult, though, I want my husband and marriage and children to add beauty—that beauty some think is unnecessary—to this world. Our souls actually need more of that. They may not all be artists, but hopefully they will all love art in all forms.
