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Read how this couple met and married four months later!
For
those of you who think it's too late to find your mate, read this
wonderful story of how God brought this couple together. Now they sing
and work together making beautiful music together...
Yvette has
performed this comedy ministry for hundreds at awards banquets,
retirement programs, benefit dinners, and other special events. Her way
of talking is so personal; it is as though she is speaking to you
individually.
Here Yvette Speaks on How She Met Her "New Hubby" -
James Loveless, the artist and proprietor of Black Religious Art. . .
"The
funniest thing I can think of right now is how I met my husband, James
"the artist!" It was seven years ago. I was working with a temporary
agency after losing a $60,000 job in marketing. Of course, I was
depressed as they come and trying to maintain my living expenses after
such a drastic drop in income was totally impossible!
I began
working with a temporary agency and went on some very interesting jobs.
After about seven months, there I was sitting at my desk, (minding my
own business) designing a PowerPoint presentation. In walks a tall
(6'5"), 240 lb. handsome man. He walked in and said, "Federal Express,
would you sign here, please." Well, I looked up, then I looked down, I
looked up again, then I looked down -- saying to myself, "Lord, don't
let me blow this!" Suddenly, I had to say something, so I responded,
"No, I will not sign for this package."
I am sure James didn't
have time to deal with a crazy office worker, but there I was trying
not seeming so obvious with my flirting. He graciously asked, "Why
not?" I remarked, "Because the last time I signed for a package, they
came back and asked me for the payroll checks?" We laughed and his
smile lightened up my day. His eyes were a dark hazel brown and his
skin color was olive brown. His stature and body size seemed so perfect
(36" waist). We began to talk as I shuffled paper around like I was
working. He then asked me, "Are these your abstract art drawings on the
wall?" Of course, I was showing off, so I responded proudly, "Yes."
Now
if I had known the man could paint so beautifully and was drawing Jesus
and his disciples, I don't think I would have responded so quickly as
though I were a Picasso or someone! If I had known he was a
professional artist, I probably would have said, "No, I just like to
doodle and throw a little glitter here and there." But, me with my
silly self -- responded, "Oh, yes, I'm an artist."
You would
have had to have seen my art work before living with him for a year.
Colors were thrown all over the paper, not having any contrast between
light and dark colors, no movement in one particular area -- but
everything just "gone." Sort of a "spacey feeling" like "crack heads"
feel when you're talking about the Lord and they're only around you to
get some money.
We began to go out and spend time together reading the bible, talking about our goals for the future and the like.
Soon
it had been over four weeks and I still had not seen James' work.
Finally, I asked him when he was going to show me his art work. He went
out to the car upon my request and brought back many of the pieces on
this website. Needless to say, I fell in love at that moment, knowing
with my marketing skills and his artistic talent, there was no way we
would not be successful.
I was especially impressed that James
was so spiritual and was interested in the same things I was interested
in. God, Art, Music, Marketing...it all seemed to just fit. We spent
time reading the bible, speaking of our hopes and dreams and walking in
parks holding hands. It was great! We got close rather quickly and
never really dated. His children were concerned that they had not met
me, but really we just started as friends and the love grew from the
time we spent together. By the time he asked me to be his girlfriend a
few weeks later he had proposed to me -- so we were bonded from the
beginning.
Four months to the day we met, we were married at
West Side Missionary Baptist Church, where we attend and sing in the
Praise Team Choir. James also sings in the male chorus. God has worked
a tremendous work in our lives and we want to be a blessing to others
by telling our story.
So ladies over age 40 and men divorcees,
don't give up, God will answer your prayers and he will send you the
one that is perfect for you. The burning question is: "What to do while
I wait?" Well, that's the most important thing. Do you think I would
have been able to spend time with James if I had twenty-five men
calling my house and knocking on my door? If I had not told those I met
(all my life) baby, you're not the one. I didn't settle just to say I
was married. You hear the phrase, "I can do bad all by myself." Well,
it's true. My plan was to stay involved in those things I love. Even
though I was not painting like a professional. I was doing "something"
to occupy my time so I was not in bars, drinking and dancing on table
tops. It is very important to get your education and work experience in
your field to be "ready" when you do meet that special person. Then you
both bring what God has blessed you with and together you become one
jointly in the womb of love. (Oh, boy, there I go again!) I think you
get my point. And one more thing, ladies, do NOT sit around waiting for
some man to rescue you. All you need is Jesus, your family and maybe
one friend to make it. The time you spend waiting for him to stop by,
you could have been learning a computer skill, washing your hair,
soaking those tired feet of yours, washing out that ring around your
bath tub. You could have been cooking a great dinner for your children
or reading to them. My motto is - come home, take a hot bath with
bubbles and candles -- dress up nicely for around the house and if he
happens to stop by, hey, you're ready. You don't have to run and say,
uh, just give me a few minutes to take this green stuff off my face,
take this dirty housecoat off that, I wear all the time and clean the
house. Honey, that could take two weeks. But if you do these things
daily -- all you have to do is put some lipstick on, spray some air
freshener and put Yolanda Adams in the box and baby, you are ready to
entertain!
James and I will celebrate wonderful years of
marital bliss on the anniversary of November 7th. He and I handle the
marketing of the business and I love to cook, and decorate. I paid rent
for twenty years, then God blessed James with a twelve room house --
hey, I have a lot to clean up now! We are having a wonderful life and
you can to by seeking God to make sure you make the right decisions
while you wait for your mate. I didn't have to get a divorce, or put
someone out of my house I was shacking with . . . No, I was ready to be
loved by Mr. Loveless. Or should I say, Mr. Love--more!
We
didn't marry for material things; we married to reach our goals
together. To not have to worry if someone will be there in time of
need. We believe in each other and we help one another.
You
know, I think it would be a good idea if you take some time now to
browse our art work to see how God has blessed us. James with his
talents of airbrushing, creating portraits from photographs, doing wall
murals, singing and acting, and me with my talents of drawing abstract
art, custom framing, cooking, interior decorating and being a good mom,
there is no way God isn't going to bless this marriage!
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James Loveless walked into a business office
looking to deliver a few packages. As the old saying goes, "he got more
than he bargained for." The lady inside was nice and had a great sense
of humor. She was also an innocent flirt and tried to entertain him
with small talk. Working as a courier at the time, James resisted. The
St. Louis native needed to stay on schedule. But, something about the
woman's creative style and artwork posted on the wall sparked his
interest. Yvette states, "she was just minding her business, when he
walked in." Four months later, James married that woman, whose name is
Yvette.
We
celebrate our anniversary on November 7th and we have been managing
this website; Art Out of Love Publishing at Loveless Galleries.
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With a deep, gleeful chuckle, James continues to share what caught his eye the day he met his bride-to-be.
"I've
been an artist for over 35 years," the Beaumont High School alumnus
says. "I've worked as a graphic designer, an art teacher and an
illustrator. As I was standing there talking to her, I saw this artwork
on the wall. It was wonderful -- abstract was her specialty. And when I
asked, "Who did that?" and she said, "I did," that's when the real
conversation started.
Yvette, who is also a St. Louis native,
graduated from Sumner High School where she made history as the only
female to hold the most important positions; President of the
Centennial Senior Class and President of the Student Council. At the
time she wasn't trying to make history...it just happened. Yvette
started designing abstracts about four years before she met James.
Seems she purchased a big screen TV and realized after a year, she had
spent her time doing nothing but going to work, spending time with her
son, Andre' and looking at the television! She remarked, "Oprah is
already rich, and I need to be doing something so I can one day meet
her." Well, the dream isn't that far off. Now four years later, the
dynamic duo is slated to be on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Jay Leno, Good
Morning, America and sing to the Queen of England when they tour the
world in a gospel musical play they are involved in called, The Isle of
Dreams. But back to our story....
Tired of just enjoying the view from her couch, as she took in hours of television, she allowed her creative juices to flow.
"I'm
the glitter girl," she says with a rich, heartfelt laugh. "I do oil
paintings and watercolors, too. But rather than paint, now I mainly use
my background in marketing and administration to manage the business
and the website."
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Yvette brings experience from the University of
Missouri-St. Louis Scholarship Program and the United Negro College
Fund. Building the gallery was a dream come true, because the Christian
comedian and singer says it fulfills her desire to work in the arts and
entertainment.
James
offers art classes to youth and adults and the proceeds go to support
an art and music scholarship at the University of Missouri-
St.
Louis. Classes are taught one-on-one and this individualized teaching
method offers each student an opportunity to grow from where they
currently are in the field of art. Yvette brings experience from the
University of Missouri-St. Louis Scholarship Program and the United
Negro College Fund. Building the gallery was a dream come true, because
the Christian comedian and singer says it fulfills her desire to work
in the arts and entertainment.
"We're here to provide full
service," says James. "A lot of times when you go to chain stores, they
send you to a little corner and say, "here the African American
artwork." We try to make the whole arena of artwork available. We find
art pieces, do original portraits, create personalized airbrush
projects and do beautiful custom framing.
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You really must understand how our lives came
together. James was recovering from a divorce and I had never married.
I was so amazed how we were able to find each other in this city, in
this huge continent, on this planet...God had to be in the plan.
This
brings us to "now" and the Isle of Dreams is allowing us to take our
ministry and beautiful story to the world. We want to let people know
that God is still in the blessing business and if you live for him, he
will bless you also.
Contact Us
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