By Sarah Mitchell
Michelle Joyner’s journey began in Roanoke, Virginia, but her childhood was filled with moving around the South due to her dad’s job. By the time she was in the fourth grade, her family settled in Plano, Texas, where her parents still live today. Michelle has always had a passion for learning, which shows in her academic achievements. She attended Plano West High School, then went on to the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Her love for education then led Michelle to pursue further studies at Duke University, earning her Master of Science in Nursing and later returning to Duke to complete her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2016.
It was while working as a new pediatric nurse practitioner in the pulmonology unit at Children’s Medical Center that Michelle met Rob. One day, while getting her hair done at her favorite salon in Plano, her hairstylist suggested she meet a guy who sounded perfect for her. Intrigued, Michelle was open to the idea but didn’t think much of it until later that evening when one of the doctors at work mentioned she had met her boyfriend on Match.com. Encouraged, Michelle decided to give online dating a try and created a profile. To her surprise, she matched with Rob Joyner, the very guy her hairstylist had mentioned. As Michelle put it, “The universe was going to have us meet one way or another!”
Rob’s story began in Greensboro, North Carolina, before his family moved to Plano when he was just three years old. Growing up just five miles from Michelle, their paths didn’t cross until much later. Rob attended public school in Plano before transferring to Jesuit for high school. With a passion for design, Rob initially pursued a degree in architecture at the University of Arkansas. “I’ve always been interested in architecture and design,” Rob shared. “As a kid, I played with Legos and thought the next step was to design homes and spaces.” However, after a year, he realized that architecture wasn’t the right fit for him, so he switched to business and transferred to the University of North Texas, where he completed his degree.
About ten years ago, Rob co-founded a legal software company that helps small and mid-sized law firms manage their operations. Rob is also an artist at heart. His love for painting started in college when, short on cash, a friend suggested he create his own art to decorate his apartment. This sparked a passion that Michelle encouraged him to rekindle years later. Rob’s big, chunky abstract pieces, often referred to as “blobs,” became a creative outlet. “When I start something, I do a lot of it,” said Rob. “It got to the point where we ran out of space in our house.” Michelle then set up an Instagram account under @paintedjoyner and they began selling some of his pieces. His art has not only filled their home but also supported various charities and auctions across Dallas, including Crystal Charity Ball, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, and Armstrong Elementary among others. One of his pieces raised $25,000 for Make-A-Wish North Texas earlier this year. Rob’s art is exhibited at various locations throughout the year, with Scout Design Studio and Stanley Korshak being the most recent.
Rob and Michelle’s first date is a story they love to tell. Michelle had a group of friends visiting and had made dinner reservations. She invited Rob, whom she hadn’t met in person yet, to join them. Rob arrived, eager to impress, but when it came time to pay for dinner, he realized he had forgotten his wallet. “I ended up paying for dinner,” Michelle laughed. “But there was something special about him, and I didn’t think twice about the situation. It led us to where we are now.” Rob added, “I did go back and get my wallet and paid for the rest of the evening. It was a bad look, though!”
Today, Rob and Michelle are the proud parents of 6-year-old twins, Joules and Ames. They love spending time as a family, especially on vacations to their favorite destinations like Charleston, where Rob’s parents have a beach house, and Destin, where Michelle’s parents also have a place. They also enjoy trips to Arizona, particularly the Ritz-Carlton in Dove Mountain, which offers the opportunity for the couple to relax and unwind in the desert. “Michelle and I are two people that don’t ever stop,” explained Rob. “By going out in the desert, it forces you to stop. It’s always a nice getaway for the two of us.”
In addition to her career and family life, Michelle runs a twin mom blog. She started the blog when her twins were just seven weeks old, sharing her experiences and challenges as a new twin mom. “Even though I’m a seasoned nurse practitioner dual certified in primary care and acute care pediatrics, I still felt clueless at first with how to handle two babies at once. I felt like at that time, there wasn’t enough information or real stories accessible to me. My mother-in-law Cheryl mentioned that I should start my own blog to help other twin moms in the same situation. So, I started sharing what I was going through and it evolved from there. It’s been a fun adventure and I love kids and have dedicated my entire career to children. It fits very naturally in my life and what I like to focus on.”
The Joyners stay busy with their kids, supporting Joules in her dance, cheerleading, and Girl Scouts, while Rob coaches Ames in football and basketball. “We have loved being a part of the Highland Park community. Before living here, we lived right outside of Highland Park and didn’t have that same community feel. To be able to go up to Armstrong and get to know the other parents has been really special to us. It’s been a great experience. We feel very blessed that we made it here.”