1.09.2014

why i got a tattoo.

[Did not expect my first blog post in 2014 to be about a tattoo. But I have a feeling this year is going be full of unexpected things.]

Asked me ten years ago about what I thought about tattoos and I would have said distasteful. Or why would anyone get something so permanent?!

If I was asked last year about ever getting a tattoo I would have said…
No, I don't like pain. 
No, I have better things to use my money for.
[Oh, wait, I said that just a few days before getting my tattoo.]

So, why? Why would I do something so permanent, costly, and painful and in a very visible location?

Because every one has a story. A story of triumph, a story of hardship, a story of perseverance. A story of grace. I decided I wanted a tattoo as a way to share my story and as a reminder to myself about how God has carried me through some dark storms.

I totally made a Pinterest tattoo board, in which I titled it Crazy Thought. I found my inspiration and went for it. And thanks to my 18 year old sister, that asked me to get one with her on her birthday!

Grace is enough.


Those were the words I wanted to be constantly reminded of, in a spot that I would look at often--my wrist with my own handwriting

The words are based on 2 Corinthians 12:9.


But he said to me, “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

This is the verse I put in our Christmas letter this last year and this is the verse I clung to when our now, 3 year old, Naomi was diagnosed last summer with Neuroblastoma, the childhood cancer. When everything else seems to be going wrong, when I was facing my biggest fear, I still had hope because of God's grace. I'm so thankful that His grace is enough for me. And nothing can separate me from His love.

So, as I sometimes skip, hop, or trudge through this thing, we call life, I have a constant reminder of three simple words that bring me back to a time that God carried me through, and know that whatever lies ahead, His grace will always be there.

For the record, I did not cry. I prepped myself by saying I've been through 3 births, two of which were totally natural, so I can do this. It only took about 3 minutes, and I smiled, took deep breaths, and occasionally made funny faces through it. 

When I woke the next morning, the girls wanted a tattoo of course, too. Audrey wanted the exact same one. I was able to tell her--isn't it awesome that God's love will never leave us?! 



Oh, and I so appreciate all the love I've received from this decision on Facebook and Instagram. I think my favorite response is people being shocked that I would actually get one, they didn't peg me as a "tattoo" person.  And that's okay either way. I just want to be pegged as a Christ-follower.