30 DBC: Day 6♥

This has to be the easiest day for the challenge so far! There are of course a lot of things that make me happy. It might be best to start with a small list of everything except for my number one... I'll save that for last!

Jesus Christ
Running
Coffee (only with MY creamer!)
Cooking
Blogging
Puppy breath
Tattoos
Music
Shopping
Hot showers (in peace)
Sunshine

...seriously this could be endless. Lets just get to the goods! The one thing in this world that makes me happy more than anything else...

My family!!
(my husband, my children and my dogs)

30 DBC: Day 5♥

I am the second to the youngest of 5 kids. I have two older brothers, an older sister and a younger sister. There is a decent age gap in us all. The older 4 of us have about 3-4 years between each of us, and there are 9 years between me and my younger sister. I wish I had a current picture of all of us together, but sadly, I dont. We all live far apart and we are never all in the same place at once anymore.
Stephanie, the oldest (but coolest) lives in Kentucky with her family. She has two awesome kids who have seriously grown up WAY too dang fast and I hate that I have missed pretty much all of it. My nephew is off to college next year.

*sigh*

How did that happen?? Anyway, Todd is next who has got to be the luckiest out of all of us. He managed to land and amazing wife and they just welcomed their 3rd blessing into the world, their first baby girl.

Cameron... what can I say about Cameron? He is the closest in age to me, so growing up he was the one I clung to the most. This is the brother who got into a fight at the playground because some kid made the comment that my hair must have been bleached. Haha! He has always been like the protector. At least for me! He has 3 great kids who have just the most amazing hearts of any kids I know.

My little sister Courtneay is 9 years younger than me. She is the baby of the family in every sense of the word! Even though she has had a rough few years in coming into her own and learning about life, I am hopeful that it is just the road to great things for her.

I wouldn't say that any of us are extremely close to one another, but we do all love each other very much, and there is nothing we wouldn't do for the others. Life has set us all on very different paths and we have grown into such different people despite being raised in the same house. But if we were all the same... how boring would that be??

♥ Me

30DBG: Day 4♥

My parents are truly the mold that I came from. I see bits and pieces of them in me everyday. Some pieces that I swore I'd never get! Haha :) Growing up, my dad was in the Navy so there were times that he would be gone, and I wouldn't say that we had a lavish lifestyle, but I was never really wanting for anything. Everything I needed was always provided for me, even if it meant they went without. They sacrificed so much for me (and my siblings) and I only hope that I can do the same for my kids. Mom is the one I can talk to about anything, and Dad is the one I can always lean on without saying a word.

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30DBC: Day3♥

My first love... well that's an easy one. The first time I met him, there were a lot of other people around. He was yelling and I could barely hear anything over the commotion, but I swear I could hear my heart rate go up when he looked in my eyes. So many other women that were in the room were trying to get his attention, but it was to no avail. My hands were sweating and I couldn't even find the right words to utter as he got closer to me. When he got close enough, I took him into my arms and breathed in his smell. He smelled like heaven. He wasn't screaming anymore. The whole room got quiet. Or at least all the sound was drowned out by the deafening sound of his heart getting in sync with mine. These perfect lips, this amazingly soft skin, that blonde hair... it was all mine. All a part of me, now also a part of this world. It was love at first sight. Other than my dad, he was the first boy to ever steal my heart. He is still just as perfect today. My guy on the day we met...

And him now...

He will always have claim to the first guy in my heart.

♥ Me

30DBC: Day 2♥

Day two is based on a topic I have already blogged about :) You can read the full version here, or you can stay for the shorter version.

'That Tattooed Girl' is just another piece of who I am. I love my tattoos, getting new ones, seeing other peoples... I just think they are amazing pieces of art, when done right that is. There are times in our lives when we always feel judged. You know what I mean. Its like when you take your kid out to dinner with you, and they are being a holy terror and you are sure he is possessed. You can feel all eyes on you. Or how about when we have a few extra pounds on our frame, and we are driving along in the car trying to get as much of that Butterburger and Cheese Curds in our mouths! Haha...Ive SO been there!! You can just feel other drivers looking at you. Those are occasional occurrences though. For me, its anytime my tattoos are exposed, which is more often than not.

I very specifically made the choice to have my tattoos in places that they can be seen not just by me, but by others. They actually mean something to me, so why hide them? I have a verse from 1Corinthians on my left shoulder blade, and it drives me nuts that I cant see it really. Sometimes people are so taken back by the amount and size of my tattoos, I get one of two responses. They either want to know how many I have (which is a tricky question to answer, so I just stick with my hours which is about 23 or so) or they don't want to be within a 3 foot radius of me and refuse eye contact. Either way is up to them.

I really love the response I get from most children. They are so pure and honest. I've had them call my tattoos stamps, or colorings, or doodles. Ive had kids try to clean them off, haha! I've had kids sit in my lap for an hour and just inspect every inch of ink with those amazingly curious eyes. They don't judge me, or think I'm some awful person like a lot of adults do.

So the point of my blog title is that if you don't care to show me enough respect to ask me my name, you simple shun me and refer to me as 'that tattooed girl', because surely everyone will understand who you are talking about, then you don't deserve to know my name anyway. Simple as that!

Now time to get Bubba off to school... its just him and me this week while Boats and Bug are out of town visiting his mother. I did 30 day shred this morning, and I'm already feeling it. Bleck! Have a great Thursday!

[I'll be adding some pictures later!]

♥Me

30DBC: Day 1♥

Here I am! Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world. Oh wait... wrong theme song. {grin} I used to know exactly who this girl is, but I have recently lost bits and pieces of her. I'm doing my best to put myself back together, and yet I can't say that there is much I would change about how I got here. I believe everything happens for a reason, and all the scars I carry with me now, inward and outward, have all been strategically placed with careful consideration and purpose. I don't always know the reasons at the time, but that's ok. So, that being said, lets move on to the 15 facts about me!

1. My children are my reason for breathing.

2. I really do consider my dogs to be my children.

3. Sometimes, my temper gets the best of me.

4. I am a Christian who is still finding my way to Christ. While I have accepted Him as my Savior, many things have tried to get me off track, and questions and doubt still arise at times.

5. Over the last year, I have gotten myself into better physical shape, and yet it doesn't help me now with the massive blow my self-esteem has taken.

6. Tattoos are an artistic expression and a release for me.

7. I jam out to my music while I run. I'm talkin' hands raised, drumming, air guitar... all of the above.

8. My mom is my best friend. Our relationship in my youth wasn't the best, but I thank God for her everyday. She is a huge source of my strength.

9. When I am feeling weak, I kneel in prayer.

10. I used to pride myself in my tough outer skin, which has been ripped away, leaving me vulnerable. But I am learning to embrace these new emotions I refused to let myself feel before.

11. There is something very purifying about writing that helps me purge all the ick I hold onto.

12. Once I learn someones name, I will probably remember it forever.

13. This year, I began going back to school for Criminal Justice.

14. I already know what my major New Years resolution will be.

15. I can be selfish and intolerable, but I'm ok with that.

That's all folks! Are you challenging yourself?

♥ Me.

30 Day Blog Challenge ♥

I have honestly been avoiding blogging.

Tragic, right?

Well, with the madness in my life lately, I haven't had much I have really wanted to blog about.

And yet, I miss it.

While on Facebook, I noticed my friend Tiffany at Growing Dreams has made a few posts on this 30 Day Blog Challenge. It looks like a lot of fun, and a great little distraction. The original blog came from Katie at Katie's Journey which is where I got this following list of blog topics for the next 30 days:

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3-Your first love
Day 4-Your parents
Day 5-Your siblings
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite tv shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture

I love Tiffany's method of having a picture for each post so far, so I may go in that direction as well, when possible. So my next post will be for Day 1! Stay tuned, and join in the challenge! Pass it on as well to your other favorite bloggers. Though she didn't ask for me to do so, please respect that this was Katie's idea originally, so a link back to her blog in your original post would be awesome. Perhaps during the course of these 30 Days, you can all bare witness to the redevelopment of the relationship with my husband, and how God has me wrapped up in His loving arms. Happy posting!

-Me

10.10.10

Yesterday I was baptized :) My great friend Lynn was the one who performed it for me. I asked her to do it because she has truly been that pivotal person assisting me on my journey to God. Here is the testimony I had written that I read before I was baptized:

I first came to the Chapel in February of this year, and I came in with a lot of doubt, but an open mind. Every week I felt more and more comfortable and the lessons always seemed to speak to my heart. A lot of new truths about Jesus were presented to me, but one stuck out more than the rest. It was the idea that HE pursued ME, which seemed ridiculous. Why did I matter? I felt like all the doubt I carried around with me would be too much for Him to begin to sort through and file away for me. Of course I was wrong. Little by little, doubt by doubt, He settled down and made himself comfortable in my heart before I even realized it and began taking down the bricks. When I began to really feel and accept His love is when I realized I had already been saved from myself. I was a cold, manipulative and controlling person who couldn’t see far enough past my own needs to nurture the relationships around me. When I finally opened up my heart to Christ… I could breathe. Not having this urgent sense of needing to be in control was what I needed all along.

I made a lot of changes in my life. I got rid of the toxic people who always tried to bring me away from my journey to God or who kept trying to plant more doubt. When I finally got the people around me at the proper distances, my relationship with God began to soar.

I wish I could say life was perfect at this point in time for me, but its not. I am faced with this time in my life where I will have to stand on my own two feet. While I am not ready for that just yet, I have found a comfortable spot in the arms of Christ, who I know is carrying me and my children through the ruins until I reach a safe point. At the end of the day, I understand and accept that tomorrow has already been written for me. His plan is perfect and exact, and I don’t NEED to be in control. Everyday He continues to bless me and let me feel his embrace even when I feel less than worthy of His love. He loves me anyway. One of my favorite worship songs says it best ‘Your Grace has found me just as I am. Empty handed but alive in Your hands.’ I have nothing to offer Christ but this broken and bleeding heart, and that’s all he is asking. While I know I am still a work in progress, I know my Savior is prepared to get his hands dirty for me.

Your Hands

Sounds about right... I love JJ Heller. She is pretty amazing and her music has been speaking to my heart these last few troublesome weeks. Here is her song lyrics to 'Your Hands'.

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...
I never leave Your hands