Shining through the Sorrow

I originally started writing after we received my son's fatal diagnosis.  You can catch up on that blog here .  A wise friend suggested I start a website, a place to update family and friends, knowing that it would be mentally exhausting to talk to people one at a time.  Then two years ago I started this site with blogspot.  There have been over 100 posts written in the last two years, but there continues to be one entry read more times than all the others.  The one about the tattoos . It was a fun one to write.  Taking the time to look back on all the ink, the reasons I originally got them done, and how they have transformed as I have matured.  I specifically remember getting an email from a mom after she read that entry.  Her adult son was covered in tattoos, and she didn't really understand the point behind it all.  She said my blog helped her understand that tattoos can be a way you share your life and faith with others.  She encou...

I wanted to give some background and explanation on my little pieces of art.  I got my first “tat” (Is it still cool to call them that?) when I was only 18.  I actually got my nose pierced on my legal birthday, and then just a month later I was ready to rebel some more.  Ah, youth…   Truth be told, if I could go back in time and never start this little body modification hobby, I would.  Once I hit my mid-20’s, I realized some of my tattoos had no significant meaning.  In the very least, they didn’t reflect the most important aspect of my life – my relationship with Jesus.   Thus starting my quest to spiritualize what I was working with.  And I can finally say I am very happy with what I have on my body right now.  I would still love a memorial tattoo for my Gabey, but every time I try to decide what to get, nothing ever seems good enough to capture his memory.  So, here’s a tour… My first tattoo is actually the only one you won’t ...