"INK"

The Lighthouse...the Line of Blue on Blue. Read on. I will explain.

Tattoos. Taboos. I resemble those remarks.

I am about to go to the beach. Something about being at the beach makes me want to get inked. OK, I'll be honest, something about breathing makes me want to get inked.

Recently someone made a remark about how stupid tattoos are and how when you are 90 it's going to be embarrassing. Well, that is exactly what sets me apart from the people who make judgments about us freaky tattooed people. I don't really care what you think. I am not tattooed so that you can enjoy my body. I am tattooed because I enjoy seeing it on my body.


I also dye my hair a different color (usually several colors) at least every few months. I don't do that so that people think my hair looks good (because usually people think I am nuts), I do it because it helps me express how I am feeling at that time.

So far, I have 5 tattoos. Hair colors? Well, the sky is the limit on that one.

As for the tattoos, they all mean something special to me and I did them all when I felt so inspired. Even designed them myself.

The first one I got when I was about 18. I didn't know better. I put it "somewhere" without much thought to the future. Fine, when I'm 90, it will be pretty stupid, but I never said I wasn't wrong, just unique.

That tattoo is a self portrait. It's simple lines. Now, not so much. After 7 kids the lines aren't so simple, they're more like blocks. Oh well. Live and Learn. The second one is a J and a K connected. I got that one when I met Jason. I am one of those crazies who actually inked a boys initial on my hip before I knew if it would last. 15 years later, his initial is on my hip, and I have given him 7 children. I hope it lasts. Do you know how hard it is to cover a tattoo? (cough cough angelina jolie cough cough) The next one I got was a ladybug. Instead of dots on the ladybug, I have arrows. There are 4 of them in it. The ladybug represented my daughter Kaja, the 4 arrows were for the 4 boys I had at the time I got the tattoo. There is a verse in the bible about children being a blessing from the Lord. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior. And blessed is he whose quiver is full. My quiver, and this ladybug's back, are full. PRAISE GOD!
The next tattoo I got was a motherhood knot. It's a Celtic symbol of never ending, intertwined lines. I customized mine, and added dots to represent each child, with a dot in the middle to represent Jason and I as the center. I broke up the never ending lines to add some character, and specifically created an Ichthys (the Christian fish symbol) to signify Christ in our family knot. The last tattoo. That's the one that inspired the name of this blog.

The lighthouse. The line of blue on blue. Here's the story...
As I mentioned, I am 37. I am established in this world. But I am a hot mess. A wandering soul. I admit it.
One evening I was standing outside, looking to heaven, evening sun shining on my face. I prayed to God. I prayed for guidance. I prayed for direction. It dawned on me. God, is my lighthouse. He is my direction when I am lost. I can always seek His face and find my way home. My pastor once said that God, like an anxious father waiting for His child's return home, will stand and stretch His neck, looking around that corner to catch a glimpse of his wandering child, coming up the hill. I love this truth. I love that God, like a beacon of light, will always shine bright enough to help me find my way back. I love that despite the weather and the waves of life, He is a strong foundation that cannot be hidden. His light and love will never be out of sight, or out of reach. I can ALWAYS come home again. It then occurred to me that like the love of the Father, I too, am called to be this light, this source of comfort and refuge to my children. Somewhere safe that they can always seek out and come home to for comfort and rest. I am a lighthouse.
The line of blue on blue is a reference to a song. "See that line of blue on blue, it's given as a gift to you, keep your eyes on that horizon."

I am walking through this world and changing as I go, but one thing remains the same, yesterday, today and forever. The lighthouse. Shining bright and standing strong.

Keep your eye on that horizon.

I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." - (Ps 18.1-2)