My theme song...

This mommy thing has been overwhelming lately. Not really sure why it's all of a sudden catching up with me, but it has. Josh and I have been talking through this lately (because our marriage takes the biggest hit by far), and God had been working in my heart. I keep coming back to this Psalm over and over. It has more meaning and brings more relief to me now than it ever has.

Thank you, Father, for being my help.

I look to the hills!

Where will I find help?

It will come from the LORD,

who created the heavens

and the earth.

The LORD is your protector,

and he won’t go to sleep

or let you stumble.

The protector of Israel

doesn’t doze

or ever get drowsy.

The LORD is your protector,

there at your right side

to shade you from the sun.

You won’t be harmed

by the sun during the day

or by the moon at night.

The LORD will protect you

and keep you safe

from all dangers.

The LORD will protect you

now and always

wherever you go.

Psalm 121

(found the gorgeous pic here)

Dinner, a show and cute Ugandan kids

What: a really cool benefit concert to help bring beautiful Ugandan orphans into families.

Who: "Andy and the Andys" --Andy Gullahorn, Andrew Osenga, and Andrew Peterson
in a rare appearance together

Where: The Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte NC

When: October 17, 2009 8pm

And NOW you can bid on 3 pairs of Gold Circle tickets and a pre-show dinner with the band!

Go here to bid!

What we did Saturday...

And the end result...

"Declare His glory among the nations"
(Ps 96:3)

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him"
(2 Cor 5:21)

Matt Terry at Fu's is the awesome guy who worked really hard and long (Josh's took 4 hours, mine took a little than 1 hour) on these for us. He also has done 6 on one of my most absolute favorite people in the world, so he's definitely proven himself. And speaking of her, she traveled down from Raleigh to spend this weekend with us, sat with us for a VERY long time while we got them, helped pay for them and then took us out to dinner...and didn't get mad at me when I was in pain and mean. She's a good catch, that one.

So, all in all, the outline hurt like Hades. The color shading really didn't. It was expensive (well, Josh's), but we're both really, really happy with them. I think Josh's is one of the coolest ones I've ever seen and fits him completely. Matt told us it was really hard to design and do because everything had to be so clean and precise. He surprised me with the banner around mine. I really like the way it looks old and torn (I didn't know he would add that element). I want the globe to look more "old world" and faded, but he said it would fade more over time. I'm still just getting used to it. It's weird to see in the mirror. Both are healing really well.

I was really proud of Josh. He sat there patiently for over 4 hours while Meg and I played cards and talked about whatever came to our minds, all while snapping pictures randomly at him while he was in pain. He said it took him about an hour to get in "the zone."

(Apparently, there's a "zone." I never found it.)

Matt told us so much of it is mental. You have to focus on breathing and kinda hunker down and zone out. Yeah, that didn't work for me. I put my head down so no one could see my face and tightened every muscle in my body. When it was over I was shaky and sweaty. I guess I'm a pansy. I was really hoping for just the "annoying tickle" I kept hearing over and over. Parts of it felt like that, but the outline felt like what it was....a needle stabbing me over and over again at a very rapid speed. Go figure.

Anyways, we wanted to do something big for our 30th birthdays. Both of us have kinda been flirting with the idea of a tattoo for awhile, but never really talked much about it. We had planned on going sky diving, but decided on tattoos because a) it lasts longer, and b) you don't die. But neither of us would have gotten one just to get one. It had to be significant to both of us. Josh's is the gospel in one verse. He originally wanted it on his chest so he could see it every time he looked in the mirror (but, um...no), and mine was from Ps 96:3..."Declare His glory among the nations; His marvelous works among all the peoples." I cut it in half when he said it would take up my whole shoulder blade. Good. Call. Taking the gospel to the nations is a big deal to both of us so it was something I feel is significant enough to wear on my body forever.

Josh is talking about adding some kind of cool border around it later in the future. Maybe the reference at the bottom. I think I'm good for now. ;)