Marking one’s own body.

Many, many people feel that bodies are for decorating. We tan them, design our hair, apply make-up and even make more permanent markings.

My husband got a tattoo in June. Owen designed it. My hubby thought and pondered over this permanent marking on his body. The impetus for such a permanent marking? His best friend was brutally murdered, and shortly there-after, the business that he and his best friend had created and ran together was destroyed by people bent on revenge and jealousy. He was devastated by the turn of events, but he kept hearing his best friends voice in his mind guiding him and being there for him. His best friend was the true ‘measure of a man’.

“”"The measure of a man's life is in how well he strives to overcome his personal problems. Neither his temporary failures nor life’s unfair reversals or tragedies, and especially not his death, however untimely it seems, negates the value of his personal triumphs. They will go on forever - for him, for those who love him, and for all who follow after."
---Yorgason and Yorgason””

This picture was taken just in July 2009, on a very sweet family vacation. It was the happiest I have seen him in a long time.

Ken meant the world to my husband and hence, the major symbol of the design is a compass. The rest of the symbols you will have to ask him about……..

What a Week!

Going back to Indy was so many things.....





I loved all the racing we watched and I LOVED sharing the racing with my kids and Bo.


Trey proposed to Hope while we were there...very romantic!


I adored all the time with my kids!

When we were on the airplane, it was just me and Tuff and Bo. That was so sweet!


Bo and I totally reconnected with Tuff. I love that boy, well both of them!

For most of the week, Owen and Emily shared a bed in the same room as Bo and I. It seems that between Hope n Trey and Owen n Emily, everyone was getting their lovins in except for Bo and I! Very sad for us!


Though on a sadder note, going back home made me realize all the reasons we left there, namely my husband hated it there. He was like a fox in a trap, he literally chewed his foot off to get out of there. He got very quiet and sad in Indy too. He told me that he was sad about realizing what we would have become had we stayed there. I never got a chance to ask him all the details, but I gathered he was still happy that we didn't live there anymore.



We saw our old house, what a treat, the place looks good, but there was no nostalgia for me....none for Bo either. We enjoy the life we have created and do not miss what might have been back in Indiana.


The only thing that I truly miss in Indy is my family..Mark n Paula, Monica, Niko, Ryan, Jason, Dean n Karen, Morgan, Curtis, Shirley n Sonny, Laura and her family. I will have to post about my lunch with my life long friend.


I cherish the time we had there and I enjoyed every minute of our trip...


Though...I miss my kids now as we all came home and they scattered. Time to have a Sunday BBQ I guess! Just in time for Father's-day!

This is it....

In just a few short days I will stand in front of my childhood home, a home of many memories....
(be sure that you click on the picture of the house and look around)

For my family now, this home was the place where I met my handsome hubby, where I first kissed him, where we first made love.... ( oh yeah...)

I cut his hair (my first time) in the upstairs bathroom.

I brought our brand new baby girl, Sara, here to live when she was a week old. Abby was conceived and joined us in this house almost 4 years later.

Bo and I lived here for nearly 5 years....we learned about each other, we learned how to be married and how to be parents.

Sometimes it wasn't easy, but it was fun! Still is....

Love Struggle: Paintings by John Gwinn, shown is titled, 'The Beginning'