I'm Not John

Are you good at remembering names? I usually am. But now I’m second guessing myself.

Recently, I had the opportunity to capture some engagement portraits of a cute couple. We met downtown and as we settled in to the shoot, I began calling the guy by the wrong name. I kept calling him John.

I know a few John’s. But seriously I haven’t seen a John in ages, so where did this name come from? The guy corrected me, very politely, the first time. I was so embarrassed. The second time I called him John, his fiancée smiled and corrected me. I apologized again with a very red face, I’m sure. You get the picture of how our hour together went. It ended up being hysterical. Thank goodness they were good sports! (Pray with me that I get his name right on their wedding day.)

I wanted a Sharpie marker so bad to write his correct name on my hand so I’d remember it. Actually, I think I’ll pack one with my camera equipment for next time. Seriously!

Names are so important. It is one thing that sets you apart. How do you know when others are talking to you? They identify you by name. Even your Heavenly Father knows you by name. He knows you aren't John. Your name is so important to Him that He has it inscribed on his hand.

See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Isaiah 49:16 NLT

Visualize that! Wow – one day when you see your God, He will greet you and you’ll see your name (not John's) tattooed on His hand. He hasn’t forgot you, nor has he forgotten your name.

Oh girl it's amazing, your name is tattooed on His hand for all eternity!


Read here on how to win a free copy of my new book.

The Kid has a Mullet

I asked Blake awhile back if he thought he should get his hair trimmed. As a mom I know what looks good, and I was just making a suggestion. Hehe He didn't look bad, just a little shabby. Blake sweetly answered he would as soon as he finished his college finals.

Yesterday afternoon I get a call, it was Blake. He was relieved and excited he had just finished his last final and had completed his first year of college. He said he’d be over later because he had something he wanted me to see. I figured it was a bad test grade or something. You never know with this crazy kid!

He eventually walked in the house spouting, “Hey mom, you like my mullet?” I didn’t scream. I ran to him and gave him a big hug and said, “I never knew you wanted to be a Billy Ray look-alike!”

I love this kid because he could careless what anyone else thinks. The picture explains it all -- holes in the jeans, tattoo's, dingy white t-shirt, all that and a mullet to boot! You can tell he's not too picky about things that don't matter - for cryin' out loud he let a friend cut his hair!!! But on the other hand, he's extremely sensitive to the things that do matter and God is using that to raise him up to be an incredible worship leader for his generation. But for this week, Blake will be sporting a mullet while he shoots a video (of himself, I guess) for church.

You have to love all the surprises that come your way. These kinds of surprises I can handle, it’s the life-altering ones that throw me for a loop.

Blog Parties and Tattoos

I am so thankful to be partying with all of you today. Feel free to browse around the site and come back to visit. I’m just your ordinary gal seeking to connect with Jesus in my everyday life as I learn to be who He created me to be. Original Party Post is here.

Reminder: Any comments you leave between March 7-14th will enter you into a random drawing for two Bible study workbooks, Dirty Laundry Secrets, written by me. Hop on over to Makeover Monday’s for another free gift drawing.

Seriously, thank you for being here today. It was a tough one in my mommy world. My 18 year old, Blake, has planned for a long time to get a tattoo. Today was the day he would be branded for life. I had to get snapshots of this flawless, unmarked arm before he left for the tattoo parlor. (He thought I had flipped, maybe I had. I just kept picturing that sweet, soft baby arm. Where did that arm go?)

What makes this tattoo special to me is that Blake designed it. Each symbol and color has an awesome meaning. I had him write me a paragraph about his tattoo and what it meant to him. He thought I was nuts! OK – I am. That’s a mommy’s privilege, right?

The tattoo has very significant meanings to Blake. He wanted to be permanently marked with Christ, just as Christ was marked for him. The cross is outlined and shaded in blue, which stands for loyalty. The Hebrew word in the middle means servant. WOW!

Thanks for popping in and out today and lifting my spirits as I’m dealing with my son growing up. I think he is well on his way to being a man; a Christian man, a Christian leader, and a man after God’s own heart.

I’m just a sappy, sentimental mom facing the facts today. Sad to realize my son is growing into a man, but thank you Jesus for the man he is becoming.

Party on, my friend, party on!