Process Complete

Well, I made a good run for it but all good things must end at some point. I didn't make it a whole year of my sabbatical from all social media, but the 8 months I did take were well worth the time off. One tattoo, over a foot of hair gone, one cruise taken, three weddings, a week in the mountains and many tears shed, here I am a little ways further down the road. To play catch up, a couple photos for each month gone. 

January 

I said goodbye to the world at my fingertips. I read like 5 books this first month as I weaned myself off of the media world. It was really freeing to not feel like I HAD to be in contact with everyone. I didn't really document anything that first month as part of my cleanse. 

February

  I went on a cruise and got a great winter tan! It was glorious and I fell in love with my job all over again. 

Nothing like being sunburned in Feburary. 

March

 

I got my first tattoo. My favorite person happened to be my Grandma. We had written hundreds of letters back and forth since I left home 6 years ago. This was taken from one she wrote me last fall. "'Hello-Bye-Love" It was too good and captured her distinct handwriting perfectly. I had plans to get it done before she passed away and even told her about it. Sadly, she died in October. I finally got it done in March. It's one of my favorite pieces of my body now. 

I found this gem when I went back home last week. I had never seen it before. Man, I miss her...

April

  I moved into a house with these two beauts. I couldn't be more blessed or excited to have them in my corner as I continue to tackle life. Even if they make me watch the Bachelorette with them... 

May

 My dear friends Bryan and Glenna got married and I was so honored to be a part of their special day.

 I turned 24, which makes me feel like I just might be a grown up one of these days. Oh and I decided it was time to chop 14inches off my hair! 

A real weight off my shoulders. I seem to hold my head up just a little higher. 

June 

  Oh Colorado. How perfect this trip was. After a tough first part of the year, this halfway mark made it all seem worth it. My two dear friends got married in Evergreen and all the heavens rejoiced at such a union. 

This was my favorite picture. The background is stunning but it so perfectly shows off my tattoo and I can recognize my Grandma's handwriting from here. :)

 

July

  Babies babies babies!  

I finally spent some good time here in my Homaha. I did take a day trip to FINALLY meet baby O'Mealey. That boy stole my heart the moment I saw him asleep in his daddy's arms. 

Then there is sweet baby Harper. I randomly ran into my friend Jaimie at Target and was so happy to finally catch up! Look at that chubby face! I could love it forever! Backstrom baby #2 is on its way too and I'm so thrilled! 

We took a roommate trip down to my parents in Missouri. 

We are still recovering and shedding the pounds from the amount of food consumed. #mommamadefriedchicken

And so tomorrow starts August which is full of end of summer activities and somehow, school?!??? The older two will keep plenty busy so not so little handsome man and I will have lots of one on one time. 

I'm really excited about what everything this fall has in store. Stay tuned!  Cheers, my friends! 

The Masterpiece

I have a beautiful life. The type of beauty that is a little abstract. Messy. 

If my life were a painting, it might first confuse you when you look at and and cause you to think something like "how could this be a masterpiece?" "Is the artist crazy? This isn't beautiful." Ah, but just when like me, you re about to walk away, something catches your eye. "That's kind of a cool glob of paint. I'm sure it was an accident. Together it's a total mess but that one little area is pretty neat. Well there that corner piece too. And the one in the middle. Wait a tic... This is actually kind of interesting.. It kind of tells a story.."

That is some of the commentary I have had in my head lately. My life is so messy, but ah, how it is beautiful mess. And it is definitely not by accident. Each stroke of the brush in the painting of my life is strategic. The Artist has chosen each color, each brush size and every shape with great detail. Sometimes I stand there behind His shoulder questioning each stroke. I am always silenced by a quite, "I'm not finished with you yet." I get impatient. I don't want to wait and watch. I just want to see it finished. See it's beauty in completion. I often forget the true beauty of the painting is watching it come together. My church is preaching through the Psalms of Ascent this summer. Appropriate. It has caused me to realize I should stop hovering and just take in each stroke the Maker is putting into my beautiful, messy life.  

My friends, don't let Satan tell you the mess of your masterpiece is by accident. The Maker makes no mistakes. He corrects ours. So let us revel in the beauty of our messy paintings and know that no stroke is misplaced but exactly where it should be. 

Cheers