Inked: Love wins.

Inked
Getting inked by Steven at Suffer City in Dallas | Photo by Laurie Blundell

It’s been a busy few months! (Or so it’s seemed.)

It seems like one or all of us are constantly going in one direction or another — and that’s just chasing our two crawling boys around the house — not including the other errands and events Laurie and I have had recently.

But perhaps the biggest (recent) news in my world is the new ink I had done on Friday night.

It’s something I’ve been wanting to do since my last tattoo (circa 2003) but I just hadn’t decided on a design or made the jump to drop the money on another one. (Single guys take note – getting married and having twin boys makes that even harder.)

But as a gift to me — knowing I’ve been itching for one for some time — Laurie, offered to give me a new tattoo for Father’s Day this year. She suggested it would be a special way to remember my very first Father’s Day. She was right.

It came as a bit of surprise, so I had to really start thinking seriously about a new tat design — right away.

Initially I had wanted a Sacred Heart of Jesus with the words Love Wins wrapped around it but I wasn’t 100% certain. I also toyed around with a winged heart and a few other ideas before finally settling on an extra bold font that seemed fitting for such a bold idea.

Along with the message “Love Wins.” I included two very important dates in my life – April 28, 2007 (the date I married my beautiful wife) and October 21, 2010 (the day our boys were born).

So after I finally settled on a design, Laurie and I headed to the tattoo shop Friday night while my parents watched our boys — unaware of what we were doing ;-).

And in the end — I’m really pleased with how it turned out.

Love Wins Tattoo
Love Wins Tattoo | Photos by Laurie and Jonathan Blundell

While thinking about the final design, I told my friend Frank sometime Friday that it’s often hard to really believe that Love Wins.

Because if you believe it — you’ve got to live it. And if you live it, that means there are going to be times you have to give up your wishes, your wants, your will and give of yourself more than you ever imagined possible.

And we all know it’s so much easier to be a jerk to others than to lay down our life for them.

But I still believe it. I still believe it’s the only thing that has ever won and it’s still the only thing that ever will win.

What do you think? Have an example of when Love Won in your life? Share it in the comment section below.

I’m a lucky dad

me and my boys
Me and my boys | Photo by Laurie Blundell

I am a lucky dad.

I have the two greatest boys in the world. I have an amazing wonderful wife, who is also my partner and friend.

And I’ve learned some amazing lessons about how to be a great dad from my own dad.

My mom is an amazing support and full of grace.

Our entire family supports us, helps us and encourages us along the way.

And each one of them make me look good.

Yup, I’m a lucky dad.