A recent email from a friend contained these pictures. I thought these beautiful and haunting images caught the heart of our military men and women and their families.

“Eternal Father, Strong to Save” by William Whiting

Eternal Father, strong to save,
whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to Thee
for those in peril on the sea.

O Christ, whose voice the waters heard
and hushed their raging at thy word,
who walkedst on the foaming deep,
and calm amid the storm didst sleep;
O hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.

Most Holy Spirit, who didst brood
upon the chaos dark and rude,
and bid its angry tumult cease,
and give, for wild confusion, peace:
O hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.

O Trinity of love and power,
our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
from rock and tempest, fire and foe,
protect them wheresoe’er they go;
thus evermore shall rise to thee
glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

“Taps”

Day is done …
Gone the sun …
From the lakes …
From the hills …
From the sky …
All is well …
Safely rest …
God is nigh…

Fading light …
Dims the sight …
And a star …
Gems the sky…
Gleaming bright …
From afar…
Drawing nigh …
Falls the night ..

Thanks and praise …
For our days …
Neath the sun …
Neath the stars …
Neath the sky …
As we go …
This we know …
God is nigh …

On Street Prophets Irishwitch has a beautiful post up describing what it is like being a military wife and watching the Fort Hood Memorial.

To all of our military personnel, veterans, and their families: Thank you for all of the sacrifices you have made. May your reward soon be peace and reunion.

Veteran’s Day 2009 is a post from: Shawna R. B. Atteberry

KathrynZJ says: While traveling with my 4 year old we were both pleased to find a HUGE indoor playground. Now he can maneuver himself around those things no problem but I have found myself at the top level of what amounts to a glorified hamster tube more than once either rescuing an article of clothing or The Boy himself. There was a small part of me saddened to find that I no longer had the convenient excuse to be a kid and go up in the playground, but mostly my aging knees and back were quite happy to skip the experience.

Today’s Friday Five celebrates the spontaneous child in all of us… ar at least the one that we admire in someone else:

1) On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being I can’t do this now I am about to jump into a pit of plastic balls at the mini-mall and 1 being I can’t do this now until I can get all of the fonts on my blog to match – where are you?

I’m probably a 2. Although I like to play, I don’t let myself do it near as often as I should. Probably has something to do with having a cat instead of kids.

2) What is the silliest/most childlike thing you have done as an adult?

I don’t know if it’s the silliest but definitely my favorite: when I was in my house in Kansas City, I loved dressing up on Halloween and handing out candy to the kids. I really wish our condo would do trick or treating. Love, love, love Halloween and getting all dressed up.

3) Any regrets?

Only that Halloween is once a year.

4) What is the silliest thing you have ever seen another adult do on purpose?

Watching a guy friend in college put his long blonde hair in ponytails, put on a dress, and lip synch “The Lonely Goatherd” from The Sound of Music.

5) What is something you wish you did when you had the chance?

Learn how to repel. I’ll probably have another chance, but who knows when?

RevGals Friday Five: Child’s Play Edition is a post from: Shawna R. B. Atteberry

Over at the RevGalBlogPals Jan has been reading and says: Jennifer recommended this book, which I got because I always value Jennifer’s reading suggestions. The author of Life is a Verb, Patti Digh worked her book around these topics concerning life as a verb:

• Say yes.
• Be generous.
• Speak up.
• Love more.
• Trust yourself.
• Slow down.

As I read and pondered about living more intentionally, I also have wondered what this Friday Five should be. This book has been the jumping off point for this Friday.

1. What awakens you to the present moment?

• Writing
• Taking a walk
• Slowing down and breathing
• A great musical like Fiddler on the Roof, which we saw last night!
• Live music

2. What are 5 things you see out your window right now?

• Lake Michigan
• Sailboats on the lake
• Grant Park
• The Ebony Jet Building
• The Essex Hotel

3. Which verbs describe your experience of God?

• Complicated
• Calming
• Frustrating
• Focus
• Messy
• Love

4. From the book on p. 197:
Who were you when you were 13? Where did that kid go?

I was a shy nerd who had just been moved again. This time from Columbia, MO to Sayre, OK, which became my hometown. We wound up staying there, and I graduated high school and from the local community college (We finally settled down).  I was really excited when we bought our house there because I finally had a room of my own! My own space! No little sister always there. That kid is still around in some ways. I’m still a nerd, and I still like showing everyone up. I still like having my own space. I was the reverse of 13 when I bought my first house: 31. I was so excited to have a whole house to myself! Then I had to get a cat because I needed someone other than myself and the TV to talk to. I’m still shy, but I can have a conversation. Along the way I did develop social skills. Which is a good thing. That kid grew up but parts of her are still around.

5. From the book on p. 88:
If your work were the answer to a question, what would the question be?

In the Bible are women really made in the image of God and can women be leaders, prophets, priests, pastors, and secular leaders? The resounding answer is YES!

Bonus idea for you here or on your own–from the book on p. 149:
“Go outside. Walk slowly forward. Open your hand and let something fall into it from the sky. It might be an idea, it might be an object. Name it. Set it aside. Walk forward. Open your hand and let something fall into it from the sky. Name it. Set it aside. Repeat. . . .”

Hopefully I’ll be doing this later, totally dependent on the weather. Big dark clouds are rolling in and it looks like one heck of a storm is on the way.

RevGal Friday Five: Life is a Verb is a post from: Shawna R. B. Atteberry

Songbird says: Our regular poster, Sally, having been oppressed by Blogger today, I bring you a hasty Friday Five on the subject of pudding. If you are not a fan of pudding, then you will feel solidarity with Sally, except that you will be oppressed by pudding instead.

1) First of all, thumbs up? or thumbs down? Do you like pudding?

I love pudding. It is one of my favorite snacks.

2) Instant or cooked? (Does anyone make pudding from scratch?)

I do make pudding from scratch: rice pudding and bread pudding are my two favorites. When I crack open a box, it’s instant.

3) If you had to choose, would you prefer corn pudding or figgy pudding?

Figgy pudding

4) Have you ever finger painted with pudding?

No, but I might have to try it the next time I make pudding.

5) Finally, what is the matter with Mary Jane?

There are raisins in the rice pudding, and she hates raisins.

Bonus: Share a favorite recipe that includes pudding!

Chocolate Cream Pie!

RevGals Friday Five: Hasty Pudding Edition is a post from: Shawna R. B. Atteberry

Getting things squared away at my house in Kansas City has taken longer than I thought it would. The insurance company just decided to pay the claim on Friday. I thought that they had decided that and sent the check two weeks ago. When I called last week to find out what the hold-up was, I found out that they had found other things to quibble about. But it finally went through, and I received a check to get started with the repairs in the house. I’m glad. A lot of work needs to be done: the wall between the bathroom and kitchen needs to be rebuilt, and the ceiling and tile in the bathroom replace. In the kitchen the ceiling and cabinets need to be replaced. The hard wood floor in the living room will be replaced along with the carpet and padding in the bedroom and the flooring in the utility room. I have a general contractor and plumber, and I’m hoping the work can be done by the end of the month. I would love to have it rented by April.

That being said, I plan to start posting three times a week. And I really need to get back to writing. I’m doing a lot of reading and outlining, but hardly no writing. It is time to get back to actually writing posts, book proposals, and just daily journaling. It’s time to tell the fear that I have nothing to say to SHUT UP, sit down, and just write. I have plenty to say; I just have to stop listening to the damn inner critic.

The post about Esther that I promised would be up at the beginning of January will be posted next week, period, no excuses.

So what do you do to shut your inner critic up and do the creative work you’re called to do?

I’m sorry that I haven’t been around is a post from: Shawna R. B. Atteberry

The Hubby and I are heading out tomorrow to spend Thanksgiving with my family. I will be gone this week. Posting will resume on December 1.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving is a post from: Shawna R. B. Atteberry

Sensuous Wife tagged me for this meme. As I really need to get back to blogging, I decided this would be a good way to start blogging regularly.

Meme Terms and Conditions
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. List six unspectacular things about you.
4. Tag six other bloggers by linking to them.

Things to make you snooze:

1. I am a geek. I have a shirt that says, “Geek.”
2. I love a good theology book.
3. I have a cat.
4. I have decided that my favorite of the seven deadly sins, sloth, must be dealt with. I have also decided that lust is just fine now that I’m married and can do something about it.
5. I crochet.
6. I like to take naps.

Are you snoozing yet?

OK, who should I tag?
Lainie Petersen at Headspace
Sally at Eternal Echoes
Sarah at The Bitten Apple
Mike at Chicago Carless
Eric at The Merge
Leah at Desert Spirit’s Fire

Meme: Six uninteresting things about me is a post from: Shawna R. B. Atteberry

My sinuses attacked me for about a week and a half, and now I’m playing catch-up. Regular posting will resume later this week. I’m sorry for the silence. I am hoping a combination of snorting salt water, Mucinex, hot showers, and hot toddies will help me survive the fall.

Please tell me your last two weeks have been better than mine. What have you been doing? What’s making you smile these days?

The Latest Dry Spell is a post from: Shawna R. B. Atteberry

It’s grey, dark, and rainy on top of being Monday. Polisigh posted a picture over at Street Prophets that perfectly captures how I feel:

Yep that pretty much captures how I feel. Along with: Need More Coffee Now!

How’s your Monday going?

It’s One of Those Mondays is a post from: Shawna R. B. Atteberry

A new haircut. I decided to go back to short hair today. And I am so happy! Oh short hair, I forgot how wonderful you are: so light, so easy, so cool! Here are some pictures:

It is hard to take a picture of the back of your own head.

Isn’t it adorable? I am so happy!

Sometimes a Girl Needs… is a post from: Shawna R. B. Atteberry