I wanted to let everyone know that I am still in Washington D. C., but I should be coming home Tuesday. Things are going well, and I’ve done some sightseeing. I’ve been to the National Cathedral, the Smithsonian’s Museum of Air and Space, and the Mall. I plan to go back to the Smithsonian tomorrow to walk through the Natural History Museum and take pictures of the monuments. As always, if you want more details, please feel free to email me.

Mother Laura rightly said: Can you believe Daylight Savings Time is here already? It’s hard to get used to the new, earlier onset. My family has been getting up and out a little late and a little sleepy in the mornings.

And can you believe that in two days it will be Palm Sunday for Western Christians? Our Lent is almost over, while our Orthodox sisters and brothers, whose liturgical year follows the older Julian calendar, are just starting theirs. Nicholas did a recent book report on George Washington, and we were surprised to find out that our first President’s birthday was originally Feb. 11, since he was born just before the change to the Gregorian calendar. Apparently the change almost caused rioting, as some indignant people were sure that they were being cheated out of eleven days of their lives!

To help you adjust–and enjoy the process–here’s a Friday Five about time and transitions….

1. If you could travel to any historical time period, which would it be, and why?

I’d like to hop, skip, and jump through time to meet some of my heros: Brigid of Kildare, Elizabeth I, Hildegard Von Bingen, Teresa of Avila, Florence Nightingale, and Emily Dickinson.

2. What futuristic/science fiction development would you most like to see?

Teleportation. I’m getting ready to fly to D.C. I’d much rather have my molecules scrambed here and reassembled there. Not to mention I wouldn’t have to put up with TSA.

3. Which do you enjoy more: remembering the past, or dreaming for the future?

Dreaming for the future. But I have to watch it or all I do is dream. Action must be taken to make those dreams come true.

4. What do you find most memorable about this year’s Lent?

This is the first year I’ve been a senior pastor and having to get used to preaching every week. The really bumming part is due to family illness, I will bein D.C. the next two weeks, so I won’t preach for Palm Sunday or Easter! I’ve preached on Palm Sunday before, but this would have been my first Easter. I’ll have to wait until next year. (If you would like details to the family illness to pray for us, please email me at shawna (at) shawnaatteberry (dot) com.)

5. How will you spend your time during this upcoming Holy Week? What part do you look forward to most?

I will be in D.C. The two things I want see while I’m there are the Smithsonian and the National Cathedral. I will see if there is a church close to where I’m staying to observe Holy Week.

I have answered all comments left in the last week. Thank you for your patience and prayers. I am starting to feel better. I just need to get use to the fact that I have a limited amount of energy, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. And I need to continue to use the energy I do have wisely. I have set a goal to post twice a week, so I plan to be posting on a regular basis and answering comments in a more timely fashion.

Shawna

Singing Owl says: I am so sorry for the lateness of the Friday Five. I’ve had two emergencies this a.m. and now my computer keeps crashing. I hope I can get this posted!

The picture is out a window at my place, complete with screen. 😉

Brrrr! Baby, it’s COLD outside! At least that is the case where I am this morning. We are in a January deep freeze. Have a cup of hot tea and tackle five easy seasonal questions.

1. What is the thermometer reading at your house this morning?

I think it was around -2.

2. Snow—love it or hate it?

Love it–I just hate the extreme cold. I’m 37 years old and still walk down the street trying to catch snowflakes on my tongue. I ignore the looks. People need to learn to have a little fun.

3. What is winter like where you are?

I’m in Chicago, so very cold and very windy, and we do have snow. Although we’re supposed to be in the 30s by tomorrrow. Woot!
4. Do you like winter sports? Any good stories?

Nope, I stay in as much as possible in the winter. Although the two or three times I’ve ice skated, I’ve really enjoyed it.

5. What is your favorite season, and why?

Fall because of the wildness in the change of the season. And Halloween–my second favorite holiday.

Bonus: Share a favorite winter pick-me-up. A recipe, an activity, or whatever.

Good old fashion hot cocoa and cuddling with The Hubby.

And I really liked Singing Owl’s picture, so I swiped it.

Due to a sinus headache, I will not be keeping my office hours at Hi Tea from 2:00–4:00 today. Thank you for your understanding. If you need to talk to me over the weekend or next week, please call or email me.

Shawna

I have been sick since yesterday. If you have sent email or left a comment, I will be replying at the end of the week when I hope to feel better.

Shawna

I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow afternoon. Instead of being at Cafe Mediterrea from 2:00-4:00 p.m., I will get there between 3:00-3:30 and leave between 5:00-5:30 p.m. I know I’m behind in responsidng to comments, but I have not been on the computer much due to the holidays. I have a lot of writing and church planting things to due this week, so posting and responding may be a little sparse.

I would like to thank everyone for their comments on Made in the Image of God: Female both here and at Emerging Women. I’ve glanced through them, but I have not had time to process and answer. But I will. It may just take a couple of more days.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and here’s prayers for all us who have to go back to work tomorrow after four days off. To be honest I’ve really enjoyed being unshackled from the computer and reading books and writing on paper. A friend and I have been writing haikus over the holiday weekend, so there will be poetry popping up this week. Does it feel weird to anyone else that today is NOT the first day of Advent? I’m kind of thrown with it being two Sundays after Thanksgiving instead of today. I keep wanting to put out Advent wreath…

Shawna

Singing Owl tells us: Ah, the day after Thanksgiving–groan! Fortunately, I love Thanksgiving leftovers.

Thanksgiving is the American holiday when the greatest number of people travel somewhere else to celebrate. I am posting this from my son’s home in Minnesota where we are recovering from the food shopping and the preparations and the meal and the clean up. It is difficult to think of anything requiring much energy today, and I am enjoying my sweet baby granddaughter, so I will keep it simple. For those of you not in the USA, I apologize for the nationalistic tone of this Friday Five!

1. Did you go elsewhere for the day, or did you have visitors at your place instead? How was it?

We stayed home and had a nice quiet dinner. We thought about inviting a few friends, but my husband is suffering some side effects from the medication he’s on for the liver infection, so it was just the two of us.

2. Main course: If it was the turkey, the whole turkey, and nothing but the turkey, was it prepared in an unusual way? Or did you throw tradition to the winds and do something different?

Turkey sheperhd’s pie with a mashed sweet potato topping, dark wheat bread, and pumpkin chocolate cake.

3. Other than the meal, do you have any Thanksgiving customs that you observe every year?

Not really. If we had spent Thanksgiving with my family, we would have watched some football amidst the chaos.

4. The day after Thanksgiving is considered a major Christmas shopping day by most US retailers. Do you go out bargain hunting and shop ‘till you drop, or do you stay indoors with the blinds closed? Or something in between?

I stay home. The curtains are opened, but I am not going anywhere!

5. Let the HOLIDAY SEASON commence! When will your Christmas decorations go up?

Since we’re staying home for Christmas, I have decided to do the traditional decorating I’ve always wanted to do. I will put up the Advent wreath, calendar, and a few decorations on December 2. The Christmas tree and the rest of the decorations will go up December 24, and then I will take it down on Epiphany, January 6. I’ve always wanted to do this, but normally we are not in town for Christmas, so I put everything up the first Sunday of Advent and take it down on Epiphany.

“My First Mammogram”
Tender and supple
Squeezed flatter than a flitter
My first mammogram

© 2007 by Shawna R. B. Atteberry

I’ve been tagged for this meme. Here are the instructions:

1. Write down five things that you’re thankful for.
2. Tag five friends who you’d like to see participate in this meme.
3. (Optional) Include a link to this post (at John Smulo’s blog) and encourage others to place a link to their completed meme in the comments section of this post so we can keep track of the thankfulness running around the blogosphere.

5 things I am thankful for (God is a given, and too easy an answer on Christian blogs):

1. My Husband.

2. Family and Friends

3. That I have opportunity to start a church and pastor again. I miss it.

4. Being able to write.

5. My Cat–yes, I’m a crazy cat lady and proud of it!

If you want to play considered yourself tagged and please post a comment, so I know you played. Also remember to leave a comment on John’s blog as he’s the one who started this. 😉

The picture is of Victoria aka The Diva, and when cat hair tumbleweeds are rolling over the floors, I call her The Hairy Beast.