I'm in a deep blue funk these days. I've just been trying to survive the over powering fear once again of my youngest son leaving for Iraq the first week of December. Tonight he calls and tells me he has good news to share with me ( he is going back to the same area of Iraq ) well let me tell you my heart dropped another level, its the Balaad area and no it is not a good area for any of our guys. Damn I hate this war, but yet I am so proud of him and those he serves with. All I seem to do is pray for the safety of all and try to remember the good times we have shared.
He had come home in August to go to Fort Benning for more intense training and came here every week-end when he could. He came to say goodbye a couple weeks ago on his way back to Fort Carson, he went out the door and left me one of his favorite Notre Dame caps to keep for his return, thats a special thing between me and him. It will be a long time before I see him again and I pray to God for grace and dignity to strengthen him and that God cover him with his all powerful shield of love, carry him when he finds things are to great to bear and protect all our soldiers there.
Thought I might share a picture he left with me, he was really enjoying his day.

Shadows

Shadows creeping through the mind
Leave a mystery to unwind
Where silence has been rooted deep

Twinges of color slowly expose themselves
Blackness grabbing it back
Suffocating the wondrous hues

Words silenced from times lost
Memories float on endless air
Being pulled back into the dark

Visions reel before closed eyes
Blurred by scars left deep
Horror seeking and holding secrets

Sleep on while the shadows creep
Await them as time turns its spell
Waiting to devour the new that will come

Shadows will reveal the secrets one day
Fear will leave in its time
Colors and words will return as light appears

March on victorious and strong
Morning will claim the long night
Shadows will be caste aside forever more
©Tobie Haga Roy

My refuge in the storm of life
Her walls trying to crumple and fall
While winds whip and beat at her
They still hold by the power of God

Weight placed upon her massive structure
Bends and moans with each gust
Fear never gathers strength
While she stands upon solid ground

Many tempest come and go
Each placing a firm blow to her armor
Years of strife have never tore her core
As the sands and times of life beat at her

Lifting her higher and casting her glow
Upon seas of the troubled and storm filled waters of life
My Port In The Storm gathers her
Kindred spirits and places them on solid ground
To face again another storm of life
©Tobie Haga Roy

My scanner is a bit to small to capture all of this one. It is finger flowers painted in plum and pinks on a green background.I'll try it out but may delete it. I am working on a Stormy Sea one now, but am a bit slow to restart, my confidence is a bit wanning at the moment.