5:00 am Every. Single. Day.

KJV Proverbs 24:30-34  "I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.  Then I saw, and considered it well:  I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep. a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:  So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man."


I like to sleep.  I mean, I REALLY like sleeping.  It might be one of my favorite activities.  I might like it more than chocolate.  So reading these verses made me uncomfortable.  I sleep too late.  I know it.  Yet there is a little voice in my head that excuses this bad habit.  I can hear it now. "You work hard.  You deserve that rest.  You will be in a better mood if you get your nap out.  Its not like sleeping is an ungodly activity.  Our bodies require rest. etc"

That voice is soooo seductive....and dangerous.

I haven't always been a late sleeper.  In fact, I was known as a morning person while growing up and in college.  I got up every morning with my husband when we were first married.  And then I had my first child. I did what every mamma of a newborn should do.  I slept when the baby slept, and I was up when the baby was up.  When the baby started sleeping more, so did I.  When she started to school, I got into a better routine of waking early, but then baby number two arrived.  And I slept, as much as I could, when the baby slept.  I woke when he woke.  And my darling husband fended for himself every morning, encouraging me to rest because he knew how draining babies can be.  But the baby is four and I am still sleeping in.  And then I run into these verses.  Sigh.

So baby step number one will be waking at 5:00 am.  Every.  Single.  Day.  No sleeping in on Saturdays and Sundays.  The sleep experts say it is easier on the body to wake up at the same time every day.  So that is the plan.  5:00 am.  Every. Single. Day.

I know it will be better for my family.  I know it will be better for me.  I did this for one week a while back and it was a great week.  Then I listened to the voices, and slept in again..and again..and again.  But I don't want "want"  to bust into my life like an armed man busting into my house to steal what is valuable.  I don't want poverty to drop in for a visit as a traveler, or stick around like an unwanted guest.  And while this certainly applies to monetary things, it applies so much more to truly precious things like peace, order, love, and godliness.  Pray for me, if you would.  I am under no delusions about how difficult this task will be, but I believe if I take the step my life will be better.  I hope to share how it is better as I try to develop this good habit.

See you in the morning!

Baby Steps Towards Wisdom

Have you made your New Year's Resolutions yet?  Are they the same ones you made last year?  And the year before?  And the year before that?  Do some of them include loosing weight, exercising more, becoming more organized, being a kinder person?

If you are like me, the answer to these questions is a disappointing yes.  Every year I have a list I really intend to work on in the coming year.  And I do work on those things for the first week or two.  Then life gets in the way, I loose my focus, and I fail on one item....and then another...and then another, until sometime around March I hate myself for my failures.

So this year I have resolved to NOT make a list of resolutions.  I will NOT try to change every aspect of my life in the first week of January   I will NOT beat myself up for my imperfections.  I will NOT set impossible goals for myself.

What I am going to try to do is take baby steps towards wisdom.  I am so excited about this!  The best part of this plan is that I do not come up with the steps.  I am not smart enough to plan steps for life that will make  life happier or more fulfilling, but I know where to find that list.  A king named Solomon was inspired by God to write a book full of baby steps towards wisdom.  Inspired by God.  These baby steps come from the Creator of the universe, from the Source of all wisdom, from my Father who loves me.  AND EVERY STEP IS RIGHT. If I take the step, my life will be better.  All I have to do is read the list and take the steps.  See why I am excited?

So the plan is to focus on one step at a time, learn that step, and then take another step.  That is my plan for the year.  Want to come with me?  I would love the company.

KJV Proverbs 24:3-4  "Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:  And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches."

Bubble Bath and Comments

The winner of the how to post a contented sigh contest is.........entry number 3 by Allicat's Alley.  Sorry entry number one..I thought you were one of my children hollering for me.  And entry number two, I will definitely use your entry next time I am splitting boards in half with my awesome karate chop!  But thanks so much for playing.  I now know at least two people read this blog on occasion! ;)  Allicat, your bubble bath is coming post haste, perhaps you could share with entry number 1 and 2 since you live in his house and he pays the bills!!

In other news, I have fixed the comments settings, so now anyone should be able to post.  For those of you who have tried to in the past, and have failed, I am sorry my technological illiteracy inhibited your ability to post witty, charming, and even scintillating statements.  I look forward to reading your posts in the future.

The New Year is fast approaching and I am excited for 2013 to begin.  I have plans for this blog that I hope you will find useful and perhaps enjoyable.  Have a blessed Christmas.  I'll be back next year!

No More Scream!!

I have decided to take a sabbatical from blogging for the rest of the year.  When I mentioned this to a friend tonight, she reminded me that my last post was one big scream.  She said " I keep checking your blog every so often and think...still screaming!"  HAHAHAHAHA! OOOPS!!

The crazy schedule that caused me to post  my blog scream has past.  I am enjoying time with my family, and I am plotting and planning new posts for next year.  I will probably not post again until January, so let me wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Blessed New Year.

I would leave you with a sigh of contentment, but I am not quite sure how to write one.
ahhhhhhhhh......that's too much like a mini-scream
ooooooooo....sounds like I'm ogling Christmas lights
Sigh......seems sad

How would you compose a contented sigh?  We will make it a contest.  Post a comment here, or if you can't post here, you can post on my facebook page.  The winner will receive a container of bubble bath to enjoy while contentedly sighing.  I guess I will have one more post this year to announce the winner.  Deadline for sighing entries will be December 1.

Sometimes You Just Need to Scream

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Better.  Thanks!

Fighting the Good Fight

Some days we wonder why we fight.  The battle is won. Our amazing Savior secured the victory.  Heaven is our home.  So why fight on?  Why strive to do what is right when what is easy is so much.....well, easier?  Why struggle against our nature when giving in is so...natural?  Why be cheerful in the face of adversity when throwing temper tantrums feels so right?  Why fight when victory is ours?

.  Because living like victors means acting like the King.  Because giving up is for quitters, and who wants to be a quitter. Because there is joy in battle and small victories...true, reviving, heart shining joy.  Because those around us will be strengthened, encouraged, and uplifted when our joy rubs up against them.   And because it is the right thing to do.

Lift up the standard of the King and fight on.  Stand strong, and others will rally to your side.   The battle may, at times, be exhausting, but the rewards our worth the struggle. Fight the good fight, never complaining, knowing there is glory in battle for the strong warrior.

p.s.  this is my favorite "battle scene!"  

A Bad Day

Today was a bad day.  I worked ALL day trying to clean house and accomplished very little.  Example, the sheets that were done washing @ 9:35am did not make it into the dryer until my seventh attempt to complete that chore @ 6:30pm.  They were going to go on the clothesline, but......  Many of the days disturbances were caused by my three-year old testing every boundary ever set by parents and God.  Yes, that includes the law of gravity.  In case you are wondering, it is still in effect.  And, it is still not okay to hit your Mom, sister, or the little girl your Mom babysits.  Errands that were supposed to be done by 10:00am were not started until 10:30am because we had to wait on someone else. School started off with six conversations in 60 minutes with my daughter about focus.  By the time she had gained hers, I had lost mine.  My poor husband came home to a woman who was wondering how the bright, healthy, energetic college student who spent her days singing and her nights going to concerts and symphonies had become an overweight, poop scooping, nose wiping, maid, laundress, cook, and nincompoop!

Hero that he is, my husband sent me to my room (how I have longed to be sent to my room!) and made supper....eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy....comfort food.  And then my other hero, my daughter, carried my supper to me on a tray with a homemade place mat that said." 'It Is Well With My Soul.'  I Love You Mom!"  What a beautiful and appropriate reminder from my beautiful and wise little girl. "When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll...."

 Notice at the top I said today WAS a bad day.  Some days, Moms need superheros.  Today I was blessed with that, and what was a bad day turned into a blessed day.  Thank God for people who love me when I am ready to give up, help me pull it together, and remind me that God is still on His throne.  I love this saying:
"The ending is good.  If it is not good, it is not the end."   I hope I will remember that.