I woke up this morning at 2:30, 2:50, 3:15, 3:40, and 4:10. My son had nightmares last night. He is easy to settle back down, but he has them repetitively. So when the alarm went off at 5:00, I almost bashed it against the wall!
I got up, made HBON's breakfast, packed his lunch, set out his Bible, and went back to bed until 6:45. I decided sleeping another hour and twenty minutes would be a better choice that being short tempered with my children today. Nap time is looked forward to, and bedtime tonight should be early.
Waking at 5:00 am is not easy. I don't bounce out of bed bright eyed and bushy tailed. I am not a picture of loveliness as I make breakfast and pack lunch and read my Bible. And I am not real talkative. But I am up. And I am caring for my household. And sometimes I will have to go back to bed. All good things require sacrifice and discipline, and getting up is a good thing. It is for my benefit and the benefit of my household. So I will again set my alarm clock, hoping for a better night of rest.
KJV Proverbs 31:15 "She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens."
I am not the virtuous woman of Proverbs. I would be a fool to try and claim I have in any way achieved a walk as godly as that woman. But I do pray God will give me the grace and the ability to be more like her every day.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
Blessings Already Realized
I have been waking up at 5:00 am for six days, and already I have realized some pretty significant blessings. The first I would like to share with you is the blessing of time with my husband, and the effect it has had on his personality. I must tell you that HBON (see previous post) is the most patient, kind, gentle, and long suffering man I have ever know. I don't believe this is an exaggeration. Those of you who know him can testify about his kind and gentle spirit. What has been added to this man since I have started waking up, is a peacefulness that is contagious.
HBON's love language is touch. He needs a hug, a held hand, a kiss, and a cuddle on a regular basis to feel loved. When I wake up with JUST enough time to get things together for him so he can rush out the door, there is NO TIME for anything more than a quick peck and a harried or groggy I love you. When I don't wake up at all before he leaves the house, he doesn't even get that! What a terrible way to send my warrior out to face the days dragons!
Instead, our mornings have turned into a time of togetherness. The alarm goes off, and we have time for a few moments of snuggling before getting out of bed. I get up and get breakfast and pack his lunch, make our warm drinks, and grab our Bibles. He gets dressed and builds a fire (an immensely satisfying chore for most men, I am told). Then we sit beside each other, eating our breakfasts, reading our Bibles, and just being together. I send him off with a hug, kiss, a God bless you and a wide awake I love you. His mind has been fed by time in the word, his body has been fueled by a good breakfast, and he feels loved. So much better!
When he comes home, he is more at peace and less weighed down by the things he has faced today. His decompression time has been cut by more than 50%. And his peacefulness is contagious. I feel more relaxed and don't get worked up over minor details as quickly as I have in the recent past. I feel more connected to him. We feel like more of a team. The children have responded by being more loving towards us and each other, and wanting to spend more time together. All of this because I set my alarm clock back one and one half hour. That is an amazing trade off, but I am not surprised.
I believe the Bible is true. And if the Bible says do this and good things will happen, then I believe good things will happen. But proving it to be so is amazingly encouraging! I was not smart enough to realize what waking up could do for my spouse and our relationship, but God is, and by His mercy, I was blessed to find this nugget of truth in His word. I can't wait to see and to share other blessings gained by obedience. Pray for me, please, that I will have the wisdom and the strength to follow His way and not my own. If so much can change just from waking up, what will other changes do for our home? I can't wait to find out!!
KJV Proverbs 3:17 ...speaking of wisdom..."Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."
HBON's love language is touch. He needs a hug, a held hand, a kiss, and a cuddle on a regular basis to feel loved. When I wake up with JUST enough time to get things together for him so he can rush out the door, there is NO TIME for anything more than a quick peck and a harried or groggy I love you. When I don't wake up at all before he leaves the house, he doesn't even get that! What a terrible way to send my warrior out to face the days dragons!
Instead, our mornings have turned into a time of togetherness. The alarm goes off, and we have time for a few moments of snuggling before getting out of bed. I get up and get breakfast and pack his lunch, make our warm drinks, and grab our Bibles. He gets dressed and builds a fire (an immensely satisfying chore for most men, I am told). Then we sit beside each other, eating our breakfasts, reading our Bibles, and just being together. I send him off with a hug, kiss, a God bless you and a wide awake I love you. His mind has been fed by time in the word, his body has been fueled by a good breakfast, and he feels loved. So much better!
When he comes home, he is more at peace and less weighed down by the things he has faced today. His decompression time has been cut by more than 50%. And his peacefulness is contagious. I feel more relaxed and don't get worked up over minor details as quickly as I have in the recent past. I feel more connected to him. We feel like more of a team. The children have responded by being more loving towards us and each other, and wanting to spend more time together. All of this because I set my alarm clock back one and one half hour. That is an amazing trade off, but I am not surprised.
I believe the Bible is true. And if the Bible says do this and good things will happen, then I believe good things will happen. But proving it to be so is amazingly encouraging! I was not smart enough to realize what waking up could do for my spouse and our relationship, but God is, and by His mercy, I was blessed to find this nugget of truth in His word. I can't wait to see and to share other blessings gained by obedience. Pray for me, please, that I will have the wisdom and the strength to follow His way and not my own. If so much can change just from waking up, what will other changes do for our home? I can't wait to find out!!
KJV Proverbs 3:17 ...speaking of wisdom..."Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."
Friday, January 4, 2013
A GIANT HURDLE
Tomorrow morning I will have a huge hurdle to leap if I want to get up at 5:00 am.
In about 25 minutes, 8 girls ranging in ages from 12-5 will be arriving at my house for a sleepover/party/rotating basketball practice. Two will not spend the night. Two will leave at 4:45 pm for basketball practice and return a little after 6:00 pm. My husband and our daughter (and probably a friend or two) will leave for ball practice at 5:45 pm and return shortly after 7:00 pm. We have plans to paint fingers and toes....that could be 90 nails. Pizza is for supper. (thank you HBON {that is what I call my husband}) I believe there are plans for a fashion show, crafts, and who knows what else.
After all of this excitement, HBON will leave (around 8:45 pm) to take the two who are not staying to their domiciles, and I will try to put my four year old little boy and 7 hyper girls to bed. I expect this process to take some time.
And then I will go to bed, with my alarm set for 5:00 am.
We will see if I make it.
The hurdle looms large at the moment.
We will see.
P.S. Anyone care to guess what HBON stands for?
In about 25 minutes, 8 girls ranging in ages from 12-5 will be arriving at my house for a sleepover/party/rotating basketball practice. Two will not spend the night. Two will leave at 4:45 pm for basketball practice and return a little after 6:00 pm. My husband and our daughter (and probably a friend or two) will leave for ball practice at 5:45 pm and return shortly after 7:00 pm. We have plans to paint fingers and toes....that could be 90 nails. Pizza is for supper. (thank you HBON {that is what I call my husband}) I believe there are plans for a fashion show, crafts, and who knows what else.
After all of this excitement, HBON will leave (around 8:45 pm) to take the two who are not staying to their domiciles, and I will try to put my four year old little boy and 7 hyper girls to bed. I expect this process to take some time.
And then I will go to bed, with my alarm set for 5:00 am.
We will see if I make it.
The hurdle looms large at the moment.
We will see.
P.S. Anyone care to guess what HBON stands for?
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
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!
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!
Friday, December 28, 2012
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."
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."
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
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!
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!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
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.
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.
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