Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Good morning!

It's quiet right now, except for the very muted sounds of melodic Christmas music playing. For the past week I have been getting up with Dave on weekday mornings. 5:15 am. I never thought I would be saying this, but I love it! The first few days it took just about all of the will power I had to get out of that warm comfy bed. It took me about 2 days of this torturous feeling. Then I began waking up before his alarm. I started going to bed much earlier and actually felt rested by 5 am. This is so not me. See, I had been feeling very behind. Every.single.day. And friends, that is not a good feeling. I also felt like I was always telling the boys things like, "Later, after I get this, this, and this done" or ,"I can't do that right now because I am behind on my work" or my personal favorite, "WE ARE RUNNING LATE! GET YOUR COAT ON NOW. NO. DON'T DO THAT! MOVE!" So, I began making changes. Like I said, it wasn't easy at first, but being consistent was the key for me. Now that it has been a week I know I can do it and keep it up. I am getting some cleaning done and working out before the boys get up. Because I have found the near impossibility of doing these things when they are up. I've tried doing Pilates when all three boys are around and believe me, having an extra 27 pounds attached to my leg while I am doing leg lifts is not doable for me. So this morning I am sipping my coffee and smiling. It is only 6:45 right now and I am smiling. The dish washer has been emptied and those stray dirty dishes that some how gather during the night have been loaded into it. My laundry is done. I have so rarely been able to honestly say that, but over the past week I have gotten caught up and our clothes are all in the same state as my boys. Resting where they belong. :) Other reasons for my smile: You guys are SO encouraging! Dave and I sat down together and read all of the comments from my last post. We smiled together and laughed together. Sarah's comment of "barfing with you" was classic! And seriously you guys, each time a new comment would come into my inbox I would read it and thank God for the encouragement. I can't even put into words what it meant to me. There is something powerful in the shifting mental imagine of seeing yourself alone with eyes downcast, to seeing this slow and steady addition of people coming in around you, beside you, lifting your head up, up, up. "You're okay, you're not alone, we are here. You can do it!" Thank you. Last night after Dave and I got the boys settled in bed (it's a long process) I came down stairs to see Dave preparing two small pieces of pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top for us (is that cheating - like opening Christmas presents early?). The best part: Most of our small plates were in the dishwasher, so our pie was served on Elmo and Cookie Monster plates. Hmmm. Maybe that is where the stray dirty dishes came from... :) I'm having so much fun with, and am almost done getting ready for, this awesome Christmas swap. I have loved doing this! Anticipating a wonderful day with friends tomorrow. So, so thankful. Seeing so many good things to look forward to represented in dates and times scrawled on my calendar each time I walk by it. Four days of having Dave home - He can change all of the diapers! YAY!! :)*Wink*

17 comments:

SmilingSally said...

Oh, I admire you. Young, pretty, doing exercising while running a household and raising children AND blogging. Whew! I had to retire in order to blog!

sara said...

I found early on with my kids, that I needed to get up much earlier than them to get my quiet time in and get my day started right. I am so not a morning person, so this was hard at first for me too!! But it is a habit that has stayed with me and even now with the kids almost grown, it still starts my day with a smile!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Jacy said...

I can totally relate I have been a waking up before crack of dawn kind of girl since I was old enough to walk! The sleeping in until 8 or 9 is a very rare occassion for me, but like you said I don't mind it because I feel better, I get some nice quite alone time to do some "catching up" (why is it, that we always seem to fall behind during the day? lol is it just me?) And we are all able to go to bed at a descent hour :)
So loving your last post by the way, Wendi, just know that we all fall short and we all have days where we want to pull our hair out...I'm just as guilty of being super selfesh sometimes, but know that I am praying for you sweet friend! The most wonderful part about it all, is that our Father forgives and gives us chance after chance...

Love to you this week and I hope you have a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING with your sweet hubby and those adorable boys of yours :D

ps: sorry for the outrageous comment :P

Aspiemom said...

You're a very nice family! Love the eating pie on the kids plate thing!

Mel said...

I keep telling myself I need to get up an hour earlier, that way I can accomplish stuff, but like you getting out of bed earlier is tough...thanks for the inspiration!!!

It is great to read that it actually works..

Sarah M. said...

Wow! I am glad you are able to spend mornings with David!

dani said...

good morning, wendi...
getting up early and going to bed early does seem to be a good thing:) i guess the farmers have always had it right!!!
i hope you enjoy the rest of your day:D
love,
dani

Sara@iSass said...

WOW! I am impressed. Up and SMILING at 6:45AM. You inspire me. I hope you get some good time "off" to enjoy your Hubby and family.

Penny said...

When Hubby and I were editing our book, we would get up at 5:30 and drink coffee and work together. It was so nice. =) Now, we've got to figure out a fun reason to do it again!!

(FYI, book still unpublished -- sent it to an agent and are praying hard!!)

Jackie said...

Uh oh. And I know you just read my post about not even being able to wake up enough to kiss my hubby good bye in a decent manner(haning head in shame) ;) Of course, it would help if I went to bed before midnight, right???

Your last line made me laugh, in light of your last post. Right on! (ha!)

Have an absolutely wonderful, peaceful, fun-filled, thankful day tomorrow. Hugs!!!

Grace Acres said...

sounds like a perfect evening to me, the huby, pie, and cool whip!

Unknown said...

I'm so happy for you and your early mornings and pray that one day I will have the will and discipline to get my rump out of the bed a lot earlier without being such a grumpy pants.

Happy Thanksgiving. Hope you have a great time with your family.

Amanda Hoyt said...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family.
Hugs and prayers,
Amanda

Jessica Jean said...

The last two weeks I have been doing the same, hum must be in the air...I have been getting up at 6:00 though and I love it I pack my loves lunch get my wood stove a crackin then drink my coffee in the quiet morning and when my love leaves by 7:00 I do not work out oh you go girl. I wish I could do that I want to so bad I want to lose 8 pounds by the new year two pnds a week...Thanks for the inspiration and keep it up!!!

Rach@In His Hands said...

Way to go on the early mornings!! I'm getting better, but still struggle with dragging myself out of my warm bed. Espeically when its so dark and cold!
I hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving!

jennifer said...

wow. you have your LAUNDRY ALL DONE?

I'm so jealous.

Becca~CapturingSimpleJoys said...

I'm always thinking I should get up much, much earlier than I do and have that time to get ready for the day. You've inspired me.