Monday, January 14, 2013

Hello Mornings!


HelloMornings

The Hello Mornings challenge is about to start again, and I am so excited to reconnect daily with my online friends/accountability group.  This challenge has been one of the best online groups I have ever joined.  The leaders have crazy huge hearts for mothers & this method really works.  I have learned that I am a better mom when I start my day rising early, before everyone else.  During the last challenge I really struggled, more than any of the other challenges.  I was  used to having a good hour to myself & in God's Word, and I loved every minute of it.  But the last challenge began as my oldest was entering Jr. High & his school has an earlier start time.  I battled with myself, the shorter amount of time I had, and getting the kids up on time.  After months of struggling (why does it take us so long to figure things out?!) I realized that for me, my early rising might look different from yours, and that's okay!  I don't have as long as I used to.  I have to get all of my school age kids out the door just after 7:00 which means waking them up at 6:00.  I've compromised with my loving husband and don't allow myself to get up before 5:30. (Mommy can't handle any earlier without turning into a bear by evening!  Yes, it's true.)

All this to say my morning had to change and I've found something that works for me.  I still rise at 5:30 (this is when I'll quick log into my facebook hello mornings group & tweet #hellomornings to say I'm up), shower, & get ready.  If I wait till later to shower I struggle keeping up on my schedule for the rest of the day.  So I shower first & get ready, wake the kids at 6:00, and head downstairs.  I make coffee & read a quick devotional (Currently Jesus Calling) and plan my day.  Then it's making breakfast, doing dishes, and keeping the kids moving to be out the door on time.  Phew!  It's a crazy hour.

After I get home from dropping off the kids, it's usually rushing to get the other kids ready to get out the door for either church, therapy, or get the house quick ready for piano students who will be showing up.  So as you can see, my hour alone in the morning with God isn't happening in the morning.  But I did use my morning time wisely (hopefully!) and have found that I DO have time in the afternoon to dig into God's Word.  It's just not at home cozy on my couch.  My devotional time is now in the car, at the school, in the carpool line.  But guess what, it's okay!  This is just my crazy stage of life right now.  And guess what!  God speaks to me through His Word just as well in the afternoon as He does in the morning.

I cannot tell you enough how wonderful Hello Mornings is.  Sign ups are starting soon and will only last a week, January 16 - 23.  Don't wait, sign up to receive emails from Hello Mornings & Inspired to Action so you don't miss a thing!



5 comments:

  1. I love Hello Mornings - it really has changed my mornings, and I found that when the last challenge ended my mornings were really less productive because I didn't keep up with it. I'm so glad it is starting again - I want to get back on track.

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    1. Yep - it's changed my mornings too. And our group has really bonded. A great group of women who encourage and pray for each other!

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  2. Love that you make it work for you YOUR way! A friend asked me last night about making it happen around night shift work, and this will be a great encouragement to her.

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  3. Sounds like a great HelloMornings! I am so glad you are finding the freedom to make your mornings what works best for you and your family. Is it ever-evolving though, isn't it?

    I think the Lord wants our hearts more than then minutes on a clock, don't you?

    Thanks for sharing your heart!

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  4. Thanks! I joined hello mornings, and am in the habit of rising early, but I, too, have "must happen in the early am" obligations. I have my bible time mid morning after the children have eaten and are happy. Glad I'm not the only one that has a "different" schedule. :)

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