You know what I hate? Getting up early. Oh, I despise that feeling when you wake up and it’s still dark outside and you have to force yourself out of bed. I envy the people who just pop up, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed ready for their day. One of the things I was most excited about when I quit my job to stay at home, was not having to set an alarm clock. I was so excited to just sleep for as long as I wanted the kids would let me. And that’s just what I have been doing for the past two years, and it has been glorious!

So, guess what this sleep lover has been doing for these past few weeks. I’ve been setting my alarm for six a.m. and dragging myself out of bed and straight to the coffee pot awaiting me with that precious caffeine I live off of. No, I haven’t had anything pressing that I just needed to get up that early for, but I have been doing it for my personal sanity. The best part… it’s been amazing! The initial act of actually getting out of bed is still a struggle, but once I’m up I love it!

So what made me jump off the deep end? I had been in a funk that I couldn’t seem to pull myself out of. I wouldn’t trade staying home for the world, but there wasn’t a second in my day that I wasn’t being demanded of. The toddler wants a snack, the baby wants to nurse, they both want to wrestle on mom, one needs to potty, one needs a diaper change, and the most exhausting one, the baby is in a clingy phase which includes me not ever setting him down. I don’t mind these things at all, and they don’t bother me, but after I have given all of my time, energy, and love to two little boys, it doesn’t leave anything left over for my husband or myself.

So I decided if I wanted a few minutes of quiet and not being clung to, I either had to get up early or stay up late. Well, Jake and I go to bed at the same time regardless, so it looked like I was going to become an early bird searching for the worm of alone time.

I get up and slide my feet into my warm slippers that make the process a little easier. Seriously, nobody wants to get up and put their feet on a cold floor. Then I sit down with my cup of coffee heavily loaded with creamer, and I open my journal. Prayer journaling has been so good for my spiritual life, and it makes me actually focus on my prayer and not just rush through it. When I’m done with that I either just sit and enjoy the silence, or might work on something that’s harder to get done during the day when the boys are up.

I knew I would enjoy the silence in the mornings, but it really changes my whole day. I have a better attitude, I have more patience with everyone, I’m more organized, and I’m overall happier. It’s amazing what just an hour of alone time can do for your soul. I was so drained that I had nothing left to give and I was constantly running on empty. I love how God always works for our good if we would just listen to him. I had felt for a while like I needed to start getting up and having some alone time, but that sounded terrible. Then I accepted the nudges I was getting and said “well, I’ll try it for a few days and see how I like it.” The reward has been ten fold. I treasure this hour and dare I say am even starting to look forward to six a.m. every day. And if nothing else gets accomplished in that time, at least I get to marvel at the majestic painted sunrise that God puts out my living room window.