Hello Morning!

One thing that really keeps me ticking is a good morning routine. I know that I know that I know that my whole day goes more smoothly (both with my attitude and productivity level) when I start my day off right. That includes quiet/devotion/journaling time, exercise, and routine.

I have been working on this new morning schedule this week:

1. Quiet/Devotion/Journaling Time.

Dawson gets up for school at 6:30 a.m., so I am getting up at that time, too. While he is showering, I sit in my chair with my cup of coffee and read my devotion pages (Stepping Heavenward by E. Prentiss) and Bible verses (right now, two chapters of Proverbs). I do my prayer time, making sure to pray for Rick according to my 31 Days of Praying for Your Husband bookmark.

I have been journaling for YEARS, off and on. I love to journal, and I love that I have all my journals (or most of them). I have started journaling again, ending my morning time with it. There are so many important events going on right now that I don't want to forget them.

2. Exercise.

Once Dawson is ready I drive him over to my parents' to wait for his ride to school, who is a friend of my niece's. We all sit on their front porch and drink coffee and talk until they go to school.

Then I scoot home to wait for my mom and her friend, Brenda, to come by on their bikes to pick me up. We ride the several blocks to the city park, park our bikes, and then briskly walk three miles. Then we ride back home (uphill most of the way ... ouch!)

Having accountability in exercise is so key for me, and it makes the time go by so much faster to have someone(s) to talk to. Believe me, my mom is persistent. If I wasn't outside waiting, she would come in to get me. So, I might as well get up and be happy about it!! And, I'm not letting those "old ladies" make me look bad!

3. Daily Routine.

When I get home, I grab another cup of coffee and hop into the shower. While Eli and Brynne are eating breakfast and waking up (and usually playing the iPad), I get ready for the day. While they are getting on their clothes, brushing teeth, and fixing hair, I get out our school books and supplies and get us ready for our school day.

We start school at 10:00 a.m. In the mornings we do Bible, Grammar, Spelling, Writing, and Math. Then we break for lunch. This is when I will try to run out and see my grandma for a bit. (BTW ... my grandma has now been readmitted to another hospital. Although mentally she was fine, she was in horrible physical shape today. She has fluid built up all inside her body and is in a lot of pain. They are running every possible test on her trying to find out what is going on. Please pray for her.)

After lunch, we do our unit study, read, and have our P.E. lessons.

At 3:00 p.m., I go to pick up Dawson from school and the kids start playing. Then we just spend our evening doing a little housework, playing, reading, doing house projects, eating dinner and getting settled down for bed. We have really enjoyed meeting up with my mom to take the dogs for a walk, and/or stopping by the Dairy Queen for a treat or visiting Grandma and Papa for a bit.

The kids turn in at about 8:30 p.m. And about that same time, I hit the couch for some t.v. and internet time. I have been exhausted by this time, so I am ready for bed by 10:00.

It's a full day, that's for sure. But by starting my day off on the right foot, and staying on somewhat of a schedule, the days are turning out to be great.

If you would like some help getting yourself into a good morning routine, you can download a free E-book from Inspired to Action called "Maximize your Mornings". I haven't actually read this, but thought I would pass it along to you if you would like it.