it dawned on me...

just a moment ago, after reading Psalm 123, I thought to myself 'when I am insulted, who am I that I should demand an apology from the offender?' I am nothing compared to our Lord 'Who is enthroned on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth?' Psalm 113:5-6. I don't know what else to write, I don't know of any better put way of saying it than the Bible.

Before the rooster sang

Today I did get up early. I had time to read my own Bible reading AND do my Bible study. I also had time to correspond with girlfriends this morning! I got up and I actually thought to myself, 'this is so great I need to get up earlier!' I love my family, but boy do I LOVE HEATHER TIME! :) Savannah did not sleep through the night, she did awake once while I was sleeping my foolish 5 hours. I will be praying for strength for the entire day! Well here's to early rising!!

Unmotivated

Well I should get an "-I" for incapable of keeping up the getting up early club. Maybe they lost my membership. I have an abundance of excuses and not enough motivation to get myself up in the morning. Recently I have been sticking to the line that Savannah is still getting up multiple times in the middle of the night. I have prayed about it and I feel the Lord telling me to come be with him in the morning and all will fall into place. I still hold to the notion that EVERYTHING has to be perfect in order to change my life dramatically. Though I can tell you I am not corresponding with as many people, or entering posts on my Blog because I don't have that special time in the morning. I find myself using my children's time to email. Not to mention I have not been able to keep up with my Bible study I am currently in because of this loss of time. I am going to bed early tonight, even if I don't I am getting up early tomorrow! Love to all! -Heather

Well......

Well......
I am in aw of the response I have gotten and how many people this getting up early thing is truly a struggle for! I must admit that while I would love to tell you about my victory this week, instead I am laying myself out there and telling you, the earliest I woke up this week was 6:30...once! Although I did have one night with many awakenings from Savannah and another night staying up until 1:30... that is because we are FINALLY working on getting Avery, after 3 years, to sleep the whole night in his bed. I am not doing any better right now, considering I am posting this at 10:30. I plan to go to bed by 10:30 every night next week and get up at 5:30 every morning!! Please pray for me as this is difficult, as it is for many of you that have shared with me! It doesn't say anything about God commanding in the Bible to awake early, though it does tell of the benefits of praying and being still with God. I had the most blessed, peaceful, motivating morning that morning I woke at 5:30 and I can't seem to get back to it. Thank you again for all your encouraging emails. I feel like getting up at 5:30 is like telling a sloth to run! I need to be face down this weekend and pray for victory over my stronghold, which is lazy sleep!!

HERE'S TO COFFEE!

A Turtle Named Gus!

This little turtle wondered up onto our back patio and we have NO idea how he got there! Considering we have a privacy fence and no creek near by! Avery absolutely loved him.

Avery asked me what his name was, and I said 'what do YOU want to name him?'
He said GUS was a great name.

Gus almost fell on the floor because Savannah was so determined to grab him.

We are letting him go tomorrow, but boy did we have fun learning about Gus the turtle and what he eats and how he swims in the bucket! :)

Picnic in the Park

We went to the park after church this past Sunday and had a picnic! It was so much fun laying out blankets and bringing our own brown bags.

The kids love to swing! They both fussed when we took them out to play on something else!

Our little mulch eater! :)

Daddy and his dirty little girl.

Savannah and her friend Karina

Caroline and Savannah

"She gets up while it is still dark" Proverbs 31:15a

Boy it is NOT easy, but I am letting myself go and learning what putting GOD first means. I mourn the movie watching at night and the not staying up with Aaron, but at the season I am in my life GOD, husband and then children need to have priority. That means I need to get up early to serve my entire family because when I am up to greet my husband and children with a warm hug and "crest" fresh breath it goes well with all of us. I have been so encouraged by all of you that have seen my testimony and my struggles. I praise GOD for the family and loving friends that He has provided for me! Thank you all for the emails, notes and phone calls! I have failed two days in a row at the 5:30 appointment, but I am not discouraged, rather encouraged to provide my GOD and my family with that service of getting up at 5:30 because I have now seen the fruit of rising and the bitterness and discontent that comes from my lazy, selfishness. If the Lord is tugging at your heart to rise with him, don't be afraid, don't let another day go by without surrendering to him and sitting at his feet. It is VERY HARD!!!, but like having a baby, it must not be that bad because I had another! LOL! ;)