Mornings

I LOVE mornings. I find myself often quietly wishing the calmness of the first hour of the day could carry on and last longer. I love being up just before sunrise, it is the most peaceful time of the day.

However, in a home filled with kids, more mornings than not, my cherished quiet morning hours have lots of "mommy!" and kid time mixed in.

Over the last decade, my routine has been ever changing, as the kids grow.

These recent months my morning routine starts before sunrise, and most of them my sweet baby boy (number 5) is with me. Those mornings are simply baby giggles and Bible reading.

My husband has taken up early morning walking, and many days our baby boy is awake just in time to go with daddy.

Those mornings have become more frequent, and I am able to fully use my early morning. The silence is peaceful, the smell of coffee soul soothing.

The rare morning where baby boy goes on daddy's early walk AND all four of his big siblings stay sleeping; I find myself enjoying fully my morning hour at a deeply nourishing and refreshing level.

I make our bed, pour myself a beautiful cup of fresh steaming coffee, and sit (usually at our Big Table) with my Bible, notebook and laptop.

I get my Bible reading in always, and cherish the times its in the stillness of the quiet house. Sipping coffee; I read, journal, and write thoughts as they come. They come in forms of prayers or what the Lord impresses on me, jotting down to do lists, scheduling reminders in my planner, or typing away thoughts and recipes.

The still atmosphere with nothing to hear but the backyard ladies slowly waking up and greeting each other with their sweet clucks, allows my mind to think clearly. I'll usually find myself planning out what will be served at our Big Table that day and the days to come.

As my husband returns from his walk and the kids voices fill our quiet house, the tranquil morning calm quickly transitions me to breakfast prep . I move to our Little Kitchen where Ill be for most of the day , again, and little hands will join me in the beautiful chaos.