My Final Thoughts (31/31)

It's 11:40 PM on the last day of this blog challenge and I'm just now sitting down to right.
That pretty much accurately sums up how this challenge has gone...

I did really good at the beginning and was waking up and writing and posting later in the day. Then I got busy and distracted and didn't make it a priority. Definitely a lesson learned.

I have really enjoyed writing everyday and just sharing more about what is on my heart. I've found the more open I am, the more at peace I feel. This online space really is an amazing outlet for me.

I hope that when you read my thoughts this month, you found something that you were able to relate to.
I hope that you learned something new. 
I hope that you laughed, smiled and cried along with me.

But most of all?
I hope you were able to see the love of Jesus and the amazing experiences life has to offer. 

I have some BIG things happening in November.
I. AM. SO. EXCITED.
Stop back tomorrow for some big news!!!!!

Thank you readers, for sticking with me this month.

Morning Routine (2/31)

I’m about 30 minutes behind schedule this AM.

On Wednesdays, I meet my girls at the coffee shop at 6 AM for ‘Breakfast and Bible.’ After Influence last year, I asked some friends from my church small group if they wanted to start getting together once a week to talk about the devotions from SheReadsTruth that week and have fellowship. We started meeting at 5:30 AM on Friday mornings before the teachers had to head off to school and the rest of us had to put on real pants. Thus, ‘breakfast and bible’ was born. We kept it up for about a year, then during the summer it became difficult and we discontinued it.

Just a couple months ago, everyone decided they missed it so we started back up! This summer we wrote our own devotions and then recently we started Jesus Calling and some guided devotions from our church. I really look forward to our meeting every Wednesday. It’s a chance to get caught up with everyone is up to and to really dive into the word together.

Normally, I’d get up and head out on a run by 5. I’d finish my route at the coffee shop to meet them. It was good motivation to get out of the house early and then we are done I’d just head home to shower.

This morning I got up about 30 minutes too late to get a run in before meet-up so it’ll have to come after. I like to plan out my mornings so I get a few things accomplished before I head into work. I have the type of job that isn’t really complete every day. Most days, I’m working on tasks for a bigger project that doesn’t really see an end ever. Being able to cross a few things off the to-do list is good for my conscious in the AM.

Here’s a preview of what a Wednesday morning should look like for me:

4:45 AM              Get up. Take care of dog. Get ready for run

5-5:30 AM           Head out for run. 3-5 miles depending on time

6 AM                  Breakfast and Bible with the girls (which usually just means a lot of coffee for me)

7-730 AM            Head home for breakfast, devotion, dog walk and shower

830-9 AM            Leave for work

With my new habit of writing every morning, this changes a little. I have to find time to squeeze in 30 minutes of writing and time to get a post published. Since I snoozed away this AM, here is how this AM will look:

5ish AM                Get up. Take care of dog. Coffee!

5:20 AM               30 minutes of writing time

6 AM                    Breakfast and Bible with the girls

7 AM                    Edit and publish posts

7:30 AM                Run. 5-6 miles

8:30 AM                Breakfast and shower

9 AM                    Leave for work

I’ll walk Roxy dog after work and tend to other things then. 

Each morning, I also set multiple alarms to keep me on task. I have alarms to wake up to, alarms to tell me when to leave or move on to other tasks and a really annoying alarm alerting me it’s time to get out the door or I’ll be late for work.

Here is what an ideal morning plan looks like when I don’t have Breakfast and Bible scheduled:

4:45-5 AM           Get up. Take care of dog.

5:15-5:30 AM       Write for 30 minutes

6 AM                   Exercise (run or weights/yoga/walk)

7 AM                   Breakfast and devotion followed up by shower.

7:45 AM               Out the door

For me, having a plan in the morning just starts my day off right. 

Some things I can’t live without in the morning? 

Exercise, Jesus and a hot drink (coffee or tea). 

I prep a few things the night before to help the day go smoothly as well. I usually pick out my outfit for the day and lay out my workout clothes. I pack my lunch and get my work bag ready to go and set by the door.

I’m not saying this happens every morning. Sometimes I just hit snooze to all the alarms, sleep in and then get up for just the essentials- a hot drink, Jesus and a shower.

But on Wednesdays? My motivation is high. Spending time with these girls has been so amazing and life-giving. I am truly blessed to have such an awesome community of women. The fellowship and connection I have with my breakfast and bible girls is enough inspiration to drag anyone out of bed while the rest of the world still sleeps.

I love mornings. (1/31)

I love mornings.

Snuggling in the sheets, talking and laughing. Hot coffee and a crisp fall breeze. Watching the sun sneak its way over the horizon, exploding into skies of orange and pink. Heading out for a run while the rest of the world sleeps. Enjoying the silence and stillness as the world slowly comes to life.

My new morning view

As a kid, I remember French toast breakfasts at my grandparents. Watching Sesame street and drinking apple juice with my cousins. As I got older, I remember coffee and newspaper reading on Sundays with my dad. Watching the sun rise as I rode the city bus to high school.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate mornings even more. I get up REALLY early. Usually around 5-6 AM. I like to have a hot drink while I let Roxy do her business. Then it’s exercise of some sort followed up by breakfast and time in The Word. Often, I will be up and doing things at home a good 2-3 hours before I have to go to work. I have never understood people who wake up and leave for work 30 minutes later. I need time for me to ease into my day. I like the feeling of peace and accomplishment that comes with checking things off my to-do list in the AM.

My new spoon from jessicaNdesigns

At the Influence conference, Jeff Goins talked about the Pimsleur approach- the idea that you can make anything a habit or learn anything by spending time doing it 30 minutes a day every day. I’ve written before about my struggles as a writer, mainly about how I procrastinate. I usually put off writing till everything else that is on my to-do list is done. But when is that really? There is always going to be laundry to do, things to tidy and social media to get lost in. I want to be more discerning and intentional about my time, especially when it comes to things that are important to me.

Currently, I’m sitting amongst 10+ Rubbermaid totes and boxes full of my belongings that have yet to be unpacked. I just moved into an apartment that needs painted in every room and I don’t see the point in unpacking everything just to repack it when I’m ready to paint. This is not normal for me. I usually like to move in, unpack and even hang pictures on the wall within the first few days. Instead, I’m learning a little bit about patience and living in the undone.

Recently, I shared some big news in my life. I’ve been struggling with a lot of anger and disappointment. Anger at myself. Anger at other people.  Anger at God.  Angry that my plans just haven’t worked out the way I want them. You’d think at some point in this crazy life I’d learn that everything doesn’t always end up neat and tidy with a bow on top…

I’ve been thinking about what my anger and confusion means in the context of the bigger picture. Aren’t we all allowed free will and handed grace?  I screw up EVERY SINGLE DAY. I make wrong decisions and sometimes hurt people. God doesn’t just abandon me because I’m not perfect. He finds me and brings me back. EVERY SINGLE TIME.

I’ve heard it said, ‘To truly love is to see Christ in another’ (or something like that). I’m not 100% sure what the author of that statement meant. To me, it means that to truly love someone forgiveness and grace are at the forefront. To truly love someone means to see them the way Jesus does- as a child of God- holy. God’s very own possession.

‘But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.’

During Jessi’s talk at Influence, she said we should read 1 Peter 2:9 every day. To remind ourselves that God’s love is for us. All the time. I think I need to remember it applies to other people too. That every single person in this world is just like me- desperate for hope but learning to rest in the promises of God’s love.

I don’t need to have all the answers and I don’t need everything figured out. I know that God will never leave me and he is always there to scoop me up when life disappoints. I’m learning to love and forgive and leave my pride far behind. This life is messy and crazy and sometimes can seem so confusing and scary. But it’s also wonderful and magical and full of deep, powerful love.

To me, mornings are a reminder that every day is a new opportunity to do right.

To love and forgive.

To cling tightly and dig in.

To gather courage and do all the things (hard and easy) with the ones you can’t live without.

Footnote: These are just my morning thoughts today. I don’t want to write about T and I every day. And I won’t be. In fact, I don’t plan on sharing much more here at the current time. I feel that our life together is personal and tender and just for us right now. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate all your thoughts and prayers. Because I do. I really do. I am so thankful for the way you’ve reached out and checked in and offered loving advice and hugs. Thank you for being supportive and loving. We are truly blessed to have such amazing people in our life- both on and off the internet. xo

Morning Walk

On Sunday morning, Roxy and I got up in the dark, bundled up and headed out for a quiet stroll.

It was crisp and beautiful. We chose a route through the cemetery not far from my house.

I think it's such a peaceful and picturesque place.

It's filled with rolling hills and lush landscapes

Watching the sunrise over the hills was stunning.

There's also a section that is dedicated to the Masons. It's filled with old and elaborate stones.

Roxy liked heading out for exercise. Normally we don't walk much farther than a mile or two together.

She was a trooper- we did almost 5 miles and I stopped for coffee.

Hard to believe it's almost mid January and there were still dry leaves blowing around like fall.

It was a beautiful start to a great day. I think this will definitely become part of our routine.

For what human ill does not dawn seem to be an alleviation?  ~Thornton Wilder