Here is my treat from this morning.
How long do you think I have until my sugar crashes?
Here is what time I got up!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Enjoy a treat
This is what time I got up this morning!
Today's action tip is to buy myself a treat for my alone time tomorrow.
What do you think I should buy?
Monday, March 25, 2013
Final Week - Early to Rise
This is the final week of the early to rise challenge. Today's challenge was to tell 5 people about rising early. I didn't pick 5 people, I am going to let you volunteer. I had no idea sharing that I was making an effort to start my day better would be such a discussion starter. I have talked with more people this month about what time I got out of bed than I ever expected. So if you would like to help me continue this life change after next week, leave your name in the comment box and continue to ask me how I am doing.
As a way to finish out the week, and for a little more accountability, I am going to leave a picture of what time I get up each morning on the blog.
If you are interested in the book that started it all you can find it here: http://www.earlytorisebook.com/
As a way to finish out the week, and for a little more accountability, I am going to leave a picture of what time I get up each morning on the blog.
If you are interested in the book that started it all you can find it here: http://www.earlytorisebook.com/
Friday, March 22, 2013
Thank You!
I sold 123 boxes of girl scout cookies. I sent 41 boxes to the troops over seas. Thank you to everyone who bought cookies from me.
Love,
Eliana
Love,
Eliana
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Day 20: Be Still
Today's topic was silence. In a house with small children this is something that I rarely have. I have enjoyed the quiet mornings the last couple weeks. I do know that even in the silence - I am not always quiet. My head is always running with thoughts.
Today's challenge was to turn the radio off the next time you are in the car. That really won't work for me - I am never in the car alone. So I am going to commit to being quite before God every morning, to listen to his voice and try to hear what he wants to say to me.
This song has been playing in my head all day and I wanted to share:
Today's challenge was to turn the radio off the next time you are in the car. That really won't work for me - I am never in the car alone. So I am going to commit to being quite before God every morning, to listen to his voice and try to hear what he wants to say to me.
This song has been playing in my head all day and I wanted to share:
Over scheduled
Day 19: Tell today what to do
As I started reading, he said to write down your schedule and not to write a to do list. Well, he was already too late. I write my to do list the night before. I already had everything figured out for today. Today is our busiest day of the week; Josiah has speech in the morning and Eliana has art in the afternoon. We do school in the car and run our errands between the two activities. As I looked at my schedule, I wasn't even sure when I would have time to write this post.
Today's action tip was to look for places in your day to be productive or rest. I kept a close eye on my schedule today. I realized I didn't have any large blocks of time to do either. But I did get 10-15 minutes at different times. One of those is right now as I type. I may not be able to accomplish large tasks but I was able to do things that take only a few minutes.
As I started reading, he said to write down your schedule and not to write a to do list. Well, he was already too late. I write my to do list the night before. I already had everything figured out for today. Today is our busiest day of the week; Josiah has speech in the morning and Eliana has art in the afternoon. We do school in the car and run our errands between the two activities. As I looked at my schedule, I wasn't even sure when I would have time to write this post.
Today's action tip was to look for places in your day to be productive or rest. I kept a close eye on my schedule today. I realized I didn't have any large blocks of time to do either. But I did get 10-15 minutes at different times. One of those is right now as I type. I may not be able to accomplish large tasks but I was able to do things that take only a few minutes.
Winter Fun: Make the birds a treat
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| First you put on the peanut butter |
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| Then put on the bird seed |
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| Our finished project |
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| Waiting to feed the birds |
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Winter Fun: Make a Snow Globe
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| He has been wanting to make this all winter. Can you tell how happy he is? |
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Day 12: Just keep swimming
In today's section of the book, he talks about going against the flow. Waking up early is hard and that not everyone will do it. It takes work. He talks about if you are going with the flow you are normal. I laughed as I read that. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be normal. I just want to fit in. I don't want to be the person in the room that stands out. What is funny is that my life has never been normal by societal standards. If I even know what normal is. If you were to see me out and about, I would assume I look like every one else, but once you got to know me, you would see some differences.
1. I am a Christ follower. My faith is the biggest part of my life. I base all other decisions on this.
2. My family lives on one income.
3. We are homeschoolers.
4. We have more than 2.5 children.
These are the most obvious, but there are more. This has always been a struggle. I know Christ has called me to be different, to stand out from the world. But lots of days, I find that hard! I would be lying if I said it wasn't. I found this verse today and I think it serves as a great reminder.
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 NIV
So until God tells me different, I will continue to go against the flow; and just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.
I still haven't made it up at 5:30 since the time change. Here is what time I got up today.
1. I am a Christ follower. My faith is the biggest part of my life. I base all other decisions on this.
2. My family lives on one income.
3. We are homeschoolers.
4. We have more than 2.5 children.
These are the most obvious, but there are more. This has always been a struggle. I know Christ has called me to be different, to stand out from the world. But lots of days, I find that hard! I would be lying if I said it wasn't. I found this verse today and I think it serves as a great reminder.
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 NIV
So until God tells me different, I will continue to go against the flow; and just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.
I still haven't made it up at 5:30 since the time change. Here is what time I got up today.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Spring forward
Early to rise: Day 9 & 10
Saturday:
Due to an over active imagination, I did not fall asleep until around 2 this morning. I turned my alarm off and decided today would be my day off. I was still up around 7:00 am.
I was very encouraged when today's challenge was to spend 15 minutes of time for myself. I didn't even have that as the kids were up before I was. I was upset with myself for slacking off. The book reminded me that life happens, and it is not the end of the world that I stayed up too late. Tomorrow is a new day.
Speaking of a new day - I live in part of the country that does day light savings time. So of course, tonight we spring forward. We will see how the early to rise challeges works with my new interal clock!
Sunday:
Since it is Sunday, our normal morning routine is a little crazy. Getting up and getting 4 kids and myself ready can make for a stressful morning. Add to that the time change, a slumber party this weekend and a boy that likes to sleep on my floor (only on the weekends), and this morning had all the signs of catastrophe! But since I was up early around 7 and had a plan - this morning ran smoothly. Or at least a smoothly as anything that involves 4 kids!
Today's challenge was to eat something that gives you energy for breakfast. Talk about a slap in the face as I was eating my Sunday donut & Coke for breakfast! Breakfast has always been the meal I struggle with. I don't eat it on a regular basis. I cook the kids breakfast most morning. On the weekends they get cereal on Saturdays and Trev brings us donuts every Sunday morning. But, I have never been a big eater first thing in the morning.
So, my challenge for myself this week is to sit down and eat breakfast with the kids. I'll keep you posted on how I do!
Saturday:
Due to an over active imagination, I did not fall asleep until around 2 this morning. I turned my alarm off and decided today would be my day off. I was still up around 7:00 am.
I was very encouraged when today's challenge was to spend 15 minutes of time for myself. I didn't even have that as the kids were up before I was. I was upset with myself for slacking off. The book reminded me that life happens, and it is not the end of the world that I stayed up too late. Tomorrow is a new day.
Speaking of a new day - I live in part of the country that does day light savings time. So of course, tonight we spring forward. We will see how the early to rise challeges works with my new interal clock!
Sunday:
Since it is Sunday, our normal morning routine is a little crazy. Getting up and getting 4 kids and myself ready can make for a stressful morning. Add to that the time change, a slumber party this weekend and a boy that likes to sleep on my floor (only on the weekends), and this morning had all the signs of catastrophe! But since I was up early around 7 and had a plan - this morning ran smoothly. Or at least a smoothly as anything that involves 4 kids!
Today's challenge was to eat something that gives you energy for breakfast. Talk about a slap in the face as I was eating my Sunday donut & Coke for breakfast! Breakfast has always been the meal I struggle with. I don't eat it on a regular basis. I cook the kids breakfast most morning. On the weekends they get cereal on Saturdays and Trev brings us donuts every Sunday morning. But, I have never been a big eater first thing in the morning.
So, my challenge for myself this week is to sit down and eat breakfast with the kids. I'll keep you posted on how I do!
Friday, March 8, 2013
Early to Rise: Day 5
Well, today it happened - I was awake before the alarm went off. When I looked at my phone to see what time it was it said 5:30. I couldn't believe it! So this going to bed early thing seems to be working. I wanted to share with you one of the verses I read this morning.
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my request before you and wait in expectation. Psalms 5:3
It stood out to me today because the word morning was used more than once. And since this whole morning thing is new to me I found that interesting. But the part of this verse that I enjoyed the most was the last 3 words - wait in expectation. So I will spend the rest of the day/week/month waiting in expectation for what the Lord is going to do!
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my request before you and wait in expectation. Psalms 5:3
It stood out to me today because the word morning was used more than once. And since this whole morning thing is new to me I found that interesting. But the part of this verse that I enjoyed the most was the last 3 words - wait in expectation. So I will spend the rest of the day/week/month waiting in expectation for what the Lord is going to do!
Early to Rise: Day 8
Today I woke up at 5:38, almost 20 minutes before my alarm went off. So I think next week I'll start getting up at 5:30. Even though I am up, I still can't see a way to squeeze in that 30 minutes of exercise. So next week, I'll get up with the plan to exercise that 30 minutes.
If you would have told me last week I would be getting up at 5:30 and thinking it was no big deal, I would have thought you were crazy. So one week down and I already see the positive effects of this challenge.
Today's challenge I thought was a little odd. The title of day 8 is Ship Something. He describes all of us as being artists and challenges us to share it with the world. I have no idea what any of this has to do with getting up early. But I said I was committed, so here is what I came up with. I am no artist in the traditional sense. He says that anything we create is art. He gives the example of writing his book being his art. Since you are reading this blog, you know I, (Bethany) am no writer. I spent some time this morning thinking about it and I came up with this.
I can bake!
So, how's it work? The first 5 people to leave a comment on the blog about what you would like to receive will be receiving your treat in the next few weeks.
If you would have told me last week I would be getting up at 5:30 and thinking it was no big deal, I would have thought you were crazy. So one week down and I already see the positive effects of this challenge.
Today's challenge I thought was a little odd. The title of day 8 is Ship Something. He describes all of us as being artists and challenges us to share it with the world. I have no idea what any of this has to do with getting up early. But I said I was committed, so here is what I came up with. I am no artist in the traditional sense. He says that anything we create is art. He gives the example of writing his book being his art. Since you are reading this blog, you know I, (Bethany) am no writer. I spent some time this morning thinking about it and I came up with this.
So, how's it work? The first 5 people to leave a comment on the blog about what you would like to receive will be receiving your treat in the next few weeks.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Good Morning Bertha
Today is day 2 of the Rise Early challenge. My goal is to get up at 6 am. Yesterday it was closer to 6:30. Today was 6:10. So I am not there yet, but hopefully tomorrow. Today's challenge was to name your alarm clock. He said to stop looking at it as an annoying thing, but as a friend. So we are to name it and say good morning ______________ each day. I find this weird, but am committed to the project. So today my clocks name is Bertha. That is the first name I thought of. I don't really think I would be friends with a Bertha. So if you have a better name for my clock let me know. Even though Asher got up only minutes after me today, I still accomplished a lot by 9 am. I chose to stop at 9 because that is normally when we start school. So before class started I got the following done.
Read the challenge in the book
Did my devotions
Journaled
Read 2 chapters in the current book I am reading
2 loads of laundry washed and one dry, the other in the dryer
Washed all the dishes from yesterday
Made breakfast
Cleaned up the breakfast mess
Folded 3 loads of laundry and put it away
Checked my email and responsed to messages
Picked up the living room
I was amazed as I typed this at all I got done. I may not like mornings but seeing this list makes me really want to continue this new habit!
If you would like to join in on the challenge you can find the link at Money Saving Mom
Read the challenge in the book
Did my devotions
Journaled
Read 2 chapters in the current book I am reading
2 loads of laundry washed and one dry, the other in the dryer
Washed all the dishes from yesterday
Made breakfast
Cleaned up the breakfast mess
Folded 3 loads of laundry and put it away
Checked my email and responsed to messages
Picked up the living room
I was amazed as I typed this at all I got done. I may not like mornings but seeing this list makes me really want to continue this new habit!
If you would like to join in on the challenge you can find the link at Money Saving Mom
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