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Mama Morning Time

February 18, 2020

The older I get, and more kids I have had, the more I have realized the importance of rhythms, rest, time to recharge and specifically for me, a good morning routine. I would love to dig into rhythms more in a different post, but today I just wanted to focus on my morning routine. I usually wake up about an hour before my kiddos. I have found that when I start my morning before my kids wake up, then I am a much more patient and loving mama during the day. Here are a few things I do that really get my day started right.

First of all, I do not pick up my phone to look at emails, social media, etc until later in the morning. For me, it is so important that I am able to start my morning on my own terms, not hearing from the world first thing in the morning. A wonderful ministry called Well-Watered Women had a whole campaign called “Word Before World” that focused on starting your morning in the Word of God before allowing all the voices of the world to speak into your life. This resonated with me so much. I definitely want to hear from the Lord to start my day before I hear from the world.

So, after I wake up I make my way into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. I love that first cup of coffee in the morning. I start looking forward to it as soon as I wake up. I recently got a milk frother and a really yummy oat milk creamer that has changed the coffee game for me, and it is delicious! While my coffee is brewing I will usually get my diffuser started with some yummy smelling oils. I’ll pour myself a cup of coffee and head to my little corner of the couch, turn on a lamp and grab my Bible. I love to create a cozy atmosphere for my morning. The smell of fresh coffee, the warm glow of lamps, the candle flicker setting on my diffuser and some soft throw blankets to cuddle up on the couch with. Before I start reading, I like to just still myself before the Lord and just invite Him to speak to me, and guide me throughout my day. Some mornings I just open my Bible and start reading, other mornings I have a Bible Study that I work through. Whatever I do, I just make sure to have some quality time just sitting with God, growing in my relationship with Him. This time of quiet surrender and rest in God is so important before the chaos of the day begins. I can honestly tell a difference in my patience and mood when I miss this time in the morning.

When I know we will be leaving the house later in the morning, I try to leave time to get ready before the kids wake up. But most mornings, I stay at the couch with my Bible while the kids make their way into the living room. I love that they see their mom reading God’s word when they wake up. We recently got our girls their very own Bibles, and our oldest daughter said she wanted to sit on the couch in the morning and read like I do. Little things like that, just sitting reading your Bible, they notice and that plants little seeds in their hearts.

So that is my mama morning routine. Especially as a mama of three little ones, having this time in the morning to recharge and ready myself for the day has become so important. In different seasons of life it has looked different and that’s okay. But for this season it looks like this and I’m grateful. Do you have a morning routine?

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Inspiration

I Hope There is Coffee in Heaven

February 3, 2020

I hope there is coffee in heaven…let me tell you why. 

Growing up, one of my very favorite places to be was at my Mamaw and Papaw’s house in Southwest Virginia.  They lived in a little house tucked away in the woods right next door to my aunt and uncle and two cousins.  When I was a kid we would go and stay for days at a time.  For me, my siblings, and cousins there was adventure around every corner.  We would roam the surrounding forest pretending we were explorers, play baseball and kick the can in the open field, have bonfires and water fights in the summer.  We loved it there!  It was always magical to me.  We would stay the night in my Mamaw and Papaws house, usually on the couch in their living room.  Bright and early every single morning, usually before anyone else was awake, I would hear footsteps and it would be my papaw.  He’d quietly walk through the room we were sleeping in and head to the kitchen to start that morning’s first pot of coffee for the rest of the family.  Once everyone else woke up, all the adults would make their way to the kitchen where there was already hot coffee waiting on them.  Everyone would gather in the back sunroom with their pajamas on, hot cup of coffee in hand, and just talk and be together. 

As we grew, all of us “kids” would pour us a cup as well.  Those times talking together, sipping our hot drinks, just being together with nowhere to be were some of my favorite memories.  You see, my papaw was a quiet man.  Never one to be very affectionate.  It wasn’t until after he had a heart attack that I remember him starting to open up a little more and start saying “I love you” to me.  But as I got a little older, I started to see that he showed his love for us in the ways he knew how.  That pot of coffee was one way.  I think he knew how much we all enjoyed that time of being together, drinking our morning coffee.  And every morning there was a hot pot waiting on all of us. 

A few years ago, my papaw passed away.  My family and I gathered at their house to stay the days following as we grieved together and made funeral arrangements.  I remember waking up early that morning after.  I rubbed my sleepy eyes awake and made my way to the kitchen.  Through the dim light I saw someone standing there starting a pot of coffee.  For a split second I saw my papaw, but then quickly realized it was my daddy.  My eyes filled with tears.  My daddy knew the significance in that pot of coffee too, and he knew there was now a hole to be filled.  So you see, I really hope there is coffee in heaven.  Because when I get there, I plan on sitting with my papaw to have a cup.     

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