Mornings Matter

My mornings are very important to me. I am finally in the season of my life when I can choose how I’d like to begin my day. Do I want to sleep in or have a scheduled wake-up time? By nature, I am one to rise early. Even in this season, I still choose to get up between 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., before my family rises. This is so important to me as a homeschool, mompreneur that works from home because it allows me to have some much needed time alone with the Lord each day.

I begin by waking up around 4:30 and deciding if I am going to lay in bed for a while or get up right away. When I rise, I begin my morning routine with stretching and exercising using my stretching bands and hand weights for 30-45 minutes, five days a week. I listen to the reading of the bible and a devotional during this time. This has been a great way for me to go through the bible in a year. When I complete it, I just start all over. Doing this has been a blessing. It keeps the scriptures fresh in my heart and mind. I also listen to an inspirational message pertaining to one or more of my roles or responsibilities in this season of life. The combination of moving my body and nurturing my heart is so refreshing to me first thing in the morning.

Recently, I started lighting a lavender candle in the morning and opening my curtain so that I can have a little aromatherpy and watch the sunrise as I sip on my cup of green tea and make my morning posts. At 6:00 a.m., I meet with my husband for our daily conversation. This is a time I insisted we have because it is so very important for me to have uninterrupted time with just him every week day to communicate (and sometimes cuddle) with him. It’s when I share the things on my heart…good, bad and indifferent, my thoughts about my life, our relationship, our family, business etc. Though we have had this devoted time in the evenings, we have found it to be a blessing for us both to begin our day together.

Prayer is also an important part of my morning routine. Each weekday morning, I pray intentionally for an individual or for a group of people. I have a special prayer journal for those that I pray for regularly. I pray for my husband daily using the chapter titles in the book Power of a Praying Wife by Stormy Omartian as a prayer guide for each day of the month. On months when there are thirty-one days, I pray a special pray for him since the book only has thirty chapters. I read this years ago and it is such a great book! I refer back to the content and the prayers often for insight and wisdom.

When time allows, I also like to read in the morning. I usually have a couple of books I am reading at a time. I choose books that encourage and inspire me as a woman. My time is very valuable and though reading is very relaxing for me, I also want it to nurture my heart and mind.

Do you have a regular morning routine?