Hoot-who else is not a morning person?

I read somewhere that "Motivation is desire putting on work clothes." (Anonymous) Today is one of those days where I think I'd really rather stay in my PJ's. I have loads to do and my motivation level is needing a cup of coffee. Black coffee. And I don't even like it black.

I thought that with a week's vacation, I'd develop some sort of better sleep pattern. You know, early to bed, early to rise and all that. Somehow though, I am still late to bed, late to rise and it frustrates me. Why, oh why, wasn't I made to be a natural morning person? I'd feel like I could accomplish more in a day that way. Why is that, do you think?

Regardless, I am not a morning person. I do my best sleeping between 2:00am and 9:00 or 10:00am. I am productive after lunch (or in my case, breakfast since I get up so late) until I feel guilty making noise when everyone else in the house is trying to sleep. I think I am part-owl. Maybe not a wise owl, but an owl nonetheless.

...and I kinda look that way before my coffee....

I always feel bad when I read in Proverbs about the woman who gets up before her household and gets soooo much done, or the person who is a sluggard because they sleep in. I feel like there is a stamp on my forehead that says, "Lazy Night Owl".  Why can't I be the way I think I should be?

Or did God make me the way I am for a reason? Is this just a season for me? I am a nurse who works night shift. What if no one wanted to work that shift? Would the sick people just stop being sick for 12 hours or would the ER close down for the night? That's not to say that at 4:00 in the morning, when I am at work, that I don't long to be at home, in bed asleep. But, it does say that I am able to do it because my body is wired to be more of a night owl kind of person.

The day may come when I am able to get up early without having a truck roar through the bedroom to wake me up, but until then, I may just need to accept that I am who I am. I know that on the days that I don't accept that, I am grouchy because I feel guilty that I am not the perfect "up at the crack of dawn" woman. On those days, I do not behave at all like the Proverbs 31 woman. My children do not wish to "rise up and call me blessed".

That being said, it doesn't mean that I shouldn't try to change things that I'd like to change. Maybe, though I need to be okay that it doesn't happen all at once. And that the hours I keep aren't going to be what is remembered about me ( at least I hope not!) What matters is what I do with the time that I am awake. Whether it is 7am-10pm or 10am-2am.

Hoot Hoot,
Dianne

Sunday Siesta

There is nothing quite like a good foot rub and a nap on a Sunday afternoon.  Somehow, taking a Sunday siesta doesn't make you feel guilty like it would any other day of the week. Rather, it is almost a requirement.

When I was a kid though, I couldn't understand at all why my parents would want to sleep part of a perfectly good day away. Why not play outside, read a book, play a game?

Now, I understand.


Not that I take a snooze every Sunday. Sometimes I enjoy curling up with an intriguing book or good movie. In the summer I like to read out in the hammock. On a winter day, scrapbooking is a desirable pastime.  Spring and Fall are ideal for a walk through the woods or down along River Road. Occasionally, if the weather is right, I just can't help but to dig in the dirt, pull a few weeds, plant something. Maybe some would call that working on a Sunday, and not keeping one of the Ten Commandments, but to me, it's relaxing.

Right now, as I am typing this, I am kinda watching the Ravens vs. Patriots football game with Leo. Go Steelers! (Sorry, force of habit.)  I did doze off earlier for about 30 minutes. Amy and Heather are watching an episode of Psych, Adrienne is taking a nap, Ryan is drawing, and Aaron just got home from an overnight job. A relaxing, no-agenda, afternoon. Oh yeah...

Now, if this was years ago, my mom would be making ice-cream, the homemade pizza would be started, and later, the popcorn would be popped and we would eat after my dad got home from doing the farm chores.

For today, I'll just live the moment. Maybe I'll venture outside when Leo goes to the barn. Maybe I'll walk up the lane and back. Maybe I'll look through a gardening magazine. Maybe I'll just go make some popcorn. . .

Love,
Dianne

Driving Lessons

I spend a lot of time in my car (Scarlet) going to and from work. Probably between 6 1/2 to 7hrs a week is spent behind the wheel driving. It gets old, really old.

I don't like being bored and sometimes driving the same road becomes tedious. I need to change it up a little, so I do things like listen to books on CD or sing along to K-Love radio or to another CD. I wish there was a way to exercise effectively in the car, cause I would try that too. When I was in school, I'd record the lectures and play them back during the drive to help me study.

Some books I have "read" are The Lord of The Rings Trilogy (twice), The Chronicles of Narnia, The O'Malley Series by Dee Henderson, and the King Raven Trilogy by Stephen Lawhead. (I am ready to start Book 3 Tuck of that series). I also listen to Adventures in Odyssey, a children's radio program by Focus on The Family. This passes the time effectively and even allows me to look forward to the drive if I am really into the book.

Something else the drive is good for is thinking and planning. The problem is remembering later! I also use the time to pray. Keep a prayer list on your sun visor as a reminder.

Being that I spend so much time in my car, I eat there too. I do not recommend a hot, steaming bowl of Ramen Noodles. When they dump in your lamp while sitting at the light in Salisbury, it makes you do a frantic form of dance to get the hot, oh so hot, noodles off your now scalded skin. Not to mention making the other people at the light turn away in embarrassment at the strange sight and sounds coming from your car. Therefore, sandwiches and finger foods work best.

Eating helps to keep me awake too, in the mornings on my way home. Some of the time. I do pull over and take a nap when I just can't go anymore. When I get sleepy driving, it is pretty much a lost cause. The best times to take a nap in your car is in the Spring and Fall. Like with Goldilocks and The Three Bears, I don't like it too hot or too cold, but just right. Nobody likes to wake up feeling like either an icicle or like they've been done to medium rare. Yep, Spring and Fall are the best.

Maybe someday, I will have a car that I can program to do the driving for me and I'll just be along for the ride. Until that day comes, I guess I'll just enjoy the drive, taking advantage of the time to myself, to think and pray (with my eyes open of course), to sing and dance (well, kinda) to a favorite song, or take in a good book that I wouldn't take the time to read at home.

Vroooooom!

Confession at High Noon

Confession time.
I slept until noon today.
Lazy? Maybe.
Or maybe just needed.
After working 3 night shifts and then sleeping yesterday, once I was awake, I was really awake. Like, until 2:30am awake.  So then I slept. Until High Noon.
"I'll meet you at high noon at the saloon. Be ready for a steaming cup of coffee."
Oh, I forgot to mention that I was awake around 8:00am when Leo brought me breakfast in bed. For no reason other than he is my sweetheart. So, I ate scrambled eggs 'n' ham (not green) and a waffle. He's so good to me. Then, I fell asleep again.

I usually think I am invincible. That when I take off my shirt, there is super hero clothing on underneath stating that I am WonderMom. But it's not true.

I need rest, and lots of it. I need good food, and lots of it (well, maybe not lots; I just like food). I need to exercise (notice the lack of lots). I need to take time to rejuvenate, renew, refresh, and revive.

I need to be okay that I need those things. I need to take care of me so I can take of my family, so I can go to work with a positive attitude, so I can enjoy the life God has blessed me with. I've tried to be the person who thought that I should never put myself first and what I found was that I wasn't really helping anyone. My attitude in serving others was one of martyrdom. Does that make sense?

When I take a little time for me, I am ready to serve others with a joyful heart. It's about balance. It's not all about Me, Me, Me; rather, it is a combination of God, others, and me.

I struggle with serving others with the right attitude. I know that taking time for rest and all the other stuff makes me better able to have the right attitude.

So, my today resolution is: Be a blessing to the people God puts in my way, whether it is to just smile and say "Hi", or to fix their flat tire (at least I could call TripleA).

Sleep is Sweet...but so is my cappuccino

I came home from work this morning and just sat in my car. Sometimes I am just so tired and when the sun is shining, making my car warm, I just want to sit there like a cat and soak it in.

And then my family sees me in my car...
                               sleeping....
                               with my mouth open....
                               drooling...
Not glamorous by any stretch of the imagination. At least I wasn't purring.

Our bodies are designed to need rest, but somehow I think that my body should not need as much as everybody else. I would like to think I can survive, even while going 24 hours or more without sleep.

Besides isn't that why coffee was invented?

What do you mean it wasn't?!?!

I can tell I need to sleep. Everything is either ridiculously funny or extremely annoying. I find myself staring at nothing for long periods and can't remember at all what I was thinking about. I am writing this blog and have to keep changing my spelling cause my fingers are either 2 letters ahead or 1 behind.

I found a coffee recipe that sounds heavenly and thought I'd share it with you. Maybe I'll think about making some later when I wake up. Just in time to go back to bed for the night.

Gotta love working night shift!

Enjoy!

Chocolate Cappuccino

For sweet stirrers, prop in peppermint sticks. This homemade treat is far less expensive than in a coffee shop.

Total Time: 10 mins
Servings: Makes 8 servings.
SEE MORE BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS RECIPES
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup  whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons  powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup  finely chopped semisweet chocolate or finely chopped milk chocolate
• 1/2 cup  crushed striped round peppermint candies

  
  

  8 cups  hot espresso or very strong coffee  

  
  

  Chocolate curls

  
  

  Directions

  
  

  1

  Beat the whipping cream and powdered sugar with an electric mixer on low speed until soft peaks form; set aside.

  
  

  2

  Spoon 1 tablespoon each chopped chocolate and peppermint candies into a coffee cup. Add hot espresso. Top with the whipped cream and chocolate curls. Serve at once. Makes 8 servings.

  
  

  Nutrition Facts

  Calories 221, Total Fat 10 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 27 mg, Sodium 88 mg, Carbohydrate 24 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 5 g. Daily Values: Vitamin A 11%, Vitamin C 3%, Calcium 20%, Iron 1%.
  Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
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Alarm clock....go away...

It's 4:07 pm and my alarm went off 7 minutes ago and now the series of snooze wake-up calls has begun. I am too tired to even reach over and shut it off, to let it know that I am awake. I think I understand quite well why people throw their alarm clocks across a room, or pound on them to make them stop. Oh, and there it goes again...

Alarm clock. Even the name is annoying. Why would anyone even want something that signifies ALARM! To me, alarm means impending danger, something distressing. No wonder no one wants their alarm clock to go off!

Maybe if it were called an Anticipation Clock or even an Inspiration Device, we would look forward to what the day holds with excitement instead of dread. I wish my wake- up call included coffee and breakfast in bed. Yes, even at 4:00 in the afternoon. All night shift workers will understand.

Maybe when my clock sounds the alarm, it could also have an inspiring quote or verse to get me motivated to fling off the warm covers, bound out of bed, and greet my offspring with a smile. You know, instead of the normal squinty-eyed look that says my eyes would rather be closed, and the grunt that means "I won't be fully awake until after coffee and a shower."

So, as the alarm clock continues to remind me that I am still in bed, I stretch and yawn, stretch again, and think about getting up. At least now I am pondering the possibility.

"Let the morning (or evening, as the case may be) bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalms 143:8

Listen to the sound...

Listen to it. Do you hear it?

 It's like snow falling on snow. Or a baby sleeping. Or the sound the sun makes as it slips up over the horizon in the morning. 

Sometimes Sunday evenings, for me, feel restless. Anxious. I think I feel like I need to be doing something, anything to fill the hours. Tonight I felt that way. 

Then my parents stopped in and gave us their Christmas card which made all of us smile for one reason or another. I love their enthusiasm for life. Thanks Mom and Dad! As we visited, they offered to take the kids to gym night with the youth group. They told us to go to sleep. 

Leonard was up all night working in the mine. I was up late watching a movie with Heather. Either way, we were tired. 

So, they all left. And the house was quiet. Completely. Not even my normal music playing. My spirit calmed and I felt peace begin to take over. And instead of fighting it, I allowed it to take over. We slept together, on the couch, with the Christmas lights glowing around us. 

Do you hear it now? The silence. The breath of peaceful rest. 

"...I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint" At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.    Jeremiah 25-26