The Secret to Getting Up Early...

The house is cool, and quiet. Both are rare finds, but I’ve come to enjoy 4:30am wakeups because I get a few minutes of each. A steaming mug of coffee, a to-do list a mile long, a few minutes with Jesus, and boom – the day has started.

First Day of School

I’ve never been much of a morning person. After high school, I took an incredible job in Alaska and I had to be up at 4am….EVERY.DAY. We also went to bed at like 7pm so it wasn’t THAT hard, but I never would’ve made it through a morning with out at least 2 strong cups of coffee.

Since my stint in Alaska over 13 years ago – oh LAWD! I’m getting old – I’ve never been able to keep up with the early a.m. routine.

Marieta's 11th birthday

I’m married to a SUPER early riser, an almost non-sleeper, really. He basically doesn’t need sleep. His super power would be “no sleep required.”

But I’m just not wired for mornings…until I had to be. Many people don’t know, but Phil is actually back in the U.S. right now. With him being Stateside, I’m the lone ranger doing his usual morning routine duties, and I have to admit: I’m actually enjoying being a morning person. I know – I said it. 

For the last 2 ½ months, I’ve been up BEFORE 5am…yes, ME, up before 5am. I’ve been making breakfast for the kids before school, making lunches, mapping out my day, praying, meal planning, and handling the daily junk before the sun comes blazing in my windows. 

Then I walk the kids to the bus stop & have a nice little morning run before I come home and get the rest of the day started. This all happens before 7am...so the secret to getting up early is...I HAD TO! 

Swim Outing

Some days have been a little rough, like this morning. I woke up with an incredible bought of: Am I gonna throw up or did I just eat something weird?

I’ve been feeling a little wonky in the mornings for a few days now, probably due to lack of sleep & a recent round of malaria for me. Jojo just finished up chicken pox and she’s been mostly quiet and cool about the whole debacle, but as her mama, I can’t help but check on her a million different times and make sure she’s not scratching anything. (They’re pretty much gone, except for one spot on her leg.)

Monday Morning Bible study

Even with the lack of sleep, the unexpected bouts of chicken pox & malaria, and the hot weather, I’m still digging the early mornings. I can actually say I can run 2 MILES without stopping every 5 seconds. It took me 8 weeks to work up to it, but I can run 2 miles. I’m as slow as a turtle but hey, it beats where I was.

And the ENERGY I have the rest of the day, as well as patience, is amazing. I can’t miss a run or I just feel off. I think my kids like it, too. We walk to their bus stop together at the local YWAM base, and then I run and they go to school.

When they come home, I have more energy to help break up fights (insert laughing/crying emoji here), help with homework and baths, and make a hearty dinner. I think the kids are enjoying it as much as I am.

Since the beginning of the year, the early mornings have been a great source of peace and calm for me. We’ve had a lot of little challenges health wise – Marieta had a nasty worm in her hands that caused a terrible infection, Fatima had some kind of infection as well, JoJo has been teething off and on & now has chicken pox – and some other small injuries & accidents have come up.

Even JoJo was listening!

But we’ve also celebrated 4 out of 9 birthdays since the beginning of the year! So we’re doing our fair share of doctor’s visits and cake eating. A good balance, I’d say…

I’m also trying to manage a few projects around the house & center in general. Our backyard area has needed some TLC for a long time and we’re finally doing it. Our bricklayer, Abdul, is a super awesome guy who was recommended by a friend I would trust with my life. He’s a great man of God AND a hard worker.

We’ve spent the first few days removing some big rocks and now they’re leveling and setting up the boundaries of where they will lay rocks and then cement. Abdul is also adding a table for us so we can eat outside AND it doubles as a ping-pong table. Best idea EVER.

So while we’re praying for less time at the doctor and more time enjoying the soon-to-come cool weather, I could use your prayers that we all stay healthy & safe. I’m determined not to call the pediatrician or the grown up doctor any time soon!

Thanks for your continued support and love. I can feel it and so can the kiddos. We love you all and miss so many of you!

More updates to come and maybe a snake story or two…

Lots of love,

Laura & the littles