Monday, August 25, 2014

Get to Know You Monday (Vol. 13)


My husband's return home cannot come soon enough. Thankfully we are close. Oh, so close. I am often asked, "When will he be home?" It's the military. I don't believe they ever give an exact day but my standard response has been "before October rolls along."

When my husband does return home there will certainly be some changes to our routines as we find a new normal after ten months apart.

I have always been more of an early bird vs. a night owl. However, since my husband departed the evenings have ended earlier and the morning have started earlier. And I kind of like it that way. I have grown rather fond of the quiet time found in those early hours.

My alarm goes off at 4:30 am. I roll out of bed, start up a pot of coffee and then hop in the shower. Quickly after the shower comes coffee. Must have coffee!

More often than not I return to my bed with a cup of coffee in hand followed by time in His Word. Sooner than I'd like to admit, either social media distracts me or I am catching up on all the lovely blogs I follow (like yours). There are mornings when I write too. Writing until the wee hours of the night does not happen around here.

The primary change will be the location of my early mornings. If I am climbing back into bed it cannot be to enjoy a cup of coffee or those other things.

Most likely my morning time will move to here . . .


On the days when weather allows I need to move my morning time outdoors. I love my Red, White and Blue.



I know my husband fully supports time with God so maybe I simply need a balance between rising early for my quiet time and staying in bed a little longer to cuddle with him.

When I do rise early what also needs to happen is an elimination of all that distracts me from quality time in His Word. In reality, if I made better use of my time I could probably stay in bed a little bit longer. Right now I cannot imagine pulling myself away from my husband once I have him lying next to me again. Ten months is a awful long time to be apart.

How about you? Are you an early bird or a night owl? Do you have a specific routine you follow?

Friends, I love our Monday's together. Thank you for your willingness to pull up a chair at our table to share more of YOU. There is always room for more so please feel free to invite a friend. They can catch up here

And stay tuned . . . coming up soon we will have guest hosts for our Get to Know You Monday time together. Super exciting!!


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44 comments :

  1. I lobe me early morn coffee time with Jesus. I get up at 5 to spend about 1 1/2-2 hrs with Him....and coffee! Gotta have coffee! 5am has really stretched me. I'm not a morning person, and with kids there's the frequent night mare, sickly one, or the early riser. (this morn 2 are up before 6 due to a thunderstorm) I'm like you, about getting distracted with social media. Which is why I'm here! :) :) I'll go pour the second cup of coffee and enjoy it with you! Blessings to your day, friend!

    Oh, I usually sit at the dining room table or the desk. If I get on the couch or anywhere soft I fall asleep again! Lol

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    1. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one easily distracted by social media. Happy to be your distraction this morning, Kaylene. <3 I will say there are morning when on my bed that I'm tempted to close my eyes and grab hold of a bit more sleep. Thanks for sharing. It's so much fun to learn a bit more about each other. And now I know who to come poke at the early morning hours. xoxo

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  2. Totally an early bird. I usually get up by 6, check in with the social media, drink some water, have my quiet time, and then get breakfast, talk a walk, shower and dress for the day. Oh and I always make up my bed!!

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    1. I'm impressed. My bed is hardly ever made. We will see what we can do about that. Maybe. hehe. Love you.

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  3. Beth,
    Like you, I am an early bird. I get up at 4 because it is my only time in the entire day to have complete quiet (except for the dogs snoring in their baskets after I give them their morning cookie). It is the time I spend with God. My coffee is already brewed by the time I get to the kitchen--hooray for timers! Even though I only drink decaf, the smell and warmth and taste make the morning cozier. I leave for work at 7 during the school year. That time in His Word is a must if I'm going to be his ambassador during the hectic day of teaching seventh grade. During the summer, I love the more leisurely time of taking my coffee, my Bible, and my journal out onto the patio and lingering with God there. Have a blessed week.

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    1. I so agree with you, Debbie. I do notice a drastic difference in my pleasantness if I push time in His Word to the side to many mornings in a row. And I really should have enjoyed more mornings outdoors while I had the chance. Next summer. :) Wishing you a blessed week too.

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  4. I'm a morning person rather than a night owl. However, I make my coffee first thing (before my shower). I love the peaceful, quietness of the morning, watching the sun come up and hearing the world come alive again. I'm excited about our upcoming move as I'm wondering how early the folks will be walking by our back yard on the golf course! You know those golfers...they're pretty early birds, also! Blessings, Joan

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    1. Those golfers are early birds. I know my husband has left before my waking time to golf. CRAZY. Can't wait to join you for a cup of coffee one of these days. Maybe our men can golf at that early hour while we relax together. Oh now that sounds lovely. :)

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  5. 4:30. Gasp!

    I love a good book late at night. But I'm working on trying to get 8 hours consistently.

    New morning routine? Devotions, check online QUICK, head out for a 2 mile walk, throw a load of laundry in, sit down with the computer and a bowl of cheerios. For lots of reasons these are all victories for me. I hope I can continue into fall ...

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    1. I know. I'm a little crazy. There are mornings the snooze button is pressed but not too often. It does explain why I can't get past one page in a book if trying to read at night. I'm worthless. Your morning routine sounds lovely. I'd love to squeeze in a morning walk. I do have a habit of going on one in the early evenings. Yay for victories!! Thanks for sharing, friend. xoxo

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  6. Hi Beth! I used to be a 100% night owl, but now? I can barely drag myself out of bed if I'm up too late. So, I'm trying, like Linda, to be a little more balanced. 4:30? Good Lord girl!! Good for you! I'm up at 6, and thought that was early.
    Love your dedicated time with the Word. I'm sure your husbands return will change around your schedule a bit. But you'll love it because he's finally home. You'll find the time and place again.
    Have a great Monday my friend,
    Ceil

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    1. I will be more than willing to find a new routine once he is home because I will be so happy just to have him home. :) It was so wonderful spending part of Saturday with you, Ceil. I truly adore your company. Much love. xoxo

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  7. I am more of a late night person these days. Although, I find that my day goes much better if I give the Lord those first moments in the morning. But everything else I push off to evening - social media, blogging, etc. And of course, coffee must have it's place in the morning as well.

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    1. I have caught on to you being more of a late night person, Barbie. I've tried a few times thinking it would be a good time for the social media stuff but I'm simply worthless. And I can't get out of the habit of waking early even if I stayed up late. Thanks for sharing, friend. xoxo

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  8. Hello, fellow coffee drinkers! I say great friendships are made over a cup of something - for me it's coffee all the way! I am definitely a morning person. A perfect day starts between 5 and 5:30 so I can go for a run, but lately that hasn't been happening. Must get back to it! I try to get house stuff done in the morning, because most likely I won't get to it after work. So yes, I have been known to run the vacuum cleaner before 7 am! I pour my cup of coffee at 7 and read my devotional over breakfast. I enjoy prayer time until 8. I jump in the shower and am out of the house by 8:45. I am blessed to not have to be at work until 9 (small town, short drive)! Wishing you lovely ladies a lovely day!

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    1. I am smiling over the fact that for most of us here we MUST HAVE COFFEE. I wish we could all gather over Skype one morning to share a cup. Wouldn't that be lovely? And look at you cleaning at 7am. You go girl! Thanks for sharing, Liv. Always wonderful to see you here. xoxo

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  9. I much prefer mornings to nights. I really struggle with how to best use my morning. It's really the only time during the day that I am alone. I love to wake up, drink coffee and spend time with Jesus...but it's also the best time for me to get out and run (and spend time with Jesus). Soon mornings will be dark and I'm less likely to go for a run...

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    1. A walk in the morning (I can no longer run) does sound lovely. And no matter what time of day it's done, I find a walk/run to be a wonderful way to spend time with Jesus. I do also get the struggle to make the best use of that time. I know I need to be much more focused. Thank you for sharing. Blessings. xoxo

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  10. I'm so happy for you that your husband will be home soon. I am more of a night owl. Although I've been trying to go to bed earlier now that the school year started again. 4:30 a.m.? Wow. I can only recall a few times in my life when I've been up that early. ;-) Like you, though, I love my coffee. Always enjoy learning new things about my friends!

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    1. Thanks, Abby. I'm super excited that he will soon be home. Now I know not to come looking for you at 4:30am on Facebook. hehe. I will let you get your sleep. Love learning new things about you too. Thanks for sharing. xoxo

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  11. Love the flag picture. Thank you so much for the sacrifices you and your hubby have made! I am a night owl, but so is my hubby so it works well for us. Maybe you could compromise by getting up at 5:30 instead? I can't imagine how wonderful your reunion is going to be! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Heather. I appreciate it. I'm ready to welcome him home and I know we will slowly figure out our new normal. Blessings.

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  12. Hi Beth,
    Counting down the days with you!! I am definitely an early riser...5 am. for me. Fortunately my husband is also an early riser so we are able to have a devotional time together (Love Dare - thank you!!) and then our individual quiet times. We often both fall asleep on the couch by 9 pm lol. I am sure you will find a schedule that works when he gets home...but enjoy the extra snuggle time :)
    Love and ((hugs)),
    Bev

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    1. I so love that you are doing the Love Dare devotional together. Love it. I'd so love to have devotional time with my husband. That may be a stretch though. But you never know. Love you friend. (((hugs)))

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  13. Night owl. My husband converted me :)

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    1. Thankfully my husband is more an early bird than a night owl. Don't think he will be getting up at 430am with me though. hehe. :)

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  14. I have not blogged all summer and have been MIA so it's nice to back and read this and begin my blog journey again...baby steps but one down! Are you linking up at all or just on Wed? So anyway...I am at the start of creating a new morning routine so this was perfect! I am being tugged by God to not wait to get with him but start my morning with him before my workouts...so this will be new. It will be a fresh start <3

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    1. It was so wonderful to see you here again, Veronica. It made my day! My link-up is only on Wednesday. Hope you are able to join in again. I will be praying for you as you seek a change in routine by starting with Him. I should follow my time with him with a work out! :) I might need to get up at 4am though. Thanks for stopping by. Blessings.

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  15. I am a night owl, for sure. Always have been. I do enjoy time with God in the quiet after the kids get on the bus in the morning. The start of a day.... there's just something so calm about it.
    Love you, precious friend! Heart Hugs, Shelly <3

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    1. I think I just need that sun. I'm worthless once it goes down. I will be glad to snuggle up with my husband in the evenings again! Love you, friend. xoxo

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  16. I seem to be similar to many of these lovely women-get up early, get ready for the day then coffee-must have coffee. I then have my quiet time which can be a devotional and/or digging into the Word, a bible study or sometimes writing or social media check. Who am I kidding-always a social media check!!! I must have the quiet time to center myself and focus on God who is going to get me through the day. Have a great week sweet Beth!

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    1. Mary, what devotional do you use? I need to find a good one. I haven't found one that has worked for me as much as I enjoyed Jesus Calling. I'd really like something new. Thanks for your honesty with the "always a social media check." I'm glad to see I'm not the only one easily distracted by it. I really do need to push it aside for more time with Him though. Thanks for sharing. Wishing you a great week too. xoxo

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  17. OK, total night owl. Most of the time by choice - but occasionally because of a bout of insomnia (hate that!) However, I have always been a night owl - usually going to bed after midnight. Now, this worked out with my first son, as he just stayed up with me! Of course, God decided to mix things up with son #2 who was an early bird! I'm not kidding - some days I'd be up from 6 AM to midnight!

    Do I have a routine? Not really. But here's what I usually do before bed: Brush my teeth, wash my face, look at the face in the mirror - now without makeup on - and ask, "Who is that old lady?," put my hair in a ponytail, change into a T-shirt and boxers (yup, not sexy but oh-so-comfie), plump up the pillow, and turn on the TV. I cannot fall asleep without some background noise. And it's not gonna come from my hubby who is a silent sleeper - I am the snorer.

    Uh oh - way too much info???

    XO

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    1. You are just delightful, friend. I really want to meet you. Might even be willing to stay up late chatting with you. :) Thanks so much for how you share and always make me smile.
      Btw, my kids are the same with the TV. They can't fall asleep without it. Me . . . I can't fall asleep with it. My husband says I'm the snorer too. I'm not believing him. hehe

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  18. Oh how I loved this! Beth, you are such a wonderful friend.

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  19. Hi Beth! What a fun topic!

    I'm sort of both....during the school year, I'm an early bird. Up at 4:30 and out the door by 6am. But in the summer (and sometimes on the weekends during the school year), I'm a night owl. I can easily stay up to 2am reading.

    PS...super excited Scott will be home soon! :)

    Susan Horn

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    1. Susan, it makes me so happy when you leave a comment here!!! Out the door by 6am! Oh my. I may be up early but I'm not out the door that early. Bless you. I do wish I could stay up later reading. Maybe I wouldn't have so many books still waiting to be read then.
      I'm super excited too!! :)
      Thank you for stopping by and sharing.
      xoxo

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  20. Such an easy question, and yet . . . I love the wind down in the evening. The gloaming as the sun turns the air to pink, the night sounds. Settling in with a good book or a good friend, like you, Beth :) recapping the day with God, and I'm learning to love the mornings. I love the quiet, the peacefulness that lays upon the land. And then listening as the birds wake up, watching the sky lighten as the sun appears. And, I love sinking in to that final hour of snooze before I get out of bed. Sometimes, it feels so good, I push it 30 minutes or so. Drifting in and out as say good morning to God and ask Him about my day, listening to my husband prepare for his day, putting the sausages on to cook. . . and yes, coffee :) Bold, but not bitter, with just a dash of coconut milk.

    Great question, Beth, it was fun reading everyone's response - still praying for you. There are some decisions we wish we never had to make. He will guide you. Have a blessed week!

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    1. I hardly ever press my snooze button because if I did it would be pressed multiple times. I have to get out of bed the second the alarm goes off. You make your evenings and your mornings sound so delightful, June. You have such a beautiful way of describing something. Maybe that's why I loved your book so much and love your blog. :)
      Thank you for your prayers. They are felt and appreciated.
      Much love. xoxo

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  21. I'm an early-bird. But, I haven't always been.
    Now I get up and fix hubby breakfast.
    Years ago I stayed in bed while he fixed his own.
    Now while he eats I read to him.
    Years ago I only read to our boys.
    Now, after hubby leaves, I read from my Bible & do a Bible study.
    Years ago I figured I would do such things in my old age.
    Now, I am sorry I waited so long.

    God Bless you!!

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    1. Michelle, I'm reading this again and maybe I love what you've shared because it seems to describe me too. And as I read I think, let's not be sorry for what we did not do for so long but be grateful for how God has transformed us. It's a beautiful thing. Thank you so much for sharing. Blessings. xoxo

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  22. Hi Beth, you are so sweet to leave the comment on my blog.
    I would love to read the book, thank you for asking.
    I do live in U.S.A. I believe I see the way to e-mail you, so I will :)

    Be blessed!!

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    1. Got your email. Book will be on it's way to you soon.

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