"Early" to Bed & Early to Rise : )

I have been trying to turn my internal clock backwards.  If I'm not very careful, it is easy for me to stay up a little later every night - all in the name of "I'm not tired yet (or caught my second wind) and I can get lots of important work done" but then get up later and later each following morning. 
It is a tough cycle to break out of. 

The hard part is that I don't have an office outside of the home, so getting lots done is best accomplished when the kids are not awake.  Of course I love them to death and they come before work, yet work does have to be accomplished.  Just because my office is in the house does not mean that I can let it slide all the time. 

So, I tried to go to bed early last night.  It was very difficult to fall asleep and before I knew it, it was after midnight and I stiiiiill had not slept.  Each time I alllllllllmost fell asleep, something would happen.  My phone dinged with incoming texts 2 different times, Aliana came in after having a bad dream and needed to put back to bed and reassured that all was well, Nate followed with the same need later on, I had to use the bathroom, the cat jumped on the bed, the neighbor's dogs started barking up a storm, I doubted if I had remembered to lock the outside doors and had to get up and check them to make sure, etc., etc. 

The good news is that I DID still manage to get up at 5:30 am!  I was so excited to be up and not extremely tired.  I started heating water for some hot yerba mate, booting up the laptop, prepping my study materials, etc.  Just as I was getting things rolling...out came Aliana from the bedroom, 1 hour early.  Ugg!  Then Jonny followed.  Not too long after that so did Nathanael.  Really?!

Not actually one of my children.  Just a fun representation. 

Most days I can't get them up!  Today, when I am finally up early and am wide awake and productive - they pop out of bed, on their own, an hour ahead of schedule and refuse to go back to bed.  Sigh.  Of well.  I still did get lots more done than otherwise & got to spend more quality time with my little ones.
 : ) 

SO MUCH to get done over the next couple of days before heading out to speak/ minister at a Men's Retreat.  - Going to be busy, busy, busy. 



God bless you all
Have a great day & may God help you not only to be productive but to get in lots of quality time with your family too -

Paz, favor, y la ayuda de Dios Altisimo -