6:30

I've been a night owl for as long as I can remember. I remember 'sneaking' (later to find out my parents were fully aware) out a flashlight or turn on a small lamp after my bedtime so I could read. I loved reading but I also could never go to sleep until much later than my forced lights out time. I could stay up until the wee hours of the morning and sleep away the daylight.

Even now, I will sleep until the second I must get up and sometimes until a few minutes after I should be up. I come alive at night. Even if tired during the day and in afternoon, around 7-8 pm I generally wake up. Wide awake. Unable to sleep.

Of course life doesn't really work well with the schedule I'd rather have. School, work and kids have demanded I be up before noon. When I was in college, I was able to nap a lot and my sleep schedule then was as erratic as you can possibly imagine. When I worked I was on my most normal schedule waking around 6:15 and in bed around 10:30. Even with kids I'll sleep until I must get up and stay up late.. and I've just timed it so my kids have nap/rest time at the same time allowing me a nap if I'm tired. This has worked really well, and between the option of napping and whatever sleep I get at night, it's always been enough.

Here's the problem. Since we brought Levi home, my prayer life has been pretty good. Not as good as it was before Levi, but daily with many times being really good quality quiet time and communion with God. My Bible reading.... well... not so much. When I brought Levi home, and even sometimes before then, I just read my Bible when I found time. Some days that was easy. Other days it wasn't.

But the bigger problem is that I have certainly found time to do things I want to do. And not bad things in and of themselves. I've been reading for pleasure again. I watch my favorite TV shows and have plenty of time for facebook and Words with Friends. I even find time to blog (every now and then!).

So something has to change. I want to make time to read my Bible daily. I want a consistent uninterrupted daily time when my focus is Bible reading, prayer and listening to Him. I must make better use of my time to accomplish this. I must prioritize.

I knew that the boys' nap/rest time just wouldn't work for me. And honestly I don't always sleep or lie down during that time. That's usually the time I'll talk to a friend or get house work done. Depending on what the morning held, somedays I simply want something mindless to do.

I finally decided that not only do I want this daily time, but I wanted it at the beginning of my day. I want to start my days off with Him in reading and prayer.

The boys are up by 7:30.

6:30. 6:30 am.

Me? Up at 6:30 am? The 31 year old night owl who dislikes mornings? By choice?

Yep.

And I did it this morning for the first time. And it was great!

I pray I can continue this. I'm committing to it. Even if it means getting up early and getting to bed earlier. At some normal human hour.

And I want accountability.. hence the post. Ask me about it. Seriously. If you know me, e-mail me. Facebook me. Whatever. Just ask if I'm getting up at 6:30. If I've spent quality time with Him. And if I tell you I haven't, ask me why I have time to check my e-mail or facebook but not time to spend with my God.

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