The second prompt for 31 things was morning (which you will see on the left side of the page) The third prompt was read (which you will see on the right side of the page.) I read the prompt and promptings from an email I receive each morning from Ali. Then I take some time as I move through my day to consider the prompt on a deeper level. Once I sit down to type out my journaling it goes quickly. I don't over analyze what I'm writing and it seems to flow easily. I think that having a blog for nearly 6 years has helped me to write freely and openly without getting too stressed about perfection and eloquence. You know you don't get eloquence here!
Morning--
The question is often asked…are you a morning person or a night person? I am definitely a morning person. Not a 5 am kind of girl, but once the sun begins to dawn my body begins to wake up. (Same goes with the sun going down and my body winding down.) These days I tend to get up between 6:30 and 6:45. After a pit stop to the restroom I putter out to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee using my Keurig. I pour some creamer and milk into the bottom of one of my dozens of Starbuck’s city/country travel mugs and then let the coffee pour over it, creating a delicious mocha colored drink. Then I cradle the mug it in my hands and take my first sip of my morning fuel.
I promptly walk to the loveseat and pull out my Bible and Bible study bag, which includes my pens, colored pencils, journals, devotionals and current Bible study. I almost always start off with a silent prayer to God asking Him to open my heart and mind to His Truth and then begin reading from my Jesus Calling devotional. Oftentimes I read it twice, allowing it to soak into my tired mind. Then I spend the next 30-45 minutes journaling, reading, and studying God’s Word. Karsten typically begins to stir around 7:15, but rarely do I go get him before 7:30. I think he enjoys waking up slowly and playing with his animals and wubanubs.
After changing Karsten’s diaper he usually watches a Baby Einstein video while I putter around, check email, heat my coffee up (I have to do this at least once per cup), or I go get ready. After his 30 minute video I feed us both breakfast; yogurt, cereal, and fruit. I then take him to his playroom where he plays while the Sunnyside Up show is on and I do my morning chores; sweeping, spot mopping the kitchen, moving laundry, making my daily to do list, etc. By 10, he’s usually tired of playing by himself and I join him for play time where we sing songs, read stories, and play. By 11 o’clock he’s ready for his nap. So although it seems past morning at this point in my mind this is where my morning stops.
I realized that the Zoe was in the photo, so I added a journaling spot to include that she is very much a part of our mornings.
Read-- I took a photo of the top part of our red book case (rojo cabinet) which happens to be my favorite piece of furniture we own. Although I didn't write about it, it tells the story about how much reading and books are a part of both of our lives.
journaling--
I’ve always been a reader, maybe not quite as much as some, but certainly more than others. My favorite class in HS was “Novel” in which we read a variety of novels and discussed them. I love books with symbolism and I’m always up for a good love story.
I also enjoy reading Christian “self-help” kinds of books. Currently Grace for the Good Girl is on my nightstand. When I read these types of books I always have a pencil in hand so I can underline and take notes.
I wish I were more diligent about getting books from the Library. I tend to pick them up at Costco or Barnes and Noble and add them to my ever growing stack. I also take time every morning to read my Bible and devotionals.
I don’t read books more than once very often, but there are a few that I’ve read twice; Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, The Thirteenth Tale, and many Janette Oke books when I was younger.
Books however are not the only thing I read each day. I read magazines and lots of blogs. A few favorite blogs to read are Chatting at the Sky, Karen Russell, Kelly’s, Becky Higgins, and Beth Moore’s blog.
I also have a love affair with cookbooks. I will sit and read them word for word, recipe by recipe. I love The Pioneer Woman’s cookbooks because she tells stories with her recipes. I will not buy a cookbook that doesn’t include great photos. I’m a snob like that. I love food photography so much!
As a former school teacher I am also passionate about children’s literacy. I have hundreds of children’s books to read with Karsten someday. For now though, Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Barnyard Dance are his favorites!
