Early Morning Grace

Here's a 5 O'Clock Club testimony from the archives. Read to the end if you (like me!) have trouble getting out of your warm bed each morning:

As a mom to 2 small children, I have been consistent at one thing for the past few years, and that is struggling to spend time with God.  It has been a constant source of frustration and guilt for me, as I have focused on my lack of a quiet time and not the goodness and grace of a loving God.  I have even attempted the 5 o'clock club before and failed miserably because of my motivations and dependence on myself. 

Well, this time has been very different for me.  I began rising early to spend time with God in January, so when I saw that your blog would be focusing on this for February, it was truly confirmation for me that God was drawing me into deeper communion with Him.  I cannot tell you how thankful I have been for the accountability and encouragement of your blog over the past few weeks.  I have more than enjoyed my times of rising early everyday and I am so thankful that God has given me His grace in this area.

My goal from the start was to get one load of laundry done and spend 45 minutes to an hour, reading, praying, etc.  Getting the laundry done has been HUGE for serving my family.  It is no longer a constant source of irritation...now it is a constant source of excitement.

I could go on and on about how meaningful my time with God has been (much more so than having the laundry done) but that would literally take several days.  I am so grateful for what He has been showing me and the desire He has given me to pray for my friends and family.  I am 31 years old, and can honestly say I have never experienced such a sweet time with my Savior! I am so, so, so, so grateful!

One more thing...I wanted to share something that has actually helped me get up in the mornings...it's rather amusing! One of the hardest things about getting up, to me, is how cold it is! Getting out of a warm bed into cold air is no fun! I found myself wrapping up in a blanket every morning, but that often got in the way of folding the laundry or reading.  Well, as sort of a gag gift, my husband bought me a Snuggie!  I know, I know...A SNUGGIE?! BUT...it has been fantastic...I love getting out of my warm bed into my warm snuggie...what a fabulous invention!!!  The only downside has been folding laundry filled with static while wrapped in a Snuggie...there have been a couple of times where I felt like I was being electrocuted...I guess that's good if you're having trouble waking up! 

I included a picture of me in my Snuggie.  I would have preferred pink, but my husband got blue...I think it is because secretly he wants to wear it, too!

Erin