Two Moments of Peace

I usually have at least two guaranteed moments of peace each day.  They might literally be a "moment", but I usually get them each day.  Today I happened to capture them on my iphone.  

Moment of Peace #1-Right after the boys catch the bus each morning.  The girls are often still sleeping. It doesn't last long, but don't they look sweet.

Moment of peace #2-All the kids are in bed, and I finally finish cleaning the house.  It is about 11pm here.  This is the only moment the house is clean. 

I am really not a morning person by nature. I love it when I do get up early, but man it sure doesn't come easy for me. Those cozy flannel sheets feel so inviting when it is cold and dark outside.  I really want to switch up my schedule so that I have those quiet moments BEFORE the big kids wake up.  It would be really nice to get up and exercise before I wake them up.  However,  I just can't commit to that right now.  Somehow breaking a sweat before 6am has never felt right to me.  I COULD however, get up and put my exercise clothes ON so that after I get the kids out the door I would be ready to go.  I could also read my scriptures and be more focused before they wake up.  And wouldn't it be nice to already have a load of laundry in and breakfast going so they want to get up.

 I remember my mom saying that she would think of her job as a homemaker as a "regular" job and so she would get up and get ready just like she would for any job.  My job as a mom starts at 630am, so maybe I should get ready for it a little earlier.  I don't remember my mom ever wearing her nightgown as she was getting us out the door.  (Then again, I don't really remember what she WAS wearing either so it may not be too critical.)  But what am I wearing as I kiss my kids and send them out the door?  A bathrobe and my ugg boots. If I have to drive them, what am I wearing?  A bathrobe, my boots, and sunglasses.  I always threaten to get out of the car and blow them a kiss if they don't quit fighting in the car.  (PS I think that if I am wearing sunglasses no one will recognize me.)

So...here are a few goals I am going to make publicly.

1.  Lay out what I am going to wear the night before.   I HATE deciding what to wear.  My least favorite daily activity.  It might be that I have no pants.  And that might be that I can't bare to buy the size I need to get and am low on funds.  (See my train of thoughts here...I need to be more positive about my goals.)

2.  No TV past 10.  (1030 max)  I love turning on the news or whatever and tuning out, just not using my brain a bit.  However, since it requires so little brain power...it also is inviting to stay awake way later than you would normally.

3.  Try to get to bed early and read a little.  Reading really helps me fall asleep and I love to do it.  For some reason I just try to get things done around the house until I am dead tired and then just fall into bed.

And a final quote to inspire and also makes me feel better...

"As you create a home, don't get distracted with a lot of things that have no meaning for either you or your family.  Don't dwell on failures, but think about your successes." 

-Marjorie Pay Hinckley