Messy House and Jogging

It's been a quick and activity-filled week. It was also a 4-day week, so I'm sure that that had something to do with it flying by. We've been so busy that my house hasn't been this messy in I don't know how long! It always amazes me how other moms keep their houses so clean.

I think there are a few factors:

1. They have older children who can clean up faster and more adequately. I'm still training mine to learn where things go.
2. I'm home all day with my kids and there's no real break anymore. I used to have naptime, but now that my son sporatically naps and I'm running between babies most days to keep them quiet and happy, the cleaning happens at night.
3. I'm so tired at night that things that used to get done, don't get done as I'd like them to be.
4. Sometimes, you just have to forego the dishes to sit down, spend some time with your hubby, read a good book or do something for yourself. The dishes will still be there in the morning. =) They don't grow legs.


As I've had to fight for time to myself these days, I've come to the realization that I'm going to have to wake up earlier! I woke up at 6:20 this morning (I usually sleep in until the kids start waking up around 7:30 or so), put on my running shoes and headed out the door for a run. The sun was just starting to come up, the birds were chirping, traffic was non-existant and it was just Riley and me running in the neighborhood. Quiet, peaceful and tranquil. Although I am NOT usually a morning person, I have to say that forcing myself to roll out of bed and discipline myself to run felt really good. It's the only alone time I'll get today and I have to say that although I'm not dieting (still nursing), running this morning made me more self-conscious of what I've been eating today. Maybe I'll loose a few pounds while I'm at it. I've actually never had a time in the morning when I run. Before, it was nearly impossible because I was teaching and I had to be at school at 7:00 a.m. I was already waking up at 5:30...yikes! A perk of homeschooling means not having to rush around in the morning getting my kids to hurry through their chores, scarf down breakfast and get to school is SOOO nice. We can sit down to breakfast and devotions together every morning, get chores done at our pace and then get going on schoolwork. But, back to the jogging. I'm hoping this will become a habbit. I already feel a little sore from this morning, but a good sore. The one thing that I also forgot to mention is that running this morning gave me time to talk with God, thank Him for the morning and ask Him to guide me through the day, giving me patience and understanding with my children. For those of you who have been wanting to do this and make this commitment, I urge you to try it. You may find it rewarding.

Happy Friday everyone! Enjoy your weekend.