Mornings. My first ministry.

I love the morning.  Usually, I stir to being awake around 6:30 or 7:00.  By “stir” I mean get poked in the back, head, or chest by Koby who is always the first one up.  Before Pryce was born Koby would crawl into bed and lay at my feet while watching some Curious George.  Now I immediately get up and wisk him into the living room so Pryce and Mommy can sleep for as long as possible.  We (he) enjoys watching: Backyardigans, Handy Mandy, or Max & Ruby.  If I didn’t get much sleep I will try to catch a few more winks on the couch while he lays in our oversized recliner.  At about 8:00 I go in to check on Keaton who is always, I mean always laying awake in her bed totally content just to make every morning a lazy morning.  I never rush her out of bed.  I just talk to her while trying to tickle her toes through the slats in the crib.  And, we talk about the 43 stuffed animals piled in one end of the bed.  Our conversation goes something like this, “Keaton, did you sleep good?” With her big blue eyes and long eyelashes she looks back and peeps, “Yeah.” Me: “Keaton, did you have good dreams?” Her: ”Yeah.”  Me: ”Did you eat a pickle?” Her: “Yeah.”  At that point I realize that she has no idea what I am talking about, so I scoop her up, change her diper, and take her to get her morning glass of milk.  At some point soon after Jeanie comes out of the bedroom with Pryce and they night’s production of dirty diapers in hand.  Then, without fail, I get a full report of how Pryce slept.  I like this report, because it reminds me how thankful I am that Jeanie is his mommy.  It is tough being a mom, and it is amazing that she is as productive as she is because the sleep report has not been good for 6+ weeks.  I DO wake up during the night, but not near as much as Jeanie.  So, the report gives me a chance to offer the following solutions to the sleep problem: 1. “I think he had gas.  Should I get more mylicon?”   Or, “Should we start letting him cry?” Or, “Should I get my rubber mallet out of the garage?” Or, “I’ll get some Vodka to help him rest.” 

Somewhere in the midst of all this, I get Koby and Keaton their cereal (golden grahams and apple cheerios mixed), drinkable yogurt, and either a blueberry waffle or some scrambled eggs.  Koby wants regular syrup on the top of the waffle and sugar-free syrup on the sides.  Keaton takes her in four strips.  Both of them are good eaters, and for that we are thankful. 

When Jeanie comes out I usually sneak back to the bedroom to find the least wrinkled shirt that I can get away with wearing for whatever day it is.  If getting ready involves taking a shower, there will ALWAYS be at least one child sitting at my feet playing with the 43 toys that are in the shower. 

Hugs and Kisses for everyone as I am walking out the door.  The crescendo of the morning is when I am parked on the street in front of the house with Jeanie, Koby, Keaton, and Pryce standing on the front sidewalk still in their pajamas yelling , “Go!” 

(Every once in a while if I give it just enough gas and the right amount of clutch I can peel out.  So, with a loud squeal of my tires I look back over my shoulder as my first ministry scampers back into the house for a hard day of toys, wal-mart runs, chik-fil-a with pals, and an occasional time-out.)

I love it.