Monday Morning Routine?

Happy Monday Blog Day! Glad you could make it 😀 This morning I kept track of my step by step (almost), routine.  Why the ?, because the best plans can change, so I do my best to stick to the plan, but go with the flow, when I need to.  So, here is another glimpse into my busy life.  Some of you may see this and say, I wish I had it that easy!  Well, I guess God gives each of us what we can handle.  So...here goes...

12:33am-Finished my nighttime routine a little late, because we watched a movie. As you can see, I have a light that doesn't work, but you get the idea.

5:19am-Woke up a minute, before my alarm went off. 😒





This is when I have my personal devotion and prayer.  My verse for the morning: 

I thought this was a good one for today, since I am sharing part of my life with you.  After my devotion, I head to the kitchen.  I usually program the coffee pot at night to start brewing at 5am.  I am always glad to see when it actually did what I told it to. 😋

5:39am-I take coffee and water to my Hubby to wake him up.

5:43am-Making breakfast...everyone likes something a little different.  The seasoning I put on my husband's egg is a mixture of: black pepper, no salt salt, cayenne pepper and turmeric.

These dishes are the survivors from past sets.  It is on my list to get a new dish set soon and let these poor over used pieces rest in peace.

5:57am-Wake up "kids" (the 2 at home right now are 16 and 22).  Empty dishwasher (I try to start it every night, before bed.  I unload it first thing and then it is ready to receive dirty dishes throughout the day and not pile up in my sink.)

Before I load any more dishes, I put the dish detergent in.  This is our signal that what is in the dishwasher is dirty.

Running late for family Bible Reading!

6:06am-Second wake-up call.

6:09am-Still waiting for kids to drag themselves into our room...

6:12am-All accounted for...Waking up Hubby again...

6:18am-Talking...talking...Hubby wondering why I am taking notes...(my blog notes)

6:21am-Ready to start!  Here is part of our Bible Reading plan and our reading for the day.  We are a little behind, because of some summer camps, but we are slowly catching up.

6:49am-Finished Bible Reading, talking about plans for the day.

JUST REALIZED TODAY IS THE 30TH!!!  I NEED TO MEET MY #CAMPNANOWRIMO GOAL BY TOMORROW!!!  😱

(Be back in a moment...Calm down, Sandy....you can do it! You only have a few more thousand words to write.  It will be alright! Breathe...)

Ok, I'm back.  I just needed a little self-talk therapy. 

7:08am-Pray with the family.  CHARGE!

7:14am-Jotted down a title for a poem, I am thinking of writing.  No time today, though.

7:15am-Make bed

I like to have different pillowcases, just because.

Can you tell I like horses?

7:20am-Back stretches...nobody wants to see that.

7:31am-Remind son to take trash and recycling down to the road. 

7:35am-Work on grocery pick up list.

My new YouTube Channel: The Homemaker/Writer Life

8:05am-Finished grocery order, pickup between 12:00pm-1:00pm.

8:15am-Created YouTube Channel so I could put a self-made video on blog.

8:16am-Checked on clothes, while waiting on video to upload and found that my daughter had already switched them. Yay! Thanks, Daughter 1!

8:17am-Video Uploaded! Thus, my YouTube Channel has begun...wow.

8:20am-Time to get our essential ingredients we eat everyday together, either with Kiefer or on pancakes (sometimes I mix a little peanut butter with them, too).

This includes: Chia seeds, Flax seeds, Raw Almonds, Raw Pecans, Raw Walnuts, Unsalted Sunflower seeds, Raw Pumpkin seeds, Unsalted Brazil nuts, Unsalted Cashews, Dried Cranberries, Prunes, Cinnamon, Unsalted Pistachios.  Before we eat this, we add in blueberries, blackberries and a fig.

9:03am-Package up the mixture, it should last us a week at 1 each for my hubby and I, a day.

9:11am-Make Hubby's beef bone broth.  1/3 BBB, 2/3 water, mix, heat and put in thermos.

9:18am-Put Eucalyptus and Peppermint essential oils in diffuser. (Gives me a boost, when I am starting to get tired.)

9:22am-Made video of Hubby's usual No (low) Carb day breakfast.

YouTube Channel: The Homemaker/Writer Life

9:31am-Unload and fold clothes from dryer.

9:33am-Pause: Hungry Hubby needs food. 😬

This is his nut mixture with the Keifer, blueberries, blackberries and a fig added.

9:43am-Back to clothes...and watching a #lovemeg on YouTube, while I fold clothes.

It's folded...not neatly, but it's folded.  

9:51am-Switched clothes from washer to dryer.

9:52am-Put away clothes. (Done with laundry until I start a load before bed.)

9:57am-Changed name on YouTube Channel to "The Homemaker/Writer Life".

10:04am-Freezer Organization (this was an unplanned chore...my husband and daughter 2 defrosted the freezer, so they asked me to put things back the way I wanted them)

I doubt those labels will last in there, but I'll try to find something better soon.

10:23am-Coffee break

A little elevator music while you wait...

10:37am-Responded to a message from Daughter 2's Fiancé.

10:38am-Time to vacuum my Living Room, Kitchen and Laundry Room with my new Dyson V8 Animal! Lovin' it!!

My Laundry Room is undergoing renovations now, so hopefully it will be looking good soon.

11:03am-Ooopps!  I was wrong, I need to do a load of wet towels from the freezer defrosting.

11:07am-Refilled Brita water filter pitcher.  I drink way more water, since we got this.

11:12am-Rinsed out tub and started filling it, for my bath.

11:15am--Get ready for the second part of my day.

11:44am-Ready for a little make-up.

12:00pm-Time to end my Morning Routine.

Brunch time!

I hope you enjoyed this look into my mornings.  Not everyday is exactly the same, but for the most part these are things I do most every day.  Most of my Writing for my books, happens in the afternoons and sometimes at night before I start my nighttime routines.  I didn't put everything in here.  There were a few conversations and minor things I didn't bore you with.  Thanks for joining me and hope to see you next week!  God Bless!

Let me know some of your morning routines in the comments.  I'd love to hear about them!

In Christ,

Sandy

Family Interview: Part 2

Last week I had the honor of interviewing my husband. I know that may sound weird, but if you read last week's blog, you know why I did it. Although, I have been writing as a hobby most of my life, I did not seriously start my writing journey until a couple years ago. Before that, most of my adult life, has been spent as a Homemaker/Stay at Home Mom. So, going from a 24 hour, at your service kind of mom, to a stay at home and work at home mom. As you might can imagine, it has brought some changes.

It's not like I'm neglecting my babies, though. My baby in actuality is almost 17 and the rest of my kids have either married or are getting married soon. So, as my kids grew, I found I had more time to focus on myself and my dreams. If you have been following my blog (it would be easier, if you hit my follow button), then you have heard my point of view many times. I really wanted to hear my family's point of view, though. Hence, the family interviews. So, last week my husband, this week a few of my kids chime in.

I hope you enjoy hearing from them, as much as I did.

1.) Tell me a little about yourself.

Daughter 1:  

"July 28th, makes 6 years since I said,”I will” to my best friend, God blessed me greatly when He gave me my hubby. Since graduating college my ”job” though has been staying home with our three kids, and it is definitely the toughest but most rewarding job ever. I wouldn’t trade it for the world."

Daughter 2:

"I am daughter/child number 2 (and dare I say the best 😉)! Just like my mother I am an avid reader. Unfortunately I have been reading less and less over the last few years due to college. Now that I’ve graduated (as of May 2018) I am hoping that I will find more time now that I am not having to turn in homework or study. I will be getting married in August, and although that does not define who I am it is a big step in my life. In fact I’m going through several big changes this summer. I went through a teacher certification program, started looking for a job, looking for a place to live, and also looking for a new vehicle. With so many changes going on in my life I feel like I’ve been running around looking like a chicken with it’s head cut off. Granted at the end of the day my trust is in Jesus Christ and I know His will will be done and He knows what is best for me. So, with that as a constant remind I try to not let the struggles of life discourage me."

Son 1:

"My name is Nathan. I am the third kid and the eldest son of Sandy. I am married with a one month old son named Phillip.

Son 2:

"I'm the second son, fourth child. I'm about to be seventeen. I like video games. I like board games. I like doing stuff with friends. That's about it..."

Son-in-Law:

"Married for almost 6 years to my beautiful and devoted wife. Together we have three great kids, under three. Also, I work as a teacher." (I'm so proud of y'all!)

2.) Tell me a little about your relationship with your Mother/Mother-in-Law, Sandy, before she began to seriously write.

Daughter 1:

"My mom and I have always been very different, I'm outgoing, and she's shy. I'm a thinker, and she's a dreamer. I'm a terrible cook and she makes kale taste good. You get the point, but since having children, my mother is no longer just my mother. She is the woman I run/cry too when I have no idea what I'm doing. My mother turned into my friend and our differences were no longer things to fight about, but were instead things that made us able to help each other." (You can come to me anytime! I love being your friend!)

Daughter 2:

"My mama has always been there for me. If I need someone to talk to, my mother is the person I go to. She would listen to me when I came home from college and tell her EVERY thing that happened in the last month. We can talk about anything: books, school, faith, plans, etc. My mom is a fun loving, quiet, godly woman and I am blessed to have her in my life." 💗

Son 1:

"My mom and I have always had a pretty good relationship. When we talk we like to joke around and laugh. She always did laugh the hardest when I stubbed my toe, though."

(Hmmm...I don't remember that toe incident...)

Son 2:

"It's good. It wasn't really much different then than it is now, except she's writing." 😀

3.) What are biggest changes to your family dynamics since your Mother/Mother-in-Law,  Sandy, started writing seriously?

Daughter 1:

"My mom now takes time for herself. I didn't even know she wanted to be a writer until a few years ago." (I'm trying to get better at talking about those things.)

Daughter 2:

"Not a whole lot of changes…just more adjustments here and there. If it’s computer camp month the likelihood of getting to talk or get attention is lower. Lunches might be skipped and whole days might go by without realizing she’s been in the same spot for hours. But otherwise things are pretty much normal. She’s just made room for her books." (I admit, I'm pretty serious about reaching my goal.)

Son 1:

"Since she has started writing, it seems like she's not just my mom who does mom things all the time, but she is also this creative, interesting, story teller that can write a book.  I didn't know she wanted to write or even knew it was something she would ever do." (Awww, thanks!)

Son 2:

"She's writing now instead of doing other things, she would be doing, if she wasn't writing. Specifically, instead she may have been reading a book, she's writing a book. So on and so forth..." (Yes, my reading time has decreased, except for my research. )

Son-in-Law:

"She takes time to do the things she has always wanted to do." (I'm trying!)

4.) What are the biggest changes you've seen in your Mother/Mother-in-Law, Sandy, since she became a serious Writer?

Daughter 1:

"My mom is happy. I've never heard her talk as much or been as excited about anything. Except for maybe her recent discovery that organizing can be fun." (That was a surprising discovery!)

Daughter 2:

"Biggest change is that she doesn’t have as much time to talk or listen. I miss being able to just go talk whenever, but she’s just a little bit busier now, so I’ll have to find the times when she’s not doing anything. However, she is doing something for herself, and I am proud of her for following her dreams. She’s always done so much for everyone else. She’s become way more into organizing, too. Also, she’s become a pretty serious researcher, and I completely understand that as a history major. Sometimes you can get lost in all the cool information."

(Awww, I always want to talk and listen! Sometimes I just need a few minutes to finish my thoughts and get them on paper, before I forget. I love our conversations.)

Son 1:

"She has become more cheerful and is always happy to talk about her book and how it is coming."

Son 2:

"She seems more happy. She talks about writing a lot and that makes her happy."

Son-in-Law:

"She's become really dedicated to her writing. Instead of taking time to watch tv, ect. She relaxes by writing."

5.) Overall, do you feel that the changes in your home and relationships are more positive or negative?

Daughter 2:

"Overall, I think it’s been a positive change. Like I said, there are a few things to get used to, but that just takes time. When she first started all of this I was up at college. So, it is still an adjustment I am trying to make."

Son 1:

"She's got all these random people supporting a blog and is even running a successful instagram account. I believe her writing has made her an all around happier person and just a little more young at heart." 😊

Son 2:

"Probably more positive, because it's a good conversation piece. We can talk about it and stuff and it's fun...ish." 😄

6.) How could the changes and relationships improve?

Daughter 2:

"Just don’t feel like you have to do something. If the blog doesn’t get up, just apologize and put it up the next day. It’s better to have quality work and family time than to be overly worried about making a quota. Plus, it will help you not to stress too much too." (I'll try to remember that.)

Son 2:

"I don't really see any need for changes."

7.) Anything else you want to add?

Daughter 2:

"I love you, Mom! Can’t wait to read your books!" (Love you, too! Thanks)

Son 1:

"I love you mom and I hope you are super famous one day." (Haha! Love you, too!)

Son 2:

"I hope you sell a lot of copies of your book. Godspeed." (I hope so, too!)

Son-in-Law:

"I admire how she sets goals and works hard to achieve them." (Thank you! I admire you, too! You work so hard to be a good husband and daddy!)

Well, as you can tell, I am so blessed with a great family. I love you all so much kids and thanks for honestly answering my questions. As I said last time, if you are doing something new or making big changes in your life, that affects your family. Take time to listen to them. Families need to love and support each other. Follow your dreams, but don't forget your family and other loved ones. They still need you, even the grown up ones.

In Christ,

Sandy