Friday, January 14, 2011

Time to Get Up and Play the Friday Five

Where I am it is dark, and it is cold, and it is snowing. I really wanted to stay in bed with the electric blanket cranked this morning. Share five things that made getting out of bed worthwhile for you today!

1. The cat. I don't know if she exactly makes it "worthwhile" but about 6:00 a.m. she starts hurling herself at the bedroom door as if the house is on fire. She is a very quiet cat, most times, but in the a.m. (if the door walloping fails) she meooooows and yowls in the most pitiful manner imaginable. If I didn't know better, I'd think she was dying. I can only stand it so long, and then I must get up. It's a great motivator, all things considered.

2. The coffee. Brother-in-law Kevin usually is up well before the sunrise. He is a coffee fiend, so he usually has the second pot brewing by the time I pry my eyes open and finish feeding the cat. Sometimes, now that he knows I am not a morning person, he even pours my cup of coffee while I am feeding the cat, bless his heart.

3. Someone has to turn the thermostat up around here, or we'd all freeze and they would find us about April. Husband Ken would be happy to leave it at fifty degrees year round, but...did I say it is COLD and snowing here?

4. If it is a tough morning, I recall the words of Gospel singer, Lillie Knauls, who sang at my husband's ordination service years ago. She says that each morning she throws the covers back and asks (loudly and with enthusiasm), "What exciting thing do you have in store for me today, Lord Jesus?" Lilie is single. She can get away with that happy crowing in the a.m. Me, not so much. I recall the words. I don't say them aloud, and I never throw the covers back unless I'm late, but I THINK them, and often that is enough to help me get moving with a good attitude. I mean, seriously, each day of life is a gift to be treasured.

5. This doesn't happen every day, but often enough. Ken doesn't like to cook unless it is over a camp fire...or is BREAKFAST. He really makes the most delicious omelets, full of onions and peppers and olives and cheese and who knows what else. Smelling his breakfast offering, along with the coffee, makes getting up seem like a very good thing to do. Even when it id snowing and the floors are like ice and I didn't get enough sleep. Bacon...gotta love it.

How about you?

10 comments:

altar ego said...

I am forced out of bed to take dogs out, but I occasionally return to the covers if I'm feel sluggish. Most times I end up being glad to be up.

Really like your number four!

revhipchick said...

LOVE your F5! i'm going to try to remember your #4. i could probably get away with saying it out loud cuz my hubby has been awake quite some time before i begin the journey to consciousness. glad you have a Kevin--so lovely!

RevDrKate said...

Your Gospel singer reminds me of a roomie I had once. Yeah, that much cheer in the morning, evn in the name of the Lord can wear on a person.

angela said...

Our #2 is the same! I have to say I'm with you and more than one person has remarked on the fact that I don't really utter a word before the coffee anymore. Really I'm not even conscious of thinking before I'm already down the stairs.

Sometimes I have conversations and forget that I haven't had them out loud. But that happens all day.

Jan said...

Thanks for this wonderful FF! I love the cat and his attitude!

I like the song's refrain; it's a good reminder for each day.

Hot Cup Lutheran said...

oh! i love #4... even though single, i'm not much for singing in the morning!

PrJoolie said...

I'm not energetic enough for #4, but I admire it. I often think of what my brother-in-law says when someone asks how he is: I'm better than fine and the Lord is blessing me!

Muthah+ said...

Since I lived many years in a Dairy state and now have returned to my warmer roots, I salute all that you must do to get out of bed in the morning. The cold floors are the hardest.

Elaine (aka...Purple) said...

So lovely to have an omelet maker in the house. Enjoy!

Dr. Laura Marie Grimes said...

What a wonderful prayer from your friend! I will have to try that.

One of the greatest blessings now that I am back in Midwest winters is a programmable thermostat and a husband who knows how to use it. The heat goes on a little while before we get up and that makes it much easier to do.