Mela Kamin – 4:10 Ministries

Photo courtesy of ©Greg Kamin Gamut One Studios
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I’m by all accounts a late sleeper, a couch potato, a homebody who isn’t opposed to the occasional nap and likes wrapping up in a blanket & sipping chai tea.
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But, I have three young kids and an adventurous husband, so I’m active, if only in a very non-deliberate way.
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Oddly, I grew up as a morning person and an athlete and with that history and some good genes, I was able (for 34ish years) to get away with little-to-no regular exercise.
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But, as most of you over 30-somethings know, eventually your metabolism says, “That’s it! You’re on your own. I’m tired of doing all the work.”
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I was putting off the inevitable. I’m now 37 and I know it’s just going to get harder for me to stay in shape. I knew I needed to start an exercise regimen and I wasn’t entirely enthused.
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Until … I came across the Hello Mornings challenge from Kat. The registration is now closed, but that’s not to say you can’t take a similar challenge or coordinate something like it with a group of friends.
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Not only would I be working out physically, but I’d be getting up early to read the Bible, staying spiritually fit as well – something else I wasn’t doing with the kind of regularity I desired and needed.
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As, Michael Hyatt wrote in this excellent post, which appropriately landed in my inbox today, slay your dragons before breakfast.

“I face a dragon named Lethargy every morning. It has three heads: Pneuma (spiritual), Soma (physical), and Nous (intellectual).
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If I don’t slay this dragon before breakfast, he usually gets the best of me. After breakfast—when the day’s activities are crowding into my life—my chances of doing battle and winning drop dramatically. Sometimes I can emerge victorious. But rarely.”

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Oh, how I can relate to that.
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So last week, I saw the challenge on twitter & decided to take the plunge – went to bed at 10:30 p.m. (quite the accomplishment, since I’m known for staying up ’til midnight most nights) and woke to my very early alarm at 5:30 a.m. Amazingly, I didn’t snooze the alarm and quietly made my way downstairs. I dove into my Bible reading, jumped on the treadmill, got ready for the day, did the dishes, made breakfast and threw laundry in – all before my kids awoke.
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I was thrilled with how much I got done – all while I usually would be sleeping. What a jump on my day!
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And, the best part is that I’ve kept it up. My exercise goal is to add a 1/10 of a mile each day. I’m starting simple so that I can keep it up.
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My husband and kids have already noticed the difference. I’m less stressed and more productive throughout the day. My creativity has gotten a much-needed boost and I feel more mentally awake.
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Wednesday, my Bible study group starts a new book and I know this schedule will help me keep up with my homework, study and reflection.
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I’m looking forward to being part of a group and encouraging each other in our commitment.
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Thanks, Kat for the inspiration, resources and for helping me become a morning person again!

I have a family – an in-your-face, wild, spirited, mash-up of estrogen, testosterone, nail polish and dirt … lots of dirt.
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It’s easy to spot us – we are known for making an entrance.
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Sometimes, I wish my kids had a volume control or mute button. Especially at church, the library or a movie theater – can you relate?
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I look around and see the other kids sitting quietly (the ones who obviously have excellent parents), while my three have not only gotten out of their seats multiple times, they’ve asked for gum, a drink, they’ve taken off their shoes, fought over who sits where and someone may have gotten pinched or punched.
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We have our own brand of living. It’s flashing neon, exaggerated, filled with smiles and sometimes screams.
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I have another family – a behaved, controlled, picture-frame worthy one that lives in a well-decorated and clean house. They get their homework done without complaining, appreciate whatever dinner appears on the table that they readily help set and clear. They match, smell nice and put all their clothes and toys away.
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I had a good laugh the other day when I read THIS and realized I’m guilty of the same thing – trying SO hard to project an image to the world that is false, unrealistic and borderline annoying.
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When all I want is my kids to behave a certain way, all my kids want is to be loved and accepted for who they are.
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That doesn’t mean I allow or welcome disobedience and disrespect, but often, my expectations of them (and myself) are WAY too high.
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I’m not sure any family could live up to the images I dream up. And, I’m not sure I’d enjoy being around them if they did.
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We like to dance wildly, sing loudly, make faces, use strange voices and jump over objects others wouldn’t dare.
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We’re a tribe of performers – artists, actors, musicians, storytellers and comedians.
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We’re expressive adventurers … active life-lovers … belly laugh givers.
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And, I love that.
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And, even when they’re loud, sassy and wild, they are still sweet, smart, talented, helpful and brave. It’s not an either or. We get the good with the bad … the loud with the quiet not quite as loud.
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So, I tell my kids that others might not do things our way. Some people might not understand how you like to learn. Somebody might tell you to “settle down” … but that doesn’t mean that they are always right and it doesn’t mean your behavior or actions are always wrong.
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Honestly, I wrestle with teaching that we behave like “this” here and like “that” in other places. I’m not sure that’s helpful or healthy to teach them that the world won’t accept them or we have to struggle to fit into someone else’s version of normal. But, we all know why I do it – I’m trying to manage the possible odd looks, pointed fingers and judgmental comments – for them and myself.
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Sometimes, I still wish for the squeaky clean kids who make me look good, but more often, I pray that my messy, loud, peculiar kids – know how uniquely gifted they are and that God will use them in mighty ways if they love Him and allow Him to shape them to be more like Him.
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No matter what the world thinks.

Carlos @loswhit challenged us to make a “My Day Yesterday” video after he showed off one of his. I decided to jump in & do it.
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So, here’s My Day Yesterday:

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What I learned from the filming of my whole day:
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My kids are funny and sweet and smart and adorable
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I actually accomplish a lot (even if my house doesn’t look like it)
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I laugh
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We have some great traditions
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My kids are not shy around cameras
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God blessed me with so much – an abundance of time, food, friends, comforts and money – plenty for me and mine and enough to give to others
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Dinner ALWAYS comes with a show
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There are so many precious moments we take for granted & sometimes miss – I’m glad I recorded some
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I’d love to make more of these videos and at the very least, start journaling again, so I remember what I did last November (or last Tuesday).
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What’s something you do as a family that you wish you had on tape? Now, if there’s a way to film it, go do it!