Mornings are never good. [French Toast Iced Coffee recipe.]

If you know me at all, you know I am NOT a morning person.

I keep waiting year after year, child after child for my body and myself to understand that waking up early is just the adult thing to do. I always imagine waking up early, doing my prayers in a calm & quiet house and using the time before the kids wake up to be productive and wonderful.

But try as I might to convince myself, it just never happens.  I HATE mornings.  I don't like being woken up until I'm good & ready.  Of course I'm usually woken up to various unpleasant scenarios because of this.....Oliver somehow got his diaper off & peed all over our bed, Jonas & Lily are fighting over the iPad, someone is STARVING and must be fed rightthissecond or they will die.  The usual.

So, I know it might be time to give up this illusion of sleep that comes with being a mother.

Resign myself to the fact that I should be waking up before them, or if not at least before them than at least with them and not try to fight them off for an hour in bed grumbling that I just need 5 more minutes and wouldn't they be kind enough to leave Mommy alone?

A few things to help my morning transition go a little smoother.

A hot shower.

Waking up to a clean house. 

Cartoons.

COFFEE.

Morning prayer.

Cartoons for the crazies, since they don't get to watch much TV I do like it for the morning so they can let me shower in peace and if we can catch the Ryan Reynold's episode of Sesame Street, even better. 

I also love waking up to a clean house, ahh nothing is better than that.  

It's pretty rare but just such a nice way to start my morning without the stress that comes from already having a sink full of dirty dishes and yesterdays beach gear thrown all over the living room.  I know that stuff will come soon enough, an hour or two without it is my heaven.

& coffee.  My constant companion.

I made up an awesome French Toast iced coffee yesterday morning and its become my new addiction.

Seriously, so tasty. 

Yesterday morning Andy also found us an awesome prayer for morning time and I'd love to wake up everyday and recite it to help my day start off on the right track no matter if I'm waking up to a cup of water being dumped on my face or 3 pairs of feet in my face cause they all missed me so much in the night.  

I may never learn to love mornings, and people still might call me "The Beast" if I'm awake before 8am.  But I can choose to start my days better no matter what time that is and prayers & coffee will definitely aid in that.  

Morning Prayer of Consecration

Good morning, Lord!

I adore You,

I bless You,

I love You,

I praise You,

I thank You,

and I worship You!

Lord, I consecrate this day to You, and call upon the fullness of:

Your anointing,

Your grace,

Your guidance,

Your healing,

Your power,

Your presence,

Your protection,

Your provision,

Your revelation,

Your understanding,

and Your wisdom

to permeate everything that I do today.

I ask all this boldly and confidently:

To the eternal glory of God the Father in the might name of Jesus the son, and through the awesome power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen!

French Toast Iced Coffee

I cold French Press all my coffee, I just don't like hot coffee.  Weird I know, but at least here in Hawaii it makes sense.  So this is exactly how I make my coffee but you can tweak it to however you make yours!

[1] Put ground coffee, about 1/3 cup into bottom of French Press, I have a standard size.

[2] Fill with cold water & leave in fridge over night.

[3] In the morning pour coffee over ice.

[4] I use French Vanilla creamer, pure Maple syrup, about a tbs. && garnish with TJ's cinnamon sugar grinder!  

But really, you get the idea.  Tweak it to your taste, I like my coffee pretty sweet!