NATIONAL NAP DAY!

Today is "National Nap Day"!

Who knew? I, and all the other consummate nappers in the nation, knew!

My friends often teased me that teaching kindergarten was my favorite assignment because 5 yr. olds have scheduled naptimes.

Baby Jack is enjoying nap time at the beach being lulled to sleep by the sounds of the ocean.

For all in our family, there is nothing quite like a "Big Water" nap.

If you don't have swooshing ocean waves to soothe you to sleep, meditate on these calming scriptures from God's word.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. (Psalm 4:8) 

God takes care of His own even while they sleep. (Psalm 127:2, CEV) 

When you lie down you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24)

Ah-h-h sweet sleep.....even in the middle of the day.

MONDAY's MURKY MUSINGS

Murky musings result as another sleepless night made my Monday's musings and meditation a little foggy. I'm sure that the Lord must have life lessons for me during these l-o-n-g nights but I spend so much time trying to sleep, I think I'm missing them..

Insomniacs unite---or at least share remedies for those who panic at the very thought of how little sleep they are getting.

I've tried many---trying to leave drug remedies on the shelf where they belong.

No digital 2 hours prior to bedtime. Same time every night. Be alert to your "window" of sleepy signs. Keep bed room cool. White noise. No noise. Back rubs from hubby. Relaxing breathing---deeply through the nose, hold & then exhale slowly to count of 7. Listen to the semi-boring book for the umpteenth time. Recite scripture. (Psalm 3:4-5, Psalm 4:8, Psalm 121:1-4, Proverbs 3:24, Matthew 6:34, Matthew 1:28-29, Philippians 4:6-7) Honestly, I love God's word & it excites me more than it calms me.

Recently I resorted to a "treat". insomnia cookies! It might be a little out of the box but warm cookies are "delivered" until 3 AM daily. Desperation ruled. My "moral failure & fear calculation" time is usually between 2 AM & 4 AM so those warm cookies would be timely.

I know God gives to His beloved, even as she sleeps. (Psalm 127:2) 

I just wish He would give her sleep. 

To be honest, the warm cookies & milk didn't work on my head---but at least my tummy felt better!

READ, READ, READ....REPEAT

Morning, noon, and night reading is a BIG part of Lucy's day.

 READ, READ, READ....REPEAT

Read, eat, read, beach, eat, library trip, read, cook dinner, read bedtime stories from Tuck-Me-In Tales. Repeat Daily: Read. Eat. Beach. Read. Eat. read. Sleep.

 

"Thank you, God" prayers and a goodnight kiss. AND--- Yes, Lucy we will read another chapter in Gooney Bird Greene tomorrow. That is "absolutely true."

“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you O Lord make me dwell in safety.”(Psalm 4:8)

Sereni-TEA : one cuppa at a time

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24, NIV)

A recent email from DOC in LA, a self-proclaimed "king of naps" reminded me of the value of a good old fashion nap.  I even blogged 5 years ago about being the "queen" of said naps.
Plus, this time last year I had given myself a re-gift in the form of a nap.
Everyone has their own nap strategies. In college, LA Doc could put his head down on the desk for a 7 minute nap. Even as a working adult, he would prop his feet on his desk after lunch for a little snooze. Hubby stretches out in his big brown leather recliner and and lets the Jeopardy™ theme song lull him to sleep. I learned the value of a short nap from Millie D of Tennessee who crawled into bed for hers.

Research shows that a little nap will do you ---and is good for you. It seems good for me because I seem to sleep peacefully. When I awaken and it's still daylight, all those dragons of the dark have no power. With a nap there's no tension about trying to fall asleep. It's as easy as falling off a log. But....at night, I want to sleep like one, not fall off of it.

A quick sleep in the daytime never seems to come with the night-time baggage. Often in the dark of night, sweet sleep is interrupted with worries. Thoughts that race as I try desperately to return to sleep---so fearful of being tired the next day. Most concerns can not even be remedied in the night. Did I pay that Visa bill? Did I return DT's call? Why would Dr. Smith want me to schedule a visit? Wonder if grands will remember to.....?

I love what Hemingway said about sleep.
"I love sleep because life has a tendency to fall apart when I'm awake." For me that would read...when I'm "awake in the night."

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety, is how the psalmist states it in 4:8. Safe-TEA from those dreaded thoughts in the dark.
That's it in a nutshell---the pursuit of peace even as one sleeps. There's just something so peaceful and serene about a nap! As DOC says, "Long live the nap!"

I'll drink to that----with a cuppa warm herbal sereni-TEA to carry me peacefully into  sleep, regardless of the time of day.

Evening Prayer "veloci-TEA"

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. (Psalm 4:8, NLT)

Speedy conviction. That was the "veloci-TEA" of the realization that my evening prayers probably set the stage for my morning prayers and I ought to give that time more attention. A new prayer direction. Certainly the compiler of the Psalms, this "hymnal of the Jewish people" knew that. Interestingly enough, the evening prayers are mentioned in both Psalm 3 and Psalm 4 prior to the mentioning of the morning prayers in Psalm 5.

Scripture before sleeping may prompt prayers. God's word, in and of itself can be a prayer. "To the Lord I cry....I lie down and sleep....and will not fear" (Psalm 3:4-6) and David concludes  in 4:8, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. 

"It's David's confidence in God that enables him to lay himself down calmly and tranquilly to sleep, whatever dangers threaten him. He seeks his couch, and at once (יחדּו) slumber visits him. No anxious thoughts keep him tossing on his bed for hours." (http://biblehub.com/psalms/4-8.htm) Confidence in God comes from knowing Him through His word.

Anne Graham Lotz's, endorsed Daily Light for Every Day, includes morning and evening prayers. Equal scripture content for both. The "Graham/Lotz families read this "little" collection each day. It keeps them all on the same page. 

Last night I read the 5/16 entry from Daily Light and prayed those "very" appropriate verses for a decision a dear friend would be making on that "very" day. Grateful for the "velodi-TEA of conviction that had me speedily changing my direction of evening prayers. 

DAY OF REST

3/27/09 Homecoming--it might be brief but already has been blessed. 

Arrived greeted by “Welcome Home” balloons on mailbox, yellow ribbons around trees and pink roses w/ “Dotsy” ribbon sitting on the kitchen table, lots of hugs, cards, soup, calls and visits----love feels so good. 

Stayed in pjs all day as this became a day of rest---I spent all day easing into my day and decided not to feel guilty about it as I am now about to ease into bed for a long night’s rest…..knowing true rest comes from Him. 

• Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. (Psalm 37:7) 
• Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. (Psalm 116:7) 
• One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:6)
•  …..and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it: and you will find rest for your souls (Jeremiah 6:16) 
•  “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matt. 11:27-30) 
• In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8) 

 Goodnight.