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Around the House, the Gifts of the Morning

by 265 Comments

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It happens every couple months, you know those mornings—where time almost stands still—and your eyes and heart are a little more open to the gifts that are strewn about all around you.  This morning was like that for me.  It started out with a 4:45 wake up alarm, except I woke up at 4:43, like I always do when I set an alarm.  I read from Psalm 90 (from the PrayNow app, which I ADORE) this little gem of a passage:

 So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Return, O Lord! How long?  Have pity on your servants!

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,  and for as many years as we have seen evil.

 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us;

Yes, establish the work of our hands!

I got right to work on some writing projects and finished my morning goals before sunrise.  Since I’m heading to Ms. Patty’s today for a little blogging workshop, I thought I’d bake some homemade honey wheat bread for the festivities.  (She’s one of those rare people who notices the beautiful moments around her.  I’m hoping some of that rubs off on me today.) The problem with early morning bread making is that  my mixer sounds the way my  first car (affectionately called Rambo)  sounded when you were trying to start it.
Naturally, I took operations to the porch, only to be greeted by the most beautiful morning in recent memory.  (Thank you for your lovely and funny messages on IG!)
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Two tween girls studied for their vocabulary test in the background and laughed at my antics of toting the mixer outside!  After the bread was stirred up and rising, there was just enough flour left to use up the blueberries in a batch of blueberry scones.  (I’m horrified to show you how low I’ve let the flour get.  I apologize profusely and will correct this ASAP!)
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The scones are all kinds of delicious and now I’ll be inventing every flavor/ingredient combination.  Why did I ever give up on scones?  They’re like sophisticated biscuits.
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That’s when I realized that the chickens were out.  Lazy Hank let me know right quick.  Side note: He likes to lay right where I’m working so as to nearly cause me to die from a hip fracture every 30 seconds.
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He was right.  They were clucking around by the door, wanting in on  the magical morning action.
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So, that took me outside, which made me say a thousand thank you’s to myself for planting these flowers back in May.  They’re still showing off!
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Which took me to my unruly *garden*, where the basil tried to inflict guilt on me for not harvesting it and making pesto yet.
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Which led me to this row of  cherry trees that Steve bought this Spring.
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Back inside, while I waited for the bread to finish, I listened to THE most amazing sermon.  It’s 12 minutes long.  Do yourself a favor, listen and be blessed today.  If you’re so pressed for time, you can’t listen to it all, at least listen to the last five minutes.  It’s unbelievable Gospel preaching. There is more good news in that 12 minutes than you might have heard in the past thousand hours.  It’s about the Good Samaritan and you might be surprised to find out who your Good Samaritan is. (For more of my pastor’s Christ-centered preaching, click here.)
Then, the bread was done.  A glorious, magical morning indeed!
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So, that’s it.  Out of doors bread mixing, beautiful sunrise, hands to do good work, blueberries, dog, kids, chickens, and homemade scones.  Good gifts, from our Good Samaritan, who loves His children.
And may you have magical mornings or maybe just the eyes to see them.
Smooches all around.
THE END.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tara Mitchell says

    That Psalm was part of my morning devotion today. Guess God put a little nudge just for me right here on your bog! Your bread looks so yummy, and oh, I can’t wait to make some blueberry scones. While I do so, I may just have a listen at that sermon. Enjoy your day!

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  2. Gina says

    I read Psalm 90 yesterday morning and what stood out to me was verse 10, “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” The Christian life isn’t easy but you have beautifully “unwrapped God’s gifts” this morning by counting the simple things as joy. Not only did you benefit, but I did too. This post made me smile. 🙂 Now, off to listen to the sermon. 🙂 Have a fabulous day!! 🙂

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  5. Betty says

    Can you get all this wonderfulness without the 4:43 am wake up? Geez. I don’t know how you do it! You ALMOST made me want to start getting up earlier. Great post.

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  7. Lisa Trigsted says

    you’re blog inspires me….when I’m tired, it lifts me up, just like His Word does, you’re like a secret friend that has written me a special note….so nice, amen.

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  9. Erin @ Blue-Eyed Bride says

    That does it. Tomorrow morning I’m setting my alarm for 4:45 and baking scones. I have the golden retriever here who nearly causes me to break an ankle as he plants himself right behind me, but I do need a couple of chickens. This post made me so happy. Thanks, Edie.

    Reply

  10. Amanda says

    There is great beauty and bountiful blessings in the early morning. I’m learning this myself right now. I have had a BLESSED week and the common denominator is early early mornings. Loved this post!!

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  11. ronda says

    Beautiful morning! Would love the recipe for the bread and the scones.
    I didn’t seem them listed in your recipe section. I make your pizza recipe once a week now.:) Its fabulous!!

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  13. Julie says

    What a morning!! I am NOT a morning person so I am doubly amazed when God’s light fills my heart with his incredible gifts of the morning. He is so good to us!
    I’m a sucker for a lazy dog patrolling in the kitchen. Waiting for something to drop his way, no less. My sweet boy Max used to do that. He was 100 lbs. of Golden preciousness. We lost our furry angel last November.
    I will never look at my Kitchen Aid the same or basil for that matter. You are a fun(ny) gal Edie. I am going to check out the PrayNow app immediately. Perhaps it will inspire my sleepy mornings.

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  14. Dawn says

    That was such a cheery piece of writing. It’s not morning anymore, but you brought a smile to my afternoon. Thank you. I’m going to go and listen to that sermon now.

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  16. tricia says

    I’m up at 4am because my husband is on days at work. I love the extra quiet time to get some things accomplished. I think you just have to wake up with eyes that are wanting to see the beauty around you- something I try hard to do each day! ps-scones, yum!! Recipe??

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  17. Heather says

    Thanks Edie! I needed this one today. I am having a tough time because I have asked God to make use of me and he did. Now things, plans have changed and I was feeling like I was being judged (yes, I realize I worry way too much about this, but oh well, it is me) when in fact maybe my use for that area is simply done. Sometimes it is hard to “see” what we have before us. I suppose now I just have to wait and see what he has in store for me next. Much Love!

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  18. Sarah L. says

    I think your 27 kinds of cute & funny all rolled in to one. It’s closer to tomorrow morning now, but that made me smile & grin & even chuckle just a bit. I hope Thursday is as wonderful as today seems to have been.

    Now I must return to homework…ugh, thanks for the escape!

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  20. susan says

    I was fortunate enough to get one of those scones and a slice of that lovely bread. (I’m on a high carb diet!) Very very good! Now I know why…made with a heart full of love. Thanks for your goodness and wisdom today. I thoroughly enjoyed!

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    • Edie Wadsworth says

      It was so wonderful to see you, Ms. Susan! I just need it to be more often! I may have to crash you party again. You girls are doing good work and you will be blessed for it. And? You are a beautiful momma! Much love,
      edie
      xoxo

      Reply

  21. Melissa says

    Hi Edie – Thank you for sharing your lovely morning moments. I so want to become an early riser like you but am having a difficult time switching over from being a night owl. There is something so beautiful about waking up early enough to pray and start the day out in a calm, reverent and fun way! Any tips on how you get up soooooo early? Do you go to bed early or do you just not need a lot of sleep? You have inspired me to start my day with a psalm or scripture reading every day. Thank you sweet Edie:)

    Reply

    • Edie Wadsworth says

      I do go to bed early, Melissa. I usually head to bed by 9:30 and am asleep by 10 or 10:30. I think if you got up early a few days in a row, you’d be tired earlier. I also take a Magnesium supplement at night called Natural Calm and it helps a lot. It’s a powder that you mix with water and it helps to relax you. Most of us are low in Magnesium and this particular version of it is absorbed very well. You can order it from Amazon.
      🙂

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  22. nita says

    That was a great post on your morning. I am out of bed by 5 am, I enjoy my coffee and usually check out emails & face book among other morning chores before heading to work by 7am.
    I loved the part about hauling the mixer outside ( those things are so heavy I can’t imagine!) but I laughed because I am always taking my coffee grinder outside when I have guests sleeping in.
    Your chickens are pretty, and mine have been stinkers lately, we do let them roam the yard in the afternoons but they have decided they need to be in my flower garden. I thought the dog was digging but here it was the chickens, if anyone has any advice on that other then a fence I am all ears! They have really messed it up good!

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  23. Angela says

    Loved this post! Will try the Natural Calm supplement. Curious what else you take each day. Doctors always know best!

    Reply

  24. Ruth says

    Oh Miss Edie-your morning sounds so delightful and productive. Love that this post almost has an If You Give A Mouse a Cookie theme as the morning unfolds for you. Can’t wait to try the sconces recipe. My two little dogs are constantly at our feet and I’m always waiting for the inevitable broken leg-lol.

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  25. FunkySteph says

    What a fantastic morning!!! I DO love scones and when I travel to England I eat scones several times a day (with cream and jam of course!)
    I admire you for waking up so early to make your bread… I complain often having to wake up at 5:30 week days…

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  26. Lisa says

    Thank you for the link to the message. It was a great listen at my mid-day break from house chores. What a powerful message. What a beautiful morning. Now I feel the need to bake something.

    Reply

  27. Ofelia, from Mexico City says

    Beautiful words. Thanks for this post, because remind me this lyrics:
    “Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
    me dio dos luceros, que cuando los abro
    perfecto distingo, el negro del blanco
    y en el alto cielo, su fondo estrellado…

    Reply

  30. tara says

    oh how I loved this post.
    Loved seeing a glimpse of your day….still amazed that you start so early.
    I start at 6, and it isn’t enough time. It only gives my about 30 minutes before I get the kiddos up.

    My goal is to to at least work myself toward 5:30, so I can have an hour.
    I am crashing at 9:30-10:00. I can’t imagine how early I’d crawl into bed, if I got up any earlier.

    Reply

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