...I get up in the morning. This may be news to some of you but I am not a morning person. I can get up, sure, but I am not one of those people who can wake up at 5:00 am every morning with a smile on my face. I'm looking at you, Dad. So why do it? Why put myself through all the struggle, the pain, the frustration of merely having to open my eyes. Here are a few reasons.

Getting up Reasons:

1. Guilt. My guilt is split depending on what day it is. If I am getting up to go to work, I feel guilty if my alarm goes off more than once because Speed Racer gets up after me. If I have a day off, I feel guilty sleeping in because Speed Racer is off saving the day. I may have a guilt problem.

2. Because I have to. Unfortunately reality is a cruel mistress, and while I remember thinking getting up at 8am or 9am at college was early, that's just not when work starts these days.

3. The kitties. There are times when I wake in the wee hours of the morning to the sounds of persistent mews and visions of terrible things dance before my eyes. The kitties, especially Ms. Brisco, are my snooze. Once they hear my alarm go off once, if I'm not up in five minutes they start serenading me. Evil, evil kitties.

4. Breakfast. I love breakfast. Most people these days grab a pop tart, or eat something at work. I enjoy waking up with breakfast and it makes me a nicer person if I do. Think homemade cinnamon rolls....mmmm.

5. Coffee. Believe it or not, I drink decaf even in the mornings. It's not that I don't love caffeine, but caffeine doesn't love me. But there is something about having a hot drink in your hand when you start the day. And I love the smell. This week I have experimented with having the pot on a timer and starting the brew when I am suppose to be getting up. Works like a charm.

6. I love having a full day. As much as I love sleeping in, and I hate waking up. Once I am awake I really do appreciate having a full day to do whatever I would like. Especially with the days getting darker earlier, I feel like I only have a select time to enjoy the light.

7. Surprises. You never know what the day is going to bring, and that's what makes life exciting and different to me. I look forward to it.

8. People. Surprised? Yes, some mornings this is why I want to stay in bed. But most of the time I look forward to conversing with others, seeing what topics might come up, seeing friends and family, and building relationships.

9. Time. I know this is something everyone says, and it sounds kinda hokey, but I don't know how much time I have. Life can be short, life and be long, but I really love my life and I want to enjoy it.

10. Speed Racer. Other than feeling guilty for waking him time after time with my alarm, every single day I look forward to just being with him. I can't wait to talk to him, love him, cuddle with him, and see what happens with our life.

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I have to admit I was not in the best of moods when I woke up this morning. I did not want to wake up. I did not want to run. I did not want it to be blazing hot. I did not want to do anything productive. Lucky for me, Speed Racer has motivation, and I have guilt. As soon as he's out of bed I know I have to get up or forever feel like a bum. I rolled, literally rolled out of bed, my old runners feet creaked and popped as I shuffled down the hall on the hardwood floors. I pulled on my running clothes and poured some cereal. Hunched over my frosted mini wheats, my eyes finally peeled open. I still really wasn't awake on my way out the door. It was hot, the humidity engulfed me to the point it was hard and thick to breathe. My glumness transferred to the weather. Everything looked brown, everything was crusty and dead. (This is how lovely I am in the morning.) As I walked towards the road, this caught my eye.

A beautiful lily was just opening up, still covered in morning dew. I smiled. Flowers always make me smile, especially stubborn flowers that just try to carry on no matter how hot it is. This lily was there going, "I'm a flower and I'm going to bloom, dagummit." I started to run and as I ran it was like little flowers opened up to me everywhere. Blue, white, red, and yellow just peeped out from all the dead foliage.

As I ran I was reminded of how last Lent, I decided instead of giving something up and being sad about how I couldn't have chocolate, to dedicate a time each morning to come up with five different things I was thankful for. It worked amazingly well, I felt so grateful for all that I had been given, and it got me out of the habit of just saying, "I'm thankful for my husband, my family, my friends, my home, and my kitties."

I really enjoy trying to figure out the little things I'm grateful for. The small changes in life that make it surprising and lift my spirits. So in the hopes that this lifts your day as well as mine, I encourage you to write down ten unique things you are thankful for today. Here is my list: