Changes Already

So after doing this for 2 days, you would think I wouldn't notice a difference.

I somewhat have. Today I didn't wake up early and I feel like me, yes, but I don't feel as peaceful and happy as I did yesterday. That's weird because yesterday I woke up at 5:15 to my little boy crying. It took him about 20 minutes to settle down and then I decided to just stay up. I felt so tired and probably looked pretty bad too.

The thing is though, I felt closer to God and to my wife yesterday. Not that I'm not close to them now, but you know there are some days that you just are laughing, talking good, and loving your spouse and family more.

When I'm closer to God, I'm closer to my family. I can feel God's love for me and that makes me want to share my love with others. It's how I feel after going to church, especially.

I've heard it explained like a triangle. God, your spouse, yourself each at one point of the triangle. So as I get closer to God, I also get closer to my spouse, as she gets closer to God too. I love my family. Family is what this life is all about.

Day 2

Slept in.

It's so nice to sleep in, but I didn't do it on purpose. I forgot to set my alarm. At least I wasn't late for work.

Day 1

I woke up at 5:15 am this morning.

I will share my schedule either in a few days or after the first 30 days are over.

I read Matt. 1 and here are the thoughts/impressions I had.
- Why was Christ born the way he was?
- - So Mary would be pure, because He was, is, and needed to be pure
- - He is the First and the Last. He literally was the first to be born to the virgin Mary.
- - There was no other way for Christ to be born that way if He was the son of God

I then read the Introduction to a book I love and cherish like the Bible and here are the thoughts/impressions I had.
- Don't judge me on my mistakes. God is perfect, I'm not.
- The book I am talking about starts in 600 BC with a prophet named Nephi. His father, Lehi, is warned by God to leave Jerusalem because it is going to be destroyed. They leave and eventually come to Central America. They keeps records of God's dealings with them. These records are kept until about 450 AD when all the people eventually become wicked and destroy all the righteous. Those that remain are the beginning of the American Indians.
- This book doesn't take away from the Bible, it absolutely adds to it. As does the Bible add to this book.
- Think about it this way. If I had two children, hey I do, I would talk to both of them, right? Even if they lived in two different places, I would still want to stay in touch with them. So, we are God's children. There were people in Jerusalem that He was talking to, or trying to, and there were people here in Central America that He was talking to also.
- The best part, I feel is 3 Nephi 11, when Christ comes to visit the people in Central America after He was resurected.
- This book, said by the prophet who translated it, Joseph Smith, "[is] the most correct of any book on earth."
- I would like to invite you to read this amazing book. I know it is true and along with the Bible will help you and me become a better person. God is in the Bible and He is in this book. I know with all my heart that The Book of Mormon is true!

I had a few minutes, so I read 1 Nephi 1:1 and here are the thoughts/impressions I had.
- This is going to be my motto.
"I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days."

The inspiration

I heard on a program about a book I could get for free.

http://rizeup.us/

It's a program to get up an hour earlier each morning for 30 days.

Hello internet, again...

So I used to own a domain name and didn't have the money to keep it.

I didn't use it either, so it is now gone. I could have used wordpress (another blogging site, but it is ridiculously slow) and I could have bought the domain name back, but have no money. Two kids, new house, college grad = lots of debt.

I have been thinking that I need to share my thoughts and feelings with the world. I may not be able to change the world, but I hope to make you day a little brighter and your understanding a little better.

I'm not sure what I will post about on this blog, but I feel like I need to. You may see a few developments in the beginning, but please listen to what I have to say. A person said of me once, "You know you need to listen to Michael when he talks, because doesn't say anything unless it's important."

So there are about four different things I have thought about posting about. Religion, government, how religion shows that a republic works best, how to do certain things (grow strawberries, keep a good garden, etc.), and/or what I could accomplish if I woke up 30 minutes to an hour earlier. I'm leaning towards the last. For one, I really don't know anything better than anyone else. The things I know about won't help people become a better person, although maybe in another blog.

I think I will start with the last option and give you updates as I go. I keep getting drawn to this one. That way I could kind of involve all the different ideas I have.

Disclaimer: If I start a phrase with 'Ya know...' or 'Think about it this way...', that means it's going to be political. I will end most of my posts with my love for my family and for God, who gave me everything, including my family.

I want God to guide me in this and feel that if I listen, He will. He is there helping us, guiding us.

I pray for all of you.