Update on Lights Out

Well....it's been a crazy couple weeks trying to adjust turning the lights/electronics off at sundown.  It's amazing how much "flipping on a light" is a habit...even if the light isn't really needed. One thing about this lights out experiment is it gives me much less time to do things online...such as update my blog. LOL

In all, I LOVE this experiment, and I love the idea behind it even if I'm not successful every night. I find myself looking forward to sundown, I love the look of my house in candle light. I love how peaceful and relaxing it is. Some how reading by candle light seems to bring me more joy than reading already did...and I LOVE to read people. :)

My shocker, I really don't miss my computer and the TV...well, I don't want much TV anyway, so turning that off is more of a sacrifice for hubby than for me. However the iPad and I are BFF's...and I don't mind turning it off at sundown...well...unless I'm engrossed on someone's blog or the newest iBook I downloaded. LOL  There is something relaxing about turning it off and not worrying about what is happening in the rest of the world.

So the only pitfall is it's hard to accomplish this goal when other people (even if it's just one person) lives on the house.  My dear, sweet, hubby who agreed to play along...well...makes it complicated.  See, it's basketball finals (Go Boston...just sayin)...and he has a brand new HCT Incredible phone...both of which require his attention long after sundown.  SO...I find my self in our beautifully candlelit bedroom alone reading...while hubby is in the living room watching TV or playing FarmVille.  Not exactly the idea of romance I had in mind. I was really hoping this candlelight time would kinda bring us together...forced quality time sort of thing...it's still early.  Perhaps soon he will look forward to sundown as much as I do.

So...that is a quick update on how the experiment is going. Hopefully I will check in sooner next time.  :)

30 Day Challenge

Yesterday I stumbled upon this blog post by JD Moyer. In it he talks about a period of time his family went without artificial light after sundown. He wrote about how our bodies naturally have a sleep rhythm that coordinate with the rising and setting of the sun. He discussed how our use of artificial light has thrown off that rhythm, which causes us to not only not have enough hours of sleep, but also not enough quality sleep.

In the 30 days he found "In a nutshell: more sleep, better sleep, improved mood, and an entirely different rhythm to both waking and sleeping life." As someone who has never slept well, this idea intrigued me. I talked to hubby and he is behind it 100%. Now at sundown we are turning off the TV's, computers, cell phones and (gasp) my iPad. We are going to spend time reading/playing games by candle light, talking, cuddling...err...etc. :)

I am really excited to see where this takes us over the next 30 days. I will let you know how it goes. We started last night, and I couldn't believe how relaxing it was, and how rested I felt this morning. Anyone want to play along?

Blessings,

Apryll :)

Laughter

Hmmm....where do I begin? I have been in a funk for the past couple weeks. For several reasons I suppose. Several changes....and just the whole "it's Mother's Day and I don't have baby...it's my party I can cry if I want to kinda funk." Through that I know all is well. Through that friends and family have been awesome!! I don't want to forget that. I don't want to forget just how blessed I am.

So now for some exciting news...drum roll please....we have been confirmed as a host family for a foreign exchange student for the 2010/2011 school year. Our "daughter" is 16 and she is from Norway. I am SO excited, and August just can't get here fast enough. We cannot wait to get to know her.

Tonight was awesome. I got to hang out with a friend named Stephanie. She is a college age student at our church. She has such an awesome, random, fun-filled spirit. Hmmm...even though she said I'm not very funny....brat...I can be funny. LOL she is awesome, and I am so glad she has become a part of my life. She is kinda like a little sister to me, and I love having her around.

Things that brought me joy today:

*chatting with my Dad
*Learning to play chess with Steph
*Laughter...it makes everything better

Blessings!!

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