Some of our kids are early risers. Those children usually crash easily at night also. Others have trouble going to sleep at night and tend to be up late, then have to be rousted from bed in the AM.

We keep a scheduled morning for the kids - I have learned this reduces chaos and ensures everyone is eating well, then taking care of their responsibilities. Breakfast is at 7:30, then morning routine chores for each child and myself follow.

When I set my alarm to wake at 6:00 and pour myself a nice cup of steaming hot coffee to spend some time at my desk with my Bible, inevitably, it's a matter of mere moments before I hear the footsteps down the hall, then feel the breath on the back of my neck. Someone is standing behind me.
I turn to look at their face, trying not to let my annoyance show because I do not want them to feel that I am not pleased to see them. "Good morning {child}. Did you sleep well? Why don't you go turn on the tv until it's time for breakfast?" Off they go.
Ah, it's quiet again. I resume, trying to remember where I was before the interruption. Oh, there it is. I found my spot.
Only a few quick minutes later, here comes another munchkin. Footsteps down the hall, the feeling of someone standing behind my chair. Again, annoyed by the interruption, I turn.
Repeat cycle.
Then, another.
When I turn to the third child to pad down the hallway and come look to me for a morning greeting, I can no longer contain the aggravation that wells up within me.
I sigh. Deeply. With great exaggeration. I push out my chair more forcefully than is necessary, and stand up, loudly pronounce, "good morning {child} I hope you slept well. Watch tv please."
Then I walk to the kitchen and begin getting things out for breakfast, angry that I can not have a single moment to myself in the morning. Having lost my [holy] composure, another [holy] "quiet time" bites the dust.
Suddenly, I'm not feeling so spiritual anymore.
I am a follower of Christ. People like me are supposed to have a Quiet Time. Everyone knows that.
What are those kids doing? Waking up in the morning like that? Standing right behind me, looking to their momma to say hello, good morning, how are you today? Trying to get a hug? They have ruined my quiet time! When am I supposed to learn to follow Christ?!

It is then. When I lay aside my own agenda, and love those I have been given. When I am warm and inviting as a mother. When I let go of my urge to be harsh and cold because they are interrupting my time with Jesus. When I am able to demonstrate toward them the servant hood of Christ, my Lord. I learn to follow him.

There are seasons of a mother's life. For some women, the stages last longer due to family size, spacing, type, or structure.

This is my season. One full of young children. And He has taught me more in this season than ever before in my entire life. While dry in some ways, it flourishes in others. Make no mistake, God knows my desire for Him. He searches my heart. He realizes that although I may not have the Quiet Time I would like to be able to share with Him, it is because I am busy pouring myself out in service to train and teach and correct and instruct and nurture His little ones. And I have never needed Him more. I am wholly reliant. All day long. Every day. Keenly aware of my own depravity. I can not do this alone. Motherhood has brought me here. Low. Fully cognizant that only He is High. I look up. And this is precisely the place I need to be. For now.

He meets me exactly where I am. And He loves me so very well. In the midst of all this. He whispers to me. Reminds me. Teaches me. Comforts and convicts me and uplifts me and guides me throughout the day. He gives me wisdom and strength to take care of the responsibility He has entrusted to me.

I rarely have a good quiet time. And yet, I know. I see. I hear. There is no doubt. He is here. We are in this together, He and I.
Right in the middle of The Loudness.