4:44 a.m.

You guessed it.

Wide awake - at 4:44 a.m.

It serves me right for going to bed shortly after 9 p.m. last night. Usually I push through that first, post-supper-time, sleepy spell and stay up at least through the weather on the late news. Sometimes I stay up through Leno and even Conan. My alarm is almost always set for approximately 6:30 a.m. - give or take half an hour. And it is almost always a drag to get my sleepy body out of bed at that hour. I have no trouble hitting the snooze alarm and drifting back to dozey dreams for another hour if I have the luxury of time.

I guess my body is used to, and perhaps only needs, seven hours of sleep at night. Although I have a recollection of one of my co-workers walking right into my sleep and yelling something at me and walking right out of what seemed to be my office. All of a sudden I was wide awake in my cozy, flannel enclosure with my canine foot-warmer, Nessie the Jack Russel Terrorist, curled up in the crook of my knees. I decided to get up and pee. Often either the dog or I have to go at that time of the night. I generally leave the lights off so I can fall right back to sleep upon return to the confines of my comfy bed.

Not this morning.

As I lay in my peaceful bed I became aware that the morning traffic was just beginning on U.S. Highway 61 in front of our country yard. It had the muffled sound that surely meant it had snowed in the night. I then realized I hadn't heard a snow plow yet. Either it's still snowing and they're waiting to clear the roads around 6 a.m. for the morning commute, or there wasn't really enough snow to plow.

I rolled over and tried a prayer to get myself back to sleep.

Guide me waking, Lord, and guard me sleeping,
That awake I may watch with Christ,
And asleep I may rest in Peace . . .
Bless Dale, and Joren, and Arthur, and Maria, and Luke, and Danika, and Karen, and Grace, and Calvin, and Sonia, and Jamie, and Rory, and Kevin, and Kieran, and Owen, and Elise, and . . .

This isn't working. I almost always drift off after I've asked for blessings of my children, godchildren, nephews, and nieces!

I tossed over the other direction and tried a different prayer.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep . . .

There goes another car. Hmmmm. Sounds really snowy. Oh, look. Headlights are moving by really slowly. I wonder when the plow will come by. Maybe Joren will get a snow day. I better go check the news. It's already 5:44 a.m. and I still haven't fallen asleep. Might as well get up. I could even blog!

There's at least an inch of wintry white blanketing everything in the yard. New snow is such a blessing, so peaceful, quiet and pure. The sparkles will be beautiful in the morning light - unless it's still cloudy.

At 6 a.m. the plow went south. Traffic doesn't seem to be moving any faster. Guess I better hit the shower and get the Skov men up a little early so they can be careful drivers on the way to work and school today.

I guess it's just destined to be a long day for me. I pray it will be a fun and productive one!

Oh, wait, I'll check out the Advent Calendar first. Care to join me?