Sleep

I used to think sleep was overrated.

That was until this week. Since returning from our trip it has been an interesting process in seeing how our bodies adjust back to this timezone. The first night home in our own bed was wonderful and we slept 11 hours. I don't think my husband has slept 11 hours straight in the 30 years we've been married.

Since then sleep has been a challenge. Sunday night we slept from 11 PM to 12:30 AM and then from 3:30 AM to 5 AM. Weird...and let me say that there is not much on TV from 12:30 AM to 3:30 AM. Which you think would be good because we could watch something really boring and fall right back to sleep but that really doesn't happen. You just kind of toss and turn, change channels, talk a little and just keep trying to fall asleep. But, it doesn't happen and the first day back to work you got no REM sleep and just feel completely out of sorts.

So you get home Monday evening exhausted and do everything you can NOT to nap, hoping that will ensure a full and complete night sleep. BUT...3 AM roles around we both find ourselves awake and go through that whole process we did the night before with no success. So day 2 it is back to work with having had 4 hours of sleep and already having been awake for 6 hours before the day begins. This is a long day for me as I have a Donor Meeting to facilitate in the evening. Gary joins me at this meeting and we finally get home just a little before 10 PM. I think this turns out to be a blessing.

Gary is asleep within seconds of putting his head on the pillow. I'm asleep by 11 PM. This time 3 AM came and went without either of us noticing it. YEAH! Gary sleeps straight through until his alarm goes off at 5:15 AM (which I never hear) and I sleep until 6 AM!!!! I did wake up briefly around 4 AM when I realized my glasses were still on but after taking them off and putting them on the nightstand, I was asleep within a few minutes.

Driving to work this morning I realize how much more alive I feel and understand that my previous position on the over importance placed on a good night's sleep was most likely based on getting a good night's sleep. Oh, I've had my times when that wasn't the case. Like when the kids were babies. But in those times there is a reward for little sleep and it is that precious little child in your arms, completely dependent on you for all its needs, that has the sweetest face you have ever seen in your entire life. A friend who just had a baby and got little sleep last night said to me this morning "You know, I think God must give special abilities to new moms so that they can still function without getting the sleep they need."

I thought about that for a while, remembered those months after the kids were born, compared it to the last few days with little sleep, and decided she is 100% correct!

Jeremiah 31:25-26 CEV
Those who feel tired and worn out will find new life and energy, and when they sleep, they will wake up refreshed.