Sleep....or lack thereof

Sleep is a constant issue around our house. I tend to wake up tired and waste half of my time thinking to myself, "When can I go to sleep?" I am usually in my pj's by 7pm and cannot wait to go lay down with Sissy at 8. We try to get the boys to bed at 8 as well, but more often than not, it's 8:30 or even going on 9 by the time Big Daddy gets them actually *in* their beds.

So imagine my delight when I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House:

Dr. Hart discusses what common sleep robbers today's families face. Robbers like caffeine and stress. Being over-scheduled. Having too much homework. Typical, everyday stuff. The author offers several suggestions to battle back: avoid caffeine after 3pm (please tell me he isn't serious), meditating in the evening, darkening the house when it's time for sleep, and having kids tackle their toughest homework subjects first. I loved his recommendation of spending at least 30 minutes in the evening as a family reading, praying, or doing some sort of calming evening ritual. This is something that my family has done off and on but we are not consistent.

Consistency. Isn't that the key to everything? Parenting, dieting, Bible study..... Dictionary.com defines consistency as "steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form, etc."

I am a dreamer. I dream multiple times per night and I remember many, if not most, of my dreams. And most of them are funky. According to Dr. Hart, everyone that is getting a good night's sleep is dreaming. We sleep in 80-90 minute cycles, the deepest of which is the dream state. So, doing the math, one would see that we have multiple dreams per night. Research shows that when we begin a new dream, the brain erases the old one. What?!! Mine are doozies, let me tell you. Just ask Pablo or my co-workers who have to hear all about them. (Natalie, are you there?)

When I was pregnant with my 3 children, I suffered from terrible nighttime anxiety and insomnia. I found these verses incredibly comforting, and still repeat them often to myself at night when I'm having trouble falling asleep. I also say them to my children to help them rest easy:

• I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

• when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24

So tell me....do you sleep well? Do you remember your dreams? What helps you go to sleep at night?