Shall we pray...

I have had quite a time this summer keeping my cool with the "mess" that engulfs our house each day. Four kids + 1100sqft + way too many toys + mommy working on schoolwork= BIG mess! I have tried in vain to implement the "get one thing out at a time" rule, but they insist that they are "using their imagination" and they apparently need several things to accomplish this. Big guilt trip here - who am I to hinder their imaginative play.

Anyhow, a couple of times a day, they know that we will do a "big pick-up" to make the house look tidy, or at least be able to walk through it without tripping on a toy, pillow or kid. My dad used to implement this same tactic but he would call out for all of us to get together and go "roombaroom". That meant we had to start in the kitchen and go room by room until the house was clean. Well, we were doing a clean up last night before we started a movie and Maddy (who is the laziest of all when it comes to picking up - let's have a prayer for her future husband) was whining and fussing but went to her room to get started. After several minutes of seeing nothing whatsoever being cleaned, she came in the living room and told me that she was praying to God before she got started. Gotta admit that's best way to tackle the big messes in life - call on the Holy Spirit!

Please note their "imagination" spread all over the room