You say we are going to work on getting this house cleaned up today and we will not stop until it is completely cleaned up and (gasp) the kids agree. Yes, it is that bad I am embarrased to confess .  Usually, there is unrest in the ranks, lots of groaning, moaning, and resistance. But thankfully, they are on my side and feel the need also to tame this beast that used to be our lovely home. Clean clothes have not been put up for over a week and have piled up on the loveseat, the kitchen countertop is covered with canned goods, an assortment of bills and school papers as well as whatever is hiding beneath these things! The floors are hideous and too bad to even describe (think- dining room floor- underneath kitchen table- after small children have eaten rice, shredded wheat, gloppy jelly sandwiches). Much, much more but I do not  want to horrify bore you with all the details and besides I must go and find the vacuum cleaner. Have a wonderfully clean house day and know that by this evening, we will be back in the land of more organized, sanitized, and saner living. Blessings, Julie

Just wanted to mention that we saw a tornado yesterday evening approximately 4 miles SW of our house. The kids were in the cellar and hubby and I were watching it from the cellar steps. It was strangely surreal because as we were watching it we were listening to the weatherman on the radio down in the cellar describing where it was and who in the area needed to take cover, namely us. We didn't get to watch for long as golfball size hail started raining down on us. Fortunately, no real damage to speak of just a greater appreciation of God's awesome power!