fleeting cleanliness.

this week has been dedicated to a major clean-out. while there's so much that could still be done, each room (minus one) has been dejunked, organized, vacuumed, dusted and straightened up. how satisfying is a perfectly clean room? how sad is it that it can never last? as I have moved from room to room I have prayed that the kids and the mess would stay ahead of me, and it has, for the most part. things are either so clean, or had gotten so messy, that denten walked in monday night and looked around our bedroom. he came to find me and asked if we were moving. Ha!

while part of me wanted to ban my family from entering any "complete" rooms, I found myself full of gratitude for these little busy bodies that love to play with each other and who have been become content to use their toys and their imaginations to entertain themselves rather than the computer or television. we haven't had the tv on for the last couple of weeks while the kids are awake and while it was a struggle at first, they have come to understand that there are many options available to them when the tv is not. so while the tractor bin has been dumped on the freshly vacuumed floor, and beckham is driving his trucks all around the farm, I can relish in the fact that at least it got vacuumed.

these children of mine have been great little helpers. cooper vacuums the stairs, empties the garbages and loads and changes the laundry along with regular dishwasher duty. seneca is responsible for sorting the toys in the playroom into their proper bin and rounding up all the dirty laundry to put in the hamper. beckham basically does whatever I ask and is thrilled to be included. he runs garbage to the can, toys and clothes to their homes and squeals while chasing the vacuum. it has been liberating to part with stuff from each room and create my give-away boxes.

I need to move onto meals and have a few ready so grandma doesn't have a meltdown when dinnertime arrives, but hey, at least the house will be clean!