Don’t worry, Mom. We didn’t get another dog.

(Yet.)

Meet Cooper.  A sweet-as-can-be Boxer whose home was severely damaged last week in a storm.

I met him when I visited his owners in their home. Their home (though in chaos) was neater than mine . . . but it was a no-brainer that we should invite them over for dinner on Saturday night.  And offer to keep Cooper while they’re stuck in a motel.

Which gave me a reason to clean.

I shared last week that I’d been pretending there was no reason to clean since we hadn’t had anyone over in a while.

It was wrong. I know. And as noble as I could have been if I’d just cleaned because it was the right thing to do, I’m so happy I had a reason to clean.

Five short hours on Saturday and I was happy to invite them inside. The kids’ rooms were even clean! (I never bother with those for home groups since it’s all adults!)

Sometimes I think I need to be noble and wait to invite someone over until I’ve cleaned for the right reasons.  (Just because.)

But that’s wrong. There’s nothing at all wrong with opening my mouth first and then letting that force me to clean so I can open my home.

It works. 

And the bonus: When my kids asked if they could have friends over after church on Sunday and school on Monday . . . I immediately said yes.

Let’s live it up while the house is sparkly!!