Evening Ritual

I feel the true blessing is in the fact that the television was not even turned on at our house this evening!!!!!
The mistake: Daddy and I have used the T.V. as a "treat" for ourselves to "escape" if you will, and I guess as our time to relax and hang out! I dont think there is anything wrong with that, and Bennie especially is great with finding very wonderful, active things for us to do, but tonight we also got to enjoy MY idea of real family BONDING!
It was 1 full hour, after we went to dinner and had swim lessons. We started with a playful but peaceful (no injuries or screams) bath, got dressed, each child chose a book, and mommy got her bed time "prayers" ready! We read some books, devotionals, and finally used the "prayer pail" (thanks Cindi for that refrence), We sat and prayed as a family, and it was fantastic!
The kids went to the bathroom, loved on us, and went straight to bed, again, peacefully! Oh, the power of PRAYER!!!!