Have you ever wanted something so bad, but it probably wasn't the best thing for you?  Carmen and Jesse were begging me for a piece of gum tonight and it was very close to bedtime.  I was very tired and didn't want to fight it so I let them have one.  Of course about thirty minutes later I look and Jesse is sacked out.  Carmen and I tried to wake him up to spit out his gum but he was OUT!  So I try to pry open his mouth to get it out and his teeth seem as though they are wired shut.  Carmen tried for me and she couldn't get it either.  So I carried him to his bed, try again and then just sigh and visualize cutting off all his beautiful curls in the morning because I could just see the bright blue gum intertwined with his ringlets.  As soon as I get him down, I walk in my room and Carmen is asleep...here we go again!  (so much for not fighting!)  Now I'm "fighting" with her jaw to get it open and trying to wake her up.  Both attempts were unsuccessful.  I was determined, with her, to get that gum because I am not about to cut her hair off yet!  I have never seen anyone sacked out asleep and able to keep their jaw shut no matter what the resistance!  Very weird!  Anyway, I finally shove my finger in through her teeth and snatch the gum.  Feeling the victory, I went back into Jesse and eventually got his mouth open to discover he had already swallowed his. 
They wanted that gum so bad, and even though it was not the best thing for them, they got it.  They held on to it and did not want to let it go.  How many times do we do that?  Enjoy something even knowing the end result will only end up messy. We hold on to it know matter how hard God or loved ones try to pry it out of our lives.  Let it go!  Messes are hard to clean up and affect more than just your life!
Just for the record, Derrick and I do have good bedtime habits with the kidos!  8 p.m. and it's night, night...Mommy & Daddy time, but Derrick was at band practice and I was a little slack!