The Perils of Keeping Still During Prayer...

Ladies and Gentlemen, Please allow me to introduce you to: 

The Mudpuppies.

Nine wily characters under the age of seven. 

To open our annual Cousin's Camp this year we met at the brand new Fort:

And prayed for a safe camp. 

Er...that prayer was answered with a resounding 'NO' but that's a blog for another time. 

So, prayer with large groups of little kids...

Has anyone actually watched little boys try to hold it together during prayer?

Specifically boys this age:

I mean, you tell them to bow their heads, hold their hands together and quietly pray but...

It ain't easy.

There are several different methods I noticed these boys employing to try to keep themselves still.

First, you've got your 'hide behind your hat' method.

Apparently, this method causes the giggles.

Second, you've got the 'stick your tongue out to keep it quiet' method:

Apparently, this method also causes the giggles.

Method the third: the 'kneel down and hope no one notices you' method:

Relatively effective.

Ya know...when all else fails you can always scrunch your face way up and try to ignore your cousin who is making faces at you. 

Such concentration!

That also ain't easy. 

It's also apparent that it's not always easy for grown-ups to keep it together during prayer. 

After all, The Mudpuppies aren't the ones who took these incriminating photos. 

I was.