Raising a preteen.. does it get any easier ever??

Argh! Here we go again.. wow! When did my girl change from listening to this attitude that everone is more important than me??!!! Thankfully, God helped me to have the peace I need not to blow up as I did another day and the goodbyes were a lot nicer this morning.
So then my question is always does it get any easier?? I mean, this is just a preteen stage.. soon to be a teen and I don't know if I can handle it. I mean, I know I can bc I know that I have the Lord with me, but its so rough sometimes bc we don't have a manual that says, "Now, when your child says or does this, you say or do this and all will be well." - Man! Wouldn't THAT be nice!!
Who ever said it would be easy.. no one, but I can still wish eh?
One day at a time, moments with Christ, time in stillness.. I must cherish these times. I love my daughter and I want her more than anything to have the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord and His holy spirit so I have to remember to do my part with my attitude and words so I can do all on my part to be that example.. EXAMPLE.. I have to remember this and focus constantly so I don't let my frusterations and emotions take over.. oh hard it can be too!
I do have to remember even in the times of hardship, when my daughter is more worried about her friends or being late than listening to my words that it is just that.. circumstances. So many times it is the timing and I have to be sensitive to that.. she is growing up.. she has a mind and obligations and she is becoming a lady. I am thankful for how the Lord is working and continue to pray for His hand in her life! I want so bad to establish the right timing and all this before she does become a full teenager.. while I can reach out to her still.. spend time with her.. talk with her.. I pray that the communication will never diminish, even if it isn't always as deep as I would like! I pray for love and respect in this home, for all of us, in Jesus name!

So this is my prayer today Lord - Let me be a light to my child, an example of how to STAY calm and NOT blow up in anger. To be an example and help her learn to be quick to listen, slow to speak and SLOW to become anger for man's wrath does not bring the righteous life YOU desire! Lord fill my daughter with your Holy spirit, with wisdom and knowledge of who you are and let her so desire to know you and seek you every day. Work in all the selfishness in her heart, as well as my own. I surrender my life and my parenting to you once again, daily I ask that you would take my life, change me for your Glory and pour out your spirit in this family and home. I love you Lord and know that I can do all things through you bc you strengthen me. You are my King and I pray that you would teach me and help me to grow in you to be all that you have me to be as a person, wife, mom, sister, and friend. Thank you Lord for loving me even through the tough times and please prepare my heart, attitude and mind for the future, esp. in my parenting and in my marriage. Let me always shine forth your love, and be quick to turn to you! I love you Abba Father!

Crazy times

We have had a long past couple of weekends. We were in Tulsa the past two weekends. The first was to visit family, and we had a great time with the girls at the aquarium while we were there. More on that, along with pictures later.
This past weekend was nice bc we went to Laile's high school reunion. It was great to meet his buddies from back in the day, and to make some new friends that maybe we can hang out with now sometime when visiting T-town.

Now.. Friday morning I was drinking some reheated coffee I had made the day before like I do occassionally. I was getting to the bottom of the cup, when I felt something in my mouth, which I spit immediately back into the cup.. I knew I had not dipped any food in the coffee so I had a really nauseating feeling in the pit of my stomach already, thinking this may be a bug.. Well, I poured out the coffee, and sure enough it was a dead fly! YUCKKKKKK!! I threw up into the sink as soon as I saw it! From now on it is fresh coffee ALL the time.. I am still disgusted and have a knot in my stomach thinking about it!

Sooo.. on the way to Tulsa we stopped at Applebees to eat lunch. I was on the phone with my sister, and Laile said I needed to change Meghan bc the guys bathroom didn't have a changing table in it. I was really into my conversation and had the phone in one hand, and Meghan on my hip when I walked into the bathroom. It took me a few minutes to realize there was a man standing up, looking at me over his shoulder with an uneasy smile, like he was saying "hello.. this is the men's restroom.." - Whoa... I finally realized I was in the men's restroom, ran out, and went straight into the women's restroom. My sister said she had done that, which I remember bc I laughed at her! Well.. another reason to get off the cell phone and focus on what you are doing! :)

Last crazy story.. we arrived home at 3am Sunday morning from Tulsa bc Laile was on call and I had to be at church at 8 am. Laile was taking Meghan inside, calming her down so she wouldn't wake up, and all of a sudden he flipped out! He threw his keys down, was flailing his arms, and Meghan was screaming and crying! I was wondering what in the world caused him to do this and wake up Meghan, when he said he walked into a spider web!! I couldn't believe he freaked out so bad! He did not want that spider on him! Well.. he put M in her crib and when I walked in she was screaming.. I told him she was prob. scared bc of what had just happened and we had to lay with her for awhile for her to calm down.
The next day, I actually saw this spider and realized I would have freaked out if I had known how big this little sucker was!! Laile got it down from the door with the broom, and then finally killed it.. not pretty!!
So goes the many adventures of this last weekend.. it was very eventful to say the least! :)