Growing Up

For those of you who know me you know I have a hard time with getting older. I think I have an even HARDER time with my girls getting older. Maybe because it just reiterates the fact that I am not getting younger.
My Anna finished Kindergarten this week. That was a toughie! How is it that I now have a daughter who will be entering school in the fall into an ACTUAL number grade?
Are you kidding me?!?
She has learned so much this year it is amazing. She started reading this year, writes her last name, spells, tells time, can add and subtract, knows some Spanish and sign language, asked Jesus into her heart, turned SIX, can swim and the list goes on and on. What a crazy time! 
My daughter's accomplishments, big and small, bring me JOY!

JOY in Parenting?

JOY in parenting an almost two year old? This is something I'm having a difficult time with. My little girl Abigail is the cutest little thing. But she has a way of bringing me to complete and utter frustration. She is extremely stubborn, defiant and tends to make some of the most annoying sounds humanly possible.
I am no longer able to accomplish my daily tasks or errands. To take Abigail anywhere is a chore. It is "an up at dawn pride swallowing seige" to quote Jerry Maguire. Each day I try to find the small moments when she is being her cute self to enJOY that time. For that time is fleeting!
The JOY is knowing this stage will not last forever.
I do love my little girl and look forward to when she will speak and use words to let out her little frustrations.
I need to continue to find the JOY in her and learn to channel that when she is testing me. It's amazing how someone so small can stir up such feelings ranging from complete and utter exhaustion to absolute happiness.
At this point I feel as though I'm fighting a losing battle with no end in sight....maybe tomorrow I'll wave the white flag of surrender!