teenagers...well my teenager to be exact

Wow this weekend has definitely been a trying one... For those that don't know my situation... at the end of May (has it only been that long?) My sister M (who is 18) came to live with me(I'm um 30 something :))... now I've never had any children and really have had no real desire to have any children since I spend 8 hours a day with a group of 5 year olds. So I really have no child rearing experience...but the Lord in His infinite wisdom has sent M to live with me(in a one bedroom apartment, no less).. so I find myself thrown into the role of mother/sister and I'm really struggling with how to be both to the same person... This past weekend I found myself extremely upset with M... who basically sat around on Saturday playing on the computer while I emptied the dishwasher (which I had asked her to empty on Monday!), cleaned the kitchen and did the laundry.... fortunately my wonderful bf came and picked me up to go to the movies before I said something I know I probably would have regretted... (I'm not known for my diplomacy :o) anyways she left to go to a "party" on Saturday night @ 10 p.m. with the words "don't worry I'm not drinking and I'll be back in time for church services"... (how reassuring!) but at 3 a.m. ... yes I said 3:00 a.m.! I get a text saying that she is staying overnight at a friend's house...and then she doesn't make it to service and doesn't answer any of my texts and finally shows up at around 2 something Sunday afternoon...I didn't say anything just kept on folding the clothes (who knew one extra person could mean doing laundry every weekend instead of every other weekend!) and she was talking to me like she hadn't done anything wrong... she was babbling on (she is very good at babbling) about stuff she had done... no I'm sorry I didn't make it home when I said I would.. no apology for not responding to texts or anything... just acted like everything was ok... BUT she did start to fold the clothes with me and made some comment about helping me because she knew she'd upset me yesterday! LOL all I said was Yep... and just kept on folding clothes...and just kind of let it go...
So yep I have no idea what I'm doing... just taking it one day at a time... any advice on helping her learn to be responsible would be greatly appreciated.. anybody out there have any words of wisdom? Strategies you've tried that have worked?
Wow I just read back over what I wrote and I sound like Martha in the Mary and Martha story in the Bible!... ok this post has gone on for much longer than I thought it would... I would appreciate any help or constructive criticism you all can offer!
P.S. If any of you know me and M please don't say anything to her about this blog...this is my place to vent and to get things off my chest... if I want her to know about this blog I will let her know.. thanks :)

I've slipped

Ok... for those that don't know me and read this I'll give a little bit of background... up until January I had smoked a 1/2 to a pack of cigarettes a day. On January 13th I quit and up until last week I haven't had a single cigarette.. than came a really rough day and the desire for a cigarette was overwhelming... so I had one... and since then I have had one about every other night... and tonight I had 2... I feel so angry with myself and know that I have disappointed a lot of people who supported me during the process I went through to quit previously... so I am asking you all to pray for me and to help me to keep from smoking again full time.

Purpose - what on earth am i here for?

A person's purpose is something most people struggle with their entire lives. What am I here for? Is a question asked by many day in and day out. Many people put on a façade, a mask to hide their inner turmoil. They struggle daily with the one question no one can answer for them and one in which the answer changes daily, hourly and even by the minute. I think the answer to the question of one's purpose in life is a very simple one but one many of us have a hard time understanding or even admitting to… we are here in this time and in this place doing what we are doing for one reason and one reason only …. To give glory to God… if you had asked me about my purpose 10 years ago… 5 years ago… a year ago or even yesterday or tomorrow… maybe even in the next hour my response would be different but for now… in this moment … at this time from where I am sitting I know that my purpose is to live daily for God and to do my best daily to help those He has placed in my life. I know I don't always fulfill the purpose God has given me in that minute but I am always striving to do what He has called me to do.

Independence

Independence

Liberty and Freedom

Justice for All

Land that I love

Family and Friends

God and Country

Loyalty and Devotion

Happiness and Sorrow

Laughter and Tears

Free to Express

Free to live

The life that I chose

Blessed beyond measure

To live in the Land of the Free

Because of the Brave

I Support our Troops!

I am....

I am....

a child of God

an independent woman

a sister

a daughter of my earthly father

a friend

a lover of life and of love and of everything good in this world

a hand to those in need.....

one who worships the Lord

one who suffers for those in pain, who rejoices with those in times of truimphant

one who loves children and animals and will do all in her power to protect them

a teacher

a student

simple yet complex

happy and sad

loved and in love

confused and amazed each day by the awesome works of my Lord God Almighty.....

I am wonderfully and beautifully made... Psalms 139

Angels Watching Over Me

The father of one of my best friends passed away this past weekend. As I was following her and my other best friend to her house this song kept playing through my head. During the hours since I left her exhausted and asleep on her couch I have come to realize that this song really reflects my view of where our loved ones are and what they are doing. I know that her dad and my mom though they never met this side of heaven are up there watching over all of us. Rest in peace Aaron and Mom and all those who have gone ahead.

ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME
Traditional

All night, all day,
Angels watching over me, my Lord.
All night, all day,
Angels watching over me.
Sun is a-setting in the West;
Angels watching over me, my Lord.

Sleep my child, take your rest;
Angels watching over me.
All night, all day,
Angels watching over me, my Lord.
All night, all day,
Angels watching over me.

Psalm 23

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!

I shall not want = That's Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul = That's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance!

For His name sake = That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = That's Testing!

I will fear no evil = That's Protection!

For Thou art with me = That's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = That's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = That's Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil = That's Consecration!

My cup runneth over = That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = That's Blessing !

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That's Security!

Forever = That's Eternity!

Compilation unknown