15 Candles and a smile

I should have written this a couple days ago but to be honest I was just too tired. After all I am now the aged mum of a fifteen year old. And with that comes a lot of angst. A lot of fights. A lot of yelling "you just dont understand" and an immense amout of eye rolling and sarcastic comments. From Jessica as well!
But seriously there are days when I say to myself "how am I going to get through this whole teenage girl mothering caper without completely loosing my marbles?" And then that shocking truth hits me square between the eyes. Not only do I have to get through it with Jess but also with four more children!!!! Aaagh! What was I thinking?
And then there are days like thursday. When you get your creative on. Make an awesome cake for the first of your fantastic five. And wait for the exclamation of joyful surprise as 15 candles are blown out and that cake is cut open.
On the outside it looked like an ordinary birthday cake. And that could have been the end of it. But oh no! This was a cake with a difference! Filled up with smartie, jaffa's and freckle yumminess, it took everyone not in the know by surprise.
Teenage girls are somewhat like that cake. You might think to yourself you have them figured out. But then that day comes when you delve a bit deeper and are surprised at the discovery that there is more to them than meets the eye. Often you are pleasantly surprised. Occasionally you aren't. Yet every day I am thankful for the fantastic five children God has entrusted me with. And oh so thankful for the strength he gives so I can say that I am 'loving life as mum'!