Coffee Date

I haven’t done a coffee date in a long time, but I thought today would be a good day to invite you for coffee to catch up a little bit.

I would tell you

…I only have 3 weeks left of maternity leave. I can hardly believe time has flown by so quickly. I am not ready at all to go back and my mama heart is going to be so sad when I have to leave my baby girl for the first time. I  know she will probably cry the whole first day and that will make it all that much harder. But knowing that she will probably beam at me with a huge smile when I pick her up makes my heart melt and will help me get through each day.

…that my class this year is a hard one and I am nervous that when I go back I will feel tired and worn out by teaching and not like it any more. Those of you who are (or have been teachers) understand that the class makes or breaks the year. I hope that the rest of my year with them when I go back isn’t terrible because I know it will be so much harder for me to want to continue teaching if I have a hard class now that I am a mama. But I am also excited to see my colleges on a regular basis again.

…that I am so beyond excited about celebrating my first Christmas with my baby girl. I have dreamed about that day for years. Even before we were trying to start our family I was dreaming about having Christmas with my first baby. It is hard to believe that the day is almost here. I can’t wait to wake up Christmas morning (in my own bed, it is the first time for that in a long time too) with my husband and baby girl and to sit by the tree while we read Luke 2 together.

… I am nervous what is going to happen to my blog once I go back to work. I really enjoy blogging, but I am worried I won’t find time for it any more. I really don’t want to abandon it, but I also don’t want to miss out on precious time I have with my family. I have been thinking seriously about this lately and preparing myself to leave my blog if it becomes too much. I hope to continue to write, to continue to be involved in the community that I have become a part of in the blogging world, but I know that it will become more difficult.

…that I really miss my husband’s side of the family this year. It has been way too long since I have seen them all. I haven’t even met my niece Ruby who is almost 1 year old! I just want to cuddle her and play with my other nieces and nephews and introduce everyone to my Millie. I want to have an in person conversation with my sister-in-laws while sipping coffee and being interrupted by our kids. I hate living all the way across the country from them but I can not wait until next summer when I get to see them again.

Then I would share with you some things that have touched my heart in the blogging world this week. There have been so many great posts that are encouraging, heart warming and even tear bringing that I would love for you to read as well. This week bloggers around the world have really shown their hearts in the wake of the tragedy in Connecticut last Friday.

The Gypsy  mama has a great post about helping kids grieve (even if you don’t have kids I encourage you to read this one).

Emily wrote a post about How to pray when you don’t know how to pray

Casey wrote a couple great posts this week (okay every post she writes is great) reflecting on the tragedy Here and Here (the second one has a great video by her husband you must watch)

Faith that laughs asks the question Can I be used?  

Amanda writes even though their are no words

Melanie from Big Mama writes In search for the light  

Linking up with Alissa from Rags to Stitches