{virtual} coffee date

If we were having coffee this morning... there would be Christmas music playing in the background.  Even as I type this, this delightful music is what I'm listening to.  Now, I'm not quite sure how I feel about the fact that Christmas decorations have already been in full force around stores, malls, and such. I for one feel a bit bad for Thanksgiving.  It hasn't even come yet, and all we can think about is Christmas! 

If we were having coffee this morning... I would share that things are most likely going to get pretty quiet around here.  After visiting my doctor on Thursday, we thought it'd be best for me to stop working a week earlier than I had originally planned.  So that basically means that after this week off from work, I'll have one week left at work and then maternity leave will start.  As much as I can't wait for a break, to catch my breath, and to finally get some things done around the house-there is also SO much to do for work to make sure my precious students are taken care of amazingly.  The past two weeks have been rough and very stressful, and so I'm desperately trying to balance life out.  

If we were having coffee this morning... I'd share that God has been showing himself to me in amazing ways!  Over the last couple of weeks I've experienced some stress over who my long-term sub would be.  And as a teacher, we are all type-A, our classrooms are our babies.  The thought of not teaching them and giving it over to someone else is still something I'm getting used to.  Anyways, a lot of "possibilities" have been falling through which left me desperately praying to God that He would provide.  As soon as my prayers were done, I'd open up my devotional for the day, and God-in His miraculous wonders- answered them right there.  "Do not be anxious about tomorrow"...."Do not stress"....  over and over again He has been giving me verses and stories that directly answer my prayers.  It gets even better.  On Wednesday of this past week I found out that who I thought was going to take over my classroom can't, leaving me on the verge of a full blown panic attack.  So I prayed, and quickly emailed one more possibility.  Within 2 hours, I got an email back from her saying that she CAN do it, and all of a sudden a huge sense of peace overcame me.  We have an amazing and faithful God, my friends! 

If we were having coffee this morning... I'd share that I'm leaving for Arizona today with my mom to visit family and have an early Thanksgiving celebration.  I'm so excited to just be with family, relax a bit, and have grandma show me how to crochet a beanie for the baby.  

If we were having coffee this morning... I'd share that we have been receiving so many packages in the mail lately, most of which are for the baby.  The other day my tank I ordered from Refresh Attire came and I couldn't have been more thrilled.  Can I just say that I'm truly loving the fact that we can bless these small businesses and know exactly where our money is going and who it is supporting?  Christmas shopping has already been so much fun this year as we have tried to keep it to small boutiques and businesses that serve a greater cause. 

If we were having coffee this morning... I'd share that I've always wanted to attend a conference with other bloggers but can never find a way to spend that much money on one where I won't know anyone.    Well, I recently learned about the Refresh Summit and it is all I can think about!  This conference is help by one of my favorite bloggers, and it brings together FAITH and FITNESS.  Plus, it's at Forest Home, which holds a dear spot in my heart.  Forest Home is where my youth group would attend winter camp.  I can still remember the camp where I fell head over heels for Daniel, and the entire ride home I kept telling my leader how much I liked him and that he would never like me back.  Little did I know back then what life would hold for us 10 years later :)