Real Life

Well, my maternity leave is now up, and real life begins again on Monday. I have been dreading this moment since June 29th. It's been a perfect, wonderful, past 7 1/2 weeks and I have cherished every single minute. I love being with Hope and sometimes even want to wake her up from naps simply because I miss her. What a blessing to have gotten to spend so much time with her.

I still am very blessed. I will be going back to work 4 days/week, and Hope will be getting watched by family who loves her and will take good care of her. But it's still not the same as keeping her with me. No one will lover her like I do (hear that Hope???). I am so thankful for her and think I love her more every day. She is so sweet and innocent, it makes my heart hurt. I can not thank God enough for this precious gift He has given Troy and I.

As I type this I am watching her sleep in her swing. She has a little smile on her face and is still in her yellow duckie pajamas - so cute! Her hair is sticking up, of course, and her little hands are resting on her legs. I wonder what she is dreaming or if she is. I hope she feels safe and secure and loved. That is my prayer for her every day. I try to show her with my face and my actions how treasured she is. And that is the main word that comes to mind when I think about her. She is my treasure.

So if you think about it, please say a prayer for me Monday morning. It will be a tough, painful day, but I will live for the moment I can race out of work and hold my baby in my arms once again, and pray that she hasn't forgotten me while we were separated. I pray protection over her while she is not in my care, and the strength for me to do what I need to do, to give her a good life and good home. As i said, it's the day I have been dreading but I pray it will go better than anticipated, and maybe I will also be okay with her missing me like I will miss her.