Expectations

Expectations.

Expectations don't always become reality. In fact, they often don't.

The cool thing is, when they don't, often there is something even cooler around the corner. And when they do, well great, you got what you wanted!

I EXPECTED to go to the University of Utah Nursing Program. I am absolutely happy at DATC with incredible friends and a program that I love.

I EXPECTED to have my dad around for my whole life. Instead... I met the man of my dreams that the thing that brought us together was something we both shared... a struggling parent who didn't conquer their temptations.

I EXPECTED to have my home decorated by now. I love what our home is to Casey and I. The memories that we have created with the amazing marriage that we have is cooler than a painted kitchen, and a bookshelf with stuff on it. It's what we've worked on and are working towards.

I EXPECTED as a kid to go to college with gymnastics. I'm so glad it didn't. I had a great childhood, and who knows where I would be.... would I have found Casey?

Those are just a few...

I have a few more "Expectations" that seem to be lingering.

I am expecting to lose the weight I want to lose...

I am expecting to do well for the rest of the summer with the shack...

I am expecting to get a scholarship or a grant for the last bit of school...

I am expecting to get pregnant when we decide to start trying...

I am expecting that Element & will continue forward despite issues regarding Sub Zero...

I am expecting to be in a home in the next few years...

I am expecting all my loved ones to be there all the time.

Sounds stuck up to say I am expecting all of those things... but I am. Aren't you expecting the same (though possibility variations) things in your life?

The things is, we all have expectations every day. I expect that I am going to wake up tomorrow morning, and that my husband is going to wake up next to me. I also expect I'll get up on time.

The question is... what expectations are going to become realities? It can give my heart a little jump to think about the lingering expectations listed above NOT occurring...

What would I have said if someone told me 10 years ago that "you aren't going to get into the University of Utah nursing program. You're dad will die when you are 15. Oh, and you won't be a gymnast in college or have a decorate home for 2 years after your marriage." Probably would have hurt my heart. However... I like my life better now, than if I had gotten those things that I thought I wanted, or expected.

That's the thing. Those expectations didn't become a reality... but I'm still happy. The one expectation we can always count on if we so choose to.

Life comes at us everyday. Sometimes our expectations become reality, and sometimes they don't. Our expectation of happiness, however, can always be a reality.... and if we choose to let it be, we will find happiness in the alternative pathways, and alternative expectations. We don't have to wait and see. We can choose that everyday, despite the possible expectations that haven't become reality... or the ones that have. Doesn't matter.

Happiness is an expectation I choose to have.

Life...

I love life. More specifically, MY life. I wake up to Casey every morning. Our mornings usually consist of getting ready, me working out, him getting stuff done in his office, meeting together for breakfast and scriptures, and then heading out to our day. We both work super hard, whatever it is we're doing... and then if we are lucky enough to both be able to be home at a decent hour, I cook a nice dinner and we usually watch the Office or Lost. Then, he holds me EVERY night as we fall asleep.

Sounds like an ordinary day? Well sometimes, our ordinary days are what makes me LOVE my life. MY ordinary day, consists of being married to the man of my dreams, and spending several hours with him a day. It consists of me having a strong, able body that can work out every day. It involves the gospel, and trying to live the principles of it. Right now (it's summer) it always involves some sort of sun soaking. It consists of our fun condo that we have worked on together, and that is still not done enough to be decorated. It consists of dirty dishes sometimes, because we chose to cuddle on the couch instead. It always involves family in some way or another, which are, of course, the most important people in my life. It consists of hard work, which always brings happiness into our home. It always consists of my husband holding me, and kissing me so sweetly.

Ordinary?

Not a chance.

Lately

Element 7 Creamy KILLED it at the Arts Festival this last weekend. Casey and I have never worked so hard in our life! We basically worked from Wednesday to Sunday from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day! It went so well though. It was so much fun to see everything come together. We had on average 4 employees working with us a day. We had a tent set up behind the table for mixers, pumpers, and stockers. Then on the trailer we would have 4 people doing orders, flavors, mixing, and nitrogen. It was nuts. At one point, we were pumping out 80 ice creams an hour! That's a freaking lot! Over the whole weekend we sold over 2000 ice creams. So, to say the least, it was a success! We learned a lot. We also had the chance to do a press review on Wednesday night, as well as a news spot on Channel 2 news on Friday morning! We had to be to our booth super early on Friday, and we got a two and a half minute slot. I showed the process of pumping the cream and the flavors, and Casey showed the nitrogen part. It was sweet!

Our next event is this weekend for the Fourth of July at the Sandy Fireworks. Only one day... it'll be a piece of cake :).

We've spoiled ourselves a little bit this week after so much hard work last week. We went swimming on Monday, took my mom to a movie (Toy Story 3) and dinner (The Cheesecake Factory) on tuesday as a thank you for her help at the Arts Festival, we went to the new Twilight: Eclipse today with Hannah, and we went kayaking today at the Daybreak Lake. SO much fun. This was our first time kayaking with our new (from last summer!) kayaks. Neither of us tipped! It was really fun.

Fun week... but back to hard work! :)

Blogging?

I've finally done it... I've started a blog. I promised I never would, but I decided it would be a good way for me to keep a "journal" of our lives, since I can't seem to do that in a book. It looks pretty bad, so I'll have to see if I can figure that part of it out.

Casey and I have been married for two years. We have an incredible marriage! Everyone always says that the first year of marriage is the hardest. If that was the hardest, then I guess our life is going to be pretty dang good!

We have done so many thing in our first years of marriage, including: honeymoon to hawaii, living in Bountiful, buying a condo in Holladay, trip to Jackson hole, snowboarding, camping, working on our condo, Casey working at Paramed, Me coaching level 6, Valentines at the Grand America, winning state meet, getting into nursing school, buying and running the Ice Shanty, going to the Uintah's for our first anniversary, hiking, mountain biking, Lake Powel, Lake Powel again, Casey quitting Paramed and starting Impact, Christmas's and Holidays, Beacon Christmas lights, a trip to Michigan, me starting nursing school, Starting Element 7 Creamery, 4.0 first nursing semester, business credit cards, Moab, and Moab again.

Those are just a few of the highlights.

The main highlight, however, is the amazing man that I am lucky to call my husband. I can't imagine a better man to share my life with. He works harder than anyone I know. He is incredibly handsome with a smile that melts me, and he makes me laugh everyday. He has an incredible enthusiasm for life that radiates to everyone around him. He continually does sweet things for me and is always selfless. He is the man of my dreams, and I don't know how I managed to get him to marry me.

What more is there?