Expect the Unexpected...(I added to the original post)

Not kidding, I had already written my post about expectations then I read a blog I follow and WOW were we on the same train of thought? So the italic/bold print below is some excerpts from her blog.

Our expectations are the confused result of our reactions, our thoughts, and our emotional heritage. We confuse wants with needs, anticipation with expectation, loneliness with emptiness, touch with sex, talk with communication, ideals with reality, and self with relationships.
We confuse what we can get only from within ourselves with what we can get only from a relationship.

"Gratitude is the key to happiness and anything that undermines gratitude must undermine happiness. And nothing undermines gratitude as much as expectations. The more expectations you have, the less gratitude you will have."

No matter how hard or long we try, we will never be complete in this life. We cannot be complete as an individual, and we cannot be complete by marrying or having children. We cannot be completely secure emotionally nor can we know everything about any one thing. When we are fixated on finding completeness in this life, we become so anxious that we either aim for absolute safety or we stay paralyzed for fear of not getting it [completeness].

The less aware we are of our own emptiness, the more unrealistically we raise our level of expectations on others. High expectations become hypersensitive and emotionally reactive. So much focus is placed on what others are or are not doing that there is little time left for self-focus. The more successfully we can lower our expectations of others, the more time we have to develop our personal sense of responsibility – and the more effort we put into living up to our personal responsibilities, the more we experience responsibility as joy and fulfillment.

Unhappiness is trading what we want most for what we want now. We want whatever makes us uncomfortable – our anxieties, our insecurities, our challenges – we want that discomfort to go away RIGHT NOW. But deep down, what we want most is to be more – more loving, more forgiving, more compassionate, and more grateful.

Make gratitude a habit.
Write down three things everyday that you are grateful for –– and see how many days you can come up three things to be grateful for – without repeating yourself!
Get a copy of The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude by Sarah Ban Breathnach and write in it everyday for a year.
Write your gratitude's on post-it notes and stick them around the house, in the car, in your spouse/kids’ lunch bags . . . surround yourself with reminders of what you have to be grateful for.
For your Christmas cards, send a note to everyone that helped you in some way this year – and start with those closest to you – your spouse, your kids, your parents, and your siblings.

Whatever you focus on, grows.

OK so sorry this turned out to be quite the addition but this blogger is amazing.
She is from www.simplemarriage.net She speaks straight from the heart and she is obviously very talented with her words.

First off last night I went to bed with a horrific headache. Ya know the one where you feel like there is rocks or weights in your head. It hurt to move my head so I laid in bed just rubbing my forehead. I told Russ this better not be the flu...What do ya know I woke this morning with an ill tummy. Hoping for just a tummy virus because otherwise I feel and look great :)

I also woke this morning to a ready to go 3 year old. He is not typically a morning person. Even though he wakes at 630-7am that doesn't mean he wants to talk or function at your pace or anyone's commands(Just like me as a child. No talking until after I eat my breakfast). He simply wants juice, cereal and Blue's Clues on TV. Well, this morning was different. He brushed his teeth, of course after I brushed them first(we do double to get off all of the sugar bugs). Valerie my co-worker/hygienist would be so proud! Then he tells me to get off of the computer and get him dressed. Excuse me! However I listen way better than he does.. So we head to his room. He dresses himself quite well and then orders me to get my dress on. Which means clothes people, I very rarely wear an actually dress. :)

I then checked the bank account because the hubby gets paid every Thursday morning(always exciting) and to our surprise the balance was very small. Due to our Texas trip/Holiday pay and no overtime that we are used to, it kind of hurt us. I have a full expensive weekend ahead or did. Now I have to turn creative. I hope all understand, my heart is still huge. It doesn't stress me out as much as it used to because we always make it through, but it just stops us in our tracks, opens our eyes to the penny value for the meantime.

A simple side note to this lengthy ramble: I was trying to teach Dalton this morning to kiss Mommy 3 times. He asked me why and I told him because 3 kisses mean I LOVE YOU. He simply said "Oh" and then gave me 3 kisses. We will see if he remembers tonight. I have no doubt he will, he is smart like that. By the way I learned that from my sister and brother in-law. (mind you they have been together 15 years as of yesterday)They always kiss 3 times. Not sure if it means the same but they do that and never skip a beat. Russ and I kiss only twice. What the heck does that say? Maybe something like "your hot" or "love you" or "I'm lazy" Who knows.

OK, so tomorrow I have the day off and I plan to finish revamping Austin's new room and cleaning my house to perfection for all of the company that will come on Sunday for Dalton's 3 year birthday party. Gotta hide all my crap that is strung out everywhere. I have two Christmas trees and would love one more, but maybe next year. I am really getting into the whole themed tree idea.

Our grounds are still covered in a layer of white snow and our sidewalks are slick with ice because it gets down to 11 degrees or lower at night, so we don't stand a chance of it melting for awhile. Regardless Dalton thinks it's still snowing because he sees it on the ground. Which I find terribly cute.

Okay enough of my ramble for now. We have my Aunt Jill and Kevin's potluck dinner/tacky Christmas tomorrow night, my Dads birthday Prime Rib dinner celebration Saturday night and Bubba's party on Sunday. Please pray that whatever virus is in my tummy or mind leaves in time. Love you all.