Wondering what Great Expectations is all about? Every Monday night, I ask guest bloggers to tell us about some expectation that they had in life, and what reality actually turned out to be like. You can click that tab up top to see what previous guests have had to say (and there have been some harsh realities).

Laverne is an anonymous blogger at aka Laverne that I’ve become great friends with through the online and blogging world. She is unbelievably kind and supportive. Just read some of the Talking To Strangers posts that she’s done….they’re all about the bloggers that have inspired her and the amazing words she has to express what they mean to her.

She also writes with her best friend and partner-in-crime, Known As Shirley over at Kindred Adventures, where they write about their adventures together.

Laverne is an incredible friend, cheerleader, mom and woman. Thank you so much for being here, Laverne!

11:25

“I told a friend he could come over today,”  he said.

“Oh,” I dryly replied looking while still looking down at the grocery list.

Tears began to lurk as the anger took form inside.  I held back the tears as my thoughts streamed into an internal sarcastic vent, “How dare I interfere with your friend time today. It wasn’t like I had something planned first or anything.  It wasn’t like I had worked a full time job, juggled two girls soccer schedules, baths, dinners and homework all by myself last week while you worked overtime or anything! AHHHHHHHHH!”

All I wanted was this time. Two hours on a Sunday to do what I wanted to do. Two hours to go see a movie with my dad.  Now my time out might be wrecked because not only did I need to get myself ready but I would have to clean the house too.

“He’s coming over at noon to watch football, ” he added.

My eyes shifted to the clock…9:30am.  My heart sank.

“I don’t think I’ll be back in time for you to make it to the 11:25 movie,” he added as I hand him the grocery list and he left.

Bathroom scrubbed, kitchen mopped, living room vacuumed, markers and toys and books collected, organized and put away.  Two loads of laundry washed and dried.  The dishes finished.  “I did it,” I thought.  I made it.  It is all done. Then my heart sank when I saw it was 11:10am.  I knew we wouldn’t make the movie.

By 11:30 my husband was home, the groceries were put away and a second movie time was chosen.  I would get me two hours I decided.

“Being married is fun!” I growled to my father as we pull out of the driveway.

Still angry I turned to look at my dad with a mad face for added effect.  Looking toward him something caught my eye.  A new iPass was mounted in my car by the rearview mirror.
“Huh!” I thought, “He must have done that while he was out.”

Happy to have had my two hours with my dad, I smiled as I walked in the house.  Opening the kitchen door, I am met with the smell of grilled Italian sausage.   My husband had started making his homemade Spaghetti while I was gone.  While getting a drink from the refrigerator I notice our daughters lunch box.  Her sandwich, snack, drink, treat were all packed and ready to go for Monday.  Giggles come from the kitchen table.  I turn and see my five year old proudly holding her paper with her marker stained hands, “Look mommy Daddy helped me finish my homework packet!”

Sound asleep very very early the next morning I feel a kiss on my cheek.

Half asleep I smile and whisper, “What was that for?”

“Just because,” he whispers back.

After the anger.  After the internal rant.  After the pissed off moment I was reminded of the little things he does in our marriage.  I was reminded that I’m not the only one that does unnoticed things (even though it feels like that a lot).  I was reminded there are many things he does that make us a wonderful team, each with our own important roles.  And with his morning kiss, he silently told he had noticed things I do too.

Get to know Laverne on her blog aka Laverne, @akalaverne on Twitter, and through her pinning habits and Pinterest.