Expectations vs. Reality

My expectations when coming to Sweden were pretty high. I was going to immediately fall into a great sleep pattern. The kids were going to love me and understand what I expected and how I would like them to act right away. I would meet tons of other LDS single people and make friends a few days after I got there. I wouldn't get sad. I wouldn't cry. And I definitely wouldn't need to call and talk to my mom or dad for at least two or three weeks. 

Reality set in pretty quick though. I woke up at 3 in the morning and couldn't go back to sleep the first night. The kids were sweet, but the old nanny was there too, so I wasn't really the authoritative figure. My rules and expectations were definitely different. I met one LDS single on my forth day, while at church. The first night I cried...along with the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth. And the first night I really wanted to call my dad. I had to force myself out of the apartment on my third day here.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still so grateful for this opportunity, but it's definitely a lot different then what I expected. But through the amazing support of my dad, mom, and brother, I will get through this year. 

As my dad keeps telling me, 

"One minute, one hour, one day at a time. Just get through one day. Then start the next day."

Here are two beautiful pictures to not make this blog post seem so depressing. :) 

My Biggest Supporter

Deciding on a first blog post was pretty difficult. But once I really thought about it, I knew what I wanted to write about. 

My dad.

When I told him to go check out how cute my blog is

but that nothing was posted yet he said,

"I put it in my favorites so that I can look at it 

everyday

to see what you're doing."

Ha, yeah hopefully I remember to post even twice a month.

My dad is my biggest supporter and to be honest my best friend. I couldn't have asked for a better dad.

When I told him I wanted to stop going to school and do something else, I'm sure it wasn't a reaction that most parents who were pretty much paying for their kids tuition would say. 

He told me that I could stop and that school wasn't for some people and that I was one of the ones it wasn't for, but that I needed to find something I loved that didn't require a degree..

So I found a job being a live-in nanny...in Sweden. 

He's so excited for me, but I'm sure he's just as equally (or more) nervous and just doesn't tell me.

I love him and definitely would not be where I am without him. So, yeah. Whoever is reading this should 

definitely be jealous that "Big Jim" isn't their dad. 

Cause I'm sure grateful he's mine.