Expectations

     Normally, I'm not a fan of expectations.  They tend to produce disappointment, criticism of others--including God sometimes, self-pity, and other such delights.  I think the problem is that expectations are usually self-centered.  Just my opinion--sadly from personal experience.
     But when it comes to my acres, I love expectations.  Now that spring is on its way--hey, the red-winged blackbirds are back and the crocus are starting--I walk each day brimming with expectations.  It starts with all the things I planted last fall and the anticipation of their first appearance on Iten Acres.  I have hundreds of bulbs and plants that I have expectations for.  And, yes, weirdo that I am, I can pretty much tell you where each one of them was planted.  So, as I walk, my eyes are searching out those areas for signs of life.  Beauty is on the way!  In fact, there are already "new" crocus, daffodils, and hyacinths announcing their arrival.
     The trees and shrubs that I planted last year are easier to see, obviously.  Some of them were planted earlier in the fall and were alive when I planted them.  Some of them were planted late in the fall and were dormant when planted.  Both of these, too, are being checked on every walk--especially those that are early spring "arrivals"--forsythia, for example.  There will be a lot of fist pumping this spring as some of these plants show that they have made it through their first winter and are settling in to making the acres home.  Hey, if some guy can pump his fist because he puts a little golf ball in a hole, I can pump my fist when new beauty graces my property--a feast for old eyes.
     In addition, there are expectations that produce a little more "tension" and a little bigger fist pumping, Lord willing.  These are the plants that showed signs of struggling last year.  The question in my mind is did they use the winter to enhance their case for survival or did the winter win, and they are lost?  I am walking and watching, walking and watching, walking and watching.  Expectations.
     I am also eagerly keeping my eye on the mailman.  I have new flowers and shrubs coming!  I already know exactly where I plan to plant them.  (Not that it won't change.)  They have double expectations.  When will they get here, and will they "take" to Iten's Acres? 
     The last expectation I have concerns my favorite flowers the iris.  It has been my experience here that iris take two years to bloom.  The first year they just tease you by growing huge and green, but no blooms.  Yet, every once in awhile one of them will defy tradition and bloom the first year.  Of course, on the negative side some that bloomed the year before decide to take a year off, and some appear to be on the three year plan--or more.  (Sound of old man weeping)  I will be watching closely.  I have new ones, two year ones, took a year off ones, and moved ones that are all on the expectation list.  May can't get here quickly enough.  That's iris time.  
     So, if you'd like to know the outcome of my expectations, you'll just need to keep an eye on the Facebook pictures from Iten's Acres for "the rest of the story"!  I know flowers are "no big deal," everybody has them--well, most people anyway.  But what I love about them is the beauty that can be found in the "ordinary."  There is nothing more extraordinary than the ordinary.  God's hand is everywhere in small things.  Yes, His presence can be evidenced in the littlest things.  And that's where I love to find Him.  I'll be walking and watching every day, and when He reveals His beauty my heart will sing and my fist may pump.  And I won't worry the least about who thinks I'm a fool.  God will be in my heart.