The fairytale
When I was little, my dreams were different than most girls'. I didn't aspire to fall in love with a prince and become a princess.
(source)
My dreams were much more realistic…
I planned on scoring an amazing job, marrying a professional football player, having a big family, and living happily ever. Duh.
I even put the plan into action: Go to a big football school, study journalism (or speech communications, close enough), become a sports reporter, interview football players, and one would be bound to fall in love with me. It seemed simple enough.
Well, within the first few weeks of college, I learned I couldn't stand football players off the field. And later, I found out through an internship that sports reporting really didn't do it for me.
My fairytale was over 
Once I finally matured, I realized I did get the fairytale I dreamed of as a little girl. Only, it was a slightly tweaked version.
I married an athlete. I'm sorry NFL players, but being an Ironman is so much more hardcore.
And my career in health communications is way more fulfilling than my stint in sports broadcasting.
There's just one part of the dream I'm still waiting on. You guessed it: the family.
I know one day I'll get it. But I can't help but wondering if my family will also be a slightly tweaked version of the family I've had in my head all along?
Will my child share any of my husband's and my physical features?
Will a child magically show up when I'm least counting on it?
Am I destined to only have furry children? No, definitely not.
This part of the fairytale has definitely been the hardest. And I have no idea how this chapter will end. But I do know I will get my dream family. I'm just not the kind of person who gives up on her dreams.
And then we'll all live happily ever after…
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May 6th, 2011 - 07:36
Just goes to show that if you’re persistent and consistent you’ll reach your goal
May 6th, 2011 - 08:50
I love that your real life accomplishments are so close to your original goals – different, but still very similar. And I completely agree – Ironman athletes are WAY more impressive than football players! You and your Ironman looks SO happy on your wedding day!!!
May 6th, 2011 - 08:58
aw I always love looking at your wedding pictures. I loved your hair that length. So funny about the pro football player thing!
May 6th, 2011 - 09:00
Your wedding is still one of my top favorite Disney weddings! I think it’s one of the first wedding reports I ever remember reading.
May 6th, 2011 - 09:03
1. Your wedding dress is stunning (as are you, obviously).
2. You’ll get the fairytale — sometimes it takes a little longer, but you got a dude who is way cooler than a prince, and your pup is way cuter than Cinderella’s weird birds and mice, so I’m confident the next part of your journey will be wonderful as well.
Sending you happy thoughts always.
May 6th, 2011 - 09:43
You were a beautiful bride!! Love your story!! Fairytale indeed
May 6th, 2011 - 11:30
Sooo beautiful, love wedding pictures.
Ps my mother in law could not get pregnant for nine years and then she four children in four years. It will happen. While she waited, they were foster parents and breeders. Not saying you have to do that but don’t give up hope. It will happen!
May 6th, 2011 - 11:41
Aw, I LOVE your wedding photos. That dress, the flowers, the look on your face. All beautiful! And I definitely appreciate your childhood dream.
May 6th, 2011 - 11:49
It’s funny how sometimes our original dreams don’t turn out quite as planned, yet they end up with us feeling completely fulfilled, as if we got those dreams anyway. I have faith you will get that feeling, no matter how it happens. Those pictures are so beautiful, Jen!
May 6th, 2011 - 11:53
Lovely post, even though i’m not trying now i know i’ll have children – i just don’t know how long it will take or if we will have to adopt but i know that at some point i will be someones mum and thats what i focus on, not my pcos, on the end result
Beautiful wedding photos!
May 6th, 2011 - 13:54
What a great attitude, Jen! When I look back on my life and the things I wanted when I was younger, I am so happy that things didn’t according to my very specific plans. Everything turned out perfect (at least for now) in the end. I just know you’re going to get your family.
May 6th, 2011 - 15:09
Jen! More things we have in common. I also wanted to be a sports reporter or anchor and almost majored in broadcast journalism! I had am internship and realized that was not what I really want. Anyway..things don’t always work out the way we plan but we make our own fairy tales … I know things will workout for you!
May 6th, 2011 - 15:38
Jen, I hope you don’t mind me commenting – I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now but I am not sure I have ever commented before… I love your story and your picture, it seems to me that your version of the fairytale is way more interesting, happy and satisfying than the original one…so in the same way, “a slightly tweaked version of the family you’ve had in your head all along” means it will be even better. We can dream anything for ourselves, but it doesn’t mean that dream is the best for us;luckily that’s not up to us to decide, after all
May 6th, 2011 - 15:44
such a fun way of telling your story. life has a way of surprising us and taking us in directions we never anticipated going. hoping that your path unfolds just the way you want it to. you deserve it.
May 6th, 2011 - 21:40
Beautiful wedding photos!!!! Things will work out for you because you have faith they will
May 7th, 2011 - 15:34
beautiful wedding pictures!
I wish you and your husband all the best and that all your dreams come true.
May 7th, 2011 - 18:45
Awww Jen. I felt the lump in my throat from the 1st sentence of your post. sniff!
I know all your dreams will come true…not necessarily the ones you think you wanted, like the football player, but the ones you were meant to have. And not that you guys aren’t already a family…because you are…but I am sure one day soon you will get the family you have been dreaming of.
Thanks so much for sharing those gorgeous wedding photos. I forgot how wonderful they are!
May 8th, 2011 - 22:01
Such beautiful pictures! Thanks for posting. Best wishes!
“No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
the dream that you wish will come true”
May 9th, 2011 - 09:53
I loved this post, a very positive outlook. I too wonder if my dream family will be a slightly tweaked version and you know what? If it is, great. Because like you said, it will happen and we’ll all live happily ever after
Take care!
May 9th, 2011 - 09:54
First of all, your wedding pictures are gorgeous! I love that dress and I love how you are positively beaming in all the photos.
Secondly, I love this post. It’s funny how the fairytale we imagine for ourselves as children changes as we get older. But that doesn’t mean that you have to give up on your dreams altogether or that you will always live in disappointment that things didn’t work out exactly as planned. I think if we take a step back, we realize that we just get a different version of the fairytale. And even though it is usually far from perfect, chances are it’s even better than you could have imagined. I know that you will get your fairytale someday. And even Little RunnersTrials is going to be so much more amazing than you ever could have dreamed
May 10th, 2011 - 06:17
i loooove that picture of you and your bridesmaids. so pretty.
May 10th, 2011 - 08:31
Jen I love this post! You will have a family and it will indeed be a fairytale no matter how it happens
I think of you often and what you’re going through but I am confident everything will work out for you and your husband
May 11th, 2011 - 12:15
I’ve never seen your wedding pictures—-you looked so beautiful and your dress was amazing!!
May 16th, 2011 - 09:50
I posted today about my fertility issues and Kelly (at Foodie Fresh) left me a comment telling me to come to your blog. I am so glad I did. Your spirit is infectious and it gives me hope!
May 18th, 2011 - 07:09
Aww thanks so much. Kelly is awesome
I am so sorry to hear about your struggles! Good luck!
May 17th, 2011 - 12:22
Never give up on your dreams! The fairytales are never quite as exciting as you’d think and real life stories always end up so much better and happier. I am convinced that you are not destined to only have fur-babies and that one day you will have the family you so desire. Praying that you get it soon…however that beautiful package is presented to you!
And yes, triathletes are so much more awesome than NFL players! Got one myself!
June 5th, 2011 - 18:36
I’m either completely observant and obsessed with Disney or I’m completely wrong, but did you get married at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn? Beautiful pictures and wonderful post.
June 6th, 2011 - 07:18
YES! I’m completely obsessed too
October 26th, 2011 - 14:43
Have you ever done a post on your wedding? I would love to hear more about it
October 26th, 2011 - 15:11
I haven’t. But that’s a great idea for my 5 year anniversary next year