Blog that Picture!

As per Alisa's Challenge

Somebody should have put money on the fact that my 6th folder-6th picture would be a Disney picture. (not taken by anyone in my family by the way)

This is the beach near the Beach/Yacht Club pool looking out toward the Boardwalk Resort and The Swan. This is the resort area behind Epcot. We love all of these resorts.

SPT--Eight is Great!

March Self Portrait Challenge

8 is great

http://www.lellysmusings.blogspot.com/

I really should post two today but I had a enough trouble coming up with this one.

I have a dream...it's nothing noble or selfless. I want to own in Disney's Vacation Club. I want my home resort to be Bay Lake Towers at Disney's Contemporary Resort.

I want this 803 sq feet to be where I stay when I visit my favorite place.

My one-bedroom vacation home with a view of Cinderella Castle.
Does that seem just a little superficial? Okay... but really that's what I want.

Sunday's Comin'

We spent Sunday thinking and dwelling on the suffering on Christ. Pastor David reminded us that because Jesus suffered on the cross, because he felt forsaken by everyone, but especially by his Father that he can suffer with us. Because He suffered this way He can understand and always be with us during our suffering. It was focused on the immense suffering and the severity of the forsakeness that Jesus felt that day.

It made me remember this sermon that I have heard a million times. It's an oldie but goodie by Dr. Tony Campolo. Some of you may have heard it. He spends alot of time helping us understand how we can relate to one another and how we can live the life Christ meant us to live. It ends with this incredible semonette entitled "It's Friday, but Sunday's Coming"

As the Easter season is upon us, and the everyday things seem to pile up. I am remembering in our suffering, whatever suffering that might be for us at this moment that it may the Friday of your life....but Sunday is Coming!!!!

If you would like to listen to the sermon...here's a link to it: http://www.tonycampolo.org/mp3/itsfriday.htm

It's a little long--but I still love it.

One day at a Time.

This is it. (This is it.)This is life,

the one you get so go and have a ball.
This is it. (This is it.)

Straight ahead and rest assured you can't be sure at all.

So while you're here enjoy the view.

Keep on doing what you do

So hold on tight we’ll muddle through

One day at a time, (One day at a time.)

So up on your feet. (Up on your feet)

Somewhere there's music playing.

Don't you worry none we'll just take it like it comes.

One day at a time, (One day at a time.)

This was one of my favorite shows. I never missed it. I watched until the bitter end. It was on reruns on one of the local channels when Jenna was born and she loved the theme song music. The fact that I loved this show is not why I mention it today. I mention it because....did you see Valerie Bertinelli's picture on the cover of People?? I'm trying to use her as motivation to get back on the "eat right and exercise" wagon. Not that you'll ever see me in a bikini ---but if I could get my jeans on without stretching them far and wide and laying on the bed to zip them I would feel better about the whole thing.

So if you see me around and I'm muttering..."I love vegetables, I love fruit, I love sit ups, I don't need a coke, I don't need a coke, I don't need a coke." Just point me in the direction to the closest track and set me running.

Maybe I'll start today Monday!

Reality Strikes!

Hey all!! I'm back to my real every day life. No wonderful cast members helping me to have a great day. No castle to gaze at in wonder as the fireworks blaze in perfect timing to the music. No great surprise extra rides on some of our favorites. No cream cheese pretzels or Mickey ice cream bars. No one to trade pins with. No visiting all the wonderful resorts and wishing we could stay there. No characters (other than my family) at my meals. No more Walt Disney World.

The reality of work piled on my desk, laundry, missed homework, musical practices, house cleaning, and the every day mundane has hit me hard. I'm going to get caught up and then write a trip report so I can record the whole trip experience. Hopefully you will enjoy it too. In the meantime...

Have a Magical Day!!

Epcot today

Called it an early evening --so I'm posting a few pictures but then heading to bed. Had a great day with some special morning magic. More on that later.

Helped Kim Possible save the Norway.

Mulan in China--how cool.

Hollywood Studios tomorrow--Toy Story Mania, baby!

Magic Kingdom

The traditonal Magic Kingdom shot.

spin baby, spin!
New Character Experience, Jenna's favorite--Tinkerbell!

Pin Trading with some bigwigs!

Savanna's new favorite food--

Mickey premium ice cream bar.

I think this was her sixth one--so far!

Headed to Trail's End for dinner and back to Magic Kingdom

for Spectromagic Parade and Wishes.

Animal Kingdom Day

The Tree of Life.

They still want a few characters pictures!

Festival of the Lion King. A favorite of the day.

Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade

Downtown Disney--Savanna and her beloved Piglet.

We're off the Magic Kingdom tomorrow. Getting everyone to bed early tonight.

First Pictures WDW

Chef Mickey's

Oh no we've been captured...send Buzz Lightyear!

First time on this ride for Savanna, Jenna, and Lori. We did the less intense side. We all loved it!

The favorite ride of the day.
What great shirts --people wanted to know where they could get them.

We're headed back to Epcot for the evening for pastries in France and Illuminations.

SPT- Eight is Great!

http://www.lellysmusings.blogspot.com/

Third week--I might actually be able to accomplish this eight is great challenge.

Today's photo is at the airport because we are on our way to Walt Disney World!

Yeah Spring Break is Here!!!

Heaven Bound.

I know... you thought with that title it was another Disney post...not today...but more Disney to come as the week progresses.

My small group is really making me think these days...I'm not sure if that is good or bad but it does seems to be invigorating. Well...it's invigorating me anyway.

I seemed to have developed a cynical side through the years. I find myself very leery to put my faith and trust in things, ideas and people because...well you know...what if I'm WRONG!! I have a hard time imaging Heaven. I even wonder what the significance of it may be? Is it something I really look forward too, not so much. Pastor David kinda called me on that today in his sermon. He actually said that is might exist in a splendor that I can't even imagine. So much to think about. I'm hoping that maybe these new thoughts might help me live a life in Christ and live more abundantly. Pressing on toward the goal.....

Here's a thought from one of my favorite books these days, Grace Rules by Steve McVey:

"I viewed the gospel as good news that told people how to get into heaven, but it seemed to possess little ability to get heaven into a man. The gospel had great relevance in terms of eternity, but seemed to offer little hope for experiencing life to the fullest while still in the world....Nothing is more invigorating to the life of a believer than continuously experiencing the grace of God. Religion drains a person....Grace doesn't drive us but directs us in a way that we enjoy serving God from a heart filled with gratitude....He finds himself motivated from within to serve Jesus Christ with enthusiasm and consistency."

He has so many great things to say in this book but right now I'm working on finding the faith to just believe in the grace of God and how it directs me here on earth and it leads to way to a heaven that I can't even begin to imagine. Cynicism be damned.

Does Saturday only have 24 hours?

So busy...got to get packed...got to get the house cleaned...got to.....

Organized Chaos.

Be back to blog after I get out from under my Friday "To Do" list

5..4..3..2..1..WDW

Count'em on one hand people...5 days! And of course they are going to the busiest 5 days. So many things to accomplish. But at the end of long check list is this...

and this...

and this...

and this...

I got an award!

Thanks to Dena and Carrie for honoring me. I gladly accept this award, and as the rules say, I must pass it on to 8 fellow bloggers.

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. The kind of bloggers that aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of the prizes are cut,even more friendships are propagated.Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their award".

My followers, that I know of, are few and already mentioned by Dena and Carrie, but I would award this "friends" award to any of you that lurk on my blog. Feel free to take this award and share it with all your blogger friends, in order to integrate more friends. Thanks for the honor.

I'm a Martha raising a Mary!

Today I'm wondering how the Martha's of this world, that would be me, are blessed with the Mary's of this world, that would be my daughter? I know there are lessons to be learned from this blessing but sometimes I am at my wit's end. Refer to the story of Luke 10.

My daughter is the sweetest girl, she is funny, intelligent (thanks to her dad), talented, loves Jesus, and is very easy-going. Some of those things she gets from both her dad and I but some of them I don't recognise at all. I'm sure that is true of your children also. I envy some of her qualities. She is able to forget everything around her and totally relax, she is able to let things roll off her back, she doesn't really worry about anything. I know... she's a kid what does she have to worry about? She is very confident about her abilities. These are all very Mary qualities. She would definitely drop everything to sit at Jesus's feet.

I however am a Martha --I am constantly wondering what else needs to be done. I have a difficult time being still. I am always trying to anticipate how others will react before I give them a chance to react themselves. I always have a list of things to be done next. Jesus could be in the next room and I'd be wondering if I dusted under the entertainment center.

I know that world needs both Marthas and Marys, and honestly we all probably have some of both of their qualities in us. My struggle this week is how does a Martha raise a Mary? Some of the things my daughter does or doesn't do drive me crazy simply because of this difference. My brain does not work the same way hers does, and I find myself trying to force her do things the way I would do them because I don't know how to teach her any other way.

No answers today, just questions?

SPT-- Eight is Great

http://www.lellysmusings.blogspot.com/

The challenge of 8's continues. I obviously took this photo yesterday at 8 days out from WDW. 8 days from now I will be in Epcot riding one of my favorite rides, Soarin'. It's gonna be Gr8!!

A Day to Rejoice!

Our Pastor decided to continue with baptisms Sunday morning after the number of requests from the congregation who missed the first one for whatever reason. My baby(11) girl, Jenna decided that she wanted to part of it. We had a great day of rejoicing. She was the last of about 90 people yesterday. Her Grammy made all her favorite foods for lunch and had the whole family to her house. She even got to sit at the adult table, thanks Katie for sitting at the card table. All in all it was an awesome day.

Single digits, baby!!

As of today we are in single digits. It's crunch time. The suitcases need to come out of storage, and all the Disney paraphernalia that we keep from trip to trip needs to find it's way to the dining room table. My friend and her family are going skiing for Spring Break and we are both wondering who's going to have what we've forgotten to bring when we're not on the same trip. We have been on so many vacations together it's hard to go separately. I'm sure we will both muddle through some how. So I guess i will need to make my list and check it twice or even three times because I won't have her to depend on to have what I might have forgotten.

Do you have a great family that you vacation with? I highly recommend it--the only problem is we love every trip we go on it's hard to try to new places because we want to go back to where we've already been. We're trying Washington, D.C. early summer 2010-- any suggestion for planning sights or books?

We got beat...twice

It seemed only fair to report that our friends beat us at cards last night. I did mentioned to them that if they want their winnings announced they should get their own blog. But being the gracious loser that I am I thought I'd let you know that we don't always win.

I should've saved this picture for the next SPT 8 day, the 8 was on the top purely by coincidence. Anyway...high score wins, and they really won.

On a Lighter Note..

I got a new van!

And Jim has already personalized it for me!!

Still need my Bethany Bronchos sticker to finish it off!

Not what I expected.

Can they really call this a wheat "thin"?

It's in the stars

My mom sent me an email last night with her horoscope from yesterday. Why my mom is reading her horoscope will have to be investigated for another post. Anyway... this is what it read.


"I laughed a lot--

Pride is an unnecessary impedance. Choose happiness over being “right”

Mom"


Maybe I'm onto something.

Dateline Disney

Time for a Disney update. We are now less than two weeks away from our trip. When we get to this point I start loading up the dining room table with all the stuff we take to Disney. This is really not the time to just drop by my house for a surprise visit. If Publisher's Clearing House showed up I would probably answer the door, but not for a check less than $500,000.00.

I have the most talented husband. He is a man who decides to learn to do something and does it. Then when he does it he does it well and usually excels at it. One of the many things he can do is design. He designs websites, he designs logos, and other things too. But for Disney World trips he designs t-shirts. I love having matching t-shirts for Disney World, I know it's completely goofy, but I love it. You will only find me condoning this activity for Disney World trips. (if you and your family want to wear matching t-shirts to church, school, ballgames,etc., don't run to me for support, sorry...only Disney.) Matching t-shirts not only keeps your party together in a crowd they also get your party attention. Disney World is the one place I like attention.

Last night Jim finished up he most recent creations for this upcoming trip. They are some of his best. One is even a repeat because I like it so much (repeat design new color). I know you all are gonna wish you could have them too.

Only 13 days!!!