Planning for Disney

Alright, my blog reading peeps, I need your help or advice.

We are planning a trip to Disney World. Who's been there? It's a little overwhelming planning it all! We are trying to weigh all our options: what resort? park hopper pass? dining plan?

Let me just say this - we are simple people. Our kids love to stay in a hotel. We could stay in the Hampton Inn and they'd be happy. I would be, too. I love to stay in hotels. I'd rather stay in a hotel with a free breakfast, then stay in the Marriot where you have to buy your breakfast and get the same kind of food. Plus, I love hotel waffles. So, all that to say, where have you stayed at Disney? We are planning on staying in a Disney resort just for easy access to the parks.

Now, the park hopper pass - is it really worth it? Our kids are 7 and 5. We are wondering if they'd even be able to keep up if we were to hop to different parks every day we are there.

Okay, dining plan - WHO KNEW FOOD COULD BE SO STINKIN' EXPENSIVE?!?! We are not big eaters and we've also heard that if you get the Dining Plan, you get a desert with every quick service and table service meal. Now, who really eats dessert after every lunch and dinner? I know we don't. So what's your advice on that? We do want to do a couple character meals and realize that those can be pretty pricey. But we don't want to have all this extra credit for meals when we leave.

What were your favorite character meals? Also trying to decide on that!

So, I need your advice. Ready? Go. Comment.

Until I figure it out...

...here is a more recent photo of us. The kids have grown up since the picture above was taken.

Beginning Again & SSMT #1 & 2

I've decided to get back around to blogging. I won't promise to post regularly, but I have missed it! I've gotten back into actually reading blogs since this beautiful woman had a stroke last week. You can see her picture on the side of my blog. Joanne is 38 and has two precious girls. I'm on twitter and have been following different Siestas that actually know Joanne in real life. It's so amazing to me how there are SO many people praying for her and the community of sisters in Christ that we have through this online world. God is so good.

Okay, so who's doing the Scripture Memory with Beth Moore? If you are, tell me your Scripture. Here are mine so far:

#1. "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11 NIV

#2. "God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solem counsel: Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me - The very thing you're unwilling to do." Isaiah 30:15 The Message

God's word will not return to Him void. I thought that verse was so fitting for my first Scripture memory because it promises me that through all this memorizing throughout this year, His desire for me will be accomplished.

Y'all have a good Monday.

Catch up...

1. The boy had a field trip today with his class. His first field trip and he was SO excited! He got to ride with his best bud, which he thought was so fun! They went to the pumpkin patch where we went as a family and I blogged about here.



2. This past weekend, I was crazy busy with the Just Between Friends Sale. I did VIP tagging again like I did in the Spring. A friend of mine owns the franchise here, so I volunteered all weekend. It's fun, but tiring! I'm still recovering! I did hear from my friend today that my check with the things I consigned and the 20% of the VIP tagging I did will be a nice one!


3. Our dryer went out last night. I did laundry all day yesterday and then last night, I went to move a load over to the dryer and it wouldn't start. Jim and I have NO idea what is wrong. Jim is a smart guy and can do or fix pretty much anything, but he knows nothing about dryers. We checked the breaker and made sure it was plugged in good. And Jim checked the outlet and there is still power coming, so it's got to be the dryer. SO, we are going to look at a front-loading washer and dryer set tonight that he found on Craigslist for a pretty good deal. Guess we'll see! I did just make a whole bunch of money, so we'll see what these look like tonight. I'm excited about these - hope they're in good condition!


4. We pulled our house off the market. Actually, we pulled the sign and it's not in MLS anymore, but all the realtors in the office know we are still interested in selling it if they have someone come looking for what we have. It's been almost a year that it's been for sale, so we thought we'd give it a break and maybe get through the holidays. Who knows...


5. Jim is building me a mantle to go above my fireplace. I am so excited about it and will show you pictures as soon as it gets up!


6. I am so ready for Thanksgiving.


7. Speaking of Thanksgiving, I'm going to try to do Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts".

There are so many things to be thankful for and I want to get them down in a moleskin. Now, I don't think I'll make it to 1,000 by Thanksgiving, but even if I do just 10 a day, I'll have 350 or something by Thanksgiving. That should be easy. Look for a snippet later...

8. My cousin had her very first baby this past Friday! After 8 hours of labor, Levi James was born! I absolutely cannot wait to meet him!

9. It's time to wake up the boy and go pick up his sister from school.

See ya!

Pumpkin Patch 2009

We went to the Pumpkin Patch tonight! I love going; it's one of my very favorite things to do in the fall. I just wish it was "pumpkin patch weather" and not 90 degrees out! Come on Fall! The kids were so excited!

I played around with Photoshop.com...

And again

What's your favorite thing to do in the fall?

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Not Helpless

I remember singing a song, "Ah, Lord God" as a child and singing it at the top of my lungs.

Ah, Lord God
Thou hast made the heavens and the earth
by Thy great power
Ah, Lord God
Thou hast made the heavens and the earth
by Thine outstretched arm
Nothing is too difficult for Thee
Nothing is too difficult for Thee
O great and mighty God
Great in counsel and mighty indeed
Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing,
Nothing is too difficult for Thee

I can still sing it and it brings back so many memories. Even silly ones of my sisters and me singing it in an opera voice, or in our Pilipino-Engles voice. It brings a smile to my face.

In my time with the Lord this morning, I read the verse out of Jeremiah that this song was taken from: "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17.

Life is hard. We have divorce or suffering marriages, unemployment, abused children, cancer, death, and so much more. Maybe it's not something so tragic, but just the day-in-day-out mundane things in our life like washing the dishes, or bathing a child, or doing the laundry, or grocery shopping; some days these may feel like a huge mountain to overcome. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed or helpless or defeated with our burdens. But our God is never overwhelmed. He's never helpless or defeated. He tells us to cast all our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7). He loves us. That's what He's there for because nothing is too difficult for Him. He is the Lord God, mighty to save, who made the heavens and earth with His arm. His arm! Just really think about that. He is so great and mighty that if he can make this earth and all the creatures and us, as intricate as our bodies are, He can most certainly handle your problem or your overwhelming situation. He will carry you when you feel helpless or defeated. He is willing and waiting for you to call on Him.

So, I want to encourage you today, that whatever it is that stands in your way today, that you would surrender to Him. Nothing is too difficult for Him. Nothing. He will gladly take your hand and help you today. Would you look to Him today for your problems, no matter how big or small they are?

I love you and am praying for you today.

God and Johnny Appleseed

Tonight, during our family Bible story, we read about when God created the Earth. At the end of the story, there was a question asking what lived on the Earth before the first day. Both of the kids said nothing. Then the girl goes, "Only God. And Johnny Appleseed." Ha! Jim and I both cracked up! It was hilarious! I guess she's learing about Johnny Appleseed at school! It was funny.

Now, on to a serious note, I have a prayer request. Would you please pray for my friend Elizabeth? She is undergoing her 3rd surgery this month tomorrow due to complications from the first one. She's also had several procedures done, including a feeding tube put in directly to her stomach because she cannot eat from her surgery she had done. She had what's called fundoplication surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease where they wrap the upper part of the stomach around the esophagus to try to decrease reflux. However, in her case, it has closed up and she cannot even swallow her saliva, hence the feeding tube. Tomorrow they are going to undo everything. There is a risk of the esophagus tearing, but she is trusting God that He will protect her esophagus and things will go as planned and no complications. The Lord has strengthened her in this time and she has been a witness to the people in the hospital (she's a OBGYN here). Please, please pray for her. I know she would really appreciate it. And if you would like, please leave a comment for her and I'll print them off and take them to her before her surgery. She would be so encouraged. Would you? Even if you don't know her? Thank you.