Disney Day 1

We're Baaaaaacckkk:)  We had a ball in Disney! 

Be prepared to be totally nauseated by all the photos.  And be aware that they aren't stellar in quality. I had to let go of my desire for perfect pix and just shoot away.  I sure didn't want to miss anything!

You won't see Reese in any pictures.  She was too busy being spoiled at Gamma and Papa's to go with us:)  In fact she's still being spoiled there.  Who knows when we'll get her back??

So Day 1 was spent at the Magic Kingdom.  This is the tram ride over.

Then the monorail over....

We step foot into the park and what do ya know?  It starts pouring down rain.  Remember how Kim and I attract bad weather.  umm yeah.  So we head to the nearest store for ponchos.  $7 a piece.  I tried to find some before we left for FL, but I couldn't.

Getting ponchos on is not exactly easy:)  First I could not get mine own.  Then Kim starts rolling laughing cause we figured out I had a kids one on.  Then she couldn't get hers on.

Thankfully the rain didn't last long.

Behold! Cinderella's Castle!

A while later Piper said, "Mommy, Her castle is beautiful."

Here they are waiting in line to get Daisy's autograph.

I love Madison's face here with her brother:)  She'd hand her book up there right with everybody else:)

One of our first rides was on Aladdin's Magic Carpets!

Then Pirates of the Caribbean.  Totally NOT for kids. I won't tell you who's idea that was. ahem.

Then we took the jungle ride...

We walked into Cinderella's Castle and the girls got pixie dust

Then we got on the carousel

Then Dumbo

Love this one

Then on to the best ride in the park.  It's a Small World!  Okay, no one liked it but me.  They were all haters.  But whatever, this ride is epic!

Then it was on to the tea pots.  This is the only picture that I have cause I was trying not to hurl.  They were spinning it so fast and I was begging them to stop.  Jeremy says he didn't hear me.  Yeah, right.

Toontown!

Here is Minnie's House

The afternoon parade!  And the best way to see all the characters

We came upon our first roller coaster!  The Barn slinger!  Everyone could ride except little Madison.    

As you can see the girls LOVED it!  All the kids did.  Every ride we went on they wanted to do again and again.  We had to tell them there was much more to see!


We got to meet the Princesses and even spend time with them.

Cinderella

Belle

Princess Aurora

Then it was off to meet the Fairies!

Tink

 Vidia.  She was fiesty, just like she was in the movie:)

I chuckle every time I see these pictures!  Gracie had to have this Belle wig.  She looks so.funny. in it.

 Out motley crew

 Pipes had a turn too.

It was indeed a magical day!

Piperisms

Hello From Disney!!
  Sorry this post won't have any pictures.  They are still all on my camera.  But we are having a great time here in Disney! It's super cold!  In the mornings it's in the 30s!!! when we get to the parks.  So we had to go buy gloves and a warmer coat for the mom here!  Kim and I were joking earlier that bad weather follows us!  When we go to the beach, it pours so much the streets flood; we come to Florida in December and it's freezing temps!  Goodness.  Other than that, the weather is beautiful.  The sun is out and there isn't a cloud in the sky.

  Piper has said some really cute things lately that I don't want to forget, so I think I should go ahead and record them before we leave.

  Last week when we were talking about coming she said, "I hope the princesses are gluten free!"
  I told her I doubted it, but I was sure the chefs at Disney would take care of her.  And boy did they!  She got chicken tenders!  That is a total treat for a little girl who's gluten free.  That's never been offered before:)

  After our first day in Magic Kingdom I asked the girls what their favorite part was.  Piper said she loved the roller coaster and meeting the princesses and fairies.  Gracie said, "Hmmmm, pretty much everything." :)

  And finally, about two weeks ago Piper was riding home from somewhere with Jeremy and she told him she had a dream the night before.  And she proceeded to belt out the song from her dream for him:
        Don't be such worried
        God is with you
        Don't be such worried
        God is right beside you

  What a priceless treasure when she had no idea that a lay off was right around the corner for her Daddy.  I am so grateful for the many ways the Lord uses our children to speak to our souls.

 Off to make more memories!

Already

One of the hardest things about Jeremy getting laid off is the fact that we were scheduled to go to Disney World tomorrow for a week.  It was one of the first things that came to my mind when he told me he lost his job.  Oh no, how are we going to tell the girls we can't take them to Disney?  It's such a hard decision.  But we can't be foolish with what money we have.  We have no idea how long this road is going to be.  We prayed, we talked, and we just didn't feel comfortable going.  But God, He is in to blessing us, already. Our wonderful friends and family insisted that we go and enjoy this time with our girls.  They gave so we could go.  God gave so we could go!  I stand amazed. Thank you, you know who you are:)
  Several friends have encouraged us that we will not regret this.  And I am in faith that they are right!  It feels frivolous right now, but what a blessing to be able to go.
  Remember how I said I was going to enjoy my husband while he's home?  That was a joke to a degree!  I don't see him much more than I did before!  He is so busy applying for jobs and perfecting resumes.  And doing side jobs.  God is already providing.  He provided a small side job today, and Jeremy has an interview next week when we get home. So I can't wait to get away this week with him and actually get to enjoy time together:)
  Already, God is rallying our dear friends and family around us.  Already He is blessing us with a trip we've been planning for a year and were heartbroken not to be able to take.

  Well, the princesses are tucked tightly in their beds and the bags are packed.  It's Already been a year since we told them we were going.  Off to Cinderella's Castle we go.

Unemployed

The words I hoped I'd never have to write.  Jeremy got laid off on Monday of this week.  It was a shock.  We are still in shock.  It's quite surreal having him around here today.  Yesterday he went and cleaned out his office and said goodbye to those he has worked with for nine years. Basically his bosses said there's not enough work and too many project managers.  Nothing to do with Jeremy's performance.  Yes, he did have a church he's been working on for the past few years.  And we thought we had at least till March when his current project was to finish.  But here we are.
  I was laying on the couch watching TV.  He put the kids to bed and then came over to me and said, "I have something to tell you.  I got laid off today."  I said, "Whaaatttt?," as I sat straight up thinking surely I didn't just hear what I thought I did.
  Immediately Jeremy called our families and told them.  And I emailed my closest friends for their prayers and support.  And of course, they didn't disappoint.  One friend said, "Girl, God is so much bigger then unemployment and mortgages!"  So true.  That has been playing over and over in my mind since she said it.  And she's walking this road too.
  Here's what I know to be true.  God is Good all the time, even now.  He is super faithful.  He is up to something!  This road is not going to be easy.  There are many lessons the Lord will have for me and my family. He promises to care for us.  He has my best interests at heart.
  For now, we are going to plug away over here working on resumes and praying that God will give us wisdom to walk this road.  And I am going to enjoy my husband and the girls, they are going to enjoy Daddy.
  I will trust Him.  He is ever present, ever faithful.