Tips from the Mouse

I've been realizing that there are things I've learned at Disney that will serve me for the rest of my life. Here are just a few:

* A smile really is the best defense. A smile that is genuine (and not condescending), will instantly put people at ease. This applies to all ages.

*Children are great to talk to and appreciate when others show interest in them. (I've always know this, but it was reinforced.) A child is much more willing to wait patiently for adults to finish a conversation if they have already been acknowledged with their own conversation.

*Talking to complete strangers doesn't have to be scary. There are rules of safety that apply here, of course. At my new job, I have no qualms with talking to patients or anyone else. This came in handy when calling for appointment confirmations.

*Showing true interest in someone can make their day magical.

* Always look eye. (Said in Karate Kid accent.)

*Don't interrupt. (What am I, seven? Why do I still struggle with this? Arrrgggh!) Even if you could finish their sentence for them, just let them finish.

* Sometimes your silence is much more important and golden than your clever/intelligent remarks. (See above.)

* Don't take someone's anger or impatience personally. You don't know the full story of their life, so you have no idea what they have been through or where they're coming from today. Extend grace for the unknown elements. (This may or may not apply to road rage. You decide!)

* Be playful. Again, make sure your timing is appropriate! (At Disney, it was almost always appropriate, especially with guests!)

* Safety first.

* Sometimes people don't want their problems solved. Sometimes, they just want to know someone is listening and understands.

And, straight from the Bible (but I personally learned so much about this through my Disney experience) . . .

*Love conquers all. When in doubt, choose to love.

A Night in Infamy

The day was planned for months and months!

Glenna stubbornly stood by her plan to attend Night of Joy when most of her friends decided to attend Rock the Universe, held on the same night. The reason was one group only - Family Force Five. She loves them!

Her friend Rachel, recently relocated to Tennessee, made plans to fly in for the concert. They planned outfits and accessories and considered it a double birthday celebration; Glenna's in July, Rachel's in August. At last, the big day arrived and we picked Rachel up from the airport! Himself and I were all set to get our groove on; from the back in the parent parking, of course. Glenna and Rachel joined their friends who decided at the last minute to come anyway.

Just before the concert started, the stage crew began to cover up the equipment. Clouds were definitely approaching, but we were hopeful that they would bypass us or miss us all together. The Park has an excellent weather system, so when they began to cover up the equipment, we dug out our ponchos.

It rained.

There was lightning.

We stood in a downpour for over an hour.

We kept getting reassuring messages (spiel!) that the concert was merely delayed. Eventually, however, we were disappointed by a force much stronger than the weather.

The Schedule.

Family Force Five came out on stage, covered in rain ponchos, and apologized for not being able to perform for us.

Glenna was crushed!

She enjoyed the rest of the evening with all of her friends, but it was still a pretty hard blow.

By the way, did you know that Night of Joy is the most hated theme night among cast members? Here are some facebook quotes from them:

"Night of Joy? You mean Night of Doom!"

"I'd rather work Grad Nite for 6 weeks straight than Night of Joy."

"I hate them. I'm ready to kill all of them."

"They're obnoxious as hell."

Yes, these are descriptions of a Christian event, and we were able to witness some of this while we were there. It's so heartbreaking that it has that reputation, but there it is.



I have glimmers of hope that I will not be behind in everything forever. Glenna and Rachel helped me attack the dishes that had been on the counter for days. Laundry is mostly done. I'm just trying to figure out my new "normal." I'm thankful to be home at night, but between work and Glenna's classes, I haven't seen a lot of home time yet. Still, last week was more unusual because of the holiday, our Rachel, and Night of Joy.

What will be the reasons next week?

Another Thank You Note

I hope I'm remembering things correctly. If not, maybe Mom will help me out and I'll edit.

Yesterday, I tried on this lab coat that I purchased.

Have I mentioned how thankful I am to be wearing scrubs? I'm especially thankful first thing in the morning, before coffee.

I put on this lab coat and I had a flashback to my childhood, maybe even my preschool days, and realized that I have become my mother.

If you've ever met my mother, you'll know that's a very, very good thing.

My mom used to rise early in the morning and go to work. She would prepare her lunch and ours, and then leave while it was still dark outside. She did this for 21 years with the same company, though the prepared lunches eventually were replaced by a few dollars.

In my preschool memory, I remember this blue lab coat that she would wear at work. It was either light blue or light green, or maybe it was tanish yellow? At any rate it had these deep pockets. I remember searching through the pockets because I would always find a treasure or two:

A paperclip

An opened roll of Lifesavers

A half-stick of Juicyfruit gum

Pennies

A rubberband

A bobby pin

I think I also remember her name badge, clipped either on the lapel or pocket. She couldn't get into the building without it (shhh. . . .super hush hush workplace where . . . shhhh. . . CASH REGISTERS were made).

I looked at myself in the mirror wearing my lab coat, and I repeated the phrase I have stated whenever I look in the mirror, ever since I turned 30.

Hello, Mom.

Everything at that moment was my mom.

Up before sunrise, the lab coat, a sleeping child left at home, a bit of breakfast, trying to remember a thousand details; Mom did all of that every day that I can recall of my childhood and teen years until I married Himself. While I know this is a different season of my life, this was her reality. This is the reality of so many single moms today, many of whom I've met at The Park, my church, or my new job.

I'm not a single mom. I do have help, and yet I find it difficult to balance the duality of this life.

Thanks, Mom.

Thank you for everything.

Leave a Tender Moment Alone

As I stated previously, saying goodbye to Kelly was difficult. I smiled as I saw her hug Glenna and speak with her.


On the way home, Glenna told us what Kelly said:



"I love you. Don't wear my clothes."

Labor Day

I check my blog, not because I forget what my life is like, but because I want to see the countdown ticker.

I love that the number is in single digits.

So, I have roughly 185 pounds of motivation to get my house clean, and this morning I only had one hour of energy.

Misery, thy name is migraine. Himself worked today.

I have been eating all the wrong foods and need to detox again. Now is not the time! I start a new job tomorrow! Ty's coming home!

I guess I'll have to schedule it.

A Saturday Evening Post

I worked my last shift at The Park last night, at least for a while. I ended up closing Grouper, which isn't my favorite position to close. For some reason, at that hour no one stands where they're placed or WANTS to stand where they're placed.

Forty minutes before closing the ride cascaded and the lights went on. I reassured the guests that it probably wouldn't take too long. One young boy was sadly staring at the ground (he was only one group away from boarding, after all!) so I began to play with him and my laser pointer. I'd direct the beam around his feet and he'd stare at it, then look up at the adult next to him and try to get their attention. The beam would of course be gone and the adult would be distracted. He'd look carefully around to see if anyone else had seen it, then we'd repeat the whole thing. Sometimes, he'd try to step on it. Other times, he'd try to grab it with his hands. He was so cute!

While we were down, everyone I had grouped (including the little boy's party) was grumbling and complaining. I tried talking to them and distracting them. The man waiting next in line was especially irate and loud about his dissatisfaction, but I soon had him laughing. He said to me, "This must be a great job!"

"It really is a GREAT job."

"I mean, you get to meet all these people and they're all so happy to be here."

At this point I stared him right in the eye (because he had really been a royal pain not ten seconds earlier) and said, "YES. Everyone is so HAPPY."

He stared back at me for a second, then he burst out laughing.

Touché.


The one fun thing about closing grouper is that after the last guest has boarded, we're allowed to hop on the ride with them if there's a seat available. My friend Adam was on his break and we hopped on together! What a fun way to head to the break room.

The new audio does enhance the ride, but it sounds too much like disco music to me and disco is my least favorite genre. There are parts where it sounds like something is whizzing past and that's really cool. All in all, I like it!

Busy week ahead, then Saturday is Night of Joy!

Sleepy Saturday

I had such a wonderful day with Glenna yesterday! She finished her school work early and we headed for Epcot. I'll have photos later (as soon as we use up the disposable camera and I get the pictures on disc).

Last night at 3 am, I heard her calling me. She had been throwing up.

Drat. Rotten ending to a beautiful day.

Today is laundry, then probably my last Saturday at Space for a while!

Is It True?

Can it honestly be only TWO WEEKS until my son walks back through our door?

Friday was his official commencement, though he's finishing his last module now. I encouraged him to go because I didn't want crickets to be the only answer when his name was called, but he chose to sleep in, for the first time in months, instead.

"Tyler! I would be there if I could! You have to go!"

"It's because you can't be here that I'm not going."

How could I argue with that?

Just so you know, Tyler, your acheivement was celebrated here throughout the day!

I'll be starting a new job on Tuesday so I know time will fly by. At least, I PRAY time will fly by!

Tuesday is Guest Star Day!

This is the reason I started reading her blog in the first place.

Oh, how I love cowboys! I love everything about them. I love their grit and nerve and fists of iron.

I love the looks on the faces of the cowboys in the background of the photos, each of them completely focused on the event. This is NOT the time to ask for 25 cents for a candybar.

Ask me how I know. ;-)

Martha and Mary: A Familiar Story

Alpha has been a very unhappy lady lately.

When I went to work on Thursday and got to Tower, I noticed that the computer monitor was displaying all sorts of unpleasant messages for Side A. Not only that, but there was a long, handwritten note about what was happening and what to watch out for.

Friday, I arrived at work to hear the entire ride was down and had been down for over three hours.

Saturday, Alpha ran for maybe an hour out of the entire day.

My theory is that Alpha was worn out and overworked and needed a night on the town. In protest, she shut down.

It will be interesting to see if Omega (Side B) decides that Alpha has had MORE than enough attention and decides she wants some attention of her own! I can see her protesting in a Martha kind of way that SHE has been doing all the work while Mary just sits around (or, like in the biblical story, was Mary simply choosing to do what was most important at the moment?).

Hopefully, Martha will rise above such pettiness and shoulder the burden for the both of them, gladly serving despite circumstances.

Either way, I hear there's NEW AUDIO on Space Mountain! Now guests hear different effects when riding. I can't wait to give it a try! I'm going into work early on Thursday just so I can check it out!

A Tale of Two Duties

Imagine having a job with the following pros:

*Amazing co-workers

*Amazing and understanding managers

*Operating one of the most recognized rollercoasters

*A rollercoaster

*Literally meeting thousands of people every hour

*Encouraged to interact with said people to make them laugh, smile, and thoroughly enjoy themselves

*Princesses

*Pirates

*Fireworks

*Park perks

*Happiest Place on Earth

*Learned a ton about life and self

*Everyone thinks I'm younger than I am ;-)

*Beginning to feel younger than I am!

*Member of an elite cast



But said job also had the following cons:

*Must leave 1.5 hours before clock in to arrive in a timely manner

*Approx 40 miles from home

*Sometimes must work until 3:30 a.m.

*Hours may vary, hard to plan consistent week

*Only see Himself on days off - so Sunday, or Monday or Wednesday if he's not out of town

*Mostly work nights, holidays, and weekends

*Have to leave Glenna alone at night, less available for her

*Polyester pants



Now imagine being offered a job with the following pros:

*Higher wages

*2 miles from home

*Consistent hours, usually done before 1 pm

*New skills to learn

*Get to deal with people on a much more personal level

*Four days per week

*No nights or weekends

*Incredible co-workers and employer!

*Much more available for Glenna; she'll probably be just getting up when I get home from work. ;-)

*Perks of a different sort

*Family atmosphere among team members

*I get to wear scrubs and look all professional like that



But the same job offer has the following cons:

*No clue what I'm doing

*Halitosis potential (not mine! Of others)

*One patient pegged my age pretty easily (Drat you, Palmolive commercial!)

*No park perks

*Must follow in Kelly's extremely competent footsteps

*Must deal with insurance companies (aka Spawn of Satan)


To many, this would seem like a no-brainer. I actually agonized over this decision! I was so reluctant to let go of the Park and everything that it has represented to me, especially my castmates. I asked if I could become a Seasonal Cast Member, which means I could pick up shifts when I wanted to. I was granted Seasonal status and I'm so thankful to still be part of the company!

So, of course I jumped at the job with the Dentist. I'm Kelly's replacement as Office Assistant, but I'll also be trained as a Chairside Assistant! I'm so excited about that! I got to watch a proceedure and followed the Dental Assistant around. She showed me SO many things that I began to wonder if I'd ever remember it all.

However, there's one thing working at the Park has taught me - I can learn anything, and the unfamiliar will soon become an extremely familiar routine. I can do this! I'm not expected to know everything the first day. Questions are welcome - they want me to get it right as much as I do.

I'm feeling so incredibly blessed!

Another College Kid

I couldn't help it. I cried.

I stood with the other parents and family members encircling our college students at the orientation. We held hands as the principle prayed for us and for them. He has done this many, many times before, but he knew that we all needed to know that God was and is involved in all of this.

We can trust Him, and we do!

Still, I was embarrassed to feel the tears leave my eyes and leaned out, hoping it would miss leaving a water stain on my blouse, but felt guilty for putting water, even a teardrop, on the beautiful gym floor. I tried to rub it out with my foot and realized I was disturbing the young man standing next to me, so I stopped.

What price, vanity? ;-)

Kelly is moved and settled into her first dorm room! None of her parents have ever experienced this. The college campus, atmosphere, and people all seem taylor-made for our girl!



I know that soon these bare walls will be made her own as she settles in and figures out what the rules are. She felt more comfortable as soon as she was able to arrange her desk, spread her grandma's quilt on the bed, and put her things away. It was sweet to see her roommate, a senior, had the same color scheme in bedding! They are also the two most fortunate girls on campus - they scored the only room with just two beds and NO bunkbeds. It will make next year a little tough to get used to!

We attended our meetings and activities, met a bunch of local churches at the "meet and greet" arranged by the college, and then we attended a church service with her the next morning. Lunch at Olive Garden, one last trip to Target, and then it was time to say goodbye.

That was hard. My girl hugged me and reminded me that this is God's plan for ME right now, too.

Sweetheart, how did you ever get to be so wise? Just so you know, Daddy cried a little on the way home. I may or may not have cried, but I have no witnesses because my head was under my shawl.

That's all I'm going to say about that.

The Solution

Our attempts to find fashionable, modest clothing for Kelly has been SO frustrating. Shorts below the knees? Dresses below the knees? No one is making them.

This is what we've decided she can wear to school:





(Photo Credit to Jessica Scarborough)

It's . . .

. . . your birthday!



I had this whole photo thing planned, but my computer is not currently working and that's where the photos are. However, I can still wish you a Happy 18th Birthday!

I love you, SO much!

And I don't want Saturday to come, because the Sunshine will be leaving this house and there "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone. . . " and it feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest.

I'm SO excited for you, going where your mother has never gone! It's going to be SO amazing!

You're so amazing . ..

Go with Jesus, Sweetheart. Remember, He doesn't just give you strength - He IS your strength.

Your sheild.

Your refuge.

Your very present Helper in time of need.

He has paved the way for you and He won't suddenly abandon you! He's always with you. . . as is our love!

Oh, Kelly . . . . my heart . . .

The Question

What would it take for this to be a great evening for you?

Saturday, I was working the Grouper position. I have to admit, I was pretty tired and my mind felt foggy. I had worked the Extra Magic Hours the night before and didn't get home until 3:30 a.m., slept fitfully until noon, got some things done around the house, and then went back to work at six. The Grouper position was taking my full concentration! Sometimes it's easy (like when groups come in 6's or 3's), but sometimes no one listens or stays where I've placed them.

Since I was at Grouper 2 on B side, I was responsible for attending to guests who may come up to the gate. Usually, they're at the gate because they're doing a Rider Switch - one parent waits with a child too small to go on the ride, then switches with the parent who has just ridden - and I fit them into a group as quickly as possible. Since a Rider Switch is only for up to three people, I was kind of surprised to see a party of 4, two adult men and two children, waiting at the gate.

I approached the group and asked how I could help them. One of the adults showed me his Guest Assistance Card (used for guests who may have a wheelchair or other special needs). I noticed immediately that the stamp on this particular card was a stoplight in green. This means that this party was most likely with the Make a Wish Foundation and someone WAS either very sick, IS very sick, or is possibly terminal in their condition. The Park gave them this Green Light to try to get them through the queues as quickly and smoothly as possible, and some thoughtful person at Merge directed them past the line and to the gate.

As soon as I could, I grouped the party into position for the ride. As I did this, the adult who showed me the card asked me how my evening was going.

"Oh, it's going pretty good," I replied, trying not to sound or look exhausted.

"Well, what would it take for this to be a great evening for you, J?"

I laughed and made some feeble remark about having more sleep the night before. He smiled and gave his attention to the children who were with him.

I haven't stopped thinking about that man and his question. The minute he stepped into the rocket, I knew exactly what he was asking me to consider, and I've been considering it ever since. My eyes followed him all the way through restraint until he disappeared on his journey of 2.5 minutes in space.

He's walking around with a green-light stamp on a Guest Assistance Card and he's having a great evening, but obviously, things have not been great for him lately. His life has been touched by something very, very difficult.

My life has been touched by lost sleep and a few financial worries.

WHY was I not having a great evening?

Because I was choosing not to. That's it - that't the plain and simple truth.

The previous evening I had such a great attitude and enjoyed my work and the guests so much! Saturday evening, I was letting exhaustion rule my attitude and interractions unfavorably. I was letting exhaustion rob me of a great evening.

Moment by moment, I have a choice to make. God sent me such a timely reminder in the form of one man with a baseball cap, two children, and a Guest Assistance Card. For the rest of the evening I chose to throw off my exaustion and turn to each guest with a smile.

It's not hard to figure out that I had a great evening!

Tuesday is Guest Start day!

This post is a timely reminder, especially now that school is about to start!

Enjoy!

That's What I Said!

On Saturday, Himself and I realized we hadn't really communicated with each other for a while (since Wednesday!). I'm able to check text messages when I'm on break, so we've learned to speak in code. Here's what a typical text conversation may look like:

Himself: "I don't know nuthin' 'bout birthin' no babies!"

Translation I read: I'm home and settled in for the evening. The girls rented Gone With the Wind and now I'm watching it.

What he probably meant: "This movie line is funny."



Me: "How were the tostadas?"

Translation I meant: I told Glenna to make dinner. Did she do it? Please don't spend extra money when I have a menu planned.

What he probably understood: "How were the tostadas?"

The Final Countdown

One month.

That's all he has left in Tennessee, and then he'll be pointing that white Blazer home for the last time.

One month!

The Worst Part

No one warned me about this particular part of the job. It's pretty unfair.

Step One: I meet all these incredible people. My first opinions quickly dissolve into reality, and they're still incredible people.

Step Two: They start to become important to me. I look forward to seeing them and sharing with them and working alongside them.

Step Three: They leave. They go back to their homes and colleges across the nation.

Last night was the first night I really missed Brieanna. My first days after she left were busy days in positions where I continually walked alll over the mountain. Last night, however, I was at Load 1 a couple of times.

She wasn't at Restraint.

She wasn't at Grouper.

She wasn't coming for lost and found items as Mountain 3.

She's gone.

Ashley's gone, too. I could always turn to wherever she was and be greeted with a big, beautiful smile!

So many have gone home. Last night was Emily's last night and she summed it up so perfectly when she said, "I thought I was just coming to work here a few months. I had no idea you would all be so kind!"

Today, I'm extremely thankful for Face Book.

It's in the Jeans

All we wanted was a pair of jeans for each girl.

There was a sale at Old Navy, so we set out to get some much needed jeans. It honestly shouldn't have been that difficult.

But it was.

Oh, but it was.

Back in the day when I needed jeans, Mom and I would head to Miller's Outpost and stand before the wall of Levis. We'd read the instructions on the Button Up 501's, select the ones we needed, then head home.

At home, we'd take the jeans that were 3 sizes too large and wash them several times in hot water. They'd shrink down and feel like heaven for the next two years, gradually fading with time and wearings.

Simple!

With the girls yesterday, they had to try on sizes ranging from 1 to 8.

1 to 8!

Let's see if I can re-cap:

The styles come in Diva, Flirt, or Sweetheart. Under each of these categories we also have Skinny, Super Skinny, Regular, Flare, Lowcut, Lowestcut, and Bootcut.

Me to the sales clerk: Could we just have a SLIM-fit, straightleg?

Sales Clerk: We don't have that. You could try Sweetheart Regular for that, but we're out.

Of course you are.

Glenna was able to find one pair of jeans. Kelly walked out with a sweater and unmentionables (so I won't mention them). No jeans.

Speaking of Kelly:

I told her that we needed to make a list of items that she'll need at college. Here's what I had in mind:

Nail clippers
Tweezers
Cold Medicine
Sewing Kit
Stamps

Here's what she wrote on her list:

Rain boots
Earrings
Hat I liked
Sweater

I love that kid.

Call of Duty

Today, I was supposed to take Vincent to the airport. I was going to hug him fiercely and wave until I couldn't see him anymore, praying that God would let him return for a visit someday.

As hostess, this was my duty!

Instead, he was kicked to the American Airlines curb by Kelly in a drive-by departure while I sat in a courthouse lobby, waiting for my number to be called.

Jury duty - my civic duty. Vincent would have to navigate the airport on his own because of Uncle Sam.

As much as I regretted my abrupt goodbye, it really is the safest way for me to serve my country! I honestly don't mind; it's just, is there ever really a good time for jury duty? It seems to come at the worst of times.

Observations:

People show up to court wearing t-shirts, flip-flops, short-shorts, and other hyphenated attire.

Seriously? Did their mamas not teach them better?

Never mind that my pants, hemmed with scotch-tape and embarrassingly unraveled during the security check, were not as sophisticated a look as I was going for.

Just never mind.

Making Friends

On Saturday, the unexpected happened.

Most of you know about my turbulent relationship with the Atlantic Ocean. I wrote about some of it here. A trip home one summer with a visit to my beautiful Pacific confirmed this.

Vincent hasn't had a great trip to the beach yet - all last summer it was rainy or stormy and he only got into the water once. He couldn't believe the lack of waves - the Atlantic on HIS side of the world was always ready for action.

All of this changed, for both of us, on Saturday. A group of teens was determined to have a beach day and to my surprise, they invited me along.

We headed east and immediately noticed we were heading into a storm. We didn't have much optimisim and weren't really surprised. Vincent, summer, and beach trip all add up to a rainy day in the history books. Why would today be any different?

We arrived to light showers and spent some time shopping for souveniers. We laughed at a post card depicting a very large woman in a bikini with the words, "Come on over, the Food's Great!" on it. It perfectly summed up what Vincent had observed about the good ole USA - lots of fast food, and lots of fat people (his host family excepted, of course). After a trip back to the car for some snacks and to gather equipment, we finally headed to the shore. Glenna, Vincent, Stephen, Kelso, and I couldn't wait to get into the water, even if it was still rainy.

As soon as my toes dipped into the surf, I received my first surprise. The water was cold. I had never felt the Atlantic like this, probably because most of my beach trips were in September with the Women's Retreat. Glenna and I were thrilled and debating whether we would go all the way in - it was that cold. So refreshing!

I don't know what happened to Kelso, but soon we were joined by Kelly and noticed my second surprise; waves. There were surfers, and they were carving it up on the playground! I couldn't believe it! Vincent couldn't believe it! I immediately gave up all thoughts of not going in and dove under. Suddenly, I was back in very familiar territory and instincts took over. Time to play!

While chatting with the teens, I had one eye on the sets coming in. I spotted my wave and kept track as it drew closer. Like I've done a hundred times before, I suddenly turned toward shore, without explaination, and started swimming as hard as I could.

Success!

I caught the wave and body surfed most of the way in. I cannot even describe how exhilarating this is! I stood up and gave a holler and noticed a tall French kid had caught the wave with me. We were both grinning ear to ear, and we both immediately headed back for more.

Each of us had eyes that were stinging from the salt, but we didn't care. With each wave we caught, we knew it was worth it. Glenna had her first taste of what it was like to enjoy a real ocean. She learned how to dive under the waves, and she learned what to do when she didn't dive far enough and the wave pinned her under (go limp, wait for it to release you, stand up).

It was glorious.

So, Atlantic, I think I am finally able to call you friend. I thank the Lord for giving me a much-needed day like Saturday in a week full of stress.

God is good.

What's in a Name?

A hilarious conversation with Johnathon (the one who did the scientific hand experiment with lap bars with me) at Restraint today:

J: We need to come up with a nickname for you. I'm thinking Bullet.

Mrs: Bullet?!? What the hiccup?

J: I know. I'm sorry. All my nicknames come from action films.

Mrs: Bullet? Is it because I'm direct and to the point?

J: Exactly! Or how about somethinig mysterious, like Dragon?

Mrs: I think I'm getting attached to Bullet.

J: Just think! The day you hit the E-Stop we could have such great dialog, like, "Bullet finally pulled the trigger!"

For the rest of the evening, he kept trying to find ways to address me as Bullet.

Happy . . . .

. . . Birthday, Mom!

Wish I were celebrating with you.

Wish I had a photo to put on here!

Hope you know how much I love and treasure you.

Unload!

Saturday was a most pleasant day at work. The secret?

Air freshener.

When guests come into the Unload area, there's a few things we don't mind them leaving behind when they exit the rocket:

Loose change.
Pixie dust.
Echoes of laughter.
Smiles.

There's a few things they might want to reconsider when they leave them behind, though we understand it comes with the job:

Trash.
Spilled water.
Guide maps.
Hair accessories.

Each of these can be quickly deposited into our trash bin, cleverly hidden in the wall, and we don't think much of it. There are, however, items that we sincerely wish guests would take with them:

Cell phones.
Cameras.
Sunglasses.
Spilled sugar straws (whose bright idea was THAT, Disney?)
Gaseous odors.
Urine.
Vomit.

The first three items are easy enough to deal with, but the last ones require either a quick cleanup, a call to custodial, or a nose plug.

This is why I armed myself with air freshener. The night before, I had grown adults laughing over the fact that they passed gas as they came into Unload. I had been left in a cloud of vapor for the last time! I have a small container of air freshener that fits easily into my pocket and boy, did I use it!

Some cast members said it smelled like bubble gum. It was supposed to smell like nectarine/mint. Either way, at least it didn't smell like death-in-a-cloud.

Sleepless on the Sandbar

How is it possible to feel so blessed and so stressed at the same time?

I hate waking at 4 am and not being able to go back to sleep. If there are spelling errors and grammatical errors, blame it on that, please!

We are in the final countdown to Kelly's college orientation and oh, hello! there's a problem with one of her scholarships.

This is not funny.

Kelly and Vincent (our visiting French student) come home yesterday and oh, hello! they reported smoke coming out of the hood of the car.

Also not funny.

My pastor walked into my Sunday school class yesterday, took one look at my face, and then started to chuckle. It wasn't a "ha ha, you look horrible" chuckle, it was a "you poor thing, go back to bed" chuckle. I was so exhausted yesterday! Hate to gross my friends out but I literally got dressed, brushed teeth, and headed to church. I can't remember whether I combed my hair or not.

There are many other things happening at the same time that I can't share yet. God is definitely doing something, but I don't know what! I'm excited and worried, wanting to get to the other side of this as soon as possible. I know He is asking me to trust Him with all things (even scholarships!) and I DO - how do I trust without obsessing about it? How do I trust without losing sleep?

At work, one of my castmates has started calling me Mama. I smile every time she does! She calls me "Space Mama" and laughs when she hears me spiel over the PA after a breakdown, using my Mama voice. (In all fairness, I had given the "get back to your work positions" spiel twice already, and people were still not back in place so we could reopen the ride!)

Did I mention I've been called for jury duty? Yeah, I needed that.

Oh, hello!

Still Havin' Fun

When I first started this job, I decided that Restraint was my favorite position. While it's not my absolute favorite at this point, it's still the most fun for messin' with people.

When I'm at Restraint 1 and send my Train, I like to play with the people waiting to go at Restraint 2. Since the Restraint 2 cast member is walking along the train to check lap bars, the person in the front seat is usually just sitting there, looking at the empty track stretched before them and waiting to go. If the Restraint 2 person stops to talk to anyone or help anyone, I'll step out toward the track and make a wordless gesture to the person in seat one.

Come forward! Come on, please!

They stare at me.

Come on! Move this way, please!

They start to search their seat area for a way to make the train move.

Come on! Hurry up!

At this point, I love to see which reaction will follow. Some will look confused and look around at their friends sitting behind them, wondering what to do. Some simply smile. Others, however, get into the spirit of the game. They'll start scooting and straining forward, trying to move the train. They'll pump their arms in a running motion to try and reach me. They'll pick up invisible oars and start rowing, or they'll reach both arms toward me with a playful plea on their faces, "I can't reach you!"

I've also discovered that even if words and gestures are used together, people will still misunderstand what I'm trying to say. I'll walk along the train and with my palms up, make a lifting motion, and say the words, "Please lift UP on your lap bar." For some reason, this particular motion makes them all lift their hands straight up in the air.

If the first person lifts their hands in the air, everyone behind them will do the same. It's fun to see if I can get a wave going.

The palm-up-lifting-motion-gesture causes several reactions.

Please lift up on your lap bar. (Palm up gesture.)

They raise their hands.

They push DOWN on their lap bars.

They say, "What? Do WHAT?"

They stare blankly.

People, you may be sitting on a rocket, but it's NOT rocket science.

Thursday night, I decided to try turning my palms downward and THEN making the lifting gesture.

It worked! Every single person understood and tested their lap bar as requested. I tested the theory with several different trains (the things we do to stay awake and alert). I tried some trains with palms up, then some with palms down. The palms down trains followed my instructions to a T, even if they didn't speak English. Success!

That night, I shared this with some fellow cast members on the bus back to the parking lot. My friend, Michael, came up to me last night and said, "It worked! It really works!"

Hey, anything to make the job easier.

Keep It Moving!

Don't waste your time here today; Jessie has pictures!

So glad you posted, Jess! Hope I get to try the chicken some day!

Dizzy Day

Glenna's long-awaited reward for finishing school finally arrived. I had carefully saved several fast passes for everyone, good for ANY ride at Magic Kingdom. We drove to MK, parked the car, and took the bus to Animal Kingdom to begin our adventure. When we got into the park, Glenna turned to me and asked, "Mom, you got the fast passes, right?"

I stared at her. The night before, she had been carefully gathering everything for her and her friends. I even saw her dividing the fast passes into equal piles.

"Are you kidding me?" I answered.

"Are YOU kidding?"

"You've GOT to be kidding!"

"Wait, which one of us is kidding?"

The day soured in an instant, but I grabbed her hand and insisted that both of us accept responsibility and then let it go. Somewhere in line for Expedition Everest, I was feeling better. Glenna was having a harder time, though!

Her friend, Bekah, and I began a hilarious dialog (complete with southern dialect) about how happy we were feeling and how our other two companions (Glenna and Grace) needed a sprinkling of pixie dust or something! While in line for the Safari, I grabbed Glenna's hands and twanged, "We are going to reLEASE this. We are just going to reLEASE this into the air and let it go!"

Grace, gleefully clapping her hands and grabbing the accent, "Oh, I love this. I just LOVE this!"

We had a little ceremony of "releasing the bad vibe," which we had to repeat, and then things started to look better. I began to feel burnt from the heat and realized I had forgotten my phone in the car, so I decided to let them go on to Hollywood Studios without me. I went back to MK to retrieve my phone and see if I could secure some fast passes from my castmates.

On the bus back to MK, I met the sweetest couple. They were visiting from Philidelphia and we began to talk about different things they could do in Florida. They wanted to go to the beach, but I also recommended seeing some of the natural springs and swimming there for a truly refreshing time. I had three fast passes in my backpack, which I had reserved for myself, and I gave them to the couple. Since I was working that night from 4:15 to 11:15, I invited them to come by and say hello. They were also Believers and handed me a Bible tract that they were leaving with everyone, encouraging me to give it to a castmate or someone. =)

Back at MK, I got my phone and headed for Space Mountain. Though I was in street clothes, my cast I.D. allowed me access to everything. It was so hot! There's no areas of coolness in Tomorrowland, so by the time I got to the break room I was soaked in sweat. The ride happened to be down at the moment and while I was walking up the corridor I saw Rony (he gave me three fast passes) and then ran into TJ.

"TJ, do you happen to have any fast passes?"

"Are you kidding me?" (There's that phrase again!) The coordinator had just asked him to go through the trash at merge for these special fast passes in case they ran out while they were evacuating the building. TJ picked up 27 of them, and then they weren't needed! Since they expired that same day, he gladly handed them to me so the girls could use them.

He saved the day!

I texted the girls with the news. I think their day just got better as well.

Two hours later I put on my costume, met the girls outside to give them the passes, clocked in, and then went to work. I wasn't at grouper very long when I turned and saw the sweet couple I had met on the bus! We hugged like we were old friends. I had just been thinking about how impossible it would be for them to actually find me - they could have been sent to the other track, they could have appeared while I was on break, or they could have come while I was in tower.

Oh, but wait - I never got to tower last night!

I know this post is alread too long, but one more thing.

Last night was a Grouper's nightmare. NO ONE was listening to instructions. We had a million Brazilians (another post for another time) and the noise level was insane. I literally had to fight to get my rockets loaded and for people to stay where I put them.

Right in the middle of all of this, I turned to the next group in line and faced a party of three very calm, very logical, very patient people. They smiled. I smiled. I said, "Look at you. You're calm and logical and I LOVE YOU."

"Awww, J-! We love YOU, too!"

"It's a love-fest, right here on Space Mountain!"

"It certainly is!"

I then placed this calm and logical mother with her two, early-twenties/late teen, calm and logical sons in the FRONT CAR, because that's what I do for the ones I love. We were all still smiling.

I grouped another party behind them. As the calm and logical party stepped up to the front and were about to load into the rocket, one of the sons turned around to look at me one last time.

He found me looking back at him with my hands in the shape of a heart.

Love. It's a beautiful thing.

A Note to Write

I stumbled into the kitchen this morning and a beautiful reality met me. Oh yeah! I had cleaned the kitchen last night! My day is full of possibilities now!

This is my only day off this week.

Hello, laundry.

Ironing is the ONLY chore I will pay cash money for. It's also the chore that has no takers.

Did I mention cash money?

Glenna is earning money for Night of Joy, and even SHE doesn't want to iron.


Yesterday's church worship service was especially sweet because I had missed last week. Pastor Ron spoke on Romans 3:21-24, which he described as the most important paragraph in Christianity, and after the final amen I felt like I had been running a marathon but FINALLY burst through the ribbon at the finish line.

Glorious!

I noticed that Kelly was taking notes as furiously as I was . . . each word was golden. Each phrase was exactly what we needed to hear.

Romans 3:23:

"For all have sinned . . ." past tense.

". . . and fall short. . ." present tense.

" . . . of the glory of God."

YES, I will stumble and fall again and again. I will fall short of being everything I want to be, which is everything HIM. I can't avoid this. I can't really help it. Sin is still present on this earth and I have to struggle with it daily, though some days are far easier than others. This is where I am running the marathon! Striving continually, I become exhausted and long for rest. I am exhausted because I am counting on myself and forgetting the most important thing a Christian could ever know, the very heart of the book of Romans.

Romans 3:24:

"They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Grace

Freely

Poured

Out.

I fail. He declares me not guilty. Not because of anything I have done to put check marks in the "good" column of my life, but only because of His grace.

I can't.

He did.

Grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus alone.

I could never be good enough.

He was more than good enough on my behalf.

I can't explain what that means to me, to know that the marathon I was running has already been run and I've been declared victorious. I am running and running, trying to be exactly what I think I'm supposed to be, and God is telling me, "YOU ARE. Don't you see? I paid for your perfection. You have been made perfect."

Perfect like Him.

This is not how I feel. No, this is NEVER how I feel, but this is what is true. This is how God now sees me because I have trusted that the death of His Son on the cross is enough.

It is enough.

Anything I do from here on until death is not because I have to earn my own righteousness. It's because I'm writing a thank you letter to my Savior.

And my Mom taught me to always remember to write a thank you note.

M.O.M. = Mean Ole Mom

Here's the phrased that earned me the title:

No, you may not watch TV. I want you to tidy your room so your week will be off to a good start.

Tah dah!


At work on Friday, someone took my deliciously-prepared dinner by mistake (we have the same bag) and left me with a jar of peanut butter until 3 a.m.

On Saturday, I received my bag back with a note reading, "I am soooooooo sorry!" It was awful on Friday, but it's kind of funny now. My bag now has MrsJLW in Sharpie across the top.

Tyler made his LAST trip north to Tennessee. The next time he makes the trip, it will be to come home for good!

Eagerly waiting for September!

Newest News

Many of you on FB have already heard the wonderful news that Himself has been promoted to District Manager! I thought this would mean for Central Florida, but evidently it's for the entire state.

We're so proud of him!

We're also extremely thankful for the pay raise that comes with it. This will help so much with our efforts to become debt-free, though after doing the math it looks like it will take 36 months instead of 18. Still, it's a worthy goal and I am not discouraged.

The second thing everyone asks me is whether or not this means I will stop working at Disney.

Until we're debt free, I'll still be there (as long as they'll have me!). Plus, I was talking to a guy named Josh last night (one of the ones who trained me) and he says there's never really any reason to quit The Park. I could go to seasonal employment and work 2 or 4 weeks per year and still be an employee, with all the wonderful benefits that go with it. Something to think about, anyway!

Today is Dress Like A Cow Day. You can read about a previous time here! I'm supposed to be picked up for lunch so we can do this together. Time to find my Bessie Clothes!

A Wonderful Wednesday

Yesterday was Mom and Ty day.

I went with him to get his haircut. Thanks, Ruthie!

I sat in the carport on a kitchen stool while he worked on brakes for his Brown-eyed Girl. I listened to him describe the process and his frustration with the parts-guy who evidently sold him the wrong parts.

Squatting on the ground and covered with grease, he held out the brake pad to show me how worn it had become compared to the new one. He looked up at me as he spoke and I looked into his blue eyes and suddenly he was three years old and I was helping him tie on his ninja turtle costume, and then he was five years old and holding a transformer toy to show me how the parts worked.

We all had dinner and watched a movie and while I was so tired, I was so content. He came to me in the evening and apologized that our day together was consumed by car parts, but how could I explain to him just how wonderful the day was, or that his hug at the end of it made it perfect? How can I explain that we don't have to DO when we can simply BE?

And oh, it is enough.

Stupidity Revisited

I can't believe we are in this place . . . AGAIN.

Twelve years ago, God yanked us out of our comfort zone and transplanted us clear across the nation so that we would learn and grow. We found out how poorly we had been handling our finances, how materialistic we had become, and we gained new prospective and priorities.

Eleven years later, we forgot.

I'm going through Dave Ramsey's Money Makeover book. What makes me so angry is that we KNEW this stuff! We had learned it in a very hard, very painful way! Now we have to dig ourselves back out.

Poor Glenna.

She'll be the one really affected by this. Kelly will be at college. Ty will be working and earning his own income. Glenna will get the rice and beans.

But she'll also be around to see us gain financial freedom! She'll see what hard work, sacrifice, and diligence can mean for peace of mind. I am praying for 18 months to becoming debt free (except for our house payment).


No, we can't go out to lunch or out to dinner.

God will have to make our clothes last like He did with the Israelites in the desert.

My book budget, except for Glenna's school, is on indefinite hold! Hello, Library. (I know BA doesn't understand this. She never buys books!)

So, here it is on the blog. Friends, feel free to hold me accountable and ask how we are doing. I will answer you honestly, even if it means a trip to the woodshed!

Do You See what I See?

My job puts me very close to people all day long. There is no "personal space" when working Grouper. There is no modesty for the ladies when working Load. There is no expression of gracefulness when working at Unload! (None exit gracefully, but all WILL exit!) I haven't had a Greeter rotation for a week, but it also puts me right in the middle of the pack when I have to answer the phone or distribute a flick card.

Believe it or not, I can't help but think of my many missionary friends as I'm walking up the ramp to Side A. Half-way up the ramp, the scent of humanity (or stench of humanity?) begins to permeate the senses. Here I am in a 1st-world country, and the smell and heat from human flesh is almost overwhelming! They have eaten garlic. They pass gas. They've been caught in a downpour and their clothes are wet and smelly.

My missionary friends are sitting in huts with fire pits, crowded into groups who have never heard of deodorant or shampoo or using tissues instead of hands and clothing to wipe their noses. As I was working at Load the other night, I began to think of their encounters with people verses my own and I remembered that the missionaries see and smell far, far worse, and yet there's a glaring difference between our experiences:

The missionaries see people through the lens of Love. They see people who desperately need a Savior.

It hit me, really, hit me, that I also see people who desperately need a Savior. While my missionary friends are faced with people trapped by fear and superstition of false gods, I am also seeing people who are trapped by fear and enslaved to their man-made idols; money, materialism, and status. I stood there at Load and asked myself, "What do people really look like when looked through a lens of Love, the same lens the missionaries use?"

God, in His goodness, gave me a glimpse.

People, I'm not going to lie. You smell. Badly. But I'm also not going to lie when I say this to you:

Do you have any idea how incredibly beautiful you are?

I mean, really?

I see all shapes, sizes, and colors. I see hair and lack of hair. I see superbly toned muscles, tanned skin, manicured nails. I see rounded faces, enormous guts, crooked teeth.

You're beautiful.

Really, really beautiful.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

You have a loving, merciful God who is mad about you! You are His passion and His delight! He made you, not because He was lacking in anything (God is complete - He needs nothing) but He made you so you could know HIM and enjoy Him forever. He knew you could never be in His presence because of sin, so He took care of sin for you by sending His Son to the cross on your behalf.

Oh, how He loves you!

I had a different experience at work that night and it hasn't really gone away. I hope it never does. I hope I continue to see humanity through the lens of love - as God Himself sees them.

Beautiful.

He's Here!

Ty arrived around 1:30 this afternoon. What a sweet hug that was!

Then he brought in his laundry.

And you know what? I'm so, so happy to see six bags of laundry!

I have reserved Wednesday as our day together. Hope Himself can join us. I will be working the rest of his visit, so Wednesday is the only opportunity to hang out with him.

No, we're not going to the Park.

It was SO crazy last night! After my awesome, heart-healing, hug from Brieanna, we had the craziest night. Side B kept breaking down in a really weird way, so we would transfer everyone waiting on Side B over to Side A and then cycle everyone through the ride.

Because of the continual breakdowns, a lot of fast passes were passed out. Imagine standing in the stand-by line watching row after row of fast pass users go through without your line even moving. Then imagine everything stopping as the entire Side B was brought over to Side A. More fast pass goes through, then FINALLY you're allowed to move.

Would you be happy?

I didn't think so. There were a lot of cuss words heard in the happiest place on earth last night!

Amusing:

I was in Tower on Friday and someone came in with the rotation. I could hear lound chanting from the crowd of guests.

Cast Member: Those Brazilians are so loud out there right now.

Me: How do you know they're from Brazil? Are they wearing shirts or something?

Cast Member: Well, yes, and they're shouting "BRA-ZIL! BRA-ZIL! BRA-ZIL!"

Oh. ;/

It Figures!

I had forgotten that God never fails to teach me a lesson that does not include life-application.

Remember the Humble Pie post about Job? Yeah. It was test time.

Brieanna assured me it wasn't as hurtful as I thought and says she enjoyed reading my blog (Hi Brieanna!). Still, I had violated one of the most basic lessons that I teach my children, my JV AWANA students, or any other students.

Our words must be -

Kind.

Necessary.

True.

Any JV student, past or present, knows exactly what I mean when I hold three fingers in the air. It means something they just said was either unkind, unnecessary, or untrue. It also means an apology is in order!

Ephesians 4:29 "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear."

This is especially true with written words, since voice intonation and inflections aren't apparent. When I read back over my posts, I was sharing humor at the expense of my cast mates, which is something I hate when someone does it to me! (OK . . .with Rony and British Sam, these are things I have said to their faces. Sam's unflappable and Rony is . . . Rony! He loves all attention!)

Brieanna, thank you for the valuable lesson you have taught to me, and for the grace you have extended to me! May I remember and be more gracious to others.

Now, off to storm the castle/mountain!

You guys be safe out there - especially my son who is driving home in the wee hours tomorrow, and especially my loved ones at the crazy celebration in a nearby town. Be safe!

This Happened

My heart is broken right now.

In trying to work out my experiences on my blog by discussing and analyzing the different cast members I work with, I have hurt someone. My attempts at being clever and witty have caused pain to a very sweet girl who helped me through the Door 24 incident and several other incidents at work.

My most heartfelt apologies, Brieanna.


And, my apologizes to any other cast members who have been painted in a poor light. It was not my original intention, but it is what I did.

I am sorry.

Love This

I have been so hungry for the Bible lately. Normally, there's a stack of books next to my bed that I'm reading. I decided to replace all those distractions with the Bible and read it at night instead.

I should say, however, that my hunger was sparked by a book series written by Lynn Austin, one of my favorite authors. She wrote a series of 5 books that chronicle the reign of King Hezekiah and his son Manasseh after him. I LOVE this series because it made me realize the Bible is not a collection of stories - these are real people who really lived. These are people who struggled with faith and trust just as much as I do and under far worse circumstances (surrounded by the Assyrian army, anyone?). Everyone around them was telling them how foolish it was to trust in an invisible God and not their own strength and abilities. Or, in the case of Manasseh, they would take the words of God and twist them to suit their own purposes.

Sound familiar?

The more I read the Bible, the more this quote rings true.

I know it's not Tuesday, but I hope you enjoy it anyway!

Cough Drops and Coffee

I wrote up my statement from cascading the ride on Friday. So far, it seems that's all they wanted (information, documentation) and I won't have a reprimand or any points on my record. They have to let me know within 15 days if there will be any further action.

Last night was so strange! Normally, I'm all over the place at work. Last night I worked only three positions - Tower, Load 1, and Grouper 1. Each time I would have advanced to another place, I would get a break instead. After my break, I'd go back to Tower and those other positions again. Weird.

Except for Grouper, I was thankful that I didn't have to speak much. I definitely have a raw throat and cough, so I would save my cough drops for when I was at Grouper. As it was, I kept my voice low and relied on gestures.

I am so thankful for a day off today.

Other things I'm thankful for today:

*Glenna is closer to finishing Spanish I!

*In four more days, my son will be home for a week!

*I am not behind on laundry.

*Himself. 'Nuff said.

*Air conditioning.

*Cough drops and nyquil.

*The Brown-Eyed Girl.

*Kelly's job and her financial diligence.

*Having a Bible in my own language. I hope I never take this for granted.

*World peace. Oh.. . wait. . .

*Coffee. I am once again hooked on the bean and have to wean myself off with the inevitable headache. Drats to you, 7-11, and your delicious iced coffee!

Humble Pie, Anyone?

My throat is dry and parched like a desert.

I'll be the cast member with the pocket full of cough drops today.


I finished reading the book of Job. You know, I always thought he was an innocent man who got a raw deal, but then everything worked out well in the end. Reading through it this time, however, I could see how Job was standing on his own good works to declare himself righteous before God.

Chapter 29 is a laundry list of all the good works he had done and the countless people he had blessed with his benevolence. What made me laugh aloud was his opinion of himself in verse 24:

"If I smiled at them, they couldn't believe it; they were thrilled at the light of my countenance."

Oh, Job.

Kelly and her friend Aleah were watching a movie last night. I made them pause it so I could read it to them! This makes me think of Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway where he is finally able to build a fire.

[broad gestures] "I. . . .have made fire!"

In other words, I am so amazing!

Three of Job's friends tried to convince him that he has sinned somewhere, and that God wants him to repent. Job keeps declaring his innocence. Finally, young Elihu can't take their babbling anymore and speaks up.

Job - you're not innocent or righteous because you are not God. No one is. He alone is the righteous One! Stop acting like you've cornered the market on holiness because you haven't. No one can come even close to the glory of what God has done, especially you!

Elihu continues by telling Job something that's pretty hard to hear sometimes:

God can do whatever He wants to us, whenever He wants to.

He doesn't do it just to mess with is, though! Elihu says in 34:10, "It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly."

I hate going through trials. HATE IT. I wish I could just get to the end of the trial and have the lesson learned that will cause me to grow.

Elihu says in 36:15, "God rescues the afflicted by afflicting them; He instructs them by means of their torment."

This is painful for me, but it's especially painful to watch when it happens to the ones I love. I treasure this journey through Job for the reminder of God's ultimate goal through trials - to RESCUE and INSTRUCT us.

I'm so in need of rescuing and instructing!

In chapter 38, we find that Elihu was in agreement with God Himself. He didn't answer Job's "why me" in a way that Job may have hoped, but He answered in a way that brought truth and healing to Job.

My mom has something similar to Job's final response on her fridge and it makes me smile or cringe (depending on what I've just done) every time I read it. Job responds in 40:4b with "I place my hand over my mouth."

To paraphrase: "I got nuthin'."

Maybe, like Tom Hanks, we've been able to do something as amazing as building a fire by rubbing sticks together.

None of us, not one of us, have been able to do what God has done. Not only did we not create the universe, we didn't send a beloved Son to the cross to defeat death and rescue the lost for all eternity.

We got nuthin'.

"But You, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts up my head.

I cry aloud to the LORD, and He answers me from His holy mountain." Psalm 3:3-4

Hmmmm . . . .

. . . there's something pretty special about this date. What is it?

Maybe it has to do with this guy and this girl.
Whatever it is, it makes me smile.

Broadly.

Dear Mom

Happy Father's Day!


I love you so much!

Update

I was called into the manager's office on Friday night and asked to write a statement of the Door 24 incident. I haven't heard whether I'll be given a reprimind or not.

Basically, my first instinct was correct - I should have hit the Emergency Stop the minute the Door 24 alarm went off. The fact that I hit the dispatch inhibit will play in my favor.


Things don't look so good for the coordinator who not only opened the door but took cast members into the ride area while the ride was in motion. Yikes.

I hope everything goes well for Kirk, the manager, however! Unfortunately, the buck stops with him.

Tuesday is Guest Star Day!

Tali graduated from high school this year and has been a friend of Kelly's for quite a while - she's also extremely close to our Brown-Eyed Girl. ;-)

It gives me hope when our teens have this much understanding of GRACE.

Thank you for posting this, Tali!

A Name to Remember

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Jehoshaphat?


Ever since my friend Pete Palmer explained his simple formula for Bible reading (Read it, from the beginning to the end, and when you've finished, start over) I have been working my way through the Bible. It's a slow process because of life's and my own distractions, but lately I have had such a craving for it.

I love this craving.

I wasn't so excited to reach 2 Chronicles, though. I had just plowed my way through all those Hebrew names in I and II Kings and 1st Chronicles, and it looked like this book was going to be more of the same. I try so hard not to skip over their names - these people really lived and really heard from my God! I want to know what God did in their lives and how it could apply to me today.

After meeting him briefly in the books of Kings, I once again came across King Jehoshaphat. Immediately I said to myself, "Jumpin' Jehoshaphat!" Where did that expression come from? I really have no idea and still don't, even after reading more of his story. I also had no idea how much his life would relate to my own, even if on a much, much smaller scale. I won't tell his entire story, but here's the part that stopped me in my tracks.

Jehoshaphat is surrounded by enemies from the East. In fact, 2 Chronicles 20:2 describes it as "a vast multitude" there to oppose him. Understandably, Jehoshaphat was afraid. Instead of sounding the battle cry and sending every able-bodied man to arms, Jehoshaphat resolved to seek the Lord. He didn't call all of Judah to arms, he called all of Judah together to fast and pray.

Wow. Fear that prompts prayer, not panic.

I am so thankful they recorded his prayer to God. There he stood in the assembly of Judah at the Lord's temple and prayed.

I think he needed to remind himself and all of Judah exactly WHO they were praying to, because he started off listing exactly who God is and what God has already done. He used "You" and "Your" repeatedly to describe the people, the land, and the deeds done in His name. At the end of his prayer, he says this:

We are powerless before this vast multitude that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You.

Just. Like. That.

Instant surrender to God. Instant acknowledgment of the truth.

We are powerless.

I am powerless.

I am powerless over the bills I have to pay and the mistakes I've made to get us in debt.

I am powerless over the lives of my children and their educations.

I am powerless over my marriage and home.

I am powerless over this world and everything that frightens me.

I am powerless, and I look to You, Lord.

How did he do that? How was Jehoshaphat able to let go and surrender so completely? I guess all that is written about him before chapter 20 gives an answer. He was determined NOT to forget WHO God is and what He can do and what He has promised to do.

I want to surrender like that - instantly and completely.

Even sweeter than the prayer of Jehoshaphat, however, was God's answer. He made sure ALL of Judah heard Him by speaking through Jahaziel, a Levite. His first words were, "Listen carefully." (2 Chronicles 20:15)

I'm definitely listening, here. Isn't it wonderful how God knows exactly what we need to hear? His very next words were, "Do not be afraid or discouraged. . ."

Don't wring your hands. Don't fuss. Don't fret. Do Not.

" . . . for this battle is not yours, but God's."

Not mine.

His.

The entire answer of the Lord is something I want to memorize, but the part engraved on my heart is this from verse 17:

"You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. . . Tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you."

Is it any wonder Jehoshaphat and the entire assembly of Judah bowed with their faces to the ground, and then praised the Lord, shouting in a loud voice?

Show up. Stand still. Watch and see what your God can do.

Lord, I don't know what to do except look to You. I'm going to show up, stand still, and watch and see what You will do.

5012

A prize will be given to the first person who can tell me what that number represents!

(Prize may or may not be virtual.) ;-)

Wackiness

I'm still waiting for those photos from our Youth Pastor, but I can tell you about the crazy thing that happened last Friday.

See, we went to the church. Himself work a tie and a jacket. Then he handed Glenna this piece of paper.



The piece of paper reads that Glenna is . . .


. . . are you ready for this? . . . .


. . . NOW IN HIGH SCHOOL.


See? I told you it was nuts.

Last Week

Something wacky happened . . .



But I'm waiting for a photo disc from our youth pastor before I talk about it!

Tuesday is Guest Star Day!

I love Jess at Making Home. It's been a while since she's posted (she's expecting baby 5!) and I was so thrilled to read this about the Proverbs Woman.

It's all right! It's not the Proverbs Woman you're thinking of! Jess always gives me so much to think about and this post was no exception.

One Hundred Twenty-Six . . .

. . . the number of unread emails in my in-box.


TWENTY-TWO . . .


. . . the approximate number of exits between my house and work.



THREE . . .

. . . the number of times Hal has turned to us and said, "Doesn't this hallway smell like Chiquita bananas?"



SIXTY-THREE . . .

. . .the number of unread blog postings on my subscriptions list.



NINE . . .

. . . the number of hours left until Kelly's high school graduation.



TWO . . .

. . . the number of whiskey shots I'd like in order to face this day.

Night Bird

Yesterday began two weeks of the night shift. I finish my training this week and (hopefully) pass my assessment on Saturday. The following week I close for three nights straight.

We'll see how it goes!

I've noticed that when we're on stage, it's all D all the time. There's the happy D music, the D look, the D atmosphere surrounding us and the guests at every moment.

It's a different story when on the bus from the employee parking lot or when in the Utilidore. It's as if they realize we need to transition back into the real world. Sure, the advertisements on the bus are for all D shows or ABC shows (owned by D), but the music is a mad mixture of centuries of pop music and culture.

One day I could hear Huey Lewis ("Hip to be Square") followed by the Hot, Hot, Hot song (have no idea who sings it) and Gloria Estephan. What makes me laugh, however, are the original commercial songs (not commercials, just the songs) that are thrown in for some strange reason.

Who can finish these lyrics?

I drink Dr. Pepper and I'm proud . . .

What walks downstairs, alone or in pairs . . .

It's all so wonderfully random! We never know what we're going to hear. Every song is bright and peppy and chosen for its toe-tap-ability. They want us happy to go to work and happy to head home, evidently!

Today, we head off to Kelly's college to talk to the financial department. We'll probably need this peppy music on the way home after our hit of reality! Still, I'm so excited for my girl!

Tuesday is Guest Star Day!

I thought this was timely considering what I see all day at the Park.

Some great truths spoken here!

"I realized that I gave away myself through the way I dressed to other men and essentially stole from my husband what he alone should’ve cherished."

Something Smells

Every time we'd pass a certain spot in our kitchen, we'd catch a whiff.

We tried everything.

We emptied the garbage and scrubbed the can. We looked through the pantry to see if a potato had escaped and rotted. We washed all the laundry (our washer is in the kitchen). We washed the dog bedding. We wiped off the counter tops. We cleaned the microwave.

The smell began to permeate the rest of the house as well. We would open the windows to let in fresh air. We swept and mopped the floors. We'd spray air freshener and think we'd finally took care of everything, but the minute we came home from an outing, there would be that odor again. It was driving us crazy!

I finally decided to do a top to bottom scrubbing of the area and was rewarded for my efforts.

I had purchased a bag of garlic bulbs and they had started to rot! Since they still looked pretty on the outside and weren't "oozing" anything, I thought they were fine. When I picked up a bulb, however, it crushed easily in my hand and emitted the strange odor we'd been battling.

Finally!

Every once in while, something in my life stinks.

It may not be apparent at first, but bring up a certain topic, watch a certain movie, or after hearing a certain sermon, I'll catch a whiff.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanliness.

So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. - Matthew 23:27, 28

How quickly I recover from any unwanted stench in my life depends on how serious I am about tracking it down. Do I continue to walk past it and ignore it? Sometimes. In fact, this is the easiest way, but eventually it begins to affect those around me, not just myself.

Sometimes I'll read a great blog or hear a great sermon and think I've dealt with it at last. Really, I'm only opening widows and spraying air freshener. I eventually have to come back to the fact that something stinks. Just like Lazarus, rotting in the grave, waiting for Jesus to bring him back to life. . .

. . . I stinketh.

When I finally decide to do something about it, it takes much more work than it should have if I had dealt with it right away. Still, it's so worth the effort to clean and search and scrub and hunt down the stench and purge it from my life. How do I finally get rid of it?

By calling it what it is. By speaking about it to God and to others.

By being real.

I have judged others for their sin, as if mine weren't worse. The truth is, all sin condemns! All sin needs a Savior.

I have been unloving.

I have been selfish.

I have been lazy.

I am these things, still.

I stinketh.



"Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:11

May 2

Rat lips for not having a working camera! Otherwise, you'd see photos of:

The best volleyball player out there today . . .

The brightest blue eyes . . .

The coolest drummer in the building . . .

The one who snagged the uneaten Publix oatmeal raisin cookies for me at the cookout . . .

The man who has captured my heart . . .

The birthday boy . . .

Himself.

Happy birthday, Darlin' man.

Guest Star Anyway!

No, my Tuesdays as Guest Star days have not moved to Thursdays. I just had scheduled blog posts for the week and THEN, I read this excellent post. It was too good not to share, and I didn't want to wait until next Tuesday! If you are a teen, please ask your parents to read it first, but I hope you read it, too!

This article points out that those who claim to be open-minded about so many things can be extremely close-minded when it comes to taking a moral stance. I know I have certainly found this to be true with others I've encountered.

Enjoy!

*Update: Something must be wrong with their site. It's not working at all, even if I try to go directly to their site. Word Press doesn't always cooperate. =)

**Another Update: Link should be working now!

Tues . . . Thurs . . . A Guest-Star Anyway!

This was too important not to pass along!

We have an adoption story in our family. One of my brothers had a biological mother who was 18 years old, and he was her 3rd child! She decided to place him for adoption and our lives were changed forever.

I love you, MY brother!

Dub

Twice in one month I have double-booked myself.

Why do I keep doing this?

This is definitely the crazy season of the year, topped with having a senior. I feel SO unprepared for her graduation! There are meetings and events and I'm drowning.

No wonder I've been eating and sleeping so much. It's my way to cope with stress.

Brassiness

Occasionally, Himself and I will catch an episode of the new TV show, Undercover Boss. It's intriguing to have an inside look at businesses! It's cheap entertainment, what can we say?

The show has a distinct pattern. They start by introducing us to the featured CEO and his background story, and then the CEO will go "undercover" into his own business at an entry-level job. Inevitably, he'll check into a cheap motel (Why? Who will know or care where he sleeps?) and talk about his nervousness on going to work the next day. Then he'll reach up and turn off the wall lamp.

Also inevitably, Himself will turn to me and say, "That's a nice lamp!"



Does anyone else catch the sarcasm dripping from his words? Because it's there, friends; believe me, it's there.

Many years ago in California, we had friends who had a cleaning business. They would clean offices and hotels and sometimes become the recipients of discarded items. One such item was an entire box of these wall lamps.

I managed to secure a couple of them (it was the 90's! Brass was in!), but it wasn't until we moved to Florida that I actually convinced Himself to hang them on the walls.

So what if they're featured each week in the cheapest motels on Undercover Boss? They work, don't they?

Hmmmph.

Photo taken from the internet, but this is what our lamp actually looks like - with a nicer shade and a light bulb, though!

Rwanda Hope and Heavenly Hope

I cannot get her out of my mind.

Last Friday, we sat in our church's sanctuary and watched a young mother trembling and trying to speak. It wasn't because she was nervous or had stage fright; no, it was far more heart wrenching than that.

We had enjoyed some praise music from the Access218 Band from Jacksonville, then Jeremy and Allie B. began to speak about their hopes for adopting a baby girl. The concert was a benefit to help raise funds for the adoption. Jeremy and Allie each spoke on their journey to adoption and how all of their "papers" are now gratefully in Rwanda, awaiting final approval from that country. Then Allie began to give us some background information on the history of Rwanda.

Allie and Jeremy have two boys, ages 3 and under. As I watched Allie fight her tears and try to speak through the pain of separation, however, I also realized that they are parents of a little girl as well.

They don't know her name.

They don't know her birth date.

They don't know if right now, today, she's warm enough or has enough to eat.

They don't know the circumstances that led to her placement in the Rwandan orphanage.

They don't know her family history or even if she has been born yet!

They do know that God has hand-picked them to be her Daddy and Mommy. They know that their arms are aching to hold her, their hands are aching to tuck her into bed with soothing and comfort, and their lips are aching to kiss her goodnight.

Allie was struggling because one of her children is not at HOME. Her pain was just as real as if one of her boys were thousands of miles away and in need of a miracle to get home!

Lastly, my eyes were fully opened to the beauty of adoption - not only for Jeremy and Allie and a little girl in Rwanda but for each one of us. God has paid the ultimate price to adopt us into HIS family, so that we might be called His children.

He knows our names.

He knows our birth dates.

He knows if right now, today, we're warm enough or have enough to eat.

He knows the circumstances that led to our separation from Him, and He did the only thing He could to bring us back: He sent His Son to the cross.

He knows everything about our history, even things that we ourselves have forgotten!

I also know for certain that His arms are aching to hold us, His hands are aching to sooth and comfort us, and His lips are aching to kiss us goodnight, just like any Father.

A little girl in Rwanda is waiting to be united with her family.

From watching Allie struggle to speak on that stage, I have also come to realize just how eagerly my Heavenly Father is waiting to be united with me . . . and because of the word picture painted that night, I have felt that same eagerness to be united with Him; probably for the first time in my life.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

What's that Again?

A conversation between a cheerful cast member and me:

I'm going to have to ask you a couple of questions before I take your fingerprints. Writes something on a piece of paper before brightly turning to me. Is this your SSN?

Yes, it is.

And your current address is this? She points to the screen, where my name and address appeared after she scanned my license.

Yes, that's correct.

Ok, what is your eye color?

Well, I have those eyes that are sometimes blue, sometimes gray, and sometimes green.

Which color would you prefer we list? Blue?

Blue, I nod in agreement. We smile at our conspiracy. Blue is definitely the best choice for me.

Then, for the first time, she seems a little unsure and hesitant.

Ok, Mrs. W. What is your hair color?

My hair color?

Yes, your natural hair color.

Natural? Well, actually, it's going gray and that's why I've made it blonde.

Gr . . . oh. . . um. . . Both of us together -

. . . We'll say blonde!

There you have it, friends. Blonde haired, blue-eyed me.

Straight on Until Morning

I went to the Casting Castle and was fingerprinted today. No more inky fingers - a small scanner instantly records each print and sends it off to the FBI. They'll know all about me within 24 to 72 hours. Isn't that amazing? As far as I know, there's nothing to tell. There's no accounting for the time spent in alien abduction, however, and besides; that was all BT's idea.

While walking into the casting castle, I passed some landscapers who were obviously from Africa. I couldn't help but admire the smooth sound of their voices and language. It was so beautiful! When one of the men responded to another in a rich baritone, I wanted to stop, sit in the shade of a tree, and simply listen.

In the lobby were peoples representing diverse countries and cultures. Made me wonder how on earth I was selected for employment? Maybe I'm just the Caucasian. I was given a book that informed me that I was to dress according to "The Look." My hair cannot be purple and neither can my eyeshadow. I violated three parts of the dress code by having two earrings in one ear, open-toed shoes, and denim pants. (Hey! I thought it was dressy with heels and a red blazer!) Good thing it was all right to violate the dress code for the fingerprinting, but I must have "The Look" when I attend the 8 hour orientation known as Traditions!

Work (by attending Traditions) begins on April 17th.

Come on everybody, here we gooooooooo!

A Scene of Agony

My eyes blink open at 3 am.

I can hear voices in the living room, so I know that Tyler and his friends are still enjoying the celebration of his birthday.

This gladdens my heart. It's been too long since he's had 3a.m. conversations with friends.

I can't get back to sleep, and the torture begins. If I could just read a while, I know I could go back to sleep. Turning on the light would be unfair to Himself, though.

I realize I have to go to the bathroom and I could use something to drink. I don't dare make an appearance outside my room, since that would break up the party!

Blink. Blink.

The most agonizing part, however, is that I can hear their voices, but I can't hear what they're saying! What mom wouldn't want to know what they were talking about so earnestly?

Blink.

Desperately, I turn onto my side. I notice my alarm clock and remember that the display panel is on dim. Maybe . . .

Four a.m. found me huddled around my alarm clock, using it's brighter red light to read. Sleep finally came at 5, then I had to be up at 7 to do the science carpool.

There's no guessing on who will be taking a nap today.

Catch of the Day . . .

. . . and he also caught a fish!



Angela, tell Ben it's 4.7lbs. =)

Twenty-One-derful

All of our hopes and dreams for our firstborn pale in comparison with the reality that is you.





My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will indeed rejoice.
My innermost being will cheer when your lips say what is right.
Don't be jealous of sinners; instead, always fear the Lord.
For then you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.

- Proverbs 23:15-18

Happy birthday, Sweetheart. Proud doesn't begin to describe how we feel about you; in fact, we have no words to express how full our hearts are, how much our "innermost beings" are rejoicing, how incredibly blessed we are because you are our son. How did we ever get to become your parents?

I hope it gives glory to God to honor our son, His beloved child, on the day that HIS Son defeated death for all of us, that we all might be called children of God to the praise of His glory!

Back Off

In March of 2005, so five years ago, Himself had excruciating back pain. Several agonizing trips to the chiropractor and two weeks flat on his back, and he was able to function.

Every once in a while, his back will go out again. X-rays can only tell so much, so he finally went, this year, and had an MRI. Yesterday, he discussed the results with his doctor.

"Well, I have some bad news."

"Just give it to me doc. What is it?"

"Your back can't be fixed through surgery. It also can't be fixed through cortisone shots. The news is pretty bad."

"It's cancer, isn't it?"

"I'm afraid your back can only be fixed by diet, exercise, and strengthening your core muscles."

"Noooooo!!!!!"

Let's walk through the history of this, shall we?

2005 - the chiropractor:

"I can get you walking again, but these back exercises will make all the difference."

Himself, later that month: "I'm going to a doctor for a second opinion."

The doctor: "I won't be able to know for sure without an MRI, but I can prescribe some non-addictive pain relievers and muscle relaxers. The best thing to do would be back exercises."

Me: "Here! I bought you this book on back exercises like the doctor recommended."

Himself: "That can't be right. He can't know without the MRI."

A visit from Uncle Terry, 2009: "I had to stop running because of my back. Now, every day I do my stretches and exercises and my back has been great!"

Himself: Silence.

Periodically from well-meaning friends and family to me: "How is his back? Is he doing the exercises?"

Me: "Pffft."

And he wonders why I have no sympathy for him.

Oh, and if you want to know how his back is or whether he's "doing the exercises," please ask Him. Thank you.

It's April!

Details on this photo at the end of the post. Click to make image larger!



I think it may be a good thing that my son is safely 700 miles away.

All his life, I have found a way to trick him on April Fool's Day. The past few years, however, he's gotten me pretty good with things such as, "Mom, I've been in a car accident" or "Mom, I got to ride Ben's motorcycle on the freeway."

I'm sitting at our church as our home school group does their standardized tests. I'm wracking my brain to try to figure out how to get them, because I doubt any of them have realized what today is!

I'll let you know if I figure anything out.

Tomorrow, my Tyler comes home!

There's also an AMAZING benefit concert happening at my church tomorrow night. If you're in the area, please stop by! It's to help a little girl come home to her family from Rwanda.

Hope to see you there!