Saturday, Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

And so our dream vacation begins... Bryan and I had planned for weeks without telling the kids a thing. They all thought we were going to Pinner's Conference in Salt Lake City; however, what we were actually planning was a trip to Orlando, Florida to visit Disney World & Universal Studios Florida. It took weeks of planning and weeks of secrecy. On the day of the trip, we spent all day packing and preparing. Just before school let out, we prepared a scavenger hunt with the big reveal. Watching it even now makes me tear up. All of our hard work paid off immensely. This was definitely a Christmas present to remember. 

Here we are waiting at the Salt Lake Airport...

When we arrived in Florida, we were too early to check-in to our hotel. We had come to Florida on a red-eye flight. All the kids had been able to sleep some, but Bryan and I were so tired. Still, we felt our only choice was to go to Disney until we could go to the hotel... Hollywood Studios was our first stop.

Hiawatha Trail

Hiawatha Trail

 This was definitely an experience of a lifetime.  Amber Described it perfectly by Saying:

 The Hiawatha Trial is a bike trial that follows an old railroad line. Because it is on an old railroad line, there are many tunnels along the trial. One of the tunnels is as long as 2 miles. In the middle of the longest tunnel, it is pitch black and freezing cold, which initially created a little bit of fear for me. My mom was in the front with a bright light on her bike, and my dad was in the back with the brightest light. All of us kids were in the middle—we also had lights, but our parent’s lights were brighter. When I started to get scared, my dad instructed me to follow mom’s light, and to notice his light as well. We grouped together in a tight formation, so that we might make all of our lights shine together as one. We then prayed and encouraged one another looking to the light at the end of the tunnel far in the distance. As we worked together, I felt my fear disappear and I felt peace. The rest of the day was filled with excitement and anticipation for the next tunnel, and it brought my family closer together. This experience taught me that as we pray and come together as a family, we are a greater force than when we stand alone.

Just like our lights directed our path in the tunnel, our Savior, Jesus Christ, can also be a light to direct our families. Helaman 5:12 states, “And now my sons remember remember that it is upon the Rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God—that we must build our foundation. That when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his might storm shall beat upon you. It shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless woe, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation. A foundation whereon if men build we cannot fall."

We all need a “light” in our life. Just like the lights on our bicycles guided our way and brought my family together on the Hiawatha Trail, the Savior can be a light to guide our families. As we spend time together, as we study the scriptures, participate in family home evening, pray together, and simply follow as we have been directed by the family proclamation to the world, we will have the Savior’s light as our guide. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me, and He sent me to this family for a reason. Through His plan, I can live with my family again.

MY THOUGHTS:

I loved this experience. I absolutely want to do it again. We pulled together as a family and we accomplished something extremely difficult. We were only planning on riding our bikes one direction; however, the transit system was down, so instead of only riding down the mountain--we had to also ride back up the mountain. The journey up the mountain was a difficult one for Jake. We had to stop every mile to encourage and lift his tired spirit and body. It became a team effort as we neared the end of our journey--all of us cheering each other on to victory. Sometimes hard things can be great things when the bind our hearts together as one, and that is exactly what happened for us!

Terry and Jolene Anniversary

Happy Anniversary

How blessed we are to have family. Family ties us together and gives us purpose. As we love and grow together, our hearts become something more. Just recently, my sweet little family had the opportunity to celebrate part of our beginnings as we celebrated Terry and Jolene's 50th Wedding Anniversary. As I watched Terry and Jolene, I was awestruck at how two people falling in love can create a cascade of events that bless and inspire. Because of Terry and Jolene, and the decisions they have made--they have created a legacy of love. And as each year passes to the next, each of us--their children, their in-laws, and their grandchildren grow and become better from the simple beginnings of the two of them falling in love. More than their love for each other; however, (and not to diminish that love) is what they have offered us through their testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through their example, they have truly taught us in ways that are leading us to--not only become good people--, but to become all that God would desire of us to become. Yes, I am truly grateful for families. It reminds me of a primary song:

Our Father has a family. It's me!

It's you, all others too: we are His children.

He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,

To live and learn here in families.

God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be--

This is how He shares His love,

For the Family is of God.

As I have watched my two families--my family of origin and my husband's family--I have felt so blessed for the LOVE God offers me through the families I have been given. It is through these divine relationships that I am offered an opportunity to grow and to become. And now, as I look at my own family I am creating with my sweet husband, I desire to lead them in God's pathways, to help them become what He wants them to be. For after all, it is through our families that we can feel His love, and it is through them that we BECOME.

As we watched their wedding video, it was so tender to see their love for each other, and for us. As the tears rolled down Terry's cheeks, I felt grateful for this legacy.