Our freakin' amazing Disney Vacation!

Apparently my public has been waiting to hear about our Disney trip. :) For those of you traveling with toddlers or young ones in the near future, I hope this helps!

For Christmas, my amazing parents planned a week-long Disney Vacation for our whole family. Four parks in five days + Disney Dining Plan + staying on the Disney grounds= perfection!

Since the drive to Orlando is a lengthy one, we decided to make it a two-day drive. We stopped the first night at Tevie's brother's house. We celebrated my birthday a few days early and got to visit with Dane's Poppy and Gran, Uncle Jess & Aunt Meagan, and Aunt Theresa before heading to Florida.

The next day vacation began!! We started the day with a new, special toy for Dane to play with in the car: a Monsters Inc play set. Really, it only needed to consist of Sulley (Suzzy) and Roz because they are his favorites. Sulley I get, but Roz? Who knows. :)

A dear friend from college lives in Birmingham. So even though it was going to add another 90minutes or so to the trip, it gave us a place to stay and the opportunity to break up an otherwise long trip. If you're traveling with a little one, I would recommend this. Two shorter days are easier for us than one excruciatingly long one (we ended up with two painfully long days on the way home, but I'll get there in a minute.)

I folded down the seats in our Expedition and brought lots of pillows and blankets so we could stretch out. This ended up being crucial especially when Dane was begging to get "down" (out of his seat) while we sat (literally with the vehicle in park) in traffic for long periods of time. That is my one caveat: NEVER GO ON VACATION DURING SPRING BREAK. The traffic was miserable!

Thankfully, movies and playing wore our little guy out and he napped pretty well in the car.

So after a night with Uncle Bruce (and a super nice dinner, thanks again!!) we were headed for Disney! Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning! (Props to you if you can name that Disney movie!)

Dane got carsick for the first time EVER while we sat in traffic in Atlanta. Thankfully we were close to an exit so Tevie pulled off. We got him cleaned up, let him run around and breathe fresh air for a minute and then got back on the interstate to sit in that traffic again. :( It may add more time to the trip, but, for us, stopping along the way is hugely beneficial. We love Chik-fil-A and since we live in a depraved area of the country where there isn't one on every corner, we take advantage of eating there when traveling. They are usually close the interstate, always clean, and the Christian music on the overhead radio is a major plus. Dane also enjoyed his first Five Guys experience on this trip. He is a ketchup-lover just like every other Gooden boy.

 

After 9 hours and some less than awesome traffic, we MADE IT!

We stayed at the Ft. Wilderness Campground. Dad and my sister, Brynn, met us in the golf cart at the main entrance and we followed them to our site. Dane was happy to see them, but really he was just glad to be riding the golf cart. :) It was the one thing he asked for over and over again all week... lucky for him, he can ride it at Papa and Granna's any time he wants!

I wish we had planned for a day to just hang out at the campground. It had so many cool things that we didn't get to do because we were so worn out by the end of the day.

Sunday morning was our first day in the park (and my BIRTHDAY!). It was Easter Sunday, and as you know, we celebrate that day a little differently: we Forget the Frock. Here we are in our Orphan Tshirts at Magic Kingdom.

 On your birthday, you get a pin to wear that reads "Happy Birthday" and has your name written on it. ALL DAY LONG Cast Members wished me a happy birthday. Not gonna lie, it was pretty cool!

birthday lunch at "Be Our Guest". Worth the wait!!!

I've lost count of the number of times I've been to Disney World/Land, but I felt like this was the first time because I was seeing it as Dane saw it. Disney with your child is truly magical. But, he was a bit overwhelmed with everything!

taking in all the sights on Main Street USA

riding the carousel with daddy

Riding Dumbo with Mommy and Daddy & It's a Small World with Papa

I asked them to "lean in" for a picture, and this is what I got. My brother is very funny!

When you stay in the park (meaning at any of the Disney resorts), you get to the opportunity to be a part of Extra Magic hours. So you're in the park before the commonfolk every day! This was crucial with Dane, especially on our first day at Magic Kingdom. We hit the park first thing and had finished all of Fantasy Land before the lines started. We walked right on to the new Little Mermaid ride and even Peter Pan. We even got to run over to Tomorrow Land and ride Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin before the crowds got too bad. 

The best part of our first day at Magic Kingdom (other than it being my birthday!) was Dane's FIRST HAIRCUT! The sweet woman who cut his hair deserves a sainthood. Thank you, Beverlene, for making it such a special occasion! Dane didn't want to sit in the chair, so Papa bribed him with a Mickey-shaped rice krispie treat. That did the trick!

 With the Disney Dining Plan you eat like kings all week. It's a good thing you walk so much, other wise we all would have been sick. Apparently we chose the more popular restaurants, because even 3 months in advance we either couldn't get in or got a weird reservation time. Mostly we ended up eating a really early dinner (like 3:45pm), which was great for the little guy. After getting up early to get to the park, it was nice to eat early and go back to rest and recoup for the evening. Because we visited Magic Kingdom twice, on our second day at that park we slept in (well some of us! The men were ready to hit rides early, so the Toddler and his entourage slept in and took our time) and hit the park late, took a midday/early evening break and then went back for the 9pm parade and fireworks. So worth it! Dane had so much fun that night! 

Dane has never been a great napper. I was really worried about how that whole thing was going to go. We brought out Chicco stroller. It's ginormus, but reclines and he likes riding in it. We thought we might need midday breaks for naps, but Dane would inevitably pass out in someone's lap on a ride or during a show and take a good hour-long nap in his stroller. Even with all the noise and commotion, he napped like a champ.

riding the People Mover...sound asleep!

So, Sunday (and Wednesday) was Magic Kingdom. Monday was Hollywood Studios. Personally, other than the Toy Story Midway Mania ride (use Extra Magic hours, be there waiting in the line for the gates to open and then RUN for it and grab a FastPass--worth it!!), I could do without this park. But it might have been one of Dane's best days. He got to meet Mike &Sulley from Monsters, Inc. In general, he was all about waving hello and giving high-fives to the characters, he did NOT want to be hugged for touched. :) 

The Disney Junior Live show is at HS. I would have PAID to see just that. Dane's faces were absolutely priceless. I used up all the memory on my phone taking video in that show. He was in heaven!

Tuesday was Animal Kingdom. This was the hottest day of our trip, but because the park is so shaded with trees for the animal enclosures, it didn't feel bad at all. Dane is the biggest animal lover. I don't think there was a section of this park he didn't like!

We started with breakfast at the Tusker House. The secret is to book an 8am reservation. The park doesn't open until 9am (unless there are EMH) so you can be the first people on the Kilimanjaro Safaris! 

That white smear all over my dress is dried hand sanitizer. Looong story, but let's just say this germophobe haaated being in a theme park all day without hand sanitizer!

Dane seemed particularly fond of Daisy Duck

rockin' Aunt B's shades at the Bird Show

looking for Nemo while we waited for Finding Nemo: The Musical to begin!

After a full day at Animal Kingdom, we had dinner at Animal Kingdom Lodge. My favorite meal of the week!

Our Epcot day was cute waaaaay short due to rain. :( We enjoyed a few of the sights before the rain hit though!

 We walked to Japan in the World Showcase for lunch... and then the rain hit. Dane fell asleep (midbite!) during lunch. So, we folded up the stroller and I tied up the Moby wrap and carried my sleeping toddler (who is HUGE and killed my back!) through the rain back to the car. We laughed the whole way and had fun though! It wasn't raining too hard for my parents, sister and brother-in-law though-- they grabbed a beer in Germany before meeting us at the car!

Feeling guilty about cancelling dinner reservations at Epcot, and because the rain finally stopped, we decided to head back out for one last evening of fun before heading home the next day. Tevie discovered the Boardwalk had a bunch of restaurants and shopping, so we loaded up in the car and headed there. Take my advice: skip Downtown Disney and head to the Boardwalk!!! Awesome atmosphere, lots of restaurants and cute gift shops and (at least for us) NO CROWDS! It was the perfect ending to a perfect week!

My parents are AAA members, so we had a ton of perks associated with that like seating for fireworks and great parking. Other than the spring break crowds, I wouldn't change a thing! We originally booked this week because my brother's high school jazz band was supposed to be playing at Disney during this time. Their date was changed to the summer, but we kept ours. The weather, minus some rain, was beautiful and everyone is so stinkin' nice at Disneyworld!

The trip home included another night with Uncle Bruce and lunch at a little greasy spoon that makes te BEST Philly Cheese steak sandwich I have ever had. If I ever come up missing, look for me in Homewood, AL. The downtown was full of more cute little shops that I could handle and the homes... o.m.g. Absolute preciousness.

 Unfortunately, after leaving Birmingham, our trip home was not the icing on the cake of our awesome week. After 4+ hours in crazy I-65 traffic, we booked a hotel room and pulled off that parking lot that was the interstate that day. It ended up being a super-fun night for us. Eating take-out on the floor, drinking wine out of a coffee cup and watching Final Four basketball was just what the doctor ordered.

We were finally in the homestretch, just 40 miles from home, when our battery died. PRAISE THE LORD in Tevie's home town so his parents could come to our rescue. An impromptu ice cream date with Poppy and Gran made it a not-so-bad stop. :)

Our trip was truly magical, traffic and breakdown included. :) Dane was a total rockstar the whole time. When mommy and daddy were tired of being in the car, he was still ready to power through and watch another movie on the DVD player! We can't wait to go back!

step away from the basket

You've read it here a dozen times. You know this year, again, we're "Forgetting the Frock". Such a small step. I mean, really. Looking big picture, can giving up a dress on one day of the year really make a difference in anyone's life? If you ask the people at Feeding the Orphans, um, yes. Yes it can. They BLEW past the $13,000 goal and are now sitting somewhere over the $20,000 mark. Do you even know how many babies are getting food in their bellies because YOU bought a t-shirt?!

The amount of pride I feel as I watch this beautiful idea manifest into a movement is almost sinful. The Lord is so freakin' amazing and it's so cool to have watched Him birth an idea in someone you love and then see it unfold. Two years ago we were one of a handful standing in our church building looking decidedly different from those around us who wore Easter bonnets and all too much chiffon. This year, people in 20 states are stepping out on faith and wearing a t-shirt to church. So simple. A t-shirt to church. A t-shirt that feeds a baby, supports an upcoming adoption, sheds light on human trafficking and the damage it causes. The love of Jesus and the work of His church are spreading through something as simple as a t-shirt. Jesus blows my mind.

And this whole thing is awesome. It so is. But I almost feel like wearing my t-shirt isn't enough. Like, maybe, if we still tear through our baskets full of eggs and meaningless toys and fill up on chocolate before heading to church we might have missed the point all together. This is about so much more than a t-shirt. Forgetting the Frock is saying, "To me, Jesus' death and resurrection mean that I have life- abundant life- and my life is no more important than the life of a baby/child/teenager, neglected, abandoned, abused, forgotten by the world, but NOT by the Lord. James 1:27 says that pure and undefiled religion, religion God accepts is this: to look after orphans... So I'm putting my faith in action and taking care of orphans, even if I can just take care of one at a time."

Have you ever read something and thought, "YES! Stole the words out of my mouth!!" Jen Hatmaker somehow gets in my head and writes exactly what I am thinking. We would be best friends, I am sure of it. Today she wrote this on her blog:

What does this look like for us? How do we worship in light of this Savior? For it is past time we, too, turn the rules upside down and change the template. Broken and poured out, may it be. Oh that his people would mimic the cross in worship this week, bypassing plastic eggs and patent leather shoes for servanthood, responding in a way befitting the sacrifice.
What if we calculated the money we’d spend on new clothes, anything having to do with a bunny and chocolate, and used that investment for great good, pouring out for someone in need of mercy? Maybe instead of matching outfits from Dillards, we invest in family t-shirts benefiting someone’s adoption, someone's mission for Christ. Perhaps rather than time and energy spent on ourselves, we ask: “Who can our family serve? Where can we put our hands and hearts to use in Jesus’ name?”  Who in your city desperately needs hope but won’t find their way to the sanctuary Sunday filled by people dressed to the nines?

Now, for some, suggesting we give up the Easter baskets will be likened unto asking you to give up presents at Christmas. I'm not saying that, though we are skipping the basket tradition as Dane grows up. He'll never miss though, since he's never had it! I don't think the gifts, the baskets, the eggs and the chocolate in and of themselves are the problem. My siblings, though we are now ages 16-27, still love sitting around the table together and decorating eggs the night before Easter. It's a tradition filled with happy memories and love. 

It's when the trappings and trinkets of the holiday play a bigger role than the REASON for the holiday. When a momma drives her self crazy looking for little white shoes and socks with lace cuffs, stays up late dying eggs, gets up early stuffing baskets, rushes through getting ready and pressing everyone's frock and doesn't think about Jesus or His sacrifice until her butt hits the pew and the worship band plays the opening chord of "Hosanna". That is when we realize we have missed the point. I feel like that's when the Lord looks down on His creation and goes, "What happened?! I gave you life to the full through a gift with a cost so high you can't fathom it, and I'm second fiddle to bunnies, eggs, and baskets."

I believe the Lord delights in seeing His people give to each other. It's biblical even. Paul  says in 2Cor8:14, "Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal." It's the spirit of the giving, even the spirit of the gift that's given. I would love to see generosity at Easter like we see at Christmas. That holly, jolly spirit of the season that makes random strangers hug each other on the sidewalk, pick up dropped packages and help a friend to the car, buy a meal for a family in need. This should be a season of extending grace, of showing mercy, of shutting the devil up and choosing today to be obedient to our convictions. 

The Lord has lavished His favor upon Forgetting the Orphans this year. He spoke a word into the heart of one woman who was faithful to listen. Who went against everything her Southern upbringing told her and wore a t-shirt and jeans to church on Easter Sunday. Her obedience and seeing the Lord do an amazing work through this movement convicts me to make my own changes to this holiday. 

I am giving it back to Jesus. 

No baskets, no dress shoes. This year, Easter is a private sunrise service with my family. It's worshiping through tears the God who gave His life for me and ROSE AGAIN so I might have eternal life. It's putting on that orphan t-shirt as a reminder that in the same way He did not leave me as an orphan, but died while I was still a sinner (Rom5:8), He will not leave those children as orphans (John 14:18) but will come to them. 

Step away from the basket. Put down the shoes. Forget the Frock. Love ONE. 

left field

Update 3/20/2013: We learned today that the interested couple will have to pass on our home. I've had some comments from people worried about us because I sounded like I was in despair. Please know that is most definitely not the case. I use this blog to be open and real, and hopefully minister to other women feeling similar things and looking for someone who can relate. I do not despair because The Lord provides ALWAYS. It may ruffle my feathers, but I'm held in the shadow of His wing, and in that safe place there is no reason to (nor room for) despair. 




I am kind of an organizer. I love making lists. In fact, even if I have already accomplished a task, I might still write it down on my list just to have the satisfaction of crossing it off. Some might call that neurotic. That's ok, I would too. :) I live by my lists: grocery, to do, packing, etc. I also live by my calendar. I write down everything, yes, even things that have already happened. Maybe this all goes back to that whole control thing I deal with, but it made me really good at my job and I think it makes me really good at being a housewife and mom. We are efficient. We are organized. And we are always (usually) on time. 

The Lord and His timing never cease to amaze me. In January 2012 we put our house on the market. I wrote a post during which I might have wept over my keyboard. Nope. Not might. I definitely bawled through it. The Lord had burdened us to let it go. We were faithful and dove head-first into me being at home with Dane, but keeping me home meant getting rid of the house. So, through lots of tears (all mine) and lots of prayers, we listed it. 

I have moved more times than I can count. I have had an address in six different states. I went to three elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools. Moving is not new to me. So, why on God's green earth was I weeping over one stupid house. We weren't even leaving the town, just the house. No new friends. No new job. No new school. Just a new house. 

But this is our house. I picked out that shade of greyish blue for Dane's nursery. I painted the front door red and got paint all over my big, pregnant tummy. I have ruined a dozen manicures landscaping this yard and keeping the weeds at bay. I have mopped these hardwood floors on my hands and knees. I chose that couch for this living room. And our giant bed to go with the tray ceilings in our master bedroom. I brought my baby home here. We've had major fights in that kitchen. These walls have heard our deepest secrets and most earnest prayers. I was okay with giving up hardwood floors and tile countertops, truly I was (am), but I was afraid that all of my memories would remain within these walls like the nail holes from our family pictures. 

After six months with one realtor, we didn't sell. So we listed again with a new realtor, this time one who was a friend and neighbor. Showings and open houses didn't prove fruitful and after 13 months on the market, on February 12 our home was no longer for sale... we thought. 

Our realtor/friend/neighbor called last week to tell us she had a couple who she thought would be interested in our house. But before showing them photos and telling them about it, she wanted to be sure we might still consider selling. Honestly, after 13 months of nothing, what was it gonna hurt? "Bring 'em on!" we said. And she did. And they loved it. And now we are waiting to hear whether or not they are going to make an offer. 

What the WHAT?!?! My house isn't even FOR SALE!! How the heck did this happen? How I am suddenly back to the place where we don't feel settled here, back to looking at other homes, back to crying over the sink as I wash dishes because I just don't want to leave. 

You know how you mentally prepare for something? 

Your grandpa is old and sick, so you wrap your mind around the fact that he won't be with you much longer. And when he passes you cry and you're sad, but you're not surprised. 

Your transmission is out in your car so you do some research and get a rough estimate of what it will cost. Then when you get the bill, you don't throw up when you see the total because you were prepared for a number close to that. 

You know that staying home with your baby means selling the house you love but can't afford, so you put it on the market. And every day you look at that sign in the front yard and you think, "I am probably moving." You look at other houses or apartments. You look at jobs in other states, because, hey, if I'm moving, let's make it worth our while! 

But when that sign leaves your yard, when the transmission stops acting up, when Grandpa gets better, mentally you un-prepare. You move on because, you think, that ship has sailed. I was obedient to the Lord for 13 months. For 13 months and through numerous showings, I cleaned this house and prayed every day that I would give it all up for Him. I look at my sweet boy's face and flip through pictures of all we've done together in the 20 months of his life and it's just soooo worth it, because it's just a house. 

However, when that for sale sign left the yard, I mentally unprepared and fixed my mind on staying. I have painted a swatch of the new color for the kitchen. I have plans for a play place in the back yard for Dane. I am going to paint stripes in the bathroom. I am making new curtains and a duvet for the guest room, etc, etc, etc. Then all the way from left field, in a Father-of-the-Bride-movie kinda move, someone might want to buy my house and the type-A planner, calendar-worshiper in me curls up in the fetal position and bawls like a newborn baby. 

"But I don't WANNA leave!" I cry to God in temper tantrum voice that sounds so much like my son's I finally realize where he got it. I was faithful. I gave you time. Now quit making me live by faith and quit reminding me that all things happen in Your time and just work by a calendar that I can follow along with and check things off of, please! This isn't in my plan!

It's not in my plan, but it is in my plan. It's in the beautiful, organized, orchestrated-by-the-Lord plan that's really so much more thought out than the one this sometimes-forgetful, often rash, ball of emotions could dream up. 

So now, we'll wait. We'll prayerfully wait to hear from our realtor. I'll take copious amounts of pictures. I'll run my hands down the walls as I walk down the hallway. I'll take mental photographs of the way Dane looks as he sits and plays cars, with the afternoon sunlight shining through the front windows. I'll go visit Binx's grave a few more times. I'll savor the sounds of the frogs at the creek through the open windows on a spring night. We'll take a few extra carrots to the horses every day.

We'll wait to see what the Lord has in store next. It's gonna be good, I know it. He carried the Israelites through the wilderness for 40 years. They ate manna and quail, they drank water fresh from a rock, and their feet didn't even swell! If He could carry them through a wilderness of 40 years, He will carry my through this wilderness of a few weeks. I've prayed for the sun to stand still (Joshua 10), and I now sit and wait, because He might have made the sun stand still in our world- albeit, not like I had in mind, but it's still so unexpected, so far out of left field, something we were so unprepared for, that when it all comes to a close, He'll be the only one to get the glory for it. That sounds like an okay plan to me. And when it happens, you better believe I'll mark the date on my calendar. :)

Join the Movement!

The Lord is so cool. When He convicts and we're obedient, He blesses in a big way! This year's "Forget the Frock" movement is no exception! 

If you don't know what "Forget the Frock" is please check out this post by the faithful, obedient, and just a bit sassy Emily Fox. She was the voice of one calling in the desert this winter, encouraging all of us to make a difference this Easter and love on JUST ONE orphan. 

This is our 3rd year to Forget the Frock. You can read about the first two years here and here. This year, we're supporting 18000for18000 and Feeding the Orphans. We have been convicted more and more lately about being intentional with every penny we spend. From shopping locally and seasonally for produce to making sure the clothes we purchase make a difference in the lives of just one person.

More than just the "cool thing" to do, looking after orphans and widows in their distress is asked of us in scripture (James 1:27, is one of many that come to mind). But if you ask me, loving the least of these and putting food in the belly of just one sweet baby in an orphanage somewhere is a pretty cool thing to do. 

This year, our family will be celebrating Easter at the happiest place on earth. Yes! DISNEYWORLD! We finally get to "open" our Christmas present from my parents. :) My sister asked if it would be weird to wear our orphan shirts in the home of excess in America, if ever there were one. But I think not. We might get some stares from people because our party of 8 is rocking coordinating shirts (but not near as many stares as we'll get the day we all--yep all 8-- wear MATCHING shirts!), but what a great reminder for us, and for everyone standing behind us in line, and as we bow our heads to pray over every excessive meal on our Disney Dining Plan, that not everyone eats like we do. Not every sweet child will experience the magic of Disney, or even the magic of a momma's snuggle or three solid meals a day. 

I shared this post on Facebook and Emily said she prayed God would do a mighty work during "Occupy Disney". "Oh to see the person's face that gets to be the first to ask about the shirts... I feel a sermon coming with noted excerpts from James and maybe even an alter call." An altar call on Main Street?! Excuse me, Small World, we're gonna need that river to do some baptizin'! ;) The God I serve can most definitely turn Disneyworld into the most orphan-lovin' place on earth!

So, go for it. Buy a new outfit for Easter this year-- but make it an outfit with a purpose! LOVE ONE!

breaking winter boredom

I am going to start by being honest. While I am posting about how fun my toddler is, today is actually more like this:

Ha!

Dane is nearly 19 months and has quickly learned that he has an opinion. And that it can differ from mommy's. Which is awesome. So there have been a lot of "are you kidding me's" and "If you do that ONE MORE TIME!'s" today. 

BUT we really do have a lot of fun around here! :) This week we introduced shaving cream paint to the tub. He thought this was pretty much the greatest thing ever and kept asking for "moh" (more). :)

We've also experimented with homemade paint (water, cornstarch, and food coloring). Better suited for outside on the sidewalk. It was messy and flaked everywhere after it dried. 

This baby also loooves to cook and "wash dishes". Future wife, know that not only do I pray for you already, I'm teaching him a thing or two in the kitchen. You're welcome.

Winter in our neck of the woods is unpredictable. After a few days of rainy/icy, cold weather, we decided we could bring the outdoor fun inside! For the record, I did once say that my living room wouldn't be full of gaudy, plastic ugliness. In my defense, this does not count! This was an outside toy brought inside to break the winter monotony. It is back outside...and my living is so full of wooden kitchen pieces and food and library books that we have no room for plastic junk. ;)

When the weather is nice though, this boy begs to be "ou-si". In true Kentucky fashion, this child is horse lover. Really an animal lover just like momma. :) He will pet any "puuuupppy", "tit tat" (kitty cat) or other furry creature. But he really, really loves "hoh-ses". Like really, really. Tevie's family has a horse and mule farm so on visit's to the Goodens' he gets in plenty of kisses and snuggles with his faves. But in the meantime, the horses in the pasture that sits directly in front of us help him get his fix. 

We were told spring was on it's way! Let's hope so because we're ready to enjoy the pool, sandbox and running barefoot in the grass!