Come Along With Me

This morning, the laundry is piled high. The suitcases are a tripping hazard in the hallway. We’re all a little exhausted from a bumpy re-entry into our everyday lives.

But, all of that pales in comparison to the joy that is busting from my soul’s seams. My family spent the last week realizing dreams, focusing on each other and making the most delicious memories that I plan to savor for the rest of my life.

Disney Theme Parks are beloved by many. But, to us, these parks are the “set” for many of the stories of our family. They are a place where family bonds are forged from tradition and ritual.

My mom’s job at Disneyland helped fund her college education. Some of my earliest memories are of romping around in that park. Derek’s parents honeymooned in Orlando, just a month before Disney World opened, and he has vacationed there almost every year of his life.

Derek and I were at the Polynesian Resort in Disney World when we realized that we didn’t want the big wedding we were planning. Our many vacations there together have been amazing times of rest and reconnection. Disney is even the muse for an exciting project that Derek is working on.

Now, we do Disney a little differently from your average family. We spend as much of our day relaxing at the Polynesian as we do playing in the parks. Mickey and friends are not the stars of our vacation story, our little family is!

I’d love for you to see this place how I see it. So, come along with me, won’t you? I want you to see the place…

…where a two-year-old girl who talked for weeks ahead of time about sitting in the “big seat” on the airplane and receiving a “flower necklace” at the hotel got to live those magical moments (and they were as wonderful as she had anticipated).

…where a new generation of our family got to share in the wonder of some of our favorite rides.

…where something as mundane as transportation to and fro is made extraordinary when parents are willing to pause and see the world through their toddler’s eyes.

…where it’s a girl’s prerogative to change and thoroughly enjoy something (like playing in the sand) this trip that was unthinkable on the last one.

…where there is space in the world and on the clock for exploration and growing independence.

…where even the challenges, like eating out for so many meals with a toddler who’s hard to pin down, provide an opportunity for a family to learn and grow.

…where a girl as sweet as sugar names nearly every animal that she sees and then says, “no big hug kiss” with a furrowed brow because while she knows she can’t, her heart for animals makes her want to draw close.

…where watching fireworks while you snuggle in bed is the best way to end your day.

…where a woman, who, for years, ached for kids of her own every time she attended Mickey’s Halloween Party, got to share the fun with her little owlet.

…where the kiddos are welcome on the dance floor and the parents are silly enough to get down and boogie with them!

…where every time his daughter asks “Go wok, dada?” he gets to respond, “No, honey. Daddy doesn’t have to do any work this week.”

…where stepping out of her routine gives a mama a chance to reflect on just how blessed she is.

…where new threads are woven into the beautiful tapestry that is our family, and we are left forever grateful.

What traditions and rituals forge your family bonds? Disney vacations are just one of our family’s bonding rituals, and there is a whole season of others coming up! Anyone else eagerly anticipating holiday traditions?