Back From Wonderland

Our vacation in Disney was everything I had hoped it would be, as cliche as that sounds. I don't know if there could be a better traveling partner than Jeremy, who was genuinely excited about all the silly little things that I was...it was even HIS idea to ride It's a Small World! Rides aside (and there was plenty of time spent doing that), we lounged, explored, and ate more than our tummies could possibly endure.

Speaking of food, I'll be doing an in-depth food review on an online Disney forum. I'll post the link when I've gotten it up off the ground - for now, I'll just say that it was the most amazing dining experience I've had to date! And yes, I had those Mickey Waffles more than one morning of our stay - the chef even made them Vegan for me.

A Flood of Emotion, But Maybe Not the Right Kind

Everyone has been talking about the horrible weather, and the effecting results, the entire weekend and on into today. As I look at the photos online of all the wet wreckage, I can only wish there was something that could have been done. Since I live on top of a large hill, and on the third floor no less, I was completely uneffected. However, I think my emotions were effected because of that, as well.

Empathizing with someone means you can literally feel what it would be like to take someone's place. You feel the emotions they have and the pain and hassle they are going through. I honestly haven't experienced that. YES, I sympathize, but empathy is quite another emotion altogether. When natural disasters like this occur, and they turn up in the news at least once a year, I always watch with interest and horror. But it's a detached form of interest. I can't truly know what it feels like to lose something dear, have something I own torn to pieces, or what it's like to rescue what you can of your possessions. And for that I THANK GOD! Thank you Lord for sparing me so that I can be a blessing to others. Help me be a better servant of you and use my health and abilities to aid those that don't have them right now.

There are those of us full of compassion, and those that can organize those compassionate hearts and direct them in the best ways to accomplish something huge. Both are gifts in their own way. I want my chance to organize a change in something!

When No Means No

It all started with a very innocent thought. White and sugar coated, this thought was of the international cuisine and beverages I could consume by attending the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot this Fall. Only desiring to stay for a few days to stuff myself, be entertained and perhaps write a review for a few magazines, I had intentions of getting a very part time job to fund my Disney habit. Applications were sent to various bookstores, articles were submitted to various magazines, and all was met with resounding silence. Crickets really - nothing.

Last night I sat down and asked God what He was trying to show me. It was obvious from all the "no" responses I had been getting (not just from the part time gigs, but from interviews for full time positions, as well) that He really wanted to teach me something in all this. What He showed me was a repeat of almost two years ago. Giving up what I hold dear (control in this case) so that He can really birth a new work in me. This was also shown in October 2008, when I got a very clear message to quit my job and move to Colorado, which resulted in Jeremy and I getting married. This time, I'm not sure what all He has up His sleeve, but I do know He finally spoke to me after much prayer about the premise of my book-in-progress! So...on to planning, revising, and much outlining of future chapters. Scary, but so exciting!

A Taste of Wonderland

Over at A Taste of Wonderland, things are getting off to a decent start! As an update, my post Have it Your Way - The Disney Way, was accepted into the Disney Blog Carnival that a Disney community of writers hosted. I was excited, and will be submitting another article to them on May 1st. I'll keep you posted if I make it in round two, as well.

Please take a moment to check things out over in Wonderland, and if you have anything to add, please comment! I always love to hear thoughts other than my own.

What's Your Kind of "Page Turner?"

What do you want to read about when you come across a blog, whether you're subscribed to it and check it daily, or you wandered in for the first time because of a catchy title? Personally, I enjoy reading about books, food, and subjects in literature ranging from fairytales to gritty, nonfiction accounts of the real world.

I love hearing someone's perspective on world issues that they are passionate about...to an extent. Yes, I want to hear what PETA's up to, as well as what Youth With a Mission's latest project happens to be. What I don't want to hear is someone stating as fact something they've only heard through the grapevine or from some rumor-mill website they thought was accurate. A perfect example; I do not want to hear that Olive Oil puts toxins in your body if you cook with it. That is a completely false statement, yet I've read this on more than one "health" blog recently. Needing to find out the facts for myself, I found a scientific website that proves that cooking with olive oil at 350 or less is not only harmless, but healthy for you. Healthy people have been doing it for thousands of years!

Enough of my rambling though, what does a reader love in a blog? What makes you, being that reader, come back for more? Inquiring minds long to know.