Welcome Home!

After a long (16. hours. long.) and mostly sleepless drive through the night...

(Picture taken at 1:05 a.m. after an always exciting gas station bathroom break)

we arrived at our Disney destination!!

Worn down and weary from our travels, we walked into the lobby to check in. As we entered, there was a man in uniform standing in front of us and with outstretched arms and a great big smile, he proclaimed...

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WELCOME HOME! We've been waiting for you all day!!! Mickey told us you were coming!

We all had to look a little shell shocked but the kids were especially so. They just stared blankly at him! Then Paige leaned over and whispered in my sister's ear, How does he know who we are?

Leslie whispered back, He said Mickey told him.

With an expression filled with both confusion and wonder Paige said ever so quietly, I didn't know Mickey knew who we were!

And with that the magic of Disney began!

Later that night, we ate dinner with the princess Cinderella and some other members of her entourage.

As we retold the "Welcome Home" story to my mom, she said "I think that's how Heaven is going to be!"

WOW.

Leslie and I immediately starting laughing and then crying and then laughing some more! (Remember, we just drove through the night...) but even now as I type this, I have to fight back the tears.

What an amazing thought! You and I are on this journey - a journey that can feel long and cause us to grow tired, weary and worn down at times. But just imagine with me, the moment we walk through Heaven's Gates.

There standing before us is our Lord, our Savior Jesus waiting with outstretched arms and a great big smile.

With JOY in His eyes He will proclaim, WELCOME HOME! We've been waiting for you!

And with that the Hallelujah Chorus will begin! :) Amazing.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."