Guess Where?

Looks like a tropical paradise. I can tell you this is not far from home.

I actually have pictures of this same spot - taken on our
honeymoon! Yes, I should find some of those and post them :).

Something you really can not tell from this picture is this . . .

. . . this beautiful tropical locale is found indoors! And we were visiting there to attend this . . .

. . . one of the best breakfasts you will ever eat! 'Ohana! Located at the Polynesian Village, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida!

It's all you can eat fare. Hawaiian pineapple bread, fresh fruit, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, Mickey waffles, and some awesome guava/papaya/something to drink. (And I'm probably totally wrong on what is in the drink - but it's amazing!)

While you eat, four of the Disney characters come to your table and hang out for a little while. 
Photo op time, autograph time. Fun time!

This particular morning we were joined by Stitch and Lilo, Pluto and Mickey!

We had a wonderful time!

Lilo and Stitch are always favorites!

What a beautiful hotel, with some wonderful scenery! We had a great breakfast, took a couple photos, 
then moved on to Downtown Disney for the rest of the day!

Happy New Year, 2012

From one of the most magical places I know,
May God richly bless you and your family this year!
Thank you for a great year at the Shadow of the Cross!


(And, no, I'm not really at the Magic Kingdom - I wish I was there - still home being sick with this awful cold.
I pulled this picture out from earlier in the year.)

The Castle Ablaze!

This is my all-time favorite shot of Cinderella's Castle. I took it a couple years ago.
I posted about it here.

Over the past couple years I have taken a number of photos of the castle.
Mostly at night, and with my point and shoot.

Here are some of the ones I like the best!



I love the sparkly look!


I like the way the colors change from season to season.






Kali took this one.

I think she took this one, too. It reminds me of the very first in this post!

And the last one. I took this at a Pirates and Princesses event back in 2008. So it's old. I love the way it looks like the castle is on fire. The "pirates" were attacking the castle. Lots and lots of great memories from Disney World! Perhaps you have some memories of your own?

TOMS: One For One Campaign

I'm sure you've most likely heard of Toms. If not, let me enlighten you. Kali and I are currently in Orlando, enjoying festivities leading up to her high school graduation tomorrow. Last night, we went to Downtown Disney to walk around (and buy jelly bellies for me and yellow bananas for Mark.) At the surf shop, we noticed a rack of Toms shoes and went over to check them out. 

There was this really nice lady named Sasha hand-painting designs on some Toms at a side table. Kali found a pair of jade Toms that she wanted. They had a denim pair that I wanted but the only pair they had was a size 5. I don't remember ever wearing a size 5 shoe, although I probably did when I was like ten or something. Anyway, I started talking with Sasha, she complimented the feather shirt I was wearing, one thing led to another, and a short while later I left with the peacock feathered shoes on the right. 

I posted this same picture on my facebook page and left this comment with the question, which pair do you believe belong to the teenager. Got some great comments on that post! Such fun! I'm wearing my new shoes now, and they are sooooooo comfortable.

For those of you who don't know what Toms are, they are a company that donate one pair of shoes to a needy child for every pair you buy. They match it - one for one. I've been wanting a pair of Toms for a long time, so glad that I finally have a pair. A really cool pair! And the best part? Sasha sold another pair because a customer saw mine and loved them! You can check out Toms and sign up for their newsletter at www. toms.com.

Follow the Star

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel. Luke 2:6-7

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-12

Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship." Matthew 2:7-8
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:9-12.

Merry Christmas to you and your family this wonderful, holiday season! May you hold Christ dear and near in your heart. May you remember all that God has blessed us with through the birth of His son - Jesus. May the God of the universe bless you in this coming new year. From The Shadow of the Cross - Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

(Photos of the life-size nativity were taken at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando while visiting the Osborne Family Lights. Scripture is from the Message and from the New International Versions of the Holy Bible.)

ICC Interns Visit Epcot Center

The 2010 ICC Intern Team is in the last days of their fall tour. *sigh* They have been working so hard since July with literally very little down time. They are on the go from about 6 or 7:00 AM until 11:00 PM - every single day. I was trying to think what we could do for the team - to give them some fun-together-time before heading into the final stretch of tour. So, last Monday we took the entire team and the Moon family to spend a day at the Epcot Center in Walt Disney World. I took about 6 photos under the ball - this is the only one where everyone's eyes are open - hahaha! So hard when there are this many people.

Studying the map, figuring out what to do first :). So many decisions!

Mark and I followed one group until they went off and lost us. Our first stop was Innovations!. We listened to the hook-and-latch discussion and some of the team got to play a game show!

This team raced the clock against the competition to see who could stack up the most blocks before the time ran out. Each block had a couple velcro sides to attach it to the previous block. I think they had two minutes - very entertaining. At the end both stacks of blocks fell, leaving 3 or 4 still stacked up.

As you can see here, they were all Big Winners!

On to the next game!

In this game, the game show host snatched cabbage patch dolls off a conveyor belt and placed them on the two interns' tables. They had to quickly diaper the baby and stuff a bottle into its mouth. Then they attached the babies onto their aprons using - what else? - velcro!

You can see the intern laughing here. The host had just commented that it looked like he had done this before. Our intern mumbled, "I have nine siblings- hahaha!"

They are both going to be great dads one day. As long as you don't mind your baby being diapered and bottle-stuffed in about 15 seconds flat! hahaha! I think they tied, but both were Big Winners! and we laughed so hard!

Of course, we had to take a little time here and there to text message the family and girl-friends at home :). We had to let them know what we were doing and how much we wish they were here with us :).

We heard that Test Track was the fastest roller coaster in the entire Disney complex of four theme parks! Of course the team wanted to try that! Here we were trying to decide if it was worth standing in line for, or getting a fast pass and coming back later. Of course the fast pass won out!

It was at this point that the kids took off and totally abadoned Mark and me. Oh well. We're big kids. We had fun on our own!

We grabbed lunch with the Moons, then entered this ride through The Land. We learned about hydroponics, growing humungous crops in nutrients and water - instead of underground. We saw huge fruit and vegetables and learned that much of the food prepared in the Epcot food court is actually grown right there in The Land.

Check out the size of those lemons. And that is no exaggeration. They were huge!

The largest of these eggplants were up to 3 feet long! And they grew on trees. (Although I know nothing about eggplant - except I don't like the taste - so I don't know if they typically grow underground or on a tree.)

This will give you a better idea. These are tomatoes growing on these huge trees. They were a little larger than normal in size, but the fact that they grew on these huge trees with literally hundreds of tomatoes was pretty amazing! You are only seeing the underside of those branches. And, did you notice that all that grows from one trunk?

You will never guess what these are! Never. Go ahead and try.


They are



Brussel Sprouts! Can you believe the size of those things?!?

We finished this ride up back in the food court. Love these balloons - I always have. Soarin' is in this area. And I can not believe it, but my daughter actually rode Soarin' this time. It's amazing what a little peer pressure can do :).

Ever heard Brad Paisley's song "Waitin' On a Woman?" That totally explains this picture :). Love you, honey!

If you've followed this blog long, you will remember that I grew up in Newfoundland. These shots are from the Canadian exhibit in the World Showcase. They even had a new movie I hadn't seen before with Canadian Martin Short :).

There's my honey again in front of that waterfall. I was telling Mark while we stood there that I saw waterfalls in Newfoundland that were 4 and 5 times the height of this one. Just gorgeous! I'll have to dig out some photos and post some one day. Just remember I was like 10 years old when I took them :).

These lovely gardens were designed in honor of the Butchart Gardens in British Columbia. Just beautiful!


Mexico!

Outside the Norway exhibit in the World Showcase.

Hey! We found someone we knew! So, we followed this group around awhile :).

China.

Italy. Beautiful architecture!

Some of the team headed into the inner part of the Italian exhibit.

And before we knew it, it was time for Mark and me to head out. He needed to get home for work the next morning. We rode the boat back across the lagoon with some of the interns. Love you!

We waited awhile. On the crossing I was able to shoot some awesome sunset shots over the Eiffle Tower :) - (and the Swan Hotel). We had a great day at Epcot. The interns were able to relax and have a fun time.

We (not Mark who had to work - sorry, honey) spent the night at the Disney All-Star Movies Resort. It was great! Everyone got a bed - no floors - to sleep on! The next morning the team met at the Winners Circle for breakfast and plan-making for the day. What did we do that day? We spent it at Downtown Disney! What an awesome, incredible two day fun break for the hard-working interns! Love you all, team! God is using you in some incredible, wondrous ways! Finish strong (thank you, Mrs. Moon) and finish by honoring and obeying God!