Aren't we all sooo lucky?!

[Mom 2 3 suns]

I have been reading these boards since this summer when I booked our land/sea package. I feel so thankful to be able to have this trip to look forward to in December. Growing up I NEVER got to do anything this sepcial, I feel so lucky to be able to do this with my boys before they are all grown up! I am way more excited thenthey are so far because I KNOW how lucky we are! Thank you for all your encouragement and tips, it has been so fun listening to all of you! This board has been so fun to be a part of. Disney fans are the greatest!

 

[rae519]

Dear Mom 2 3 suns
You are soooo very right on target with your post. And I do agree that my last cruise was better than the first two only because I was able to be on the DIS boards and meet so many people, get so many ideas and make friends with others on the cruise before the cruise. OUTSTANDING!

I grew up poor and for a long time a vacation was what we did when we went took a short drive to visit relatives. Now, I'm older and am enjoying my life with my family. I don't know if I would have appreciated it as much then as I do now - knowing the value of money and how much hard work it takes to accumulate it!
Someone once said to me, "Aren't you spoiling your children?" After losing Kayla, I realized that there wasn't a darn thing I would do over and I'll give both her older and younger brother everything I can - and that includes discipline, respect for others and knowing the value of money.

So let the 10 year old kid inside my 47 year old body ROCK ON! I'm Disney-bound!

Rae

 

[imgoingtodisney]

good thread and after ordering DHs tux yesterday life is good - and it's my birthday (sorry had to throw that in)
Thanks to the DIS I feel I know everything a first time DCL cruiser could ever know. And Im looking forward so much to meeting all my new DIS friends.
I went on my first cruise (4 nights NCL) last Dec, DH & DS have never been. Cant wait to see their faces as we drive up to the MAGIC! I feel very lucky to be able to share this cruise with both of my boys. (and my DIS friends)

Did I tell you we leave in 15 days? We're gonna party!

 

[4nana]

Yes, we are definitely blessed !!!

No trip like this when I was little either! My Dad was too busy
earning a living putting food on the table and my stay at Mom busy raising 4 kids ~ bless their hearts. Like most, we have worked hard and thought we had retirement planned out. Last Sept. DH retired and unfortunately after 911 we lost half our 401K putting a damper on finances. Life goes on, you keep the faith, realize what's important and appreciate each day more! It's been 2 yrs. in the planning for this trip w/our 4 grown children and 7 grands. We all have been saving and eagerly looking forward to being together for our first Magical cruise making special memories that I'm sure will last for a lifetime.
God Bless ^i^

 

[mmouse37]

Great thread!!!! Everyday I count by blessings that I can enjoy life and be able to take my family on nice vacations, especially DCL cruises!!!!

I am one of 5 sisters and growing up on a Barber's salary we only took small weekend type trips. Then once my parents splurged and we went to WDW for a week at the Poly!!!! I was hooked and been addicted to Disney since!!!

MJ

 

[lsmac]

Great thread! We really should take time to be thankful that we can all do these cruises. I lost my cousin this summer to a tragic accident and it really made me stop and rethink priorities. You can't ever take anything or anyone for granted because they may not be there the next day!

I just want to make sure that when my son grows up he can look back and say "Wow, I really got to do everything I set out to do...thanks to dear mom, of course." LOL

9-11 was another eye opener that scared us for a bit to ever leave our safe haven, but I think we need to make a stand and enjoy the freedoms we work for.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Lisa

 

[magyar2]

I thank God every night that we are so blessed!

Growing up, my family did take vacations, or tried to go do something every weekend if my Dad was not out of town working. My parents always told us how lucky we were to lead the lives that we did, as they did not have the means to do so.

My parents grew up in a communist country, lived through a war and an uprising, begged for bread from whichever country's soldier occupied their land at the given time, went without shoes and coats in the winter, and finally escaped during the Hungarian Uprising, crawling through fields, being shot at, fearing for their lives. Once they made it to the West and life changed for them, and my brother and I came along, they gave us everything they never had as children. We were certainly not rich, just middle class, but my parents felt that there was so much more out there than just what we learned about in school, so they took us to see it (and they would have so much more money in savings if they hadn't, but as my Dad says, memories are priceless). Much to my husband's chagrin, I feel the same way.

My children may not get to go to McDonald's or Chuck'e'Cheese every month, they're clothes don't come from fancy stores, and they don't have Playstations, but they have seen how other people live, and they have been to other lands, and I have broadened their horizons and their views about other peoples.

The world is made up of more than just our little corner of it. We and our children are indeed fortunate and blessed to be able to see what we can of it!

 

[Mom 2 3 suns]

Gratitude is an awesome thing to see! I have tears rolling down my cheeks, reading all your posts! We are all so fotunate to have such wonderful oprutunities in this country!
We were poor growing up too, we went camping a lot..those are some great memories! Now, I get to create special memories for my children. They will be different, but still good. I know this trip will always be remembered by all of us!
Life is right now...no dress rehersals! We gotta get out there and live it!
Thanks everyone, you are truly the greatest! I hope we get to meet some of you....12/7 GF then 12/12 Wonder!

 

[rae519]

Maybe this is why we enjoy our Disney Cruise so much - the people we get to meet - all different yet all the same. We realize that we are able to do things that maybe we couldn't do when we were kids and that others still can not.

To everyone, happy sailing ahead!
Rae

 

[vicnmickey]

I am a single mom, and work very hard to give my kids all of lifes little treasures Allot of people have asked me in the past how I can afford to take my kids on the trips we go on. My answer to them is always the same "I can't afford to take them, but what are my kids going to remember when they get older? They aren't going to remember the bills and how much is in the bank, but they will remember the memories from our vacations together. We have gone to many places, but our trip to WDW in 2000 was the best yet and they still talk about it till this day.
In my eyes a smile on my childs face is worth a million dollars!!!!
So I do know how blessed I am.

 

[Hygiene99]

we r very lucky also , to be able to to the things we do ...
that is why i dont sweat the small stuff , things happen
peter

 

[Wishing on a star]

It is just TOO easy to get caught up in the 'EVERYDAY' and to forget how very very blessed we are! I grew up with nothing... destitute poor, no father, physical problems, and more. My one trip to WDW consisted of riding for two days in the back seat of my oldest sisters 20 year old Ford, no air conditioning, etc... Seven of us piled in there... then sleeping on the floor of our one hotel room. I always swore that my child(ren) would have better than that.

Nothing short of the grace of GOD has granted my wildest dreams!! I am married to a wonderful, handsome, man. And we have the most gorgeous, healthy, loving, angel of a child (that I thought I would NEVER have!)

Who on earth would begin to think that this is SPOILING our children? I do without to see that my son has the very best that I can possibly provide. While we too do not have Playstations, expensive trips every year, etc.. I always see that my son does have the VERY best of the things that DO matter!! And, yes this cruise is one of those things!

While my son may or may not fully understand how blessed he is while we are cruising... He IS being blessed!!! Everything that I go out of my way to provide for him now will indeed have an impact on his future! Including a wonderful Disney family cruise! The memories... The photographs... The wonderful family time together. These will be the seeds that will grow and develop as his expectations and dreams for his own future, and the future of his own children!

To come full circle here, back to where I began, it is too easy to be wrapped up in the everyday ( work, what to cook, how to pay these bills, etc.... etc.... ) and to forget how very very blessed we are. Nothing like a complete break from these worries, on a Disney Cruise, to re-connect and to really remind us that, yes,

WE ARE BLESSED!

 

[Dancind]

Just thinking about this today. My DD told me that some of the kids in her Lit class (6th grade) call her "rich girl". Because she has a laptop and has been to WDW several times, and this year on DCL. Now, we are very middle class, but she needs a laptop because of a writing disability, and we need those trips to keep us close as a family. We don't have a big fancy home like many of her classmates, we drive older cars, we don't spend a lot on clothes, entertainment, etc. Just on trips. Didn't do this either as a child, one trip to DL when I was in mid-school was about it. Come to think of it, I guess she IS a "rich girl"! Diana

 

[inkkognito]

Great post, Mom 2 3 suns!
I could really relate, as hubby and I both come from "challenging" backgrounds. I can't even our family taking a vacation when I was a kid in my wildest dreams. But now hubby and I have found each other so we can have our happy childhood a bit late. I thank God every day for blessing us with the health and jobs that allow us to travel as much as we do. My dad died when I was young, and I'm very sorry to say that my mom's life was pretty much wasted before she passed away...I use that as an example to live my life to the fullest and to fit in as much as I possibly can. And Disney is the perfect place to be a kid, no matter what your physical age. I may be pushing 40 on the outside, but inside I'm definitely still a kid! I feel sort of like Jonathon Winters on "Mork and Mindy"...I served my "adulthood" taking care of myself as a kid, and now that I'm older, it's time to play.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Wow - Im crying now

 

[mcnuss]

As I have gotten closer to our cruise date, I too have been reflecting on this very subject. Thank you, Mom 2 3 Suns for starting this thread.

Two years ago, my DH's parents both died, back-to-back, three weeks apart. They were just 65 & 66 years old. On the day I returned from my FIL's funeral, I got "re-org'ed" out of a position I had held for over 7 years. The timing was actually good for my family, as it was right b4 the holidays, and I could focus on them for a few months while we all healed.

During that time of pain and financial insecurity, I made a decision. We would live within our means, but we would also enjoy life, and do the things we want. And what all 3 of us love is to travel. This may well be the only Disney cruise we ever do, but it will be bc we have a list of wish-trips longer than my arm!! My greatest wish is to be able to take 8 weeks off one summer to spend traveling with my DH and DD all over the US and Europe. It is the memories that we are making that will sustain DD if ever something happens to one of us.

You are so right Mom 2 3 Suns -- we are so lucky to be able to do this for and with our children.

 

[KAMommy]

My DH and I have talked a lot about this lately. When we bought our DVC interest, we learned quickly not to talk about it. We got every range of reaction from appalled to hidden envy. We aren't wealthy, but we all love Disney. When I was young we only went camping. My mom and dad wanted to save every penny they made. They have done well, and I am very proud of them. But a part of me wishes they had a few hundred less dollars spread out over thirty-some years. Maybe then I could have had a trip I would still be smiling over. I want to give my family smiles. And if that means that we don't go out to eat as often, so be it. I will never forget the joy and wonder in my DD3's face when she met Cinderella. That is what this is all about.

We are all truly blessed with friends, support and opportunities. Thank God.

 

[Michelle]

Samantha (great name, by the way, that is my daughter's name!), excellent post!

I am indeed blessed and I know it. And I appreciate every single day on this Earth, and try to live each day to its fullest.

Thank you for the wonderful reminder.

 

[rae519]

Yes, yes, yes! Jonathan Winters from "Mork and Mindy" - that's what we all are evolving to!!!!! The adult child!

My Mom asked me if there were any regrets about growing up the way I did and I shook my head. I wouldn't be the person I am today if I had it any different and you know, I can look past the size 14 body, gray hair, wrinkles and cellulose and say, "I am a good person and I do good deeds for others." So let it all hang out - life if not a dress rehearsal!

Rae

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Interesting. When I was going through my divorce, the terminology "best interest of the child" was used extensively. My (eventual) ex and her attorney seemed to be especially fond of this expression. Yet their focus was on the marital residence and its contents. As you can probably tell by the moniker I use, the court granted me custody of my son based upon "the best interest of the child." And so it is, too, with Disney. They provide fulfillment for the child in all of us...