The Battle For My Wallet IV: Return of the ZZUBs (Addendum, p.85; 07/12)

[zalansky]

Another great installment, and thank you for posting the pics of the refurb'd rooms at WL. Makes me kind of nauseated thinking we bought into DVC and I may have to cough up some cash so we can stay in the lodge again now. Yes, I know there are villas there but it just ain't the same!

Coincidentally, my son learned this Psalm at school this week and I've heard it about 10 times today alone: The Lord takes care of us. Psalm 31:5
Amen!

 

[Rella Bella]

Dear Zzub,
Thanks for another wonderful installment… and for not letting us live with that cliff hanger for long! I was incredibly blessed as I read your words:

I looked out past the pool at the lake and I just started thanking God that my wife was ok, that the baby was ok, for allowing us to be on vacation, to be in this place that we love,. And I thanked Him for the amazing room He set aside for us. Even if it was pretty late in the day.

Faith isn’t like riding a bike for me. Sometimes I forget. I’m not saying I forget God. I don’t. I’m saying that sometimes I get so enamored of my ability to make things happen that I think I’m making things happen. I forget that despite all my plans, I’m not in control. He is. And He really will provide for us. Big things and little things. Things which mean everything and things He does just to remind us that He loves us.

Like letting us know our child is ok. And letting us come to Disney World. Letting us stay in the Wilderness Lodge. In a bunk bed room with an amazing view. None of my plans made this happen. From time to time, I need to be reminded that God is God. I am not. Sometimes I forget to trust Him. I forget that He loves my children more than I do. He loves me more than I do. And He loves to bless us. Even with things which, in eternity seem trivial. Like a bunk bed room with a courtyard view at the Wilderness Lodge.

I stood on the balcony for as long as I’ve ever stood still in Disney World. I stood still.

And I was reminded how to keep my balance.

On retreat this summer, we spent a whole day focused on gratitude. We spent several hours digging deeper and deeper into our hearts to express gratefulness for all the ways our Creator had gifted us: slipping a child's hand into his/her parent’s hand, feeling the warm sun on your face, the sweetness of cool air after being in the heat, seeing the light of dawn when the night has been too long.

We experienced a fresh gratefulness for the presence of God in every part and moment of our lives – no matter how small or ordinary. As the long day passed, we realized that deep gratefulness is the opposite of worry, they are contradictory. When consumed with one we can’t do the other. The moment we concentrate our minds on being thankful –we annihilate worry & fear.

Your faith exemplified in these words expresses this deep gratitude. God’s poignant presence evident in every small detail of your day – even in the view from your somewhat unexpectedly upgraded room – was His gift to lift you up, and you chose to allow gratitude to do just that. When faced with the challenges of life, the blessing of Disney – even for all it means to us DIS nerds– may seem trivial. But just knowing that God knew you and your little family well enough to speak His presence to you in this way brings a clarity of His love for all of us, as only He could provide.

Thank you so much for sharing the depth of your heart and faith with us. Your reach for Him is much deeper and wider than you know.

Blessings to you, Mrs. Zzub, sweet little daughter Zzub and Yolanda, Rella

 

[AshClan]

Thanks for the updates. I haven't been around for a bit, so I got a two-fer. And I didn't have to be subjected to the cliff-hanger. Of course, I already knew you'd been upgraded. Read it someplace else awhile ago.

Anyway, as you know, we just returned this week from a short but glorious trip to WDW, during which we stayed at "The Lodge". You were right, we loved it. Seeing your pictures was a bittersweet experience. And your view! We did not, unfortunately, get upgraded. Our view was not, unfortunately, like yours. However, we liked the room (yes, the curved shower curtain rod and the flat screen tv were AWESOME!!) anyway. And we had a (partially obstructed) view of Wishes and the Contemporary. So it wasn't all bad. Of course, due to the crazies with whom we were traveling, we were only in the room one night to see that view. More details coming. In a trip report. My first. Please visit...when the time comes.

So happy this first day at the World was filled with magic for you. The image of you jumping on the bed, although a bit disturbing, brought a smile to my face. I bet Lil' Z got a kick out of seeing dad act a little crazy.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I *love* when the room you get turns out to be even better than what you expected!

 

[UtahMama]

OK, ZZUB! I'm honored you mentioned me, BUT in my efforts not to forget anyone who's responded to my TR...I kept forgetting people! Which hurts their feelings, and I hate that! So, I'll just give general "shout outs" from now on.

I'm once again prompted to thank you for sharing your faith in the Lord with your zillions of readers. No doubt that, your humility, and your good example will bless many. I am touched, and thank you for being imperfect!


Ok! Well done!!!
Love, UtahMama

P.S. I jump on the bed too, every time....(but I'm a redneck!)

 

[annameg]

Great chapter ZZUB. I am just coming in from the Bama-Duke game and needed something to cheer me up. I know that Bama had a victory tonight, but it was a hideously ugly victory. But the atmosphere was great, as always. Wish you could have been there. Or was that you that ran out on the field in the 4th quarter??????

 

[CareBlair]

.....then you’re not properly equipped to understand why people fight in wars to defend our way of life.

Yes, yes, yes!

Every home leave, I say that about big box mart, suburban planned communities, merge lanes, Blue Bell ice cream, the first amendment, and the 35,000 acres of magic in Lake Buena Vista.

Did you remember to ask to be a WL "flag family?"

 

[LaLa]

I leave to go to Disneyworld for a week and come back to find ZZUB is actually posting pictures on his trip report?!

What alternate universe did I step into?

Next thing you know, he'll be posting pictures of that "lame" park that he detests so much, Epicot. And then all will be lost.

But seriously, I love the fact that you're posting pictures. That view is amazing. Very beautiful. The ZZUBs' room looks a lot like the room the LaLas just left at AKL. Sigh. The decor is different for sure, but other than that, they're carbon copies of each other. Except we didn't have a flat screen T.V. Or a curved shower bar. Or those neat little Pop Tart drawers. Or that amazing view of the pool. But we did have giraffes in the backyard. And telephone wire baskets hanging on the wall. Six of one, half dozen of another.

I can't help but notice there's something different about you since I've been gone. I love your new avatar. Gotta say I miss the red Mickey wallet a little, but the Soarin avatar is cool too. And then there's your signature line. What you added for Samuel is beautiful. It's beautiful and heart breaking all at the same time. I want you to know that today of all days I am thinking of you and your wife, Z. And I'm praying that God will continue to help you both find your balance.

Your latest installment was great. They all are, to be quite honest. But this one was really something special. I got chillbumps when I read the end. You're an amazing writer and your faith is such an inspiration to so many of us. I'm really am proud to "know" you, ZZUB. I'm proud to call you a friend.

Because after all, any grown man that will actually be seen driving around in a car that looks like that just because he thinks his daughter will think it's cool is okay in my book.

Seriously, what the heck is that thing? The prototype for the 2015 PT Cruiser?

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

He asked me if we were the LaLa’s he’d read about on the Disboards because he’d never seen this much stuff.

But did he turn to you and actually say the the words "I've hit my limit."? Cause if not, you've got no worries. It's all good. You ain't the LaLas unless you've had a weary bellman throw that phrase at you.

And then slap you with his eyes.

FYI.

Keep it comin, ZZUB.

By the way, we all know that really IS your real name. You're not foolin' anybody, Mister.

 

[Adi12982]

I have never been more touched reading a TR, EVER!

Thank you so much for sharing, I am anxiously awaiting more updates. Once again, thank you for opening up - it is such an amazing idea to save these to be able to share with your children in the future.

 

[mikayla73]

Zzub - more great installments. Reading your thoughts on this TR is an inspiration to us all

 

[fey_spirit]

Subscribing

 

[jordansmomma]

Well i finally took a day off from studying and the Seahawks are on a bye this weekend so I decided to catch up on the tr's.
The view from your room is amazing!!!

 

[diz8297]

Thank you for writing a report that has heart and soul. For sharing your faith, and the love you have for your family. What a beautiful report. God bless all of you!
Phyllis

 

[HaleyB]

I leave for a few short weeks and you forget all about me.

And I was reminded how to keep my balance.

You have a funny name, but at least you didn't ride your bike into a tree.

We are Yanks, so we only jump on the beds on our last day. After we are done sleeping on them.

I thought of you and your family while watching Wishes a few days ago. In a good way. Not like how I thought of Me(l) while wearing 3-d glasses, I still need to thank her for that.

 

[redheaded mama]

Thank you for the inspiring trip report. I needed a reminder tonight that I am not in charge. I keep hoping for some balance in my life. Maybe that comes from actually being still for a few moments. Thanks again.

 

[GOOFYsince71]

ZZUB.......Patience is a Virtue....Waiting for your installments is the best kind of waiting....Because you know that someday soon,,,you will click on the threads,,, and there it will be ...ZZUB'S update. Always, without a doubt, worth the wait. Better than the last book I read..something about a man who ate a 747...better that the morning paper..Oh, heck,,,just better.
Than all of it. All.
Thanks for the time you spend.
Thanks for the peace you spread.
Thanks for the total joy.
And who doesn't walk away with a tear everytime you send us
something new...You know why? WE CARE.
Yep.


-----------------------------------------------------jan

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

First of all ~ You're not as smart as you think you are.

Don't you realize that you're supposed to put all the carpy healthy snacks in the TOP drawer? THE TOP DRAWER, ZZUB! Everyone automatically opens the top one first to check for snacks. They get discouraged by all the gorp. And by "gorp" I mean, actually, "gorp" and not some other word that I've misspelled by accident. Of course, I could have written "grop" which is the way we refer to it at home but you would have most likely been confused and, perhaps, offended. By that. Too. Capish?

What I'm trying to say is this: Bad junk in the top drawer. Good junk in the bottom drawer and it's ALL YOURS. TFI.

I'm also trying to say that you should learn a think or two from Me(l).

Secondly ~ It made me laugh to hear that you're a squeezer. You 'ol geezer.
'Cause I'm a squeezer too.

Just another of the many things we have in common. Or not.

What I'm trying to say is this: I like to jump on the occassional bed too. Not couches, tho. I leave that to the master: Tom Freakin' Cruise aka 1/2 of Tomkat. Why doesn't his wife just call herself "Katherine"? And be done with it. And, at the same time... stop dressing like him, too.

It would be better.

To be clearer: The mental picture of you jumping on your bed. Around your lovely wife. Forced me to spew burning hot $5.00 Venti Non-fat, sugar-free Vanilla Latte, through my nasal passages. And not in a good way. So I'm off to take one or four Tylenol Xtra Strength caplets.

Lastly ~ Your ending to this last chapter was as near-perfect as one can hope for when writing. TFI.

Finally ~ Roll TIDE!



Cheers, Mel.

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

You're slipping.

I noticed your reflection in one of the glasses on the top of your fridgie. Thingie.

I think.

 

[cabanafrau]

You're slipping.

I noticed your reflection in one of the glasses on the top of your fridgie. Thingie.

I think.

Wouldn't want you to injure yourself further, but you did make me look with this one!

Oh, TFI, my commercial addicted daughters would find me remiss if I neglected to mention that Tylenol would prefer you not use their product if you're not going to take it as instructed.

 

[samc]

Thanks for the time you spend.
Thanks for the peace you spread.
Thanks for the total joy.
And who doesn't walk away with a tear everytime you send us
something new...You know why? WE CARE.
Yep.


-----------------------------------------------------jan [/QUOTE]

Couldn't agree more!!