I cried a little today when we left Give Kids the World. It may have had something to do with the absolute exhaustion I’m experiencing but I know it’s much more then that. The tears were a mix of pure gratitude for the most incredible week of our lives and sadness that it is over.
But before it was over we had another fun morning and packed in as much as possible before heading to the airport. This morning was Mayor Clayton’s party at the Hoppening Place. Mayor Clayton is the 7 foot rabbit mayor of GKTW and he was darling! Both girls absolutely adored him and when Riley hugged him repeatedly, insisted upon holding his hand and very excitedly danced with him, I knew he was going to hold a special place in our hearts! Good thing the gift fairy brought a stuffed animal of him last night so that we could take a reminder of him home with us! The girls also loved the fun games and all the love and attention from the big group of college kid volunteers from North Carolina. We met so many incredible volunteers at GKTW this week and I really hope to be one some day! But these volunteers in particular were so sweet and showered the girls with love and attention. Miss Keagan may have put on a whole hula hoop show for their cheers! Such fun!
After our last yummy breakfast we finally discovered the mystery of the clown cart, shopped in the gift shop and then visited Riley’s star in the house of miracles which started my tears. Her star was placed with thousands of others representing kids and their families fighting really hard battles that may or may not be similar to ours, but fighting none the less. I think that would make any momma emotional! It hit me so hard that these kids and the families behind them are bright stars in this world showing the rest of us just what courage, strength and a partnership with God really looks like! And one star in particular shined brighter then all the rest for me today! And it always will!
We went to ride the carousel one more time but since Riley is in charge that turned into three more times! She’s going to miss that thing! And then we finally made it to Mathews Boundless Playground which is an accessible playground for Riley AND the worlds largest Candyland game! How fun is that?! Playing and laughing all together was a good way to wrap up all the fun that we’ve had. After check out where they filled us in on all the blessings that are still coming from GKTW like a scrapbook, a birthday cake, an original song written and a passport to tons of other parks for a year, how could I not cry as I left “the library?”
Riley and I slept our entire flight home while Keags and her dad watched movies. Riley and I were so out that I woke myself up with a snore! Coming home was very bitter sweet as we really missed everyone here but after a trip like the one we had you never want it to end!
Before we left on this trip I told myself and the girls that we were so unbelievably blessed to just have the opportunity of the trip itself but that it was not going to be perfect and that we shouldn’t expect anything extra or any magic. Well was I sure wrong about that! I am still blown away by all the magic we experienced! It was just one incredible memory maker after another and one fun experience before the next! Saying we were SO blessed this past week and that we are SO grateful is just a gross understatement. I just truly could not be more thankful for the week we had, the place we stayed, the memories we made, the fun we had and for all the magic!
Now Riley’s Make a Wish Trip is officially over and our suitcases are strewn about, stuff is everywhere, we all have to go to school in the morning and we are beyond exhausted. But we are beyond thankful too and our hearts could burst with the memories of the week! Thank you Make a Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana and thank you Give Kids the World! Thank you to all the volunteers and to kids who were total troopers and fun park buddies! Thank you to an ex husband who was helpful and willing to put our kids above the fact that it’s super weird to vacation with your ex. Thank you to Mickey and gang, Cinderella and all the princesses and to every cast member who helped us. And thank you to the Lord for making it all possible. I will hold these memories dear for a lifetime and I will miss everything about this last week on our trip! But we were seriously sprinkled with enough pixie dust to help us float for a lifetime! So float we will, minus the tears of course!
0 comments:
Post a Comment