As y'all know I went home this weekend for Andrew's homecoming and to see my family ;)

It was the best weekend ever!! I got to see Andrew within an hour of getting off the plane ;) Got the best hug from him too ;) Went to a movie and dinner with him and his family that night. Next night went out to dinner again with his family, after helping paint some AYT sets of course ;) Saturday we had our first date (again) and saw Trev's play "All Shook Up". Very cute show I loved it!

Then yesterday Andrew gave his homecoming talk. That boy can speak! Dang! Sitting there listening to him showed me how much he's changed and stronger he's become in the Gospel. Now, granted he's still the crazy Andrew I know and love, but there's a whole different side to him now that just amazes me beyond everything.

After his homecoming talk, he and I went to another elder's homecoming. Then a potluck at his house with his family, then dinner with mine (which he and I made so my mom didn't have to stress about it) and then he helped give my grandma a blessing after she had fallen yesterday morning.

Let me say this too: Knowing that Andrew was worthy to participate in the blessing was huge (not that he wouldn't've been, cuz that wouldn't happen) It was awesome to see my grandpa, my dad, my brother, and my missionary all standing in a circle with their hands on her head giving a blessing. The power of the Priesthood is amazing and the Spirit was definitely in that room last night.

Now, I'm sure some are wondering what's next for us? Well, I'm going back to finish my College Program at Disneyland, Andrew's staying here getting a job (if anyone knows of ANYWHERE please let me know) and getting ready for school/marching band. And we're gonna just go from there. But yes, we are together and happy ;)

I'm so grateful for him and his shining example to me. Over these 2 years it's been an anazing thing having a missionary out and I've seen the blessings in my life. I've learned patience, courage, love, as well as learning how to deal with difficult situations. I couldn't be more happy that he's home now ;)

I'm sad to be going back to Cali but it's only 6 weeks (Andrew said "just one transfer" hahaha) and then I'll be back here with all my family and most of my friends.

Just one more thing to say:

HE'S BACK!!

I only have 2 months left in this crazy Disney life. So weird to think about but at the same time, I'm glad it's almost over. Hahahahaha Weird right?

Now don't get me wrong, this has been the best experience I've had and I'm glad I actually went and did it. But I don't like doing nothing but retail day after day. I miss my kids, and to be perfectly honest. I miss the Disney Store.

Sure the store may not be busy all the time, but Disneyland is like a non-stop craze fest. It's just a little too much chaos for me. But boy has it been fun ;)

I've made so many new friends that will be friends for life. I plan on flying out to visit some of them after this is over ;) We're also thinking of having our own "reunion" at Disneyland later this year ;) Quite frankly I would have gone completely insane if it weren't for the people I've met here and the friends I've made. So thanks for keeping me sane my friends!! You know who you are ;)

And while I'll be sad to leave the Happiest Place on Earth, it's not really goodbye cuz I'm a Disney freak ;) I will be coming all the time to play in the park. It's always fun to go into the park when you know a ton of people that work there. It's like being part of the "cool kids" clique back in high school sort of......I love going with my family or people who are visiting and introducing them to everybody.

As it gets closer to being over, I can't help but be a little excited to go back home and back to "normal" life. I'm excited to get back into the schools and helping kids (whatever grade it happens to be). I'm excited to go back to my little Disney family at the store and working with them again ;)

I'm more excited just to be near my family again. I never realized how close we were until I moved a state away.

I miss my mom a lot. There are so many times I want to just walk down the hall and sit on her bed and make her listen to me but seeing as I'm way over here.....that doesn't actually happen.

I miss my grandparents. I can't wait to see them next week!! I haven't seen them since leaving in January and I'm super excited to visit and eat Wheat Thins and Dip and maybe even some frozen grapes ;) ;) ;)

My bros. They are insane and annoying but they are my little brothers and I miss them too.
I'm excited to see Nick (since I haven't seen him since March) and hear all about the mission plans (his call shuld be coming any day now!!). Trev will be excited cuz I'm bringing him pins ;) Yep I got him hooked on pins (with Mom's help) and I'm excted to see him in AYT's All Shook Up ;)

My daddy. There are sometimes when a girl just needs her dad and he's always there for me. When I have a computer problem out here especially, he's the first and only person I call. Also when I have friend issues or any issues I can call him and he'll make it ok. I'm excited to go home and see everyone!

And, of course, I'm super excited to see Andrew. It's going to be a little odd at first I'm sure but I'm still way excited to finally see him and talk face to face! Only one week to go before I get to go home for a weekend!

2 months left! Bring it on summer!!

So I work in the most magical place on the planet right?
For me, the magic has changed.
It hasn't left completely
(although the work factor isn't magical at all
hahahahahaha)
it's just changed now that I know how a lot of things work.


It's exactly like being backstage for a show
and seeing all the gizmos work and the actors perform.
Watching Fantasmic! was even more magical for me
now that I know how some of the mechanical aspects work.
It was already my favorite part of Disneyland and it still is.
I cry every time I watch it.
I don't know what it is, but it just causes the waterworks to flow.


Now the initial magic of seeing The Matterhorn from the freeway
is totally gone just cuz I see it eeryday.
But when I go as a guest it's still got a certain magic factor.
The fact that I know what it looks like from the back
and how it works but you can't see it at all when you're walking around ;)
I think that's pretty magical.


I still love walking down Main Street
(it's even cooler when you walk in the park when the guests aren't there yet)
and smelling the vanilla scent and listening to the music.
I still love walking through the castle
(it's Sleeping Beauty's castle BTW,
NOT Cinderella's. Cindy's is in Florida)
and I love working in the castle ;)


**Fun fact about Fantasyland:
Fantasyland has 3 sources for its ambiance music:
The Castle, King Arthur's Carousel, and Small World. **


Oh and now that I'm trained in hat writing
(WOOT!)
I will be hopping around as well as getting more shifts as a hat writer.
Which means an extra $0.25 an hour pay!
Hahahahaha yay!
But it's super fun and I can't wait to do it!


Magic can be defined (in Disney terms) as:
- inital excitement of seeing The Matterhorn and Small World from the freeway,
- when you walk in and see Mickey in Town Square,
- riding your favorite attraction,
- celebrating something special and wearing buttons
(birthdays, anniversaries, just married, etc)
- seeing your favorite character
- finding that one souvenir that's perfect
and many others.
These are just what I've seen.


But I want to share one magic moment with you
that happened this weekend.
On Saturday I worked in Fantasyland in the castle,
I was in Enchanted Chamber
and a family came in to look around
and then an older man came up to my counter
to put his water bottles down
I said "Hi! how are you?"
and he motioned me to be quiet and I was like "...ok..."


Then a lady walked in and screamed with delight
when she saw this man and ran to him
and threw her arms around his neck.
He had apparently travelled all the way from Mexico to surprise
his wife and family ;)
(His son-in-law explained this to me,
the man spoke little English)
I started crying just because it was so sweet
and so I gave them buttons
saying that they were celebrating ;)
It was such a special moment and I felt so honored that I witnessed it.


When I get discouraged I think about the lives
I've touched by simple little acts.
Like giving out birthday buttons,
wearing pins and a guest finds the pin
that they've been spending months to find.
Or the kids that it's their first visit and
everythng is just so overwhelming
but whenever they see Mickey their eyes light up.


Like I said the magic's there, it's just different now.
And I need to remember this as I go to work everyday. ;)