Sunset Beach Walk

Parker and I hit the beach for a sunset walk on Sunday night. There was a huge crowd gathered for the Siesta Key Drum Circle. It was a beautiful evening for a walk. 

 

More Christmas At Disney

Parker, Wesley and I took a quick trip to Disney on Saturday afternoon to Epcot. 

We started with the giant Gingerbread Spaceship Earth in Communicore Hall - it has a light show! 

Then we went to get in the standby line for the Candlelight Processional. We waited in line for two hours to see Brendan Fraser as the narrator. And it was worth it. We made it into the theater seats and he did a fabulous job! 

We closed out the night with a ride - Living With the Land Boat Ride - which has been renamed Glimmering Greenhouses for Christmas with their new light overlay. 

Finally got a picture of Wesley in silhouette on the way out.  

 

The Week Before Christmas in the District

I got in a few labyrinth walks along the way. 

I had a lovely chat with one of our district pastors over tea at the Green Zebra. 

I spent Wednesday for my annual Planning Day at Lighthouse UMC on Boca Grande. At lunch I took a walk to visit the labyrinth at the Episcopal church and then walked down to the lighthouse (it was still being repaired from last fall's hurricanes). 

On Thursday we had our District Staff Lunch Party. Instead of gifts, we each made a donation to Zoe Empowers. Grateful to do this work alongside Lynn and Sandy. 

And I got sent these pictures of the Bradenton/Palmetto Cluster Blue Christmas services - 5 churches together for an evening service. And 6 churches representing at a daytime service. 

 

Wesley new PR

Wesley hit a new PR this week in practice at school - 6'1" 

AND he was so close to almost hitting 6'3"

 

Disney Holiday Hotel Tour

Got to hang out with Parker for a few minutes after worship in Auburndale on Sunday at the Hills house. Their dog River usually is excited to see me, but I get ignored in favor of Parker when he's around! 

Amy and I took off for our Disney Hotel Holiday Tour. First stop was Animal Kingdom Lodge. The animals inside and outside were awesome! 

Then we went to Disney Springs. We saw a few of the  trees around the Springs before grabbing a delicious lunch at Raglan Road. 

We even got to see the dancers!

Then we went to Beach Club to see their Disney Village. 

And we walked over to the Yacht Club to see the Gingerbread Carousel. This is their 25th year of doing the carousel and it is always just amazing to see the detail. 

Then a walk over to the Boardwalk Hotel to see the miniature Boardwalk Deli. 

Then we went on a bus to the Wilderness Lodge. So pretty for the holiday and a mini Wilderness Lodge in gingerbread. 

We took a boat over to the Contemporary Hotel for last stop of the night - the Gingerbread Castle. 

Despite not having the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House (because of lobby construction), it was still an amazing day.