I've Been ID'd

It finally happened. 

I am now 21, and since I choose to not participate in the consumption of alcohol, I haven't gotten a chance to prove to the outside world, that I am, in fact, 21. I was dealt a hand of cards some of you are all too familiar with: the forever young look. Baby face. Short. Wide eyed gaze. The whole nine yards. When revealing my age to strangers, I often get the various stages of nervous laughter followed by "wow you look 14!" 

Thank you for that statement that I have never heard before.

Well last night, it finally happened.

I was with my friend at Hollywood Studios, and we decided to treat ourselves to a milkshake from the 50's Prime Time Cafe. We didn't want to eat a meal, so we decided to order from the bar, which my friend informed me she had done multiple times before. So we grabbed two barstools next to a young lady who looked similar in age to us. 

I asked to borrow her menu, and discovered she was just ordering water and onion rings, so I figured she was under 21. I watched the bartender interact with the customers. This guy was a jerk. He obviously was against tips or something because his attitude basically demanded we not tip him. The bartender came up to us, after a good while of waiting, but he did not want to take our order. Instead, in a formidable voice, said "No one under 21 can sit at the bar."

My friend and Onion Rings glanced around and slowly got out of their seats. I was about to join the 20 year old rejects (term of endearment, I promise), when it dawned on me... a hole in the ceiling burst open, and a beam of light shown directly upon me, and a still little voice whispered sweetly in my ear, "YOU ALYSSA ARE 21!" 

*picture this scene in slow motion; it's so much better*

I gathered my courage. I swiveled in my sweet, and drew out my wallet. I looked that bartender directly in the eye, and said, "Well, I am 21," and I whipped out my drivers license and slid it across the bar. He picks up the ID, takes out a magnifying glass... I'm joking, but he did take 5 minutes examining it. He saw that I am indeed 21, and turned a satisfying shade of red. In a small voice, he asked "what'll you have?" And I, in my 21 year old voice, said "Yeah, I'll have a milkshake please."

He turned a deeper shade of red. "You want a milkshake?" I nodded, a smug smile on my face. Yes, I, the 21 year old, want a milkshake. JUST a milkshake.

I have never been so satisfied with purchasing a milkshake in my life. The milkshake that I was ID'd for. 

Do's and Don't's of Meeting a Character at Disney (Dining)

I know many of my readers have been waiting for the do's and don't's of meeting a character. I guess you could say have a pretty good insight as to how to get the most out of your interacts :) So we will jump right in! 

First, you need to be aware of the two types of interactions: dining and meet & greets. Dining is self explanatory, but just in case I will elaborate. Dining would be meeting characters at a Disney restaurant, resort, etc. Meet & greets are not dining. Everyone with me? Great! Let's keep going. I'm going tackle dining in this blog post, and I will do a meet & greet one another day. 

The Do's of Dining:

1. When you are seated at your table, immediately get out your cameras and autograph books, and have the ink pen ready to be used.

2. If you see a character in close proximity to your table, stay seated and wait for the character to come to you. 

3. Use ONE, I repeat, ONE ink pen. 

4. Once the character is at your table, SAY HELLO. You'd be amazed at how often the characters get blank stares. The character will leave you table immediately if this happens, so if you want a photo, say something.

5. The fewer pictures, the better. Characters will adore you if you take one group photo and that's it. Like seriously, you will receive so much love if you take one group photo. 

6. Make sure your child doesn't have food all over them. If they have sticky hands, Minnie will not touch them. Just saying.

7. Tell the character if your party is not all present. The character will skip your table, and come back when you're all there. 

8. Monitor you kid. Make sure they are not aggressive with the character. 

9. Use one camera. Take the photos using one phone, you can text the photo to others. It is SO ANNOYING when there are five phones, six digital cameras, a GoPro, and a polaroid camera. So, Annoying.

10. Make sure if you have a high chair that they are not in the way of the characters. Do you know how scary it is when Minnie trips over a high chair and almost injures a baby? It isn't fun.

11. Plan ahead. If you want a family photo, ask someone in advance, so the character isn't standing there waiting on you. 

**Time is crucial in dining. The characters are allowed approximately 45 seconds per table. Please be respectful of this.

The Don'ts of Dining:

** some of these may sound harsh, and I mean them in the best way possible. I'm just conveying the wishes of characters to you :) 

1. Do NOT get up and find the characters. Characters will come to you, as they have a set rotation and go from table to table.

2. Do NOT hand the character a closed book. I guarantee Goofy will not like you if you do this. 

3. Do NOT take forever. This is not a meet & greet; the character doesn't have time to sit and chat. Say hi, get an autograph, take a photo, move on.

4. Do NOT ask the character if he/she wants to sit down. That's against the rules. 

5. Do NOT let your kid roam. They will get trampled. They will get hurt. And the character will trip and fall and it will be on your shoulders that Minnie Mouse face planted.

6. THIS IS THE MOST CRUCIAL OF ALL. Do not, absolutely do not, let a dining setting be your child's first experience with characters. I cannot stress this enough. You need to be in a meet & greet first, so you can see if your child is terrified or not of the characters. I have witnessed one family whose children screamed, and I mean the blood curdling "I am beyond terrified for my life" scream, for an hour and a half because they were so scared of the characters. The entire restaurant could hear the kids. It was annoying. It ruined the family's dinner, along with the other guests. The family was politely asked to leave. If you don't want this to happen, take your kids to Character Spot at Epcot ASAP, so they can meet Mickey, Goofy, and Minnie and see how they like them. 

7. Do NOT ask a character sign a napkin. Just don't.

8. Do NOT offer the characters food. They can't take it. 

9. Do NOT ask the character to stay and sing happy birthday to the "special birthday boy/girl". There isn't enough time.  

10. Do NOT ask the characters to take photos together. That is not allowed. 

11. Once the character has left your table, THAT IS IT. Don't go after them for "only one more photo". You had your interaction. The character has lots of other tables to see. 

When Reality Texts You

My journey at Disney is coming to a close. And Reality just checked in on me. No, it didn't literally text me, but I have begun my research for returning to school, and I am now blogging so I can further procrastinate and look productive instead of like the nervous wreck that I actually am. 

No one, other than a DCP alumni, can know the frantic emotions coursing through me at this moment... working for Disney for two semesters has been so great, but it was literally a break from real life. I didn't have the normal day to day worries. I HAVEN'T DONE HOMEWORK IN OVER A YEAR PEOPLE. If I didn't journal and blog and sign autographs for Mickey, Minnie, Donald, etc., I probably wouldn't remember how to hold a pen. 

Oh boy... there was this picture I found on the Internet that sums up exactly how I am feeling.

THIS IS ME. LITERALLY ME. 

That horrifying purple monster is the real world coming back to get me. But you know what?

I am so ready. I am nervous, but I am ready. 

I am excited to get on with my life. I have made so many friends and memories here, for which i am so grateful. 

Thanksgiving is tomorrow (although my roommates and I celebrated yesterday), and this adventure is something I will forever mention at the table each year. I am thankful for my beautiful time here at Disney. 

I just can't wait to go back home. So in a way, that purple "Obligations' guy is really a welcome sight.  

Priorities

I overheard a conversation tonight that made me pause and think. A man and a woman were discussing their opinions of people. It's a very general topic, but they narrowed it down to something we can all discuss: being nice.

It's funny how every human out there views themselves as nice. Really. Think about it. If you ask someone, "do you consider yourself a nice person?" they probably will not say "ha no I get a kick out of being mean". They may be sarcastic, but I really don't think anyone thinks themselves as rude or narcissistic. But can't you think of someone right now who you consider to be mean? At least five people pop into my head. 

The fact of the matter is is that individuals worlds revolve around that individual. My world revolves around me. Your world revolves around you. It is the only point of view we have. Only we see the little details we encounter. And sometimes, in those details, we are mean to someone. It may be intentional. It may not be. 

The woman I was listening to told the man, "I am done being nice. I am a rung on so many people's ladders. I am a person they contact when only it's convenient. Once they get what they want out of me, they move on." 

I'm pretty sure everyone can relate to this woman. We all think of ourselves like that at some point. I know I have felt like that recently. But I don't think that should justify ceasing to be kind. Doesn't that make you drop to the level of those you consider 'mean'? What makes them mean? I believe it's those who ignore you. It makes you feel so unwanted, and that is the worst feeling in the world to me. Nothing makes my heart bleed more than feeling discarded and unwanted. 

There is a hard truth to be learned here: I am not important to everyone. 

That's just how it is. I am not everyone's priority. And because of that, some people seem 'mean'. But if I turn the tables, there are people who are not my priority. I don't hate them. I don't even dislike them... they just are not important to me. Plain and simple. You have people in your life like that. Go through your friends list on Facebook, and tell me that's not true.... you can't do it. 

Unfortunately, things get mixed up sometimes. You may care about someone deeply... you may send them a text everyday asking how they are doing and try to stay involved in their lives, but all you get in response is "I'm good." You consider them important, but they don't view you as important. That hurts. Trust me, I know. 

Luckily, priorities can be rearranged. My suggestion? Delete the text message thread. You don't have to be drastic and cut them out of your life completely. But maybe unfollow them on Facebook, but still keep them as a friend. Stop checking your phone for a message from them. It's not coming. It is such a hard fact to grasp, that you aren't popping into their head as often as they are in yours. But guess what?

You are on someone else's mind. 

Don't stop being nice. Don't conform to society's mindset of looking out for #1. You do not have to make everyone a priority. But I do think we should recognize when it's time to move on from someone. I think we need to be aware, so we can spare ourselves some anxiety. 

You are not a rung on someone's ladder. You are valuable. Don't hang on to a friendship/relationship that doesn't have you as a priority. 

My Gracie

Today my sweet Yorkie, Gracie, passed away. She was 14. It's funny how that number sounds so old in that context, yet if I were talking about a human, it would be tragically young. So yes, she lived a normal life expectancy.

But I want her here with me still. 

You see, Gracie was not like other dogs. No, really. She was human with too much fur. She understood things that normal dogs would not be able to. She had her own chair at our dinner table, I am almost hesitant to admit. But it was more than that.

She was kind. Gracie actually saved my life. I will not go into detail, but six years ago Gracie walked into my bedroom, and I will never forget the look she gave me. Her soft brown eyes would not break eye contact with my empty, blue eyes. That day she said more to me than any other human was able. For that, I will be forever grateful to you, my sweet Gracie. 

Gracie, I will always, always miss you. You never forgot me no matter how long I was away from home, whether it be two weeks due to college, or six months while I am working at Disney. You never forgot me. And I will never forget you. Thank you for those sweet 14 years of unconditional love. I am so thankful you are no longer in any pain. Good-bye, McDonald's puppy. Thank you for walking into my life, and I am so sorry that I couldn't be there when you had to slip out of it. 

Epiphanies and Elmer's Glue

I am currently sitting in Panera, writing in my "doodles and thoughts" notebook. And this huge, mega-ultra-DINGDING epiphany hit me. And someone needs to hear this. Some young woman out there needs to here this today. 

To whoever you are, whoever needs this, like I did today, you are not a healer. So often people are drawn to people like us, people who radiate kindness and the desire to give hugs and ease pain. There's so much pain out there, isn't there? So many questions, so much fear of the unknown. And I think that you have someone, or some people, in your life that are holding on to you for dear life, and it's causing you to weaken. 

Listen... You know Elmer's glue? The stuff we all used as a kid. That glue is cheap. It won't hold an object together forever. We are Elmer's glue, okay? We can give temporary relief for a short amount of time. We can put a bandaid on the wound that really requires surgery. But eventually we will dissolve. We will fall off. We are not healers. 

Jesus Christ is the super glue; He is the stitches. Only He has the ability to mend things that are severely broken. He has the power to heal the worst wounds. Only He has the power to do those things. 

People with kind, sympathetic hearts... We feel other's pain. Sometimes in the literal sense. When someone I am close to is suffering from heartache, my heart aches with them. I can feel the hurt they are going through. And I want to solve their problem. But I can't. 

You can't.

Please don't let yourself drown and lose you sense of who you are in Christ. If you try to fill His role in someone's life.. You will be so miserable. I've tried to do that multiple times. It isn't worth it. 

Please get this out there. In a world full of hearts that need to be healed, it will not help if we try to do God's job. We can still be kind and offer our hugs and prayers... But do no try to heal or change. It won't work. 

To those who are hurting and seeking relief, run to Jesus. Not science. Not  theology. Run to Jesus. He is the only One who can give you the rest you so desperately crave.

No Need for Words

I got to spend 35 minutes with Miss Minnie today in her dressing room at Hollywood Studios. I hadn't been in this location before, and I was enthralled with Minnie's adorable room. It had all of her awards, pictures of her and her honey, Mickey, a little plush cushion to sit on, and it had all her perfume and jewelry set out. If you go to Disney World, I would highly recommend seeing Minnie at this location. 

Anyways, this family came in to visit; I believe they were from Germany. A father, mother, grandmother, and a three year old princess walked in to the dressing room. The little girl was behind her daddy's leg, so Minnie knelt down so she could be on the same level as the little girl. Minnie blew a kiss at the girl, telling her it was alright and she didn't have to be scared. Well, it worked. She toddled out from behind Daddy, and took tiny steps towards Minnie. 

When she finally reached Minnie, she held out her little arms and collapsed into Minnie. Minnie held the little one, rocking her back and forth. The dad and mom were running all around them, trying to capture this magical moment on film and camera. 

"Sophie, talk to Minnie," Daddy kept saying with a thick accent. The little one would peek up at Minnie, open her mouth, turn red as a tomato, and bury her head back in Minnie's chest. But Miss Minnie has the ability to understand things that guests can't say. There isn't a need for words with Minnie Mouse.

Minnie showed the little girl around the room. I think Sophie's favorite thing was the big feather pen Minnie uses for special occasions. Minnie and Sophie sat on the big cushion, and the little girl cuddled up with Minnie, and they rocked for a little bit. I think I saw a few tears fall from Minnie's eyes since this was the first time in a while she's gotten to hold such precious baby in a while. Most guests are in such a rush nowadays; it's quite sad...

Ten whole minutes passed, and the dad finally told Sophie they had to let Minnie go since she had a bunch of other kids to see. Minnie was sad, but she hugged Sophie and told her she loved her. Sophie just smiled and blushed. Minnie knew exactly what she said. 

Renewal Is a Beautiful Thing

I woke up this morning with the best feeling I have felt in a very, very long time. I woke up today knowing that, somehow, everything is going to be okay. 

Lately, I have been feeling very lost. Hopeless. Depressed. Just really blah. There isn't a reason for it. Many are thinking "she's in the happiest place on earth; how can she feel like that?" I am truly grateful for my opportunities here at Disney, but that doesn't protect me from the Devil's ability to play mind games with me. 

Today I feel renewed. Although my future is unclear, I know it's going to be absolutely amazing. My God is an awesome God, and He has plans to give me a bright future. I was praying, just thanking God for reminding me that He is with me. He hasn't left. He hasn't forgotten. And I felt Him give me a special task today. It's a pretty great one.

He challenged me to let Him use me today. I want to help someone. I want to let others see Jesus in me. Not in some weird way. I want a chance to be kind to someone. I want to build someone up, not tear them down. I want to leave someone with the impression of, "wow that girl is different." I'm up for that challenge. I am so up for it. 

Friends, God is so good. He is just amazing. I can't believe that I, who am so unworthy of His mercy and love, get to be pardoned of all my sins and spend eternity with Him. I just can't express enough how in love with God I am. I have never experienced this... relief. Relief from what? I don't know... life, I guess. Knowing that I am in the arms of my Savior gives me a peace that no worldly thing can give. 

If you are feeling lost, I encourage you to stop. Stop thinking. Stop running. Just open your heart and ask God to give you a big hug. He won't refuse you. Ever. No matter what you have done, no matter where you are, He will always help you. He will always welcome you home. You don't have to scramble anymore, trying to pick up the shattered pieces of your life. God can clean that up, but you have to let Him. Just step back, and say "God, I've got nothing left. I'm tired of running, tired of hurting. Please help me." God has such a beautiful life planned for his kiddos. He wants you to live life of fulfillment. He doesn't want you to go to work dreading what the day will bring. He wants you to spring out of bed delighted to greet the day. 

You don't have to feel lost anymore. Just look up. He's right there, ready and waiting. 

How to Deal with Surprise Parties

Life is sometimes one big surprise party. 

You've just concluded a long day at work, and you're ready to go home and immediately work out, take out the trash, unload the dishwasher, cook a healthy two course dinner, and go to bed at 8:30 pm. Or get pizza, do absolutely nothing, and watch netflix until 2 am. The latter usually wins for most people. Anyways, so you get home and then SURPRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISE!!!!! Things pop out of your furniture and coat closet, yelling and throwing confetti on your recently (?) vacuumed carpet. 

How do you deal with it? You could put on a smile and say the courtesies such as "Oh you shouldn't have! I had no idea!", but what you're really thinking is, of course, no you really, really, really should NOT have done this. That's option A.

Option B is to stare blankly at the procession in your house, and then say "I'm sorry, I must have the wrong address", run, don't walk, to your car, and drive far, far away. 

There is Option C where you are actually excited about the surprise party, but I don't trust these people.

Now that we've go the scenario in our head, let's talk. 

Life does this right? It just throws this big, unwanted surprise party, and you're stuck with red solo cups cluttering your counters and confetti stuck in your carpet. So what do you do? Regardless of which option you go with, you will be stuck with a big mess to clean up at some point. 

My advice is to put on some rubber gloves and get Bar Keeper's Friend (you weirdos who use Comet, there it is). Your house probably needed to be cleaned anyways. 

I had some undesired confetti squished into my carpet. Now it's time to get out my vacuum and get those suckers out. It's called the renewal of the mind. 

It's time to refocus my life on what's important. God comes first. It's so easy to put God on the back burner. But I find when I do that, my life goes a little awol. It's time to dig deeper, and really fall in love with my God again.

The second thing that needs to fall back into place is my fitness. The job I have now is physically demanding, and I have used that as an excuse to allow myself to slack off on my workouts. That's not okay. Taking care of my body should be such a huge priority; the Bible even says so:

 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God. You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies."

Talk about a wake up call. I am not my own. This body was bought with a price, and I need to take care of it. I need to keep it in prime condition. All of us should, and not just by working out, but by what we put in our bodies. We should be feeding it good stuff, not junk. 

I take life one day at a time. These two priorities will keep me busy for a while. It's a lifestyle change. Making time for that one on one time with Jesus, as well as spending an hour a day improving my health. 

So I guess surprise parties aren't all bad... it can be a good turning point. But really, if you're going to throw me a surprise party, tell me about it at least two days in advance. Please and thank you :) 

When Bees Attack

The other day, I was in Mexico with Donald. It was a dreary, rainy day, and there wasn't much going on outside. I was sitting in the break room with Donald and two other women, just having a conversation with them when I noticed something falling from the ceiling. It was small. But I could tell it wasn't something we wanted in the break room with us. That's when I heard one of the women say "KADJLDKJAKLDNFOEIJA WHAT THE ***** THERE'S A ******** BEE IN HERE WHATALDKFJAIODJFAKLDFNJ;O" Use your imagination here :) 

Yes. A bee. Like "You silly human you I'm gonna sting you!" 

Now, I have never been stung by a bee. And I didn't plan on getting stung that day either. 

Luckily, one of the women had some kind of killer instinct because she killed the bee with one blow. Ding dong the wicked bee is dead. Ha, yeah right. 

Bees don't travel alone, guys. And if you kill one of their friends, they get very, very angry. One more bee flew towards us. Then another. Then another. Suddenly there was a total of five bees in a teeny tiny break room. 

Donald and I, it turns out, have the best self preservation skills imaginable. I'm not proud of this, but I, along with Donald, took off running. Not only did we run. We may have pushed one of the women out of the way. And she may have fallen behind. And she may have gotten stung. Meanwhile Donald is halfway to Norway. I've never seen a duck run so fast; it was quite impressive actually. Look at Donald Duck's feet when you get a chance; you'll see what I mean. 

Just take this as a lesson. If you are visiting Donald Duck, and a bee appears, don't expect Donald to stick around.

My Little Ray of Sunshine

On the Fourth of July I, along with Sorcerer Mickey, saw 507 families. Of those 507 families, only one of them made me smile. 

Family after family shoved an autograph book in my face, posed for a picture, and left without saying so much as "Hiya, Mickey, how are ya?" It broke my spirits. I was nearly at the end of my rope, when this angel came along. My attendant said, "Hey, Mickey, you've got another family coming from the other side!" That usually means it's a Make A Wish family. So Mickey turned, and this little boy, around eight or nine years old, came sprinting around the corner. 

"MICKEYYYYY!" he yelled as he crashed into Mickey's chest. Mickey held the little boy for a long time. The little boy pulled back and grinned up at Mickey. "How are you, Mickey? I'm sorry you have to work on the Fourth of July, but I can't wait to see your fireworks! Hey, you wanna play rock, paper, scissors?"

And that's all it took. For the next five to seven minutes, Mickey sat on the floor with this little jewel, playing everything from rock, paper, scissors to dinosaurs to tag. Mickey would have moved a mountain for this kid. The families who were waiting in line were getting frustrated, but to be honest, I didn't care. They could wait for their pictures and autographs. In those minutes, that little boy was not dying. He was not sick. He was perfect. 

And he will never know that he made Mickey cry that night. Thank you, my little ray of sunshine. Wherever you are, Mickey Mouse loves you so much. 

America... Why?

I meet all kinds of people at Disney. All kinds. Many of them are from overseas, which is awesome! But I've recently made it a point to ask anyone I come across that is not from America this question: "What is the strangest thing about America?" 

And my oh my, the answers I have gotten. 

Here is a list: 

1. We are obsessed with pickles.

2. We clap for anything and everything. 

3. We are too nice. A family from England was driving through Tennessee, and apparently they got lost. This nice person offered to drive to the location they were trying to get to and have them follow. Come to find out later, it was completely opposite of where the nice Tennessee resident was originally going. 

4. Why don't we eat a lot of Mayonnaise? Mayonnaise is everything. Mayonnaise is life.

5. Liquid tea is not a thing overseas apparently. In fact, it's considered disgusting. Like all the tea "over there" is made from tea bags, tea leaves, tea whatever. But it never comes in a liquid.

6. The amount of flavor in our food is apparently explosive. We can't just let the food be... we have to add as much seasoning as we can.

7. We had a national breakdown when Twinkies went away... let that sink in, America. 

8. Overall, meat is present in every single meal. Every. Single. One.

9. Football. American football isn't played with feet... so why is it called football? Why not tackle ball or brown lemon-shaped ball? 

10. We talk funny.

11. Our bacon is not bacon... it's flavored pieces of paper. England's is as thick as our steak.

12. "Your children are obese. Fix that." (direct quote) 

And there we have it. The view of America through the eyes of a foreigner. 

Donald's Number One Fan

Don't be fooled, by the title, friends. This is not a heart warming, ooey-gooey Disney story. It is a Disney story, but... well you'll get it. Proceed with caution.

I was with Donald all day today at Pete's Silly Sideshow. Donald was feeling out of sorts today; he was a little grumpy, and frankly he didn't feel like playing around much. It was strictly business; he signed autographs and posed for pictures. Done and done. 

During one set, he felt particular irked, as a family of Brazilians had man-handled him a little.  (Interjection! Do not attempt to pick up Donald. It doesn't work. He is short and fluffy, but he is not a doll.) Anyways, Donald turned to the next guest in line, and his mouth (if it could have) hit the floor. Picture this (if you dare): 

An obese woman of about 68 years of age in a sailor dress that came to her mid thigh. Long, stringy grey hair fell to her shoulders. And she pushed her 80ish year old, nearly vegetative mother in a wheel chair. But wait, there's more! The 68 year old held two Duffy bears, one dressed like Donald, the other like Mickey. 

Pause. If you don't know who Duffy is: Duffy is the newest member to the Disney family. He is Mickey's teddy bear. If you want to know my opinion on Duffy, ask me in person. I can't type out my true feelings. Moving on...

Anyways, the woman greeted Donald with a hug. Donald almost wretched everywhere when he smelled her lovely scent of cat pee and smoke. The woman pulled back with a huge smile, showing her lovely teeth-- all three of them. Thank God Donald has only one facial expression because I was going bonkers at this point. I did manage to glance at the mother in the wheel chair-- she was alive, much to my relief!  

The woman said to Donald, "Donald! I've got your number one fan right here!" Donald assumed it was the near comatose mother. So he started to wave at her, but got no response other than drool running out the side of her mouth. So sad. The 68 year old daughter then shoved the Duffy dressed as Donald in Donald's face. 

What? I was lost. Wait.. no. No. DO NOT TELL ME THE BEAR IS DONALD'S NUMBER ONE FAN. 

She did. "Yep, this is Little Joe! Say hello, Little Joe!"

And I'm sure you can guess what she did next. She got this glazed over look in her eye, and talked for Little Joe. "Hi, Donald! I'm your number one fan! Can you take a picture with me?!" 

Oh sweet Jesus, save me.

Donald didn't have a choice. He literally had no options. I mean, I guess he could have flopped on the floor, but let's get real, folks. So he took Little Joe in his arms and posed for a picture. The old woman pushed her mother out of the way, and stood in front of Donald with a camera. 

"Little Joe, look here! Little Joe, look at Momma! LITTLE JOE LOOK AT ME!" 

Donald almost ran away. Almost. 

I guess Little Joe looked at her. Because she took him back. Donald was praying this interaction was over. Please let it be done. Ha ha ha nope. The old woman wanted a few more pictures. She gave her camera to the PhotoPass, and placed herself next to Donald. 

"Little Joe, look at the lady. Look. LOOK AT THE LADY. Is he looking at you?" 

The PhotoPass looked up with wide eyes. "Um yeah yeah." 

"Okay! Cheeeeeese!!" 

Surely it's over now. Not quite. 

Donald signed an autograph for Little Joe. He had to shake his tail feathers for Little Joe. He had to hug both incoherent mom and her clearly confused daughter. Then they left. But you know what? I'm concerned about the bear dressed as Mickey... he wasn't even acknowledged once. Bear abuse. Ugh. 

Heart to Heart

Minnie and I were hanging out a couple of days ago at Adventures Outpost in Animal Kingdom. Minnie has remarkable hearing, and she uses this to her advantage. Two separate families came in to see her and her boyfriend, Mickey (you may have heard of him a time or two). The first family was very ordinary; hugs, autographs, pictures, goodbye. One member of the first family was chatting away with the mom of the second family. Minnie looked to see that there was a little girl, a four year old, clutching a Minnie Mouse doll, and bouncing up and down uncontrollably with excitement. Minnie loves kids like these. 

Minnie noticed the conversation going on between the Mom and the family member of the first family, so she used her large but oh-so-feminine ears to eavesdrop. It turns out that the bouncy little girl of family #2 had just recovered from open heart surgery. What a neat thing to be congratulated on, and what if Minnie just happened to already know this? It could be be a magical moment! 

So family #1 exited, and Minnie knelt down to welcome the little girl with a big hug. The girl sprinted to Minnie, and collapsed into her chest. The girl pulled away after a few minutes of snuggling Minnie, and she grinned up at Minnie. Minnie pointed gently to the little girl's heart, and then pointed to her own. The girl's eyes lit up knowingly. She nodded and said "I had to be cut open to sew up the hole in my heart!". Minnie nodded and told the girl how glad she was that she was well now. Mom stepped in, and said, "Tell her. Tell her about what Minnie did for you." 

The little girl looked down and blushed. She lifted up her Minnie doll and said that Minnie went into surgery with her. That she laid on the operating table with her. She stayed with her in recovery. Minnie never left her side. The girl smiled and said, "Minnie made me alllllll better." She was so full on innocence. Minnie took a risk... but she brushed the girl's cheek with her hand, and slightly shook her head, pointing to the sky. Mom was crying at this point and said, "Yes, Jesus healed your heart, honey. But Minnie sure was a good friend to you, wasn't she?" The girl nodded her head vigorously. 

It was time to say good-bye, and Minnie kissed the girl on the forehead and told her she loved her. The girl backed away to her mom, never taking her eyes off of Minnie. Right before the door closed, she whispered, but somehow Minnie heard it, "Thanks for staying with me, Minnie. I love you." 

Insomnia Insights

Well, it looks like I'll be joining team No Sleep tonight. Again. So why not pass the time writing?

I think I've figured out why so many Americans are unsatisfied with their jobs. Do you want to know why? It's because they begin the job knowing that they'll eventually come to hate it. Take my job, for instance. I get to play dress up and give free hugs. How can you hate this job? Hahahaha. You would be shocked at how many people I've had the pleasure of coming across that absolutely despise this gig. 

Then why do it?

My thoughts exactly. 

My responsibilities include the following: being extremely close friends with Disney characters we all know and love, giving hugs, signing autographs, posing for pictures, and making kids (young and young at heart) smile. 

Now who, who in their right mind would ever want to do that?! Ugh. The very thought gives me a knot in my stomach. 

Well, guess what? I do. I want to do it. 

Believe me, there are many challenges I face daily in this position. I am put in some pretty darn uncomfortable situations. But you know what? When you see a little girl dressed in a princess dress, wearing a crown tilted sideways because she can't stop moving... when you see this little girl run towards you with a smile clear across her face, all those "bad" moments go away. They simply vanish. And you are focused on that child alone. 

But maybe that's just me...

And it's a shame if it is just me. Why would you let those unpleasant moments that are few and far between the good ones ruin your outlook on what we do? 

Many Americans face this problem. Now all jobs are not like mine. Many just sit behind a desk wondering when will their life begin (DISNEY REFERENCE). And I can't imagine how tough that must be. But guess what? You can pursue a new dream. You don't have to be stuck in one spot forever. I know many people my age are struggling to find a dream. We have pressure put on us by society to choose, choose, CHOOSE a career NOW OR YOU ARE GOING TO BE HOMELESS. Friends, this is not the case. First, take a deep breath. Go on. Now exhale. Good. What do you enjoy doing? 

Reading?

Sewing?

Sports?

Counting?

Writing?

Eating?

Doing nothing?

There isn't a job for that last one, sorry folks. But I think the quality of your life is more important than the quantity of success, fame, and fortune you have. God wants us to live our lives to the absolute fullest (within the boundaries of His Word, of course). Find something that you can enjoy. Do something that makes you think at the end of the day, "Man... I really did something today." You should go home from your job fulfilled, not drained. 

I've been lucky enough to find that job for me. Maybe it isn't going to be a forever job. But for the present moment, I adore what I do. No matter what you do, you're going to have bad days. But they shouldn't outweigh the good ones. So I would just like to encourage you to never stop chasing your right to be happy. It's a good life we've been given; do something with it. 

Once Is Enough

Some lessons can be learned by simply hearing it. For example, the Bible has many lessons that are taught in church. We hear stories of other people making some pretty horrible choices, so we learn from it! Oh, geez, well I will NEVER not go to Ninevah when God tells me to because I will be swallowed by a whale *internally processing* oohhhhh follow God's directions the first time and spare yourself some crappy situations. Got it! 

However...

Some lessons simply have to be taught by action. One actually must make the mistake in order to learn from it. And I must say this has often been my choice of how I learn my lessons, unfortunately. What can I say? I am a bit stubborn, and gosh darn it I can do it I know I can oh dear this isn't working is it ok no. But I will say that I only make the mistake once. Because once is quite enough, thank you. 

But by taking part in the learning of the lesson, you inevitably end up getting burned by someone (the lesson teacher in some ways). One lesson I have learned recently is to not use people. 

A while back I knew of an acquaintance who had some information I would greatly benefit from. So I cozied up to this person. Sent them "howdy do?!" texts and thanked them profusely for their efforts to bestow upon me this precious information. They were wonderfully useful, and as soon as I got what I needed, I kind of forgot about them. Now I had no intention of doing this to them, honestly. I didn't rub my hands together, and maliciously decide to befriend this person until I extract the information. But it's what I did. 

And I didn't find out that I even did it until someone else did it to me. The exact same thing. My sweet, wise mom actually pointed it out to me. I was talking to her on the phone, complaining that I suspected a person was using me to get some info from me, and she shot back, "Well isn't that what you did to so-and-so?" 

Moms.... why do you have to call your children out on their crap!? Oi. 

That made me freeze. 

Yeah, that's what I did. 

And now I can tuck another lesson under my "Lessons Learned by Alyssa Grover!", also known as "Don't Do This!".

So for those of you who have been blessed by the ability to read and learn lessons, learn this!!!!! Don't feign friendship. We can't be friends with everybody, so if you don't like somebody it's ok! But don't think you can cozy up to someone and make them believe you enjoy their company. 

Learning this lesson once is quite enough for me, and I believe for you as well. Be kind, and treat others like you want to be treated. 

Water Park Happenings

I hung out with Lilo today at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. For anyone who may not know, Typhoon Lagoon is a water park.

Let me repeat: a water park. And water parks mean swim suits. 

I don't know if you are aware, but there is a serious epidemic of obesity in the world. And hanging out with Lilo has made me very aware of that.

I actually came up close and personal with it. Almost too personal. I was walking with Lilo as we were coming off set, meaning I was on break. I noticed a man walking towards us... a rather large man. To my horror, he appeared to be naked as a jaybird (don't ask, but that's what my mom and her mom always called it... still don't know why). But to my, er, lesser (?) horror, he was just wearing a Speedo. Yeah... never been so relieved to see a Speedo. Regardless, the Speedo was WAY too revealing, and Lilo quickened her pace, hoping to avoid any contact with this guest. 

Well, the guest had other ideas. 

Normally, Lilo goes kind of unnoticed. Her best pal Stitch is the popular one, but this guy recognized Lilo right away. He stepped in front of her, stretched his arms out wide, and bellowed "LIIILLOOOOOOO!!!!!!!", clearly waiting for this little Hawaiian girl to run into his arms. 

Hahahahaha Lilo had other ideas... instead she waved at the man and bolted, I mean bolted towards the gate. Running with Lilo is typically not that easy. She has slightly large feet, and she makes brisk walking and running cumbersome. But I've never witnessed Lilo sprinting like that. I'm sure it was quite a sight to behold. 

Highs and Lows

"You have to have darkness to know the light." Isn't that what they say? Or "you can't appreciate the good days without some bad ones." All the sayings are true. And I have loved sharing all my beautiful, magical days with you guys. I'm going to share a bit of a low one with you; it's good to keep things in perspective, and while my current life is more often sunshine and rainbows, it isn't always. 

Today is Easter, and a great day to reflect on the Lord and all He has done for us. I see all the "He is risen!" posts from people who I know to be true to the Lord as well as from those who just yesterday posted an Instagram photo with a margarita in hand saying "LET'S GET DRUUUUUNK". Nothing out of the usual. 

But for me, this Easter is a little different. I am alone. 

My family is back in Oklahoma, and I am here in Florida. 

Growing up, Easter was very much centered around Jesus, but Mom still managed to create a beautiful mixture of Jesus and the Easter Bunny. I would wake up and find a little trail of Easter eggs that led to enormous Easter baskets with stuffed animals, candy, and other goodies. Easter egg hunts would follow with my cousins at our grandparents' house. I remember just being so happy on Easter, surrounded by people I really loved. 

But now I am a grown up, currently living over a thousand miles away from my family. And it's hard. Oh my gosh, it's so hard. This is the first holiday I haven't gotten to spend with my parents (not counting Valentine's Day because it is a completely pointless "holiday" that was founded on the death of saint and martyr Valentine). 

I am trying to keep my focus on the true reason of this holiday-- the fact that Jesus rose again three days after suffering the most brutal death ever to happen. But I just want to be home with my mom and dad and two dogs. It is an empty wish, as it can't come true. Nor can they just simply come here. I have come to grips with that. but it doesn't really make it any easier. 

So Happy Easter, everyone. Cherish the time you get with your loved ones. And high school kids, don't be in such a rush to grow up and leave home. You will soon enough be sitting on your living room couch wishing you could go back home and be surrounded by your family. 

Mister Hogpants

Let me begin by saying that I consider myself a VERY nice person. I love talking to people, and making new friends. 
However...

People. 

People are often at the root of my problems. I can't stand rudeness, the lack of common courtesy to others. This combined with not respecting the rules of the gym was the bane of my existence tonight.

I decided to watch The Mortal Instruments, the movie adaption of one of my favorite book series. I was severely disappointed; I mean, the director took out almost every single good part in the book, down played the vital plot twists, and made up absurd details. UGH. So, with built up frustration, I headed to the gym. This is my vice, my stress relief. I can sweat out my disgust for this movie through cardio and pumping some good old-fashioned iron. 

The gym at my apartment complex is... well, let's just say it's lacking. It has the bare, and I mean bare, necessities. But it's free, so I take what I can get. I got done with 50 minutes of cardio (yeah, that's how frustrated I was about a movie. Don't judge me.), and was ready to use the cable and pulley machine, but it was occupied by a tall young gent in flip flops. SCREECH. FLIP FLOPS?! I internally cringed. But wait there's more! He was standing in the middle of the machine on his phone. 

I kept my cool. Surprising, I know. 

But... I decided to work with the dumbbells until flip flop guy was done. I did every arm exercise I could do, but my back was screaming to be worked out. And I needed THAT machine to do it. Finally flip flop guy moves. I glide over to the machine and get it all adjusted. When who do you think approaches me? Flip flop guy. 

"Um, 'scuse mi" he says in a very foreign accent. "I was not feeneeshed."

I blink. "What?"

"Cuud yew wait unteel I aim feeneeshed? I need deese macheene." 

"Ummmm, well, you were on your phone AND you moved, so I kind of assumed you were done." 

"No, no, just a leetle bit more time."

Grrrrr. Fine. I slid away. But I watched him. I watched as he sat back down, pulled his phone out, and STARTED TEXTING ON THE MACHINE. That did not go over well at all. I go grab some dumbbells, and I do some squat/overhead press combinations right next to him. Looking at him the entire time. 

He was not phased. 

I am small. But trust me, my looks can send chills down your spine. He was getting every "You are a thorn in my side" look I could muster. He did one exercise. Then he got right back on his phone. I couldn't take it any more.

"Look, buddy," I say. "I want to finish working out. I need this machine. I am incredibly frustrated right now; the book I love was destroyed by a director who didn't know what he was doing, and I wanted to work arms and back tonight to burn off the let down. You are not using the machine CLEARLY, so here's what needs to happen. You, sir, either need to work out or MOVE OFF THE MACHINE." 

He blinked. He was trying to process this little, five-foot girl scolding him for being Mister Hogpants at our tiny gym. He processed it. 

"I go." 

And he moved on to the dumbbells. 

So... take this as a lesson, folks. Don't be a hog at the gym. And please, don't do curls in the squat rack either. :) 

I Love You This Much

Piglet was working in Crystal Palace last night. For those of you who may not know, Crystal Palace is a restaurant in Magic Kingdom. We call it "character dining" because as guests eat, characters walk around from table to table, signing autographs, taking pictures, and interacting with guests. It's a pretty fun gig.

Anyways, Piglet saw many, many guests that night, but one stuck out to him in particular. (Yes, Piglet is a boy, not a girl). The guest's name was Eli. He was about three years old, and this little dude was stylin'! He had on grey plaid shorts, a light blue polo, and a grey "old man" hat, the Driver's hat. But outside of his clothes... oh my gosh, Eli was one of the cutest kids I'd ever seen in my life. White hair, big blue eyes, and the biggest smile I'd ever seen. 

When Piglet made it to Eli's table, Eli wasn't too sure what to make of him. Eli's cousin ran right up to Piglet and shoved the autograph books into Piglet's hand. Piglet signed and handed it back with a hug. Eli toddled over to Piglet, autograph book clutched tightly against his chest. I remember the book looking so big compared to him. Piglet stuck out his "hand" and motioned for Eli to pet him; Piglet is super soft, and this often will comfort a guest who is unsure of him. Eli put his hand on Piglet's, and grinned. "Piggie soft!" he giggled. Piglet nodded enthusiastically, glad to be winning the little guy over. Eli just continued to laugh and laugh. He handed me his autograph book, and Piglet signed it. He was going to give it back to Eli, but paused because Eli's chubby, three year old hands were stroking Piglet's puffy cheeks. Precious, absolutely precious. Eli hugged Piglet tightly, and Piglet had to go see other guests (darn it because he did NOT want to leave little Eli!)

At the end of the night when the restaurant closes, we do a thing called Celebration. Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and of course, Piglet march in a big circle with all the kids who are left, while the Winnie the Pooh song plays. Well I have no idea why, but ALWAYS the kids  tend to flock to Pooh and/or Tigger. Eeyore and Piglet end up awkwardly marching alone. This time was no different. The announcer told the kids to go to Pooh and his pals for a little parade! And Tigger ended up with a bunch of kids, and they were all holding hands and bouncing together. It was such cute thing to see. Piglet doesn't bounce, so he couldn't really  join in. So he just kinda stood there. 

But then he felt a little pat on his leg. He looked down to see Eli grinning up at him. "Hi, Piggie!" My heart flooded with love, as I knelt down and gave him a hug. Piglet grabbed his tiny hand, and motioned to him that they were going to march around the room together. The song started and Piglet led him around the room. Eli hadn't quite figured out marching; he tried, bless his heart, but he couldn't get his knees and feet to mimic Piglet's. But Piglet didn't mind... not one bit. Piglet took Eli around the room, making sure his parents had a good view. His mom was actually crying, as Eli went by and waved. 

The parade ended, and it was time to leave. Piglet gave Eli a good-bye hug just as Piglet's attendant came up to him and grabbed his hand to lead him away. Piglet was walking to the exit, but heard Eli calling "Wait, Piggie, wait! Gotta give you one last kiss, Piggie!"

Of course, despite the attendants protest, Piglet turned around and half-jogged back to Eli. He knelt down and enveloped the small boy in his arms. Eli planted a kiss on Piglet's nose. Then he pointed at Piglet and said "I love you thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much!" And stretched out his arms, making his chest puff out. Piglet pointed at himself, made a heart in the air, pointed at Eli, and stretched out his arms: I love you thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much. Eli understood.  He smiled and waved to Piglet. 

Once Piglet was back inside, the attendant said to him, "Man, Piglet, Tigger got all the kids! You only had one!"

Piglet answered, "That's all I needed." 

Life Lessons From Pooka the Cat

I strongly dislike cats.

There, I said it. Here's a joke: You know what's better than the best cat in the world? The worst dog in the world. That's my stance on cats. 

But here in the lovely state of Florida, I have been severely animal deprived. Earlier this week, I was walking home from the gym, when I heard a soft meow coming from the road. Normally I cringe and run away when I hear that foul sound. But I saw the cute, little kitty in the road, and my iciness melted away. I just wanted to pet an animal, be it a dog, squirrel, or even a dang cat! 

So I called to it. "Here kitty kitty kittyyyyyyyyyyyy". I crouched down and held out my hand. The pretty Calio kitten stalked slowly over towards me. She arched her back as my hand ran down her soft fur. She purred and rubbed against my leg. I had a revelation: gosh, cats aren't so bad! I actually understand why people like cats! By joe, I want a cat! 

It occurred to me that this little kitten (I decided to call her Pooka, and if you understand that reference I love you forever and ever), might be in need of some water. So I looked at her and asked, "Pooka, do you want some water?" She meowed. Again, my mind was amazed; what intelligent creatures! How dare I be so prejudice against these fine felines? So I slowly stood up and said, "Well, if you want water you gotta come to my apartment with me." Sure enough, Pooka remained by my side as we walked back to my place.

I ran to get her a bowl of water, convinced I was the cat whisperer. Pooka waited right outside for me. She began to drink the water, and I stroked her, deeply touched by the affection of this sweet cat. She drank, and drank, and drank, and drank... until the water was gone. I was ready to snuggle down with my new friend on the front porch, when all of a sudden, she started walking away. 

"Pooka?" I called.

Pooka didn't look back.

And just like Rose calling for the boat to come back after the Titanic sunk, "Pooka? Come back! Come back, Pooka!"

Nothing. That stupid, self-centered, conniving.... that sorry-excuse of an animal USED ME! SHE PLAYED ME LIKE A FIDDLE, FOLKS! But... Pooka taught me a valuable lesson. Cats are a lot like people-- the mean kind of people. We have all experienced somebody who used us. They are your best friend until they get what they want and then BAM you're alone again. Pooka is probably going around Florida, meowing and purring her way to fresh water and cat food from the next sucker who crosses her path. 

That's what Satan does too. Cats, the Devil... very similar beings ;) He tempts us with the pleasures of sin. Even the Bible says sin is pleasurable for a season. He rubs against us with our own personal temptations. Then drops us as soon as we give in. 

So... learn from Pooka... guard yourselves. There's a rogue Calico cat, stalking her prey. Don't let her next victim be you!

Her First Word

This is a short post today... but oh is it sweet.

I was friends with Marie today. What a little bundle of charm and sass she is! Marie got to meet two little kids today-- a brother and sister, both around seven years old. 

The brother was so cuddly! He just wanted to hug and pet Marie for as long as he could. But his sister was a little different. She just stood, stuck like glue to the ground, but she wore the biggest grin I've ever seen a kid wear. She kept giggling, that beautiful smile never faltering. 

Marie has dealt with kids who are hesitant to touch her before... so she extended her paw, letting the girl know it was OK to touch her. Marie even purred as the brother stroked her tummy; I mean, she is a kitten after all. 

The seconds ticked by, and Marie could tell something wasn't quite right. Nothing bad happened... something was just off. 

The interaction ended with a big hug from Brother and an even bigger smile from Sister. Marie and her attendant left to go back inside for a break.

The attendant pulled me aside once we got to the off set location. Urgency filled her eyes, and I was a little worried I had done something wrong. Little did I know...

The attendant said, "You know those siblings out there? The brother and sister?"

"Yes."

"Their dad just pulled me aside, and told me the little girl was autistic. She has never said a word before... until today. Her first word was Marie." 

Unseen

I couldn't decide whether I needed to blog then workout or workout then blog. I have a lot of things to say, but I need to clear my head. I think blogging first is the best option... I don't ever want to forget these thoughts swirling around in my head.

Here at Disney, there is almost a high schoolish "clique" thing between "fur" characters and "face" characters. It sometimes gets a little silly. I think we are all on an even playing field, neither above nor below the other. But let me just say that fur characters can do something during an interaction with guests that face characters can't do: 

we can cry. 

Many, many priceless moments come along while you are bringing a character to life. Some are more poignant than others. Today I had three absolutely precious "magical moments" (that's Disney terminology for you) that I will never forget. And they aren't all that uncommon either; it's just that I was the one behind the mask. 

I got to be friends with both Minnie Mouse and Marie, the white kitten from the Aristocats, today. I was so pumped to be able to bring both of these wonderful gals to life. I was outside in the 88 degree weather (not complaining mind you!), and in the costume it rises a couple of degrees. Each set is 30 minutes, which isn't all that long but you are so exhausted after a set is completed. At the end of a set with Minnie, my attendant came up to me and asked if she could borrow me for five to ten minutes. Inside, I groaned. All I wanted was some A/C and water. But the attendant told me that a group of special needs kids really wanted to see Minnie, and this was their last chance to do so. Of course, I nodded my agreement. But I must be honest, I wasn't all that excited. I was a little nervous, as I have never been around special needs children before. I didn't know what to do. But Minnie did. So I just went with it. 

Ten darling kids and their parents and teachers got to come to a special meet and greet with Minnie. Each one of them cried Minnie's name and hugged her so tightly. The parents and teachers even jumped in, getting a picture with Minnie as they professed their thanks over and over for the "magical moment'' their kids were receiving. 

I was crying. Tears, everywhere. But Minnie, gracious as she always is, inclined her head, telling them it was her absolute pleasure. And it was, oh it was. 

Then it was Marie's turn. The second incident was with a little girl, no more than six... I noticed this little girl had many scars on her body. Scars from surgery, most likely. Then I saw the little pink button on her shirt. This little pink button was given to her by Disney, so we could see that she was apart of the Make A Wish Foundation... This little pink button also signifies that the child wearing it is terminally ill. But like I said, this isn't all that uncommon. 

Anyways, I knelt down so I could look into the little girls eyes. She was a little shy, so Marie extended her paw as an invitation for the girl to pet Marie. The girl took the bait and began stroking Marie's paw and arm. Her face slowly lit up and she flung herself into Marie's soft, furry chest. Marie wrapped her arms around the little girl, and the little girl smiled up at her. The little girl whispered so nobody else would hear "I love you, Marie". Again, tears. Lots of tears. But Marie just kissed the little girl smack on the head. 

Third moment. Marie. Another Make A Wish little girl. She was probably around eight, and she had cancer. A colorful hat was on her head. And oh, I will never forget how weak she looked. She looked so tired,as she slumped in a wheel chair. I've never seen an eight year old with such dead eyes before. It broke my heart to look into her grey eyes, surrounded by dark circles... all I could see was how much pain she was in. Marie knelt down and put her paw on the little girls hand. The little girl looked into Marie's blue eyes and smiled. Two front teeth were missing. So dang cute! The little girl took Marie's paw and brought it to her cheek. She closed her eyes and just smiled. Her skin seemed to go from ashy to a pale pink, almost rosy. She opened her eyes, but didn't say a word. She just sat smiling at Marie. Inside, with my hand in Marie's paw, I began to pray. I had my hands laid on this precious child, so I spoke peace, comfort, and above all healing for that little girl. 

I knew that the time was ticking, I still had several other guests to greet. But that little girl would not let go of Marie's paw. She looked at her dad and quietly said, "I want to stay with Marie". My heart nearly exploded. 

It's moments like these, that I am so grateful to be "behind the scenes", completely unseen, but able to see everything.