Let the Memories Begin!

And what wonderful memories they were!  My four sisters and dad flew to Florida this past weekend so that we could have some sister time together, plus celebrate my dad's 88th birthday.  It truly was a time of laughter, fun, and reminding each other of past events that many of us have forgotten.  It all started in Disney World!

Strolling down main street, we noticed the big baskets of deep pink petunias--just like our mother always planted out front of our house every year until her death.  In fact, while we were at her funeral, the flower nursery came and planted them for us since she had already ordered them before she died.  It brought tears to our eyes to see them all in their little rows around the house, reminding us of the kindness of others in one's hour of need. 

We got a wheelchair for our dad because he has a difficult time walking for very long after having a 10 by-pass surgery and valve repair when he was 80 years old.  It was just what we needed!  In addition to making it so much better for him, we were the first ones on every ride!  I will never be able to stand in lines again--we got spoiled!

Natalie purchased Dad a Disney World hat.  He now looked official!

We didn't stop there--the next day we went to Epcot!  (Actually our favorite!)

We were so fortunate to be there for the Spring Festival of Flowers.  You wouldn't believe how they had made all the Disney characters out of plants and flowers.  It was fantastic! 

My sister, Beth, is a professor in the Advertising and Marketing Department for BYU Idaho.  This is one of her former students, his wife, and little girl.  With so much great training from Beth, he landed a position with the Walt Disney Corporation.  He was able to get us tickets for two days in Disney for free!!!!  Thanks, Jacob and Cassie.  And we loved being with them for those two days.  Their little girl is adorable, too!  It made us miss our little granddaughters--well, those of us who have granddaughters!  Only three of us are grandmothers.

Disney World gave my dad a big button that said, "Happy Birthday, Ray."  Everywhere we went for the next three days, the employees would sing to him, do high-fives, and just genuinely be so enthusiastic in wishing him a "Happy Birthday."  It was great!

Joyce and I were thrilled when we came to the Chinese Pavilion.  There was a miniature version of the Temple of Heaven.  We had gone to the real one in Beijing on our trip to China a couple of years ago. 

Along the stairs was a marble slab, again in miniature of the huge one at the Temple of Heaven. 

And then to our delight, was a room with rows of terracotta soldiers, the smaller versions, of the huge collection in Xi'an. 

We had seen both of these items in glass cases in Xi'an, also, but we had seen the original versions which had been unearthed. 

A picture showing how they were discovered.  They truly are so breath-taking to see them in person.  Everyone should have that thrill.  The only draw-back is that once they are brought out of the earth, they lose the beautiful colors they had when they were buried.  The Chinese government is trying to figure out how to prevent the color from fading because there are thousands more in the earth to be brought out. 

The rotunda ceiling of the mock-up Temple of Heaven.

I had to take this picture for George.  There were several Chinese artifacts in the cases there including this two-humped camel, again just like the camel we saw at the Great Wall.  No one there that day will forget George trying to get down off the two-humped camel!

Outside the drums were beating, and we enjoyed the dancing of the Chinese dragon.

Everywhere was the artistry in flowers and plants of the Disney characters . . .

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs done in flowers . . .

and Snow White in person.

That evening we ate the first of my dad's birthday dinners at the German restaurant.  It was absolutely delicious authentic German food with a German band which entertained us. 

Our German waiter who made my dad a very sweet birthday card(and gave Natalie an excellent golf lesson.)

Of all the characters done in flowers, this was my favorite--Lady and the Tramp.

For two evenings in a row, we watched the fireworks.  I'm sure Joyce will tell about our first night of watching them.  It was quite "enlightening" what we learned about young people and their parents, to say the least. 

Well, that's a wrap for the first two days.  Stay tuned for the fantastic days to follow . . .