jordanyosh
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
The Good
I have had some great things happen this year. After years of denying my calling in life, I have decided to pursue a career in ministry. My dad was a pastor, as was my grandfather and 2 of my uncles. If you know any PKs (Preacher's kids), you know I was very rebellious as a child. That trend continued as an adult even though I had success in my career in restaurants. Finally, at the young age of 43, I decided (maybe God decided for me) to grow up and heed the call. I've been back at church for 2 yrs.
I don't think I will be a senior pastor, but will probably work in the area of church administration (training, equipping, discipling). I currently work at our church as an paid intern and may be permanent staff soon. Oh, in case you're wondering, I still have that rebellious streak...which I think drives the church staff a bit bonkers. Hey, once a PK.... Just kidding...I think.
I also took my 13th trip to WDW in June. I was one of 14 travellers. I also had the opportunity, for the 2nd time out of 13, to have my own room. I wasn't sharing a pull out bed w/ a niece or nephew and I wasn't sleeping on the floor. I could snore and drool freely. I wasn't on anyone else's sleep schedule. I could leave the TV on WDW TV channels all day w/o once having to get a glimpse of reality. It was a little slice of heaven.
The Bad
It started late last year. The father of one of the women in our small group Bible Study died suddenly of a heart attack. He was 84, but still in fairly good health.
A few months later, my aunt died. She was in a home and was really in poor health for a long time. It was a relief, but still sad.
A month later my cousin committed suicide.
Then in May, my cousin (63 yrs old) died suddenly while go karting w/ his son.
On the way home from that funeral, I called my roommate and she was crying. Her brother (43 years old) had died in his sleep.
2 weeks ago, I attended a funeral for the brother (41 years old) of another woman in our small group.
Yesterday, my dad emails me and tells me that my mom's sister, another aunt, had, passed away. But wait there's more.....
The Ugly
At the beginning of June, my mom, dad and my SIL's brother and mom and I were attending a seminar at church. My SIL's brother gets a phone call from my brother, Jon saying that my SIL had collapsed at home. A few hours later, we get another call. My SIL had had a massive brain hemmorrage and was in ICU and it didn't look good. My family and SIL's family all drove from So Cal to Northern Cal to be with my brother and my nephew. We waited in the ICU waiting room and went through many ups and downs over a 5 day period. My SIL, Gail, finally went home on June 7th. It's been a devastating loss for the entire family, especially for my nephew Devon. He is the only child and is special needs. He is having a hard time processing Gail's death. He has no filters so he pretty much says whatever is on his mind. He goes from being fine to being extremely mad to being extremely sad. Pray for Devon and my brother Jon.
Even with this loss, I went to WDW. Although it was a great time (more on that later), I had to cut my trip short to come back for the memorial service and throughout the trip my SIL, my DB and my DN were constantly on mind.
I am still grieving the loss of Gail. She was more than a SIL these last 23 years; she was a listener, friend, backrubber, great cooker, great mother and wife and a great role model of a person who loves the Lord and in turn, loves others unconditionally.
The Therapy
After hearing about my aunt's passing yesterday, I took the day off from work and needed an escape. I have another trip planned to WDW in Jan/Feb 08. I use the DIS Boards and a few others to help me get the latest and best information about WDW. So yesterday I am on the DIS (my crack addiction) and I come upon the Pre-trip Forum. Now I had seen the trip report forum and read several great reports over the years--most which either make me laugh or make me cry. I had never seen the pre-trip forum.
I spent a good 8-9 hours (no lie) reading both pre-trip reports and trip reports w/ occasional side trips to the resorts forum.
I don't know what happened, but at the end of the night I felt better. I needed to know that good things still happened. I needed to laugh; I needed to cry tears of joy for a change. Believe it or not reading these reports made me step away and regain a little perspective.
Therapy. Healing.
So as a way of giving back to the DIS Community of "imaginary friends", I thought I'd do a pre-trip report for my trip in Jan/Feb. I'll be listing the Cast of Characters tomorrow or......later today as it is already 12:50am California time. Good night.
Update 9/21/07
I would put a table of contents up, but right now it's pretty easy to follow. IF more people subscribe, it may get more difficult to follow my trip planning updates at which time I will add a table of contents. Hope you are enjoying the report. I truly have made some good friends through this site...
Another Update
Hear ye, hear ye. From this day forward Jordan will title his posts and post Page number and post number here. For the first 8 pages it's pretty stacked with information and pics on every page, but from now on it could get a bit wacky. So I will do you all a favor and label them...Hey it's raining outside. Our first rain since April 22nd.
An OCD planner's itinerary is never done. Page 8. Post #108
My Evil Plan. Page 8. Post #114
Potty time. Page 8 Post #115
Hanging w/ my peeps. Page 9. #125
Packing......4 months early. Page 9 Post #133
I guess we don't take normal pictures...Page 9 Post #134
Chivalry is not dead. Page 10 Post 143
Do I have any hair left in my head?. Page 11 Post 154,155,156,157
Planes, Trains.......Page 11. Post # 162
Really Lord? No more. Page 11. Post #163
And......back to the pics!!! Page 12. Post # 175, 176
Asian brutha from anutha mutha. Page 13. Post 184, 185
Once you post pics, you can't go back. Page 14. Post 201.
I'm crazy,at least that's what my roommates think. Page 15. Post 213, 214
Tales from WDW trips past...mostly just pix. Page 17. Post 250, 253 and 255. Page 18. Post 259
The spiral into insanity. Page 20. Post #287.
The Binder goes to work. Page 21. Post #308.
Is it sleep worthy? Page 21. Post #313.
Yup. One more service to go to. Page 22. Post #328.
Yo. Binder goes grocery shopping. Page 23. Post #345.
Sorry, I must sound like a broken record. Page 26. Post #378.
Good news finally. Page 26. Post #386.
Here's one for the men. Page 28. Post #417.
The binder goes to lunch. Page 31. Post #464.
The road trip goes awry. Page 36. Post #529
A mini TR w/ pix. Page 37. Posts #548-551.
A mini, mini DL DIS meet. Page 40. Post #587.
The Top 5 Restrooms At WDW. Page 42. Post #618.
The binder goes to the beach. Page 44. Post #654.
We have a new addition. Page 47. Post #698.
An Addict goes cold turkey. Page 51. Post #758
Top Ten Places to Relax at WDW. Page 54. Post #608.
Random thoughts and pix. Page 57. Post #843.
My head is going to explode. Page 60. Post #896.I have no idea where we're eating. Page 62. Post #920.
50 more days....Page 65. Post # 961 and 974
WHAT?!!!MORE PEOPLE GOING? Page 69. Post #1022 and 1023.
Bets? Are the ADRs done? Page 74. Post #1102.
As the ADRs turn. The Saga Continues...Page 78. Post #1161
Christmas, The Binder and Pixs. Page 81. Post #1215.
I gained 5 lbs last night. Page 85. Post #1266
Playing with my new camera. Page 87. Post #1303
Things to do at 32 days out. Page 89. Post #1322.
Check my ticker out. Page 90. Post #1341.
I can't stop shopping. Page 93. Post #1381.
a look back. Page 95. Post #1416
I do have a life. Page 99. Post #1481.
Look what happened. Page 100. Post #1500.
Started packing already? Yup. Page 106. Post #1579.
Is it insomnia or excitement? Page 119. Post #1774.
Binder, Winkers, Packing, ADRs. Page 124. Post #1854.
Just words. No pix. Page 130. Post #1946.
Top Ten Things I'm Looking Forward to. Page 143. Post #2133
3.....2.....1. Page 155. Post #2321.
Errands, a gift, packing, the mullet. Page 164. Post #2456.Can you believe it? Page 169. Post #2529.
That didn't take long. Page 170. Post #2250.
A little teaser...... Page 185. Post #2761
I have had some great things happen this year. After years of denying my calling in life, I have decided to pursue a career in ministry. My dad was a pastor, as was my grandfather and 2 of my uncles. If you know any PKs (Preacher's kids), you know I was very rebellious as a child. That trend continued as an adult even though I had success in my career in restaurants. Finally, at the young age of 43, I decided (maybe God decided for me) to grow up and heed the call. I've been back at church for 2 yrs.
I don't think I will be a senior pastor, but will probably work in the area of church administration (training, equipping, discipling). I currently work at our church as an paid intern and may be permanent staff soon. Oh, in case you're wondering, I still have that rebellious streak...which I think drives the church staff a bit bonkers. Hey, once a PK.... Just kidding...I think.
I also took my 13th trip to WDW in June. I was one of 14 travellers. I also had the opportunity, for the 2nd time out of 13, to have my own room. I wasn't sharing a pull out bed w/ a niece or nephew and I wasn't sleeping on the floor. I could snore and drool freely. I wasn't on anyone else's sleep schedule. I could leave the TV on WDW TV channels all day w/o once having to get a glimpse of reality. It was a little slice of heaven.
The Bad
It started late last year. The father of one of the women in our small group Bible Study died suddenly of a heart attack. He was 84, but still in fairly good health.
A few months later, my aunt died. She was in a home and was really in poor health for a long time. It was a relief, but still sad.
A month later my cousin committed suicide.
Then in May, my cousin (63 yrs old) died suddenly while go karting w/ his son.
On the way home from that funeral, I called my roommate and she was crying. Her brother (43 years old) had died in his sleep.
2 weeks ago, I attended a funeral for the brother (41 years old) of another woman in our small group.
Yesterday, my dad emails me and tells me that my mom's sister, another aunt, had, passed away. But wait there's more.....
The Ugly
At the beginning of June, my mom, dad and my SIL's brother and mom and I were attending a seminar at church. My SIL's brother gets a phone call from my brother, Jon saying that my SIL had collapsed at home. A few hours later, we get another call. My SIL had had a massive brain hemmorrage and was in ICU and it didn't look good. My family and SIL's family all drove from So Cal to Northern Cal to be with my brother and my nephew. We waited in the ICU waiting room and went through many ups and downs over a 5 day period. My SIL, Gail, finally went home on June 7th. It's been a devastating loss for the entire family, especially for my nephew Devon. He is the only child and is special needs. He is having a hard time processing Gail's death. He has no filters so he pretty much says whatever is on his mind. He goes from being fine to being extremely mad to being extremely sad. Pray for Devon and my brother Jon.
Even with this loss, I went to WDW. Although it was a great time (more on that later), I had to cut my trip short to come back for the memorial service and throughout the trip my SIL, my DB and my DN were constantly on mind.
I am still grieving the loss of Gail. She was more than a SIL these last 23 years; she was a listener, friend, backrubber, great cooker, great mother and wife and a great role model of a person who loves the Lord and in turn, loves others unconditionally.
The Therapy
After hearing about my aunt's passing yesterday, I took the day off from work and needed an escape. I have another trip planned to WDW in Jan/Feb 08. I use the DIS Boards and a few others to help me get the latest and best information about WDW. So yesterday I am on the DIS (my crack addiction) and I come upon the Pre-trip Forum. Now I had seen the trip report forum and read several great reports over the years--most which either make me laugh or make me cry. I had never seen the pre-trip forum.
I spent a good 8-9 hours (no lie) reading both pre-trip reports and trip reports w/ occasional side trips to the resorts forum.
I don't know what happened, but at the end of the night I felt better. I needed to know that good things still happened. I needed to laugh; I needed to cry tears of joy for a change. Believe it or not reading these reports made me step away and regain a little perspective.
Therapy. Healing.
So as a way of giving back to the DIS Community of "imaginary friends", I thought I'd do a pre-trip report for my trip in Jan/Feb. I'll be listing the Cast of Characters tomorrow or......later today as it is already 12:50am California time. Good night.
Update 9/21/07
I would put a table of contents up, but right now it's pretty easy to follow. IF more people subscribe, it may get more difficult to follow my trip planning updates at which time I will add a table of contents. Hope you are enjoying the report. I truly have made some good friends through this site...
Another Update
Hear ye, hear ye. From this day forward Jordan will title his posts and post Page number and post number here. For the first 8 pages it's pretty stacked with information and pics on every page, but from now on it could get a bit wacky. So I will do you all a favor and label them...Hey it's raining outside. Our first rain since April 22nd.
An OCD planner's itinerary is never done. Page 8. Post #108
My Evil Plan. Page 8. Post #114
Potty time. Page 8 Post #115
Hanging w/ my peeps. Page 9. #125
Packing......4 months early. Page 9 Post #133
I guess we don't take normal pictures...Page 9 Post #134
Chivalry is not dead. Page 10 Post 143
Do I have any hair left in my head?. Page 11 Post 154,155,156,157
Planes, Trains.......Page 11. Post # 162
Really Lord? No more. Page 11. Post #163
And......back to the pics!!! Page 12. Post # 175, 176
Asian brutha from anutha mutha. Page 13. Post 184, 185
Once you post pics, you can't go back. Page 14. Post 201.
I'm crazy,at least that's what my roommates think. Page 15. Post 213, 214
Tales from WDW trips past...mostly just pix. Page 17. Post 250, 253 and 255. Page 18. Post 259
The spiral into insanity. Page 20. Post #287.
The Binder goes to work. Page 21. Post #308.
Is it sleep worthy? Page 21. Post #313.
Yup. One more service to go to. Page 22. Post #328.
Yo. Binder goes grocery shopping. Page 23. Post #345.
Sorry, I must sound like a broken record. Page 26. Post #378.
Good news finally. Page 26. Post #386.
Here's one for the men. Page 28. Post #417.
The binder goes to lunch. Page 31. Post #464.
The road trip goes awry. Page 36. Post #529
A mini TR w/ pix. Page 37. Posts #548-551.
A mini, mini DL DIS meet. Page 40. Post #587.
The Top 5 Restrooms At WDW. Page 42. Post #618.
The binder goes to the beach. Page 44. Post #654.
We have a new addition. Page 47. Post #698.
An Addict goes cold turkey. Page 51. Post #758
Top Ten Places to Relax at WDW. Page 54. Post #608.
Random thoughts and pix. Page 57. Post #843.
My head is going to explode. Page 60. Post #896.I have no idea where we're eating. Page 62. Post #920.
50 more days....Page 65. Post # 961 and 974
WHAT?!!!MORE PEOPLE GOING? Page 69. Post #1022 and 1023.
Bets? Are the ADRs done? Page 74. Post #1102.
As the ADRs turn. The Saga Continues...Page 78. Post #1161
Christmas, The Binder and Pixs. Page 81. Post #1215.
I gained 5 lbs last night. Page 85. Post #1266
Playing with my new camera. Page 87. Post #1303
Things to do at 32 days out. Page 89. Post #1322.
Check my ticker out. Page 90. Post #1341.
I can't stop shopping. Page 93. Post #1381.
a look back. Page 95. Post #1416
I do have a life. Page 99. Post #1481.
Look what happened. Page 100. Post #1500.
Started packing already? Yup. Page 106. Post #1579.
Is it insomnia or excitement? Page 119. Post #1774.
Binder, Winkers, Packing, ADRs. Page 124. Post #1854.
Just words. No pix. Page 130. Post #1946.
Top Ten Things I'm Looking Forward to. Page 143. Post #2133
3.....2.....1. Page 155. Post #2321.
Errands, a gift, packing, the mullet. Page 164. Post #2456.Can you believe it? Page 169. Post #2529.
That didn't take long. Page 170. Post #2250.
A little teaser...... Page 185. Post #2761