During Spring Break, my family went down to Orlando, Florida for our very first “legit” family vacation. By legit, I mean it was more than just a one day trip to Ocean City. My wife and I always wondered when would be a good time for our kids to go on a long trip and we felt like the kids were old enough and ready for one this year. Plus, to make things a little easier, my wife’s best friend recently moved down to Orlando so Kyunghwa was looking forward to reconnecting with her friend. And of course, the kids were super excited about riding the airplane for the first time and visiting Disney World. On the other hand, I was such a party pooper all along because I usually don’t enjoy going away to far places, especially to a super crowded place like Disney World. However, thanks to my wife’s “gentle nudge,” I eventually came to my senses and left with a happy heart.
On the second day of vacation, we visited Disney World. The kids were so hyped up for the very first hour but as soon as we started lining up to get into different rides, they weren’t so happy anymore. With the help of the Fastpass app, the kids were able to enjoy a couple rides without waiting in long lines but the majority of the time was spent walking around the park and waiting in lines. So our family’s first experience at Disney World was not so great after all. When people asked the kids about their favorite part of the trip, they don’t mention anything about Disney World. Both kids say that spending time at the beach was the best part of the trip. Oh well, at least my wife and I can cross it off on our list of things to do with the kids. If I were to pick the best or worthwhile moment at the Disney World, I would pick the parade that the kids got to sit up close and see all the Disney Characters in real life.
Other than the day spent at Disney World, we thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the time we spent together as a family. It was great not having to worry about giving rides, packing lunches and other work duties. On the last day of the trip, my wife’s friend took us to a local barbeque restaurant called “4 Rivers Smokehouse.” You might have been to this place if you traveled to Florida. It’s a family-owned company run by Christian owners. Their sign said “closed on Sundays” and their mission statement on their website is very powerful as well. “Our mission is simple – to use our God-given gifts to support the local community, schools, and charity organizations. At the foundation, the 4Rivers brand is exceptional products, community support and uncompromised honesty, integrity, and respect (4rsmokehouse.com). Not only was I impressed to find a well-established restaurant that advertises Christian values, I just fell in love with the food they served. If you ever visit Florida, you have to try eating out at one of the “4 Rivers Smokehouse” restaurants, this place was amazing! You know the saying “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” is definitely true. I would love to go back to Orlando just to eat at that place again and show my support for a great company that brings honor to God through quality service to the local community. And on top of their great food, they even had a separate dessert stand within the restaurant with amazing s’more brownies and huge cupcakes.
It was such a great ending to a busy and stressful vacation. What’s amazing is that despite all the bad experiences that I wrote about our time in Orlando, the pictures say otherwise. As I scroll through the pictures I only see the times of laughter, doing many “first time” activities together as a family and enjoying each other’s company. I’m looking forward to many more family trips in the years to come!
From Pastor Brian’s Heart
April 19, 2015