They say you need ATLEAST a week to experience Disney World . . .   having recently taken this adventure, I would have to agree.  It’s ginormous!  Covering over 40 square miles, you could say it’s almost the size of San Fransisco!  {I’ve been to San Fransisco and it’s huge.  I didn’t even cross over The Golden Gate Bridge.  Just too huge for my visit.}  There is no way to just show up for the day like Six Flags and have fun.  You probably wouldn’t venture very far from one particular area.  It’s just consuming!  Something to draw you in,  get your attention, literally every where your eyes can see.  It’s just insane!  Beautiful.  Exciting.  Almost too much to take in one day, really even one trip.  The Castle, the people, the places, the rivers, the streets, the lights. . .  And, as we walked over the bridge, there it was . . . The Tree of Life!  In all its glory, resting on the bank of the river.  Such a site!  Oh and 1 of thousands of photographers there to capture THE MOMENT.  Every where you turned in Disney, there was THE MOMENT.  I don’t think you could find anything not pretty about Disney.  { I am sure some of you could. . .  but I didn’t and you get the picture! }  It’s a groovy place! 

It’s been THREE WEEKS. . .  

John’s descrption: “The wall was made of Jasper, “. . .   oh man!     “. . .  and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.”  {I love how John goes a little further to describe the color, the purity of it, as pure as glass.}  ” The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.  The first foundation was jasper, the second saphire, the third chalcedony,”  { Probably one of my favorite stones.  It can be any color of the rainbow, but ususally you see it as a beautiful pale blue.}  “. . . the fourth emerald {my Momma’s stone}, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.  The twelve gates, were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl.”  { A SINGLE PEARL!}  ” The great street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.” (Revelations 21: 18-21 NIV)   

I continue to read. . .

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.  On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.  And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”  (Revelations 22:1-2 NIV)

In Isaiah we read that, “. . . the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.  Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years. “

“. . . they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.” {I don’t know about you, but there is so much beauty in walking out to your garden and eating of off the vine.  Pure bliss.}

Oh, and the Angel in John’s vision . . .   he measures the heavens with a rod of gold!  lol!  {I have a small collection of yardsticks.  For some reason I find a simple beauty in their wood and numbers.}  I am just loving these descriptions!  Everywhere. . .  as far as your eyes can see. . .   BEAUTY, pure beauty, simple beauty, transparent beauty, unimagineable beauty.  I wonder as he walked through the gates,  did he  slow down long enough to run his hand across that ONE PEARL  {had he ever read that verse before and knew that John describes it as coming  from ONE PEARL}.   The moment!  Was he overwhelmed by it’s beauty?  Did he venture far from the spot on which he stood.   Something drawing him in everywhere he looked.  I wonder if it was too much for his first day, is it still his first day?  {giving him plenty of time to soak everything in} 

Oh, what a day of rejoicing it will be!  THE MOMENT!

You know, I haven’t even looked at all of my pictures, there are just too many.  I was snapping my camera every time I turned my head.  My family and I had an amazing time and plan to go back.  Such an  awesome place.  

I can’t even fathom what he saw. . .   the beauty of it all.  Could I even compare to  the little boy walking through the gates for the first time, not knowing where to look, just estatic for being there!  

You know they say. . .   you can’t go to Disney without properly preparing for the adventure!  lol!  I mean you just gotta be prepared. 

Are you prepared for the GRANDEST of all  ADVENTURES, the ULTIMATE destination, a place  Walt couldn’t even begin to dream up?!

Oh, just to get a pic from my precious friend. . .

one day!

John 14:4 . . .  

“You know the way to the place where I am going.” (NIV)

“I’m looking now across the river
where my faith will end in sight.
There’s just a few more days to labor.
Then I will take my heavenly flight.”

“YOU KNOW THE WAY TO THE PLACE WHERE I AM GOING”!!!!!!  “You know the way to the place where i am going”!!!  YES, I know the way to the place where I am going! 

Missing him today, but REJOICING that he knew the way to the place in which he WAS GOING! 

Hiding HIS word in my heart,

Natalie