Never going back...

That's it, we can't ever go back to Disney or Universal again! After experiencing a week like that it just would never quite live up to this trip! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cooper's Make-A-Wish trip was everything we hoped for and so much more. He truly felt like a VIP, David and I successfully checked out from the rest of the world (as much as possible that is), and remarkably the kids all got along super well and just had FUN! The weather was quite cool for it being Florida, which actually made being at theme parks all day quite enjoyable!

I'm not quite sure how to sum it up. I feel like there are so many things I want to remember and that I want Cooper to read about one day.

Bria asked us all what our favorite parts of the trip were. Part of me wanted to answer with my favorite ride, my favorite meal, getting to swim with dolphins but the true answer? "Watching you guys."

I found myself just sitting in the moment and soaking it all in. Watching my kids laugh without a care in the world. Seeing them hold hands and skip down the sidewalk together. Coming up with new handshakes with one another. Challenging each other to hold their hands up on certain rides. Cooper's smile. Gosh, he has the most incredible smile. David's laugh on rides. Cooper yelling, "AGAIN" after every ride we would go on. There were so many times I would mentally just try to burn those moments into my memory. I don't ever want to forget them.

I think most people know how fun Disney and Universal are but I want to tell you about a place you may not have heard of.

It's called, "Give Kids the World."

Henri Landwirth was a kid during the Holocaust. He was arrested and sent to Nazi concentration camps when he was 13 years old. He spent 5 years in the camps including Auschwitz. When he was 18 he escaped by hiding in a barn under a bunch of straw during an evacuation!

Fast forward, he made it to America and started a chain of hotels that grew in popularity. Eventually, he founded "Give Kids the World." An 89 acre resort property for wish families where they can stay for free. I watched a video with him and he said something to the effect of, "I know what it is like to be forced into an unimaginable situation that no kid should have to go through. I wanted to create a place where families could come for free and every kid's wish could come true".

Pulling in, we weren't sure what to expect but we were pleasantly suprised! The little cottages we got to stay in were so adorable. Each one designed different and made you feel like you were in a Disney movie.

Ice cream was available from this ice cream shop from 7:30am-9pm. Completely free. And GOOD ice cream too! We were told they wanted to have this so that these kids could have a yes week. Want ice cream for breakfast? YES! I had to chill out a little on worrying about the sugar intake for a week but we made it :)

The property itself was really well kept. The landscaping and grounds competed with Disney properties. Every detail was cared for.

Also, it's run by volunteers! I met several kids who were down there from Ohio State for their Spring Break choosing to serve during their time off. I met several couples from multiple different states that would come down for a few months and told me how excited they were to get their assignments for their shifts.

The pool, well it felt like a resort and Coop was soaking it all in!

Every morning we'd wake up to gifts at our door and they had events every night for the kids. Major holiday's seemed to be the theme of the nights. Characters from Disney would come and visit as well! We were gone most nights closing out the theme parks but we did make it to one night.

Christmas.

They had photos with Santa and Mrs. Clause. Presents for all the kids. Horse drawn carriage rides and lots of games. David and I were standing in the room looking around together watching all of these kids and their families. Cooper and Sadie were dancing around a circle doing the limbo. I looked at David and said, "I never even knew these places existed. I have no idea why God has put us here to experience this."

Bria walks up and says, "This place is kinda sad, knowing why everyone is here." I felt that as well. Also, knowing why they provide nights like "Christmas" was also heart wrenching. Making sure these kids get to experience it all at least one more time. It was a gift and it was heart breaking being in that room all at once.

Cooper didn't seem to notice, he was having the time of his life!

In the middle of the resort they have their "Castle of Miracles". Each kid gets the opportunity to have a star experience. They had a special little event where Cooper got to write his name on a star. Then the fairy and the giant place the star in the castle somewhere where it will stay forever. This castle had over 200,000 stars in it representing the 200,000 kids that come to stay there. We got to go back and have the big "reveal" of where his star got placed. He wrote his name with a little cancer ribbon underneath.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/f0b39f_77305790ab2742678eb50464aee5bc7a/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

One of Cooper's favorite places was a place called, "Amberville". This is where the arcade was. Amberville was named after a little girl Amber. She attended GKTW with her family for her brother's Make-A-Wish trip. A few years later came back there for her own trip when she was diagnosed with the same incurable disease as her brother. She had met Henri and he then named that part of the resort after her.

In the arcade they had a little station in one of the corners, "Letters to God". This definitely caught my eye and there were at least a few of us that made our way over to it.

When it was time to go we all had grown quite fond of this place. For reasons so much deeper than the surface. Cooper wanted to be the one to "shut the door" at our house. As we were leaving we talked about how we would miss it but hope we never have a reason to come back there again, except maybe to volunteer ourselves!

I can tell you first hand that what Make-A-Wish and Give Kids the World provide is a gift that is so impactful. This is a week we will never forget and one we will always treasure. I know that's rings true for hundreds of thousands of other families as well. Thank you!!!! 🧡

🧡Medical Update and Prayer Requests🧡

-Cooper has surgery again in two weeks (how are we already here again?!). Please pray for continued "negative cancer" results and that he handles the anesthesia and additional chemo well again!

-Pray his blood sugars hold strong again as after his surgery he will have to do another week of steroids again :(

-Praise that his blood results the last two months have been beautiful! I think the extra support from the vitamins we've been able to give him are really making a difference!

-Personally I could use some prayers. There are a few unknowns that have come my way, I'm not sure I can handle much more stress in the physical world. Please pray for health all around and for peace in the unknown middles.

If you've made it this far, thank you! Thank you for caring and loving our family so well and for your PRAYERS! We still need them desprately and value them more than you know!!

Much Love,

Cooper's Mama 🧡

The Tree of LIFE at Disney 🧡