A Day Filled With Imagination and Kodak Moments

Epcot is one of those great Disney parks where the imagination can run wild….rather, drive wild…literally. The first attraction we enjoyed yesterday at Epcot was the “The Test Track” where we were able to design a virtual concept vehicle and then go for a high-octane, simulated drive that went through rough terrain with obstacles along a winding test track. Then we came out of the test area to the open road that felt like we were going at crazy speeds whipping around curves and turns. It was thrilling to say the least!

Then it was on to Mission:Space Mission: SPACE where we had to hold on tight on a rocket ride to Mars aboard a NASA-style shuttle simulator. What a BLAST....literally! My favorite-of-the-day was a calm, easy-going hang-glider experience (Soar) that glided us around the world. Then we had a nice leisurely boat ride through the lands of the earth, that included the greenhouses of Disney, seeing lots of flowers, vegetables and plants that were all edible – some, like day lilies and marigolds that I had no idea you could eat the flowers, not that I would want to, but if ever the need arose, I know a good plant to eat!

With 11 countries that you walk through and explore at Epcot, you get to celebrate the life and culture of each with great entertainment, delicious authentic food and beautiful cultural displays. It’s a wonderful experience. Alexia and I loved Norway where we wore our Viking hats and shields – a great opportunity to send the photo to Bryson, my youngest grandson, who is studying the life and times of the Viking era. Then there was Japan that she just couldn't get enough of -- the yummy noodles and the shopping for treasures she was able to take home for the memories. And, of course, our beloved Canada that made us recall the blessings of having lived there for seven years, and remember the Folklorama Festival that was similar to this experience every year in August.

With all the great experiences of the day, we were ready to head back to our hotel, when we realized something was very wrong with our rental car. It was dead….literally. Nothing we could do would get it started. An on-call repairman from the rental company came out after about 45 minutes, and he couldn’t start it – apparently the battery was bad and it wouldn’t even take a charge. Two hours later, we were still waiting for another vehicle, only to have to leave the rental car and take a taxi to our hotel. Fortunately the Epcot security paid for our taxi ride -- there's something to say for wanting your guests to end their day with a positive feeling. If we looked at just the end of the day, it would be said that it was disappointing, to say the least, that our wonderful day had to come to such an abrupt ending! I loved when Alexia, at dinner, asked each of us "What was your favorite part of this day? She brought us back to the beauty of this great day of so many adventures.

Earlier I said we had a lot of Kodak moments as you can see from these photos, and all the end-of-the-day drama with the car could have made us look at the whole day as a “wash”, but as we sat in the dead car, we would pray and speak “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His promises.” Romans 8:28. As much as we might not like to hear it, good things can come from the negatives in life. Not that we should seek them out, or somehow try to manipulate their appearance, but, more times than not, we realize that those negative moments do have a purpose.

If we look at life in retrospect, we will discover that the times we grew the most were those moments when situations were not the most ideal. It's possible that we prayed for deliverance from those moments. But now, as we look back, we realize and appreciate the fact that those so-called negative moments, had some very positive effects in our lives. In fact, we are able ...NOW... to thank God for those moments, because without them, we would not be where we are today.

Let's determine to be photographers and "develop" from the negatives in life. I pray that you have many "Kodak Moments" that enable you to shine like the star you are! Stay tuned for tomorrow at "Hollywood Studios"!!