A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

My darling daughter just started blogging and her very first blog is about her dreams. Sometimes your dreams don’t work out the way you thought they would. And sometimes your dreams take you places you never envisioned. After I read her blog, I thought about people God had used in the Bible. Joseph, son of Jacob, was a dreamer. Joseph dreamed that his brothers would bow down to him, but he never dreamed that he would be sold as a slave, taken to Egypt and thrown in prison. Eventually his brothers do bow down to him, and through him the Israelites are saved. His dream looked different than reality.

I had a dream. I had the dream for a long time. I wanted to apply for the Disney Parks Moms Panel, but for 7 years I didn’t because — LIFE! I just assumed it wasn’t my time. In 2014 I finally applied, and then I made it to Round 2. I was excited beyond belief. I was certain I would make it to Round 3.

I let the excitement build and then was rejected. I did what I have always done when faced with rejection. I picked myself by my bootstraps and said, “How can I improve myself?” I decided to finally do something about my blog that only had a few entries. As I was busy working on my blog (which is still a work in progress), I stumbled across the Disney Side @Home Celebrations, and a Facebook page entitled Disney Social Media Moms Alumni and Hopefuls. I joined these Facebook groups, and went to both websites Disney Side @Home Celebration and Disney Social Media Moms. I registered to be on mailing lists without even knowing what I was doing, and then I started to research those groups and find out what I was getting myself into.

As I was researching, I was selected to host a Disney Side @Home Celebration which was an absolute blast. You can read about our party here. Then I was invited to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration coming up in May. 

After reading my daughter’s blog yesterday, I realized that had my original dream come true this year- the one to be on the Disney Parks Moms Panel – I would not be blogging. I would be sitting at my computer answering questions from Disney visitors and have been none the wiser. My dream would have come true. But because my dream didn’t come true, I was encouraged to try something else. Sometimes your dreams take you down a different path, and sometimes your dreams are stepping stones. I still plan to apply for the Disney Parks Moms Panel in the fall, but I also am living my life to the fullest now. I am enjoying my family and friends and my online Disney friends that I have made along the way. I am thrilled to be experiencing these opportunities that have presented themselves, and I am embracing life.

When I received the email that I hadn’t made it onto the next round for the Moms Panel, I was sad. I allowed my self worth to come from being selected to a group. I can say that I am glad that my original dream didn’t come true in 2014, and I know that the plans God has for my life are far better than the plans I have for myself. I have a few more dreams up my sleeve, and I am just waiting to see how God works those out!

Have you ever had a dream that turned out differently than you imagined? I would love to hear about your dreams! And you can read about my daughters dream here!