http://potteratthepark.blogspot.com/
http://www.disgeek.com/the-wizarding-world-makes-magic-at-disneyland-2

This past Sunday was a perfect occasion and weather to wear our scarves from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (mine was the Gryffindor scarf b got me from Florida. His was the Ravenclaw scarf)!
 
It was the 5th Unofficial Harry Potter Day at Disneyland! I was actually pretty disappointed we couldn't make it in time for orientation and the sorting (we went after church in the afternoon, my friends went in the morning). Registration ended at noon.

My friends did a really good job. They had a bunch of clues (just missing one) but only 2 coins... and still had 2 more faculty members to find. I didn't feel as bad when I found out they  couldn't make heads or tails of the clues either.

This is what I didn't miss...

Let's see... so we just so happened to make it in time to see Lisa, Alice, TIff, and Tabi waiting to board the tram back to the parking structure. They hand off their clues and Dashwood ribbon (to signify what house you're from). Heidi went to get some food, while Brian and I headed into the park.

We started off by listening to the orientation mp3 they had on their site, but abandoned the idea when I realized we had only a few hours left. The first faculty members we recognized were Draco Malfoy and some other lad, I forget her name - they were en route to star tours using their fast pass. Lisa already had them sign the orientation booklet, so we didn't stop them with the password, "Ronnil Wazlib". Instead, we found a place to settle in to read through our clues in Tomorrowland. After I read through the clues, Brian inspected each for inconsistencies (there were a few typos) and finished the crossword puzzle. To our dismay, we couldn't make heads or tails of the clues either... 

Just at that moment, another crowd of Dashwood folks passed in front of us, so we approached and asked how it all worked. They explained most of what Lisa shared above (minus all the questions), told us that 2 of the faculty members are not here today (including Finch), pointed to areas of the park the faculty members have been sighted on, and explained how the coins are for the team and since we're the same house, Dashwood, we also get awarded the House Cup if we win. Apparently, our house is gathering in front of the Haunted Mansion at 5 pm.

Brian and I went on our way looking for the remaining Faculty members: Lucius and Moody. We also met Rita Skeeter & Madame Hooch who was of no help. Finally we headed to the Haunted Mansion - just at that moment, someone spotted Moody and Lucius. Their questions:

What was the name of Professor Snape's Mother?
What page number did he tell the students to turn to when he took over for Professor Lupin's class (it was about werewolves)?

Sadly, we missed both questions *tear*, but since Dashwood gathered together they all started discussing theories. This is what I remembered: Some guessed Krum and Skeeter, but their alibi checks out. Also, the crossword puzzle -the words that weren't circled - was supposed to point that the members of the order were not involved. People wondered who Tilly was - she was the ticket attendant in front of the movie theater on main street. One of the letters from Gabby said she was aspiring to be on stage (somewhere flighty). Another letter from Ginny pointed that Rosita (the one who was murdered) falls asleep on the rafters (this points that she might be an animagus, a bird of some sort). The clue we missed was of a picture of a feather (almost all of the clues points to a feather) and a note that eluded to the Tiki Room. Rosita was a cockatoo - I'm not quite sure how they figured that one.

There was a fake Luna and Bellatrix with awesome costumes who encouraged us to circle Gabby and turn it in. So we did. In the end, they explained (by the Small World) that the idea is that both Rosita and Gabby were animagus and unregistered. They had a little short act/play/stunt and Gabby confessed the crime - she said Rosita was stealing the spotlight. She brandishes her wand, but it was Draco Malfoy who unwanded her. Of course, everyone applauded this valiant stunt. I must say, Draco was very much in character. ZN gave him a playful hug and posed for pictures. My guess is that he's the stand-in for Harry Potter. His counterpart (girlfriend or wife) happens to be playing part of the Inquisitorial Squad of Bellatrix LaStrange. Oddly cute.

Oh, and the prizes were autographed pictures of Gilderoy and the 1st and 2nd place winners got Disney medallions.  I don't really remember who won - I sort of stopped paying attention since it wasn't us. =P I think it was Willowdell. Only the teams got medallions. Not the house - the house just got the satisfaction of knowing they won. I think it was based on a combination of the amount of coins they had, in addition to getting who did it right. It was too dark and crowded to see the teams who won  - the faculty said they doubled from last year's attendance! Timing was off too because "Remember the Moments" was about to begin at the Small World, so they had to compete with Disney's PA for a bit and then rush it. I do remember that they oh and they presented Zoe Necrosis a gift - how cute these friends are!

As my friend put it very well (we were filling each other in via messaging from earlier): all questions answered. thank you for finishing and reporting back (and for you - reading) on the experience! next year, we're going to each take a book to be responsible for and we're going to get all the clues AND coins!! mischief managed... for now.

Tues
(night) b calls and tells me, "I stopped by Home Depot today and I picked up a surprise for you..."
The next day, I received an e-mail: It's my own "plant a tree day" and i'll name it...after you! =P

Today
My Dad says, "Your sister left something for you upstairs..."
(photo from Jinx)
My kid sister remembered me while she was at BlizzCon.

They know me well. /Blessed and loved. I am grateful. <3

I tend to look back at the past often... this was a good reminder for me...

Oh, that I were as in the months of old.
Job 29:2

Many Christians are able to view the past with pleasure but regard the present with dissatisfaction. They look back upon the days that they have spent in communing with the Lord as being the sweetest and the best they have ever known; but as to the present, it is as if they were smothered by a heavy blanket of gloom and dreariness. Once they lived near Jesus, but now they feel that they have wandered from Him, and they say, "Oh, that I were as in the months of old." They complain that they have lost their evidences, or that they no longer have peace of mind, or that they have no enjoyment in the means of grace, or that their conscience is hardened, or that they are no longer as zealous for God's glory as they once were.

The causes of this mournful state of things are many. It may arise through a comparative neglect of prayer, for a neglected closet is the beginning of all spiritual decline. Or it may be the result of idolatry. The heart has been occupied with something else, more than with God; the affections have been set on the things of earth instead of the things of heaven. A jealous God will not be content with a divided heart; He must be loved first and best. He will withdraw the sunshine of His presence from a cold, wandering heart. Or the cause may be found in self-confidence and self-righteousness. Pride is busy in the heart, and self is exalted instead of lying low at the foot of the cross.

Christian, if you are not now as you "were . . . in the months of old," do not be content to simply wish for a return of your former happiness, but go at once to seek your Master and tell Him your sad state. Ask His grace and strength to enable you to walk more closely with Him; humble yourself before Him, and He will lift you up and allow you once more to enjoy the light of His countenance. Do not sit down to sigh and lament; while the beloved Physician lives there is hope; there is a certainty of recovery even for the worst cases.

Weddings: Started in June, there's at least one every month (some months, even 2)! As a matter of fact, there's one this week! looks like it'll run even into the Fall season, October.  will be working at most of the weddings (this I did not foresee), but at least in September, I'll finally get to celebrate the happy couple with my special guy as ordinary guests (it'll be the first for me - with him). Grateful to serve, as well as to just enjoy (makes me all the more appreciative of what I once took for granted).

Engagements: To be honest, I lost track of count, but this week's is especially memorable: Congrats to my dear friend, May and one very blessed guy, Chris! <3 P.S. grateful I was shared the news before the bride-to-be did so with facebook. I can't wait to celebrate with the both of you.

to my surprise, I received an invite today. signed-up and downloaded. yep, it's pretty snazzy.

a necessary reminder for me today:

sign of wisdom, worry, or age? probably a little bit of everything.

...found my first grey hair this morning (it was above my right ear).

This hit home...

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.

Psalms 55:22

Care, even when addressed to legitimate matters, if it is carried to excess, has in it the nature of sin. Again and again Jesus exhorted His followers to avoid anxious care. The apostles reiterated the call; and it is one that cannot be neglected without involving transgression: For the very essence of anxious care is imagining that we are wiser than God and putting ourselves in His place as if we could do for Him what He has undertaken to do for us. We attempt to think of things that we imagine Him forgetting; we work to take upon ourselves a heavy burden, as if He were unable or unwilling to take it for us.

Now this disobedience to His plain precept, this unbelief in His Word, this presumption that intrudes upon His province, is all sinful. But more than this, anxious care often leads to acts of sin. If we cannot calmly leave our affairs in God's hand but attempt to carry our own burden, we will be tempted to use wrong means to help ourselves. This sin leads to a forsaking of God as our counselor and resorting instead to human wisdom. This is going to the broken well instead of to the fountain, a sin of which Israel was guilty in the past.

Anxiety makes us doubt God's loving-kindness, and so our love to Him grows cold; we feel mistrust, and in this we grieve the Spirit of God, so that our prayers are hindered, our consistent example spoiled, and our life one of self-seeking. Such lack of confidence in God leads us to wander far from Him; but if through simple faith in His promise we cast each burden as it comes upon Him and are "not . . . anxious about anything"¹ because He undertakes to care for us, it will keep us close to Him and strengthen us against temptation. "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."²

¹Philippians 4:6

²Isaiah 26:1

 Google+

Apparently, the inviting began Wednesday night. According to latimesblogs, "Google+ users were quietly given the ability to invite friends into the new social network on Wednesday night, but that option lasted only a few hours due to overwhelming demand..."

Last night, I received an invitation, but it led me only to their project page. This afternoon, however, another friend sent me an message, which led to an invitation (I wonder if it's a loophole because my invites don't seem to be received unless I "Share" a personalized message).

In any case, I'm in. Anyone want an invite?

had lunch with a good friend of mine today (who also happens to be a mom). I notice that she and some other friends of mine now ask themselves, "is this a teaching moment?" whenever and wherever they take their kids...

reminded me that Someone else is always watching out and wanting me to learn and grow, too. is this a teaching moment. next time, hopefully I'll remember to ask myself the same thing, too (not to teach another, but remember God's loving and teaching me) when I encounter the various trials in the day-to-day.