Hi everyone!
First let me say I have enjoyed reading all of your PJs, and have learned so much!
I wasn't sure about starting a PJ, because this VR started off as a low key, small budget affair, but it is quickly headed toward a Wishes event! I honestly thought we were going to have a Memories event when we first started talking about it.
Here's our story:
My name is Frances, I am 48 yo. My DH is Jeff and he is also 48. We have been married 26 years. We were college sweethearts, and got married immediately after we graduated. We are the proud parents of 3 beautiful girls, Madeleine is almost 20, Lydia is almost 17, and Lilah is 10. I am a stay at home mom, and it has truly been my honor to mother these 3 incredible human beings!
For the past 5 years, Jeff has worked in CA, and the girls and I live in OH. We lived in CA for 3 years as a family, and it was the worst 3 years of mine, and my girls' lives. My oldest was a freshman in high school, and I knew it was then or never to make a change. I chose to move back to OH, even though I had no family or a support system here. We had lived in OH for 2 years before moving to CA, and it was the happiest years of my kids' lives. Jeff works for a great company, and has his dream job. It was not an option for him to leave that job, and at first he was not willing to "commute" to be with us in OH. It really looked like we were headed for divorce, even though we loved each other a lot. After a few weeks with lots and lots of tears, Jeff decided he was willing to try to make it work.
Our arrangement is Jeff comes home once a month for 1-2 weeks. His employer pays for him to fly home, and he works from home when he is in OH. He has a tech job, and it makes it very easy to work remotely. When he is here he forwards his office phone to his cell, and many people don't even realize he isn't in his office! He is lucky enough to schedule his visits around important events in our girls lives, and he rarely misses anything. It has been very hard on him, but we both realize it is what is best for all of us. My girls are all so happy, and well adjusted.
The VR idea started because I wanted to buy new wedding bands. It didn't seem right to get new bands without a ceremony. So, we decided we should renew our vows. He is the one to suggest WDW. You see, Jeff likes WDW, but he really has the attitude that we have been there done that. My girls and I DO NOT share that attitude, and I think we could honestly go once a month and it wouldn't be enough. So, when he suggested WDW, I was NOT going to turn that down!
Originally we were looking at the Memories collection. I really don't need a big affair. I want our kids to see Jeff and I are still committed to each other even after all we have been through. We had a fairy tale wedding the first time, so I don't need to fulfill that desire. We decided we would have some angry people if we didn't invite them to the VR. Not thinking anyone would really want to come to WDW, because most of our family and friends don't understand our love for it, I sent out an email to close friends and family. Immediately everyone started responding that they would be there!
At the moment we are at 18 firm yeses, with 5 very likely yeses. On top of that there are as many as 10 others that might attend! I keep saying I am happy people want to share this with us, and if I don't get new appliances next year, it is fine with me!
We have sent our deposit and LOA in and are waiting for our coordinator to be assigned. We were told to start planning an Escape event and if we have to upgrade we can without problem. I just don't want it to end up that we are 21 people instead of 20. That's one expensive guest!
To be continued.....
First let me say I have enjoyed reading all of your PJs, and have learned so much!
I wasn't sure about starting a PJ, because this VR started off as a low key, small budget affair, but it is quickly headed toward a Wishes event! I honestly thought we were going to have a Memories event when we first started talking about it.
Here's our story:
My name is Frances, I am 48 yo. My DH is Jeff and he is also 48. We have been married 26 years. We were college sweethearts, and got married immediately after we graduated. We are the proud parents of 3 beautiful girls, Madeleine is almost 20, Lydia is almost 17, and Lilah is 10. I am a stay at home mom, and it has truly been my honor to mother these 3 incredible human beings!
For the past 5 years, Jeff has worked in CA, and the girls and I live in OH. We lived in CA for 3 years as a family, and it was the worst 3 years of mine, and my girls' lives. My oldest was a freshman in high school, and I knew it was then or never to make a change. I chose to move back to OH, even though I had no family or a support system here. We had lived in OH for 2 years before moving to CA, and it was the happiest years of my kids' lives. Jeff works for a great company, and has his dream job. It was not an option for him to leave that job, and at first he was not willing to "commute" to be with us in OH. It really looked like we were headed for divorce, even though we loved each other a lot. After a few weeks with lots and lots of tears, Jeff decided he was willing to try to make it work.
Our arrangement is Jeff comes home once a month for 1-2 weeks. His employer pays for him to fly home, and he works from home when he is in OH. He has a tech job, and it makes it very easy to work remotely. When he is here he forwards his office phone to his cell, and many people don't even realize he isn't in his office! He is lucky enough to schedule his visits around important events in our girls lives, and he rarely misses anything. It has been very hard on him, but we both realize it is what is best for all of us. My girls are all so happy, and well adjusted.
The VR idea started because I wanted to buy new wedding bands. It didn't seem right to get new bands without a ceremony. So, we decided we should renew our vows. He is the one to suggest WDW. You see, Jeff likes WDW, but he really has the attitude that we have been there done that. My girls and I DO NOT share that attitude, and I think we could honestly go once a month and it wouldn't be enough. So, when he suggested WDW, I was NOT going to turn that down!
Originally we were looking at the Memories collection. I really don't need a big affair. I want our kids to see Jeff and I are still committed to each other even after all we have been through. We had a fairy tale wedding the first time, so I don't need to fulfill that desire. We decided we would have some angry people if we didn't invite them to the VR. Not thinking anyone would really want to come to WDW, because most of our family and friends don't understand our love for it, I sent out an email to close friends and family. Immediately everyone started responding that they would be there!
At the moment we are at 18 firm yeses, with 5 very likely yeses. On top of that there are as many as 10 others that might attend! I keep saying I am happy people want to share this with us, and if I don't get new appliances next year, it is fine with me!
We have sent our deposit and LOA in and are waiting for our coordinator to be assigned. We were told to start planning an Escape event and if we have to upgrade we can without problem. I just don't want it to end up that we are 21 people instead of 20. That's one expensive guest!
To be continued.....
... Everything sounds great 
Whether it b a small affair or an extravaganza we want 2 hear about it 
