Anna, Elsa, and Olaf hold a very special place in my heart. Why?
Well when I was 25, I met two young children named Tyler & Emily. I had been around kids plenty and loved them….but there was added pressure at this meeting…they were the children of my boyfriend at the time. I so desperately wanted them to like me!
One of the first dates we went on as a family was to see this amazing, winter-themed, animated block-buster smash from Disney…a little film called “Frozen.” As we walked out of the theater holding hands and singing ‘Let It Go’ – I breathed a sigh of gratitude (and some relief) knowing that this was JUST the beginning. Frozen has been a family movie staple ever since.
*clink* first deposit in my heart for favorite Frozen memory.
In the summer of 2015, David and I were getting married at Disney World. We wanted the kids to be involved in the planning; one big task given each was to decide which song they wanted to walk down the aisle to….Tyler picked the Indiana Jones theme song (totally classic) and Emily threw it back to “In Summer” by Olaf. She even belted it out at the reception courtesy of an incredible DJ.
The sign by our ice cream bar after our wedding reception read “Some people are worth melting for – Olaf” … it spent several years gracing Emily’s room until she passed it along to Hudson last month.
*clink* another memory etched in my mind for Frozen.
It was April 21, 2017. Hudson Tyler Hammond had joined the world at 12:55pm that Friday afternoon. The calm after the storm had set in….the doctors were gone, the nurses were scattered, David was catching up on some much-needed sleep (I labored all night after he just got back from a 4-day business trip…keep in mind H showed up 2 weeks early so his arrival was v unexpected). All of a sudden, I was alone with this human I had just birthed several hours earlier. What were we to do? I picked up the hospital remote and flipped through the movies…there it was Frozen. I got lost in the magical world of Arendelle holding my new squishy baby Huddy.
*clink*
We went to Disneyland back in March of this year. During a previous visit, we had seen the marquee for a Live Frozen show but were told it required advanced reservations. Being the Disney planner that I am, I made sure to book tickets well in advance of our next return visit to Anaheim. It was one of the most unique and excellent live stage performances I have EVER seen. The production’s use of video projections, moving stage pieces, and cramming a 90-minute move in 40 minutes was beyond impressive.
But you know who was even more impressed by it than me? Hudson. He was so overcome with emotion that he could hardly contain himself. In one minute, he looked like he was about to cry. The next moment was fist pumps and clapping so intensely. He was ALL of the emotions on the spectrum. Everyone’s favorite part of that show – watching Hudson watch that show.
*clink*
Fast forward to yesterday. After a moving church service, I grabbed boxes of Hot Tamales, Junior Mints, and Cookie Dough Bites…and Emily, Hudson and I went to go see Frozen 2 in the theaters. Hudson had been to the movies as a baby (he was 9 months old when Black Panther was in theaters) but not since he is a big boy. We settled into our seats and watched this little 2.5-year-old human captivated by the sounds, the imagery, and maybe even a little bit of the storyline (I don’t know how much he could understand but his emotions would tell you he felt a lot of that plotline).
I watched my daughter hold my youngest son as we saw the sequel to a movie that has meant SO much to my sensitive, overflowing, Disney-loving heart the past 6 years….and I felt Gratitude. Joyful. His provision over my life.
*clink*
Walking into that theater 6 years ago with those two tiny nuggets that I had only known for a few days was an exciting yet crazy time of life. I had no idea what the future would hold. I was worried about how things would work out and come together.
If I only could go back in time, I’d tell myself to ‘let it go’….God’s got this all figured out and I need only move forward with love and faith ‘into the unknown.’ See what I did there?? If you didn’t, you need to go watch Frozen & Frozen 2!
Thankful for all of you this Thanksgiving week. Did you see Frozen 2? What was your favorite song?
Hollyce
One Comment
Jody
This is so beautiful to hear about how your family has spent these moments together!! Thanks for sharing