Just the other day, I was talking with one of my really good friends about Disney World. Shortly after, I seen a couple of posts on Facebook from friends who plan to visit there soon. It got me thinking about the first time our family went to Disney World, and the impact it had on my marriage.

Back in the Spring of 2014, my husband and I were in marriage counseling. Our marriage had been struggling for a long time, and we didn’t know what else to do. We had drifted so far apart, argued constantly, and was living like roommates. The first day of our counseling session, the counselor listened to our problems and then she said, “Are you sure you want me to do marriage counseling? I could just help you with co-parenting after your divorce.” I couldn’t believe she said that! She was supposed to be telling us how to make our marriage work, not encouraging us to separate. Needless to say, after 6 weeks of talking to her, nothing changed. My husband and I both agreed that it would be best to get a divorce.

At the time, we had already booked our vacation for the end of May, and the kids were getting excited. I remember saying to my husband, “Can we please just keep our promise to the kids, and go to Disney World as a family? We can file for a divorce when we get back.” He decided that we would still go, but I could tell he really didn’t want to.

During the 9 hour drive to Florida, Richie and I spent a lot of time talking. Once we arrived, we decided to go to Magic Kingdom first. I was so excited that day because my kids were getting to experience something I never had as a child. It made me appreciate my husband, and all of his hard work that got us there.

As the night went on, I found myself enjoying Richie’s company. After all, it had been a while since we really spent quality time together. Our evening was filled with laughter, fun, and excitement. And to top it off, we stood side by side watching the beautiful firework display just over Cinderella’s Castle. It felt like a magical experience for sure, and it was then that I looked over at my family, and thought to myself, do I really want to give up on this? 

As the week went on, it only got better. I can remember us spending our mornings swimming together at the resort, sharing an ice-cream on Main Street, U.S.A., and standing close to one another while waiting in lines. We even had a bedroom that was separate from the kids at our resort, and we were able to rekindle sexual intimacy. One day while we were at Epcot, we stopped to get something to eat. We all bowed our heads and prayed together over our food. Shortly after, a man walked up to our table and said, “I just want to commend you on praying together as a family. It’s always nice to see that.” It made me feel good, but reminded me that our family needed to pray together even more.

By the end of the trip, I was feeling very hopeful for our marriage. I was realizing just how much I love my husband, and just how important it was to me to keep our family together. Before we left Florida, I received a message from my pastor.

He wrote:

I know you’re on vacation, but I just wanted to let you know that this Sunday we are starting a new couple’s class at church, and I want you and Richie to join.

I’ve always heard God’s timing is perfect, and He was definitely proving it to me that day. Richie and I agreed that when we got back home we would join the class, and try to solve the problems in our marriage.

My first day back at work after vacation, a coworker said to me, “What happened at Disney? You are glowing! You look so happy!” And I truly was so happy!

For the next several months, our marriage got a little bit better. But unfortunately, neither one of us were willing to fully submit to God’s will. We both still had a lot of pride, selfishness, resentment, and the wrong mindset. I believe if we would have stayed on the right track, and allowed God to completely transform us, then we could have prevented all the horrible things that happened in our marriage later that year.

It’s not Disney World itself that made a big difference, but rather the fact that it forced us to spend time together. In order for a marriage to succeed, you have to be consistent in that area. As well as communicating, choosing to love, keeping your sex life active, and keeping God at the center of it all.

The great news is, my husband and I now live a life as if we are on vacation every day. We make time for each other, we laugh, we play, we talk, we flirt, and we pray. And that couple’s class I mentioned, well I have been teaching it for over a year now! God is so GOOD!!

If you think a getaway is just what you need right now to liven things up in your marriage, then please check out my beautiful friend’s page to book your next vacation at  facebook.com/bookedbybrooke