I have been keeping a surprise from my husband (and as a result….you) for six weeks! We had originally booked our reservation at the Pop Century resort. After announcing the trip on the blog, I was contacted my one of my amazing readers. She and her husband had been so touched by our loss of our son and how we were celebrating his life that they wanted to do something nice for us.
They are members of the Disney Vacation Club and used their points to book us a week at the Ft. Wilderness cabins! I was so blown away by their generosity and wonderful compassion. They did this for me, a stranger to them. I am in tears as I type this because I was touched so deeply.
My husband has ALWAYS wanted to stay at Ft. Wilderness (and Wilderness Lodge. He is equally in love). So after I worked out the details with my reader, I decided to wait and surprise my husband until we were here on site. So not only was I keeping the trip a secret from the kids, I was also keeping our resort a secret from my husband.
So earlier today when it was time to go check into our resort, I took him behind the van and spilled the beans and recorded the whole thing. (I will be uploading it when I upload the video of the kids.) He couldn’t believe it. He just kept saying Wow and Oh My Goodness. And he wouldn’t stop grinning. It was THE BEST. I am so glad I was able to surprise him. He still can’t stop smiling 2 hours later!
So thank you to my Amazing Reader! And please keep her and her son in your prayers. He is due any day now and will need to have heart surgery soon after birth. He could use every prayer, positive thought, etc that you can send him. His name is Mason.
Linds says
This is a perfect example that there are good people in the world – and the magic of Disney!!
Valerie says
I just said a prayer for Mason and his family. Enjoy that cabin!
jen says
Amazing. I was crying by the end of the post. Prayers and thoughts are with her…
Monique says
Putting all of you on my prayer list and wishing the best for your family as well as hers. She was really great to share that with you….hope I can do the same for someone else.
Britney Koger says
That is so wonderful! She is truely a generous person and she deserves blessings with her baby :) Will be praying for her and her family.
Christina Scalzo says
Wow the wonderful woman and her husband sound like amazing people. Sweet Mason is in my prayers! God is faithful!
Kathie M says
This was so sweet of your reader! I will keep Mason in my prayers. Please update the site when you know more as I’d love to hear how he’s doing well after the surgery!
SherriFL says
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!! God is so GOOD! He knows the desires of our hearts! I love the cabins. Got to visit some friends staying there this fall. Very fun. Have a wonderful time. I am enjoying your posts.
Kerrie G says
praying for Mason!!
Melissa Jon says
You have amazing readers! What a great surprise! I don’t know if I could’ve kept it from my husband that long. I’m horrible at keeping anything exciting from him.
Jeananne says
It is so wonderful to hear such a heart warming story. There are such wonderful, kind and generous people in the world. You deserve this and little Mason does too! I will keep everyone in my prayers. There are angels among us. I believe!
april says
How sweet and generous of your reader! Enjoy your stay at the cabins.
Best wishes and prayers for your amazing reader and baby Mason.
meggenw says
definitely tears. that is amazing. many moments of happiness to you all. extra prayers to baby mason. clearly his mom and dad are good at creating more good in the world. he will be part of that.
Allison says
What a great surprise!!
Rhonda K says
Ok–I am in tears—-that was such a cool thing! and I sure hope the baby’s surgery goes good.
April says
That is an amazing random act of kindness! Imagine what the would would be like if everyone was as kind and thoughtful to others as that reader was! What a beautiful story.
Amber says
It’s amazing how many lives are being touched in so many other ways than just saving us some $ with coupons. Love this story! Thanks!
Lisa says
That is so awesome! I had tears in my eyes as I read that. This goes to show there really are truly some amazing, thoughtful people in the world. Prayers go out to your family & hers!
April says
What a wonderful surprise for you guys!!! That is the place we always stay when we go to Disney!!!
Have Fun!!
Sarina Jackson says
That is amazing! What a wonderful person!
Michelle says
What a great surprise! Will be keeping Mason in my thoughts and prayers.
Deanna says
Will be keeping the reader in my prayers this week. Enjoy your week in the cabin. So touched by both of your stories.
Peg says
I’m glad you are having a wonderful time with your family. Sending prayers that is will be a healing time also. Big hugs to Mason’s mom & dad and prayers that Mason’s surgery goes smoothly. Pay It Forward is a wonderful concept! I love to hear how strangers help others when they can.
Linds says
Prayers for your kind reader and her family- and baby Mason. Enjoy the cabins!
Rachel says
***tears*** How awesome! There are still GREAT people in this world. Enjoy your trip!
val says
Your reader is one of my dear friends, and one amazing and caring person. Enjoy your trip with your family, you really deserve it!
Susan says
How awesome. Enjoy your trip and Baby Mason has prayer warriors from all over.
Ellen says
What an amazing heartwarming story. Mason will be in my thoughts and prayers. I too know what is is like to lose a son. My precious Angel passed when he was 6 years old and I too receive signs that he is watching over us.
Heather says
What an amazing way to “Pay it forward”. We ate at the Wilderness and really enjoyed it. If you ask for ketchup everyone in the room has to bring their ketchup to your table. It was alot of fun and very interactive!
Peggy says
OH my, what a wonderful, generous thing for your reader to do!
And we will be adding her dear Mason to our prayer list. I pray for health and healing for him!
Amber says
I thought you said you were staying at Pop Century and was a little confused about you talking about the cabins…now I know why!
To the amazing reader, hang in there! All will go well, it is scary but there is lots of wonderful people praying for him!
Carra says
I’ve been so excited about this and how you would tell him and how he would react ever since you let the secret ‘slip’ to me a few weeks ago while I was in Disney. I couldn’t wait to hear how he reacted! I do have to disagree with one thing you said, though. That reader was not a stranger. None of us are strangers! Every one of us who follow your blog consider ourselves your friend. You do so much for us and put so much of your time into helping us and share your family and your life with us. I bet there’s not one reader who would consider you a stranger, whether we’ve actualy met you or talked to you or just read you faithfully.
My niece had to have heart surgery soon after birth and is a wonderfully active 3 year old now. I will definitely lift Mason up in prayer knowing that God will watch over that little baby.
Thanks for all you do for us!
Jenn says
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. What a wonderful way to get away with the family and to celebrate his life. What a generous reader to do that for you. I will be praying for them and their little Mason that everything will go well once he is born.
Melissa says
Between this post and the rainbow post, I’m crying!!!!! Such an awesome tyhing for your reader to do! I think it’s really cool that you were able to keep the secret about the trip from your kids and the lodging from your hubby. I’m not that good with secrets so I’m not sure I could do the same. I can’t wait to hear more about the cabins. We may be taking our family this year sometime and the cabins are on our list of possibilities.
I will be praying for baby Mason and family as well as your family.
Christina says
Amazing, just amazing (and more tears!) Enjoy your trip. Baby Mason & his family will be in our constant prayers.
Jan says
That is awesome! Ft Wilderness was one of the stops (Magic Express) on our way to our resort. It looked so beautiful especially with all of the Christmas decorations.
Olivia says
That’s a great surprise! I love it when I can actually pull of a surprise for my hubby (it doesn’t often happen that I can actually keep something from him)!
Cristy says
Wow, what a blessing. The pure generosity of others!
Katrina says
Wow. What a great surprise. My prayers are with you and your family as well as your amazing reader and baby Mason. Have a wonderful time.
Erin L. says
That is super cool!
Mandy says
What an amazing gift! Can’t wait to hear (read!) all about it! Special prayers are going out to baby Mason and his family.
Nicole says
What a wonderful and inspiring story. Have a wonderful time at Disney.
Em says
I’m actually not a big Disney fan, but I would love to take a vacation at Ft. Wilderness. Back when I was in college, I was a part of a traveling group and we had a lot of time to kill between stops. We went to Ft. Wilderness one afternoon and the staff gave us a great behind the scenes tour. Its such a neat place. Hope you enjoy yourselves.
Denise-Scrapmouse says
Wow, what a wonderful, generous, & thoughtful gift!! Congratulations on this awesome gift for you and your family.
And to your “amazing reader” – I hope they are reading this because I want them to know they are having extra prayers and positive thoughts and great big (((hugs))) being sent their way for them and their baby boy Mason. I wish them all the best and may Mason have a successful surgery. Please take care.
tiffany b says
That is an amazing story! That is def a memory both you and her family will be able to keep and share!
Kimberly says
Wow! That is so generous of your reader and what a great idea to surprise your husband! I’ve always wanted to try the cabins out one day. Can’t wait to read about your experiences in them.
Amanda Johnston says
Yeah for happy surprises!
angie says
What a great gift hope you have fun!
Mindy says
WOW!! Isn’t nice to know there are people that truly care. Enjoy every minute of your vacation and know we are holding your family and the reader’s family in our thoughts and prayers.
Leatha says
What a sweet & thoughtful gift! Enjoy!
Mary says
Wow!!! What a wonderful thing for your reader to do!! My thoughts and prayers are with the family!!! I loved reading this post..its a reminder that there are still alot of wonderful people in this world. Please let us know how you like the cabins!!!
My family and I always stay at the Pop Century. We have a 6 year old son who has Autism and can’t handle change..so we keep going there and love it.
Clare C. says
Wow, what an amazing reader! Please let us know how you like Ft. Wilderness. I’ve never stayed there, but with a family of six, it’s one of the few “one room” options open to us at Disney and I’d love your point of view. Have a great week!
samantha says
WoW. What a generous thing for her to do for you. My family is keeping her family in our prayers. My cousin was born with a collapsed lung and his heart functioning at 10%. He had several surgeries between birth and age 6 but he is now a healthy thriving 18 year old starting college!
Britt says
How generous! I’m excited for your family and know this is truely a lifetime experience!
Christina says
How exciting for you guys! And how incredible that this reader did this for you. We will be keeping baby Mason in our thoughts and prayers.
Thrisha says
Wow, that is amazing! I am so happy for you guys.
Baby Mason will certainly be in our prayers. I hope all goes well.
Carrie says
How amazing! I cried reading your post! It is so great to know that there are still wonderful,generous people in this would. I will keep baby Mason in my prayers. Have a great trip!!
Lynne says
What a beautiful surprise and what a generous person to do this.
Blessings for you and your family. Prayers going up for baby Mason and mom & dad.
Karen says
How awesome! What a generous reader! Best wishes and prayers to her and her baby.
Glenda says
What a wonderful surprise! How sweet and generous of your reader! Prayers for her son and his surgery.
Glenda
Melanie says
What an awesome blessing to your family from your reader and her family! We’ll be praying for baby Mason and his wonderful family.
diane says
I would love some pics of the inside of the cabin!
Mason is in my prayers…love the name :)
jennifer b says
What an awesome gift from one of your readers! My prayers go out to their family and baby mason. That is truly an act of paying it forward.
Melissa says
That is amazing! Kudos to you and your awesome, generous reader! I will be praying for Mason.
Michelle B. says
What a lovely gift for you and your family!
Mason will be in my thoughts often – my own son was born at just 25 weeks and needed open-heart surgery before he was even two weeks old. I know how long and hard a stay in the NICU can be – both on the baby and parents! I would definitely recommend that your reader look for support among other NICU parents – it made such a difference for us! If you would like to pass it along, I kept a blog about our experience in the NICU that they may like to read. I don’t write in it anymore, but I am glad that I will always have that written account of Noah’s earliest days. It is http://brannrollercoaster.blogspot.com/
Amy says
Thanks for sharing the link to your blog Michelle. I do find blogs like yours with NICU experiences helpful and to see your boy so big and healthy gives me hope for Mason. :)
Stephanie W says
Oh I can’t wait to see these videos! :) I will be praying for your awesome reader and her family. I know God will keep his hands upon baby Mason during surgery. Have fun this week, Kristin!
Lori says
What an amazing gift and reader! Prayers for a safe and healthy delivery and the baby’s surgery.
Kym says
All I can say is WOW – what a truly wonderful person to offer their place for you to stay, and even more amazing is that this person is a total stranger. This is so touching on so, so many levels, mainly that this connection has formed from this world-wide-web, from your blog :) I am sure I’m speaking for all of your readers when I tell you how deeply sad we were to hear of Andrew’s death, and how he was not able to spend time with you here on Earth. It is so nice to know there are such generous people in this world, who give so freely to others. May the Lord bless your family, this amazing readers family and son, Mason, and your entire fan base!
XOXO – Enjoy your trip!
Sarah says
This post brought me to tears. Will be praying for Mason and are so very thankful for such wonderful, kind people. It is very exciting to me that people still care for one another. What a generous gift. Blessings to you and your reader. Have a wonderful trip! Cannot wait to see the video!
Dawn says
What an amazing, thoughtful, and touching gift! Have a wonderful vacation.
And prayers are being sent to Mason and his mom. Our nephew has HLHS and also had heart surgery shorly after he was born.
Laney says
The generosity of others constantly amazes me. It couldn’t have happened at a better time for a more wonderful family!
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
Thanks! It truly amazes me, too. :)
Joanna says
Wow! What an amazing reader! I’m sure Mason will be fine. I will pray for him, but I’m sure with such generous parents they will be blessed!!!
Katie says
What a beautiful gift! Congrats on keeping it a secret from your husband! You truly deserve it & I will keep your reader in my thoughts and prayers
berkeley says
That is so awesome!! I hope you have a great time. Anymore secrets you’re keeping from us?? I have to keep checking your site for updates. Prayers to baby Mason.
Susan Falco says
That brought tears to my eyes! I love to hear about wonderful random acts of kindness like that.
MM says
Mason, we are praying for you and your family. Stay strong little guy!
lisa says
What an amazing act of kindness and love! Such a blessing! enjoy
Beth lecroy says
Oh and here I go crying again!!! How sweet and wonderful. Kudos to whoever the generous blog reader is. I know you are all having a Magical time!
Sarah Curtis says
That is so wonderful! Enjoy your trip and I hope there are some decorations left up to see, that is such a great part of FW at Christmastime! Will certainly send prayers up for little Mason as well :)
Erica says
That just goes to show you how much we love you.
Starting tomorrow my family will be staying in the cabins as well. Have a fun trip :D
Here is a little tip. Go down to the beach when you know the Magic Kingdom fireworks are going on. (If I’m not mistaken you can see them perfectly from the beach)
Sue says
Erica is right, you can see the fireworks from Magic Kingdom perfectly and they play the music on speakers all along the beach.
Gretchen says
What an amazing blessing!!! Enjoy yourselves!! My family will be keeping baby Mason and his family in our prayers….
Ruth says
How awesome!! I will be praying for Mason and his family.
Clisty B says
Wonderful!
This is the second time in a week that I’ve read about a blogger being gifted a Disney hotel stay by one of their random readers. The first was a blogging friend of mine. A reader offered her points for hotel stay and suggested she enter the Disney World marathon. So she did.
Enjoying your updates.
Anne says
What a blessing! She sounds like an angel on earth.
Prayers for her son.
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
I think she is, too!
Barbie says
What an wonderful gift. We will keep that wonderful family and Baby Mason in our prayers.
Carrie says
What a blessing!! That is where my family stays and we just LOVE it!! It is like being at home with Walt Disney as our playground:)
Anna says
It’s amazing how our Heavenly Father works. I pray peace for your reader, that she will trust in God. I also pray that the very best doctors are assembled to work on that sweet little baby and this situation glorifies His plans.
I also pray for you, Kristen, that your family is able to heal, rest, and enjoy the time together.
Tracy W says
This is THE BEST Disney resort!! Have a blast!!!
April says
HOW INCREDIBLY AWESOME KRISTIN! Oooh I am sooooo excited for you and your husband!
And God bless sweet baby Mason! Praying for him, his mommy and daddy and their family. For the nurses, and doctors and everyone that will come in contact with that precious baby. In Jesus’ Powerful Name! Amen!
Lani says
Wow, what an amazing gift! I am definitely praying for your amazing reader’s little baby boy — for wisdom for the doctors and sensitivity for everyone handling his care, and for complete healing of his heart.
Amber says
How amazing! It’s so nice to see people being so caring!
I hope Mason will recover quickly!
Becca Filley says
Yay! I’m so glad you made video of his reaction. I bet he is so much more excited now than he was before! I am loving all your updates and pictures! Enjoy yourselves!!
Tiffany Thomas says
Well you are just full of surprises this trip!! How do you keep all of this inside without bursting!!
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
I’m not sure how I kept it a secret so long! :)
Barbie says
What a blessing this trip is to you and your family!
Kelly K says
Thats Awesome!!!
Please update us on baby Mason. He will be in my thoughts.
Lori says
What an awesome reader you have! Have a memorable stay and prayers are coming to your reader and her baby, Mason!
cheryl says
We are praying for baby Mason. Yeah for you and your family.
Anne says
Oh my! What a wonderful reader you have.
DeAnna says
What a wonderful gift! We will keep Mason in our prayers!
Margaret says
How cool is that :) Glad your all having a blast, you deserve it!
Jodi P. says
That is great- have a great trip. We will keep them in our prayers.
Amy Hunn says
While I don’t know anything about the various hotels at DW, what an amazing thing she has done for you- how wonderful!!!! Out of curiousity what was it about this particular place that made it the place your husband wanted to stay at? Can’t wait to see lots of pix from your trip! Enjoy!
Leslie says
Wow…what an amazing act of kindness. Her family will be in my prayers. Hope you enjoy your trip.