I just spent the week of Christmas at Disneyland with my wife and my two daughters.  The magic of the place combined with the lights, decorations and songs of Christmas made for a heartwarming and unforgettable experience.

The big crowds, long lines and splash of rain that we encountered at the park served as a mere backdrop to the glittering fun, laughter, smiles and love that we shared together.

Disneyland is a place of light—exciting the rides, adorning the shops, sparkling the castle and glowing on the faces of children and adults alike.

Even the helium filled balloons sold on the street corners of Downtown Disney radiate with light. For a price, you can hold the string and add to the dazzle—at least for a little while.

Unfortunately, just as sparks fly upward, so do amusement park balloons.

“Time flies,” and our moments together in that magical place were over before we knew it.  In the midst of the delight and the fun, the days slipped from our grasp and the vacation was gone—ascending out of reach like a balloon on a string.

My heart aches as that lighted balloon continues to glide up, up, and away. 

But it is not entirely out of sight. Its steady flicker fills and illumines my heart, and in my mind and memory I can see and hear that balloon bobbing and dancing to the hopeful music of Christmas.