We Won!

A couple weeks ago, I got a call from a rep at a marketing company in New York who said, “Is this Jennifer Horne?”

I said, “Yes.”

He said, “You may be the potential winner of a Disney Cruise from the ABC show America’s Funniest Videos.  Did you enter the on-line contest?”

“Yes,” I said, thinking that I had just entered over the weekend and finding this call a bit surreal.

The marketing rep went on to explain that I was the potential winner until I could complete some paperwork to prove that I am who I say I am, and when that was complete, he could call me and tell me officially that I was the winner.

I was excited about winning a Disney Cruise, but, of course, the prize is a trip for 4.  We have 6.  Later the marketing rep called and said Disney would do their best to give me the best deal to add two more to the trip.  Yesterday, I got a call from the cruise line that sealed the deal for us that only 4 of us would be able to go on the trip.  I should be happy, but I am a bit sad.  I guess I have learned I shouldn’t enter contests for trips for 4.

We didn’t tell the kids about the prize until it was announced on tv tonight.  They were excited, but as we have decided that I will take the 3 older kids on the trip and Mark and Charis will “do something else fun,” there were some tears amidst the excitement.

What’s strange about this prize is the timing.  We would never consider making a trip like this ourselves.  We really never go on real vacations of any sort because of income limitations.  But if we were in a more stable position financially, we might have seriously considered paying for the two other passengers.  As it is, we aren’t really sure it will work for any of us to go.  But it was sort of fun to see my name on national TV along with a photo of the family.  We also received some well wishes from people we hadn’t told about winning.

I’ll keep you posted about our plans as summer approaches and we see how life unfolds for us.

15 thoughts on “We Won!”

  1. Wow! That’s something! I am so sorry the whole family won’t be able to go though. I tell ya, if I had whatever it costs for two people to go on a cruise lying around, I would give it to you in a second. But all I have lying around is dirty laundry. I don’t suppose you would want that would you? You might find a few quarters…. It is very selfless of y’all to take the kids. We would totally ditch the kids and ask another couple. You’re a sweet Momma!

  2. Abby,
    Going with another couple would pose its own problems finding childcare. Plus, with all the trips Mark has made in the last couple years without taking a kid along, we would never hear the end of the complaining if we didn’t take the kids.

    Angie,
    No. I know you would have taken a picture of the picture on tv, but I didn’t even think of it. Again, I need to commit myself more to this blogging thing!

  3. Congrats! When are you going? I want to hear all about it. I have often wondered about what the Disney cruise deal is like.

  4. Hi Jennifer, we are friends with some of the people who are at your church, and my husband reads Mark’s blog, so I know of your name… and was astounded to recognize the name of the family who won a big “dream vacation” during AFV. Congrats!

    And good luck with all the logistics… as a fellow family of six, we feel your pain! 🙂

  5. Jay,

    Yes. Complex.

    Debbie,
    Thanks for commenting.

    We can choose between June 8 and July 27. We hope to go in July to give us more time to plan and to see how life unfolds.

    I’ll pass on the little book and dvd Disney sent to me with all you need to know about their cruises when I am done with it. I will say that if our plan stands and I go with the three older kids, I will truly get a vacation as they have kids activities planned for practically every time of day.

    Renae,
    I checked out your blog. You’re the Renae who comments on the Barlows’ sites from time to time, right? Anyway, thanks for your congratulations.

  6. Jennifer – I am thrilled for you and sad for you, too. I know it’ll be hard to make a memory without everyone there! Let us know how we can help – we’d love to have Charis play with Georgia if that would fall into the “something else fun” category. Or make a contribution to a donation to bring the other two along – maybe you should put one of those links up on your blog and see what happens!

  7. The Texas grandparents are also available if a visit with them would count as “something else fun” for Charis, with or without Mark.

  8. Wow. Just…wow.

    How sad about having to leave family members home, though. That stinks. It’s really only a “partial” family vacation if you don’t have all the appropriate members present!! Those Disney homewreckers!!

    🙂

  9. That is so exciting!! I missed the TV announcement. What day was that? I hope that it works for all of you to go. I would certainly donate.

  10. Hey! Clay sat down to watch AFV and there were the Horne Family from St. Louis! He nearly fell off the couch. Congrats. I hope whoever goes has a great time.

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