Many Happy Returns

And now, Daddy is back. Liam is holding his father's hand as they walk the freshly swept sidewalks of Animal Kingdom, where Christmas lights cover practically everything that doesn't move, and some things that do move.

"This is our first vacation together, just the three of us," says Taylor as the family passes Minnie Mouse, who's wearing a red velvet Christmas dress. "After a long separation, we just wanted to go away and immerse ourselves in each other."

An Event to Count On

At Disney's MGM park, Taylor points to statues of Huey, Dewey and Louie and asks, "Who are they?"

"Daisy, Donald and Donald," answers Liam.

Taylor smiles and sweeps Liam, who's been looking through a picket fence, onto his shoulders.

The Rileys are on their fifth day of a week-long trip, not including the nine-hour drive each way.

Turns out Liam is not too young to appreciate Disney. He didn't fuss when they got up early each morning to hit one of the four major parks when they opened, or when they stayed out long after dark. On the first four days, they visited one park per day -- Magic Kingdom, MGM, Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Three of those days, they stayed from the time the park opened until at least dinnertime, then returned to the park until closing. On only one day did Liam need a midday break. The couple learned, however, to avoid adventures that were dark and noisy.

His favorite things? "Whatever he's seeing at the moment," Delacey says. "We were at Epcot's Moroccan village when I asked him what was his favorite thing, and he said, 'Morocco.' Every character he sees is his favorite."

Then again, while Taylor was away Delacey had reviewed every detail about Disney World that she could find -- down to each exhibit and ride -- with an eye toward "What would Liam like?"

As we stroll through Animal Kingdom, Delacey says that an elderly woman told Delacey about her husband's deployment during World War II. "I figured that if she could do it for three years, I could do it one." Both Rileys are aware that Taylor might have to return to Iraq. He has 14 years in the National Guard, and plans to stick with it for at least 20.

"After a year away they try to leave you alone for a year, but you never know," he says. "If they need someone, they might need you."

While Taylor was away, Delacey says, she avoided news reports and decided it would be bad for everyone to worry. "There was nothing I could do. I had a sense that Taylor would be fine, and even if things didn't turn out that way, we'd get through it. God gave me peace."