Jan. 26, 2007 Frustrations verses Blessings, “It’s All in Your Perspective”. Flight Adventures
Ethan, Nana and Audri Kansas 2007
Jan. 26, 2007
A God Story about “Flight Adventures”
I’ve entitled it, Frustration verse Blessings, “It’s All in Your Perspective”
For those of you who have chosen to fly to a destination and had unexpected adventures, this should bring a smile. I have had a “Bombogenesis Storms” form, “A Bomb Threat” and “Smoke coming from the plane” after boarding etc. This time God was teaching me to take things one moment at a time and to fully trust Him in the process with a positive attitude.
The time had come for me to leave from my Christmas Vacation in Kansas City, MO, USA and return to Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada. I knew it was going to be hard to leave Lindsay, Peter, Audri and Ethan. My time there was so precious with them all. Ethan has begun walking and Audri is a treasure. Grandchildren are such a special blessing. Audri just loves sharing all she has started to learn in preschool and has a wonderful imagination. We re-enacted The Wizard of Oz with a cast of two, everyday. That’s what Nana’s are for, along with loving through cuddling, story time, games, cooking special treats and spoiling.
My flight was not leaving Kansas City Airport until 4:00 pm. I am one who always wants to be places early. Lindsay and I discussed this that morning… so we started out through the door at 1:30 pm, with Ethan and Audri in tow, as Lindsay was driving me to the airport by herself (Peter was working). It was Ethan’s naptime so we thought he might fall asleep on the way to the airport. Lindsay said that she was glad we were leaving early, as she should stop and get some gas. I expressed some concern at how I would juggle three suitcases by myself, but new God would provide. Lindsay said we should just focus on getting to the airport first. We loaded everyone in the van and went just a few blocks and stopped at the neighbourhood gas station. Lindsay got out and got the gas and climbed back in. When she turned the ignition key, the van would not start. She tried a couple more times and it still wouldn’t start. I told her it sounded like it could be the starter in the van. Meanwhile Audri was in the back seat of the van praying, “Jesus please send someone to help us. Please send someone to help us right now!” I had been praying silently. Ethan by this time was crying and a bottle wasn’t soothing him. A lady, who had just gotten gas, saw us and heard Ethan crying. This tugged at her heart (as she has children) and she asks Lindsay if she had jumper cables. The lady said that if Lindsay did that, she would give us a boost. Lindsay looked in back and jumper cables were there. She said she didn’t know that the jumper cables got there, as she didn’t ever remember seeing them. This lady, who we will refer to as our angel, hooked up the jumper cables and got the van started. It took a few minutes, but she was very gracious and made sure we were all set.
Ethan was still upset so we decided that we’d pulled over in the gas station parking lot (yes, we left the van running) so Lindsay could try to nurse Ethan to sooth him. Let’s just say that neither nursing nor a bottle was cutting it. Ethan continued to cry, and we knew we had to continue our journey. Lindsay and I smiled, and I said, “We just knew that Satan wasn’t going to make leaving easy today.” I was beginning to think that maybe God was trying to distract us to make it easier for me to leave.
Yet again, we kept our smiles and set out for the airport. It is about 20 minutes away, well that is if you know where you are going. All the sudden Lindsay realized, through all this commotion, that she wasn’t sure of how to get to the airport. Of course, we knew an easy solution, just call Peter (her husband) at work on the cell phone and he’d help us.
Guess what? Peter wasn’t answering his phone. Lindsay then tried to call Sarah (her sister-in-law) and she didn’t answer. Meanwhile we continue to go along in what Lindsay thought was the direction to the airport. Audri begins to join Ethan who is crying in the back seat. We know that Audri is also upset that “Nana” is leaving. Audri begins to pray again from the back seat. Lindsay and I of course are praying silently too. Lindsay gets a hold of Elaine (her mother-in-law) and she gives us directions. Lindsay double-checks the directions by calling Matthew (her sister-in-law’s husband). He is at his computer and punches everything in to confirm our directions.
We find the airport and we pull over trying to seek curb-side check-in, as I have three suitcases and can’t manoeuvre them all by myself. After pulling over a couple of times, Lindsay spots the curb-side check in for U.S. Airways and pulls over. I told her I would get help to get my suitcases and be right back. A nice young gentleman helps me. I go back and give Lindsay a kiss goodbye. I open the van door to give Audri a kiss goodbye and she has tears in her eyes and of course I am fighting back tears. Ethan has begun to cry, so I must let them be off and get checked in. I get my suitcases all checked relieved then to just my carry-on and purse in tow all with 1 1\2 hours before my plane is to take off. I am thanking the Lord for all His divine interventions along the way and for meeting all our needs. I am not sure what people do that don’t have the Lord. I am sure that there is no way that Lindsay and I would have been smiling and kept our cool through all of this if we didn’t have the Lord to lean on.
The joy of the Lord is an odd thing to those who are not saved. I remember before I understood how watching a Christian have joy in circumstances, which should bring frustration or anger, use to make me think they were very odd. Relieved that my two big suitcases were all checked on, I tip the man who helped me and decided that I had plenty of time to go to the bathroom before going through security. I get in the bathroom and this “still small voice says” check your tickets. Believe me, after all that had happened so far that day, I was in tune to listen to God’s still small voice. Some days God must use a megaphone but today wasn’t one of those days. I checked my tickets, and I only had one ticket. That one ticket took me from Kansas to Philadelphia only! There was no second ticket to take me from Philadelphia to Bangor. I finished my business in the bathroom and decided I’d better go back to the curb-side check-in station and speak to the man who had helped me and ask him why?!? When I got there and ask him why I only had one ticket. He asks me if I had a copy of my itinerary. I had almost thrown it away, but a still small voice earlier had told me to keep it in my purse, boy am I glad I listened! I gave it to him, and he said he had no idea why the computer had printed out only one ticket. He checked his computer, and he still couldn’t figure it out. He said he would have to go back and get my suitcases. Then go to an inside computer and get them to figure out what was going on.
In the meantime, I am waiting outside for him to return. Anyone who knows me knows I have a lot of environmental allergies (to diesel fumes fuel, car fumes etc.) Boy was I glad that I had listen to His still small voice earlier, before we left to come to the airport and had taken allergy medicine. While I am waiting, I call Lindsay to give her an update and she cheerfully tells me that it will be no problem, if she had to come back and get me. Just keep her posted and she would be praying. I am thinking to myself what a wonderful daughter I had who would be willing after all we had gone through to get to the airport, that she would be willing to come back and get me! Remember, van would not start, Ethan was crying because he wasn’t feeling well and Audri was upset because I was leaving. I thought to myself, no way Lord would you put her through that twice! I had to wait outside for about 20 minutes until the man from curb side check-in returned with my suitcases in tow. He told me he needed me to come into the inside gate check in and he would see that they helped me. They would explain to me what was going on. He juggled my two large suitcases yet again, as we went inside and I had my carry-on and purse. We got to the gate, and he got a lady agent at the counter to help me. She said that they were backed up in Philly by about four hours, so there is no way I would get the connection that I was supposed to. She was going to switch airlines and book me a ticket on Delta (Comair). She explained that it was a through flight, and I wouldn’t have to get off the plane even though it was stopping in Cincinnati. It would get me into Bangor at 10:00pm instead of 10:30. She asks me if that would be OK and of course I said it was fine. In the meantime, I had tipped that gentleman again for sticking with me getting me the assistance I needed. I was told that I would need to now take a shuttle bus to different terminal to catch my flight. It would mean going outside the terminal to get the shuttle bus (not curb-side) Then show the inside desk agent my voucher she had printed out. I said that was fine, but I didn’t know how I could maneuver the two large suitcases, my carry-on & purse alone. The gentleman that I had tipped twice said not to worry that he would stick with me, until he got me on the shuttle bus that would take me to the Delta terminal. We continued outside and he took me to where I needed to stand for the shuttle bus, so it would know to stop and pick me up. He said when the shuttle bus arrived that he would come over and help me get my suitcases on the shuttle bus. Indeed, he did, and boy am I glad I had tipped him twice! He had earned every penny!
When I got on the bus, the female bus driver was having a rough day and had a tone to go with it. She asks our destinations and then went just a little way, and she pulled the shuttle bus over and stopped. She said it was time for a driver change. Ok, this was beginning to cut it close for me to make my “new flight connection” with Delta. Especially seeing I had no idea where I was going and how I was going to juggle three suitcases with my purse. God was providing yet again, as the new bus driver arrived fresh and was cheerful. She asks us all our destinations, and I told her Delta, but I would need help, as I had three suitcases. We arrived at the Delta terminal, and she stopped near the curb side check-in. She waited a few minutes while I got my suitcases off the bus. Now that was a miracle because I am not a strong person and these suitcases were huge. I motioned and got some help. I explained to the gentleman helping me, that I needed to go to the inside gate to check in and could he please help me to get my suitcases inside. He was more than willing. I gave him a tip, and he waited. The agent behind the counter was trying to process the new voucher the U.S. Airways agent had given me. She told me that her computer said that my voucher was not valid. Ok, you should have seen the surprised look on my face at that moment. I reminded myself that God was in control and He had gotten me this far. I smiled at the desk clerk and told her that it was just par for my day today. I started sharing what had happened since I left to come to the airport. She kept trying to get her computer to accept the voucher, but it wouldn’t. The gentleman who helped me to the inside of the terminal, ask if he should process my two suitcases he had brought inside for me. She told him to tag them, but to not process them yet. The desk clerk got another gentleman’s attention and said that she needed his assistance. He came (another angel) and punched a few keys, and my voucher was finally accepted. I continue to my gate, as it was nearing time to board the plane and I needed to get through security.
Surprise, surprise, surprise – I had been selected for additional security screening along with a pat down. At this point a backrub would have been nice! I just smiled and told them that was fine, all I wanted to do was to make my flight. One pat down, carry-on, and purse search later (along with some advice on how to better pack my carry-on next time) I was through security and seated waiting to get boarded. I called Lindsay and told her all that had happened and that I had made it through security and was waiting to board. She said that she didn’t want to tell me this, but she knew she should, so I’d be prepared. Jamie (my husband) might not be able to get me in Bangor tonight, as there was a possibility he’d have to pilot a ship into Bayside. As the day had been teaching me to live moment by moment with a good attitude and a smile, I told her not to worry that Dad and I had discussed that before I left and I’d just stay in a hotel for the night in Bangor if he couldn’t come. I ask her to call Jamie and get him to call me before I boarded the plane. You see my track phone won’t call Canada (who knows why)— “Can you hear me now?” She called Jamie and I was just starting to talk to him when they paged me to come to the ticket counter at my gate. I never got to finish my conversation and couldn’t help but wonder why they were paging me. I got to the desk and the agent asked to see my ticket. I showed her and she punched something in her computer and gave me a ticket stub only and kept the other half. She said that it was my seating assignment and that I was all set. I wouldn’t have to get off the plane in Cincinnati. I was relieved and we started boarding after that. As I got on the flight attendant and I chatted and she said she didn’t know why they had told me it was a through flight, as I would indeed have to change planes when I got to Cincinnati. She told me that she would get me information as to what gate, terminal and time I had to be on the next plane. I sat in my seat and thanked God that I made my flight and for all of His help along the way that had enabled me to get this far. I decided that I would just simply have to trust God, yet again, when it came to my unexpected plane change. Anyone who knows me knows that this is out of character for me. I always want to know when, where and what time I am departing.
I had out my book to read and made conversation with the person I was sitting with. Then the pilot came on (Which they don’t typically do until you’ve taxied into position for take off or have reached a certain altitude.) The pilot stressed that it had been a rough flight here from Cincinnati to Kansas and that it was going to be a rough right back to Cincinnati, especially if they didn’t allow him to fly at a higher altitude. He said if we needed to go to the bathroom to go now, because we wouldn’t be allowed out of our seats the entire flight. Now that’s a reassuring way to start your flight isn’t it. I thought surely Lord, you didn’t let me go all through this today to get on this plane to crash, did you?! I had to chuckle to myself. We took off and the flight seemed to be fairly smooth; I assumed they had let us fly at the higher altitude the pilot had mentioned. About 45 minutes into the flight I decided to go to the bathroom as drinks and snacks had even been served. I commented to my flight mate (beside me) that it wasn’t rough after all, and we smiled. I no sooner finished going to the bathroom and it started to get rough. As I opened the bathroom door and went back to my seat, I noticed the seatbelt light had been turned back on. My flight mate (beside me) and I smiled and said I had spoken too soon. It was a rough ride indeed.
As we got closer to the end of our flight, I reminded the flight attendant that she had told me that she would get my connecting flight information. In a few minutes she announced all the flight information for connecting flights except Bangor. She came back to me and apologized, saying that she didn’t have any information that she could give me. She told me that my flight number should be the same just check the monitor when I got into the terminal. Ok, well I now didn’t know what terminal I was suppose to be in, what my flight number was for sure or what time my flight was departing from Cincinnati to go to Bangor etc. I got off my flight and waited for my checked carry-on before heading for the terminal. It seemed like a very long walk before we got inside to the main terminal, where I could check the departure board info. The good news is Bangor begins with “B” and therefore it was near the top of the departure list. I saw that I didn’t have to change terminals, and I had plenty of time to make my connecting flight. Now, would they let me on board with only a stub and not a complete ticket? I made my way to the correct gate and waited. I was getting very hungry but wasn’t sure if any place would be able to accommodate my gluten free diet restriction, so I got a bottle of water and a bag of GF chips. Now there is a well-balanced meal. I sat down caught my breath and called my Mom and Dad, Lindsay and Jamie. Jamie by now was on his way to Bangor so I could call his U.S. cell phone. Jamie was going to be able to come to the airport to pick me up in Bangor. Next, I went to the desk clerk and ask if I needed a seat assignment and they told me that I had the same seat assignment as the last plane I was on and that the ticket stub was just fine.
I was so excited about getting aboard my flight that I forgot to take my book out before I checked my carry-on for placement under the plane. Now for those of you who have never travelled with me, I don’t know how to sit still and need something to occupy me. You’d think by this point that I’d be worn out, no just wound up and thankful that I had made my flight. I had no one sitting in the seat next to me, so there was no one to talk to. Then gentleman across the way and I chatted for a moment, and he found me a couple of in-flight magazines to read. Believe me, I was thankful for them and found something to read to keep me occupied.
Finally, I heard the words, “We were beginning our descent into Bangor”. At last I’d see Jamie and be that much closer to home. I was getting very hungry by now and hoping Jamie would take me out to eat. I got off the plane and retrieved my carry-on that had been checked when I boarded the plane and proceeded into the terminal. There was no Jamie to greet me. I went downstairs to where the luggage could be picked up and still no Jamie. With determination, I decided I could get my bags of the luggage carousal myself. I approached the first suitcase with a big heave-ho. I got my suitcase but almost knocked the 80-year-old woman over behind me. I apologized and she just smiled like she understood. I still had one suitcase to retrieve. I did that with success. I looked around but still, no Jamie. Then I questioned myself. Was he coming to get me tonight or not? Then I thought I had the mystery solved. Jamie had worked all day, and he had fallen asleep in the car while waiting for my flight to come in. After all it was 11:15 Canadian time. I’d use my phone to call his cell phone. I couldn’t get my phone to call his phone, for whatever reason. I tried again and looked around and there was Jamie. Boy was I happy to see him! Someone to also help me with my suitcases! When I got over the excitement of the fact that he was actually really there I noticed that Jamie looked more than tired. I told him I would be happy to drive but I needed to get something to eat. Denny’s in Ellsworth sounded good. He told me that he was fine, and he would drive but he would still take me to get something to eat. Now after being married this many years, you really know each other. I kept telling him he looked too tired to drive home and that I was fine to drive. Well, I won the war and got to drive. What tipped the scale in my favor was that when we got to Denny’s, after we ordered, I went to the bathroom. When I came out Jamie had dozed off while sitting up! We ate and Jamie crawled in the back seat and went to sleep.
Now there had been a little fog but not that much, so I thought I’d go the quicker inland root. Let’s just say that God drove and I was the co-pilot. You’d think I’d have gotten that message from the events of the day that had previously happened. It ended up being “pea soup thick fog” until we got into Machias. It's not very often that the fog is thicker inland than along the coast, but this was one of those times. The S turns in Black’s woods was an intense experience that night. Once in awhile God would let me have a minute reprieve from the fog and then the pea soup fog would return. It was one of those nights where you focus on the centerline and the white line on the edge of the road to see where you are going. Let’s just say that I was very thankful to see home and the hidden blessing is that I didn’t have enough time to really get really sad about leaving Kansas. I went to bed at 4:00 am in the morning.
Why was Jamie so tired you ask? Well, he had worked full time and had stripped the wallpaper off our kitchen walls, crack-filled them, sanded, primed and then painted the walls before I got home, so there would be no smell in the house for me. Remember this was all done, while he was working full time at the boat shop. Hum, I don't think there could have been much sleep in his schedule the whole time while I was gone.
Remember that God is in control. Whether a day is good or bad is all in YOUR perspective. By the way, the kitchen looks great! I am so very blessed.
