So here we are, stranded in Newark. I should back up.
We
planned our trip, booked flights and hotels, tied up loose ends at the
house, and had a strange sense of calm mixed in with excitement as we
prepared to leave on Friday afternoon. We were finally on our way to
bring JP home. N did great, and this mama's heart was thankful for that.
We said our airport goodbyes. She went back home with my parents, and
we went through security eagerly awaiting our first leg of the journey
being behind us. Well, I was probably more eager than my sweet husband,
who loathes flying. All was well until about a half hour before we were
supposed to board, when we realized something was amiss. Our plane out
of Chicago was delayed because of weather, and the lav had frozen, so
they were awaiting an entirely new plane altogether.
Long
story short (I feel like I'm going to have to say that a lot), our
flight was delayed four hours, and yes, we missed our connecting flight
to India. And every other connecting flight out of the US. After what
seemed like forever at the customer service desk, we finally accepted
the fact that the farthest we were getting was Newark last night. So we
made it, with gusty winds and a questionable landing. But we made it.
They gave us a voucher for a hotel, and somewhere around 11:30pm, we
made a bolt from the airport to the hotel shuttle in single digit
temperatures. No, we did not bring winter clothes. It's 80 degrees in
India. Thankfully, though, international travel has taught me to carry
everything I need on my back at all times, and my survivalist packing
skills came in very handy. I dug as many layers as I could find out of
my bag, and as we wound our way through the icy industrial yards of NJ, I
silently thanked the Lord that we had all of our personal belongings.
Our single checked bag only holds things we are hoping to have at the
Delhi hotel, nothing terribly crucial.
We'll
hang out here until about lunch time when we have to check out. Then
it's back to the airport to pray, pray, pray that our flight out to
Mumbai is on time and good to go tonight. We should leave at 8:10, which
will put us touching down in India about 12 hours before we are
supposed to go pick JP up on Monday morning. Our flight to Delhi leaves
Monday evening to be there for her medical appointment on Tuesday
morning. Needless to say, we do NOT want this to get pushed back, as it
will push everything else back and require us to change our tickets home
to the following Monday. We are supposed to be home Monday the 3rd
around noon, and although I normally enjoy travel, all I want right now
is to get JP, get home, and have all of my children in one place with
me. It has been a long time coming.
Yes,
I know I need to enjoy this. And while I can't say that I'm necessarily
at that point, my faith and trust in the One who has orchestrated this
great adventure from the beginning, from BEFORE the beginning, is
without question. I have seen him break down wall after wall after wall,
and I am confident of this: He will not stop now. As always, your
prayers are felt and appreciated. Pray us on to India tonight, friends!
We are almost to our sweet girl!
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