We're on a Plane: October 2009

Ok, imagine this. You are all packed and ready to go. You arrive at the ticket counter with time to spare and confidently present your tickets and passports, anxious to get through security check so you can get that bagel and cream cheese your daughter has been begging for and relax at the gate together in excited anticipation, waiting for your flight. Everything goes smooth for a few blissful seconds, then the bomb drops. The airline attendant looks confused and points to your passport, "It's expired."

Now every time I prepare for a big trip, this sort of scenario goes through my head. All those last minute tragedies like a forgotten ID or ticket issued in the wrong name. But this time it was no anxious thought...it was reality. I was stunned. I looked at my well worn passport and alas, it had expired two months ago.

I tried to diffuse the frenzy of panic and humiliation and hopeless thoughts, I struggled to trust that God had a plan in the midst of this and for some reason in His sovereignty had allowed me to make such a simple yet catastrophic mistake...oh it was a struggle!

To make a long story short, Ian and Asha continued as planned onto the flight while I scrambled to get an appointment at the passport agency and a new ticket to meet them as soon as possible. It was all so sudden, I hardly had a moment to say goodbye to them. Before I knew it, they were gone. On a plane. Far, far away. Oh Lord, help!!!

And help He did. My parents offered to pay the cost of the extra flight I had to purchase. I was able to get a crisp new passport the next day. And I am scheduled to board the plane tomorrow morning... Thank you Jesus!!!

As for Abba and baby, I have received several snippets of news. Asha slept the first two hour leg. Good! They had a sweet bonding time the second leg. Fantastic! I did not know there were so many legs to their journey, but seems they had at least three yesterday. There was a long delay somewhere along the way, and they arrived in Atlanta too late to catch their connecting flight to Israel. They spent last night in Atlanta and the entire day today in the airport. Asha napped an hour and a half on the floor, then woke up and cried for me for about 20 minutes :( Then she saw someone with my build and hair back in a bun, and she thought it was me for one comforting moment... Then she realized it wasn't, and really broke down. Oh how my heart breaks to scoop that little muffin up in my arms! Thankfully Ian was able to calm her down with airline pretzels and that was the last I heard from them, other than a quick note to say they were boarding the plane at 6:30 this evening and would be in Israel in about 8 or 9 hours.

Lord willing, our next post will be from the Holy Land!

That tragic moment: