Sunday, February 25, 2018

God is in His heaven...and I can see His light in my life.

The sun is sparking on the fresh snow in my backyard, this silent sweet Sabbath morning. The peace after the chaos... 
I marvel at what has transpired over the last 21/2 days! Hard to believe I was shopping an outside mall in Louisiana where it was 75 degrees only 24 hours ago! Sometimes what I get to do in my life because I work for jetBlue still blows my mind.

Warning: content may cause anxiety....

Allow me to explain. When Cassidy accepted the job in Salt Lake City we offered to help with their move. Finally it was decided Clark & I would fly down and Cass & Clark would drive the moving truck and Cassidy's truck in caravan style and I would fly Emma, Brigan & Tayden on my Buddy-passes back to Utah on jetBlue. Great plan, with the new Fort Lauderdale flight from SLC (connecting to New Orleans) we could avoid the North East and it would be a shorter flight. I kept checking the loads and as it got closer we decided when there were only three seats left that- to eliminate the stress- we would purchase tickets instead of flying standby. Done! 

Unfortunately we totally forgot our time-honored tradition of stopping in the driveway to invite the Lord's protection as we traveled...five minutes on the freeway and Bryce called after being impressed to go to the kitchen...Clark had left his cellphone at home. We returned to the house...and with a chance for a do-over prayer opportunity...we again missed the cue...driving off without our "travel prayer". 
It was just beginning to snow...made it to the airport, standing in the security line...both of us suddenly turned to each other with horror on our faces as we had simultaneously read our boarding passes for the first time...DOORS WERE CLOSING NOW! ....WHAT???? 

I was so stunned at my mistake...and we were about to lose $400! We stepped out of the line and began to scramble for plan B knowing that the moving truck was arriving to their house within hours! Some fancy footwork or finger-work on a smart phone...and we salvaged our money into a JB credit...listed for tomorrow's Boston to New Orleans...then the counter manager rolled us over to the flight leaving in 50 minutes with my status... I knew we'd make it (even tho two other standby's wouldn't) Good thing none of us really know each other by sight! 
During this process as my mind was still reeling from my apparent idiocy...the agent casually said "don't feel bad others have had this happen since JB changed the departure time by an hour."  Wait...WHAT?" 
Yep between the time I was researching and when I actually booked us on the flight the time had changed and I didn't even catch it. I suppose I felt a little bit better but I'm not sure I can continue to consider myself as a very OCD traveler....

That Boston flight was delayed an hour but no worries as our connection to MSY (New Orleans) was still intact because of a longer layer over originally. We even got to sit together! No more hiccups, we landed in MSY and got our rental car...drove through their crazy instant downpour...but I was in flip flops so really how bad was it?

Everyone was excited to see us...we went out together for a quick lunch and then Clark got in the moving truck and they drove off....their drive has been long and at one point a semi in front of them had a whole wheel come loose and fly across the freeway...but they were able to see it in enough time to not get hit! They had to stop often to clear the windshields as they passed through the mountains in Colorado...but 26 hours of driving will be over in about two more!

Meanwhile I had a quiet night in a hotel Cassidy had organized while Emma and the kids spent their last night with Miss Leigh Ann and family. Lots of tears and hugs...Finally it was time- we got to the airport and discovered while we were still ok to make the flight...the incoming aircraft was late! We would only have maybe 15 mins in JFK to make our connection instead of 45 mins! I told the gate agent we had a super tight connection if he could give us seats close to the front so we'd have the best chance possible to make it. 

Unfortunately there were not even 2 seats together! We were scattered and 4 year old Tayden was seated between 2 strangers...he looked up at me and was terrified. I assured him I was right in front of him (Emma and I had decided this plan so I could get out and run for the new flight while she followed with kids and bags) suddenly the lady on the aisle said "I am a grandma...I'll switch with you so you can sit by him!" I was delightfully stunned...then I asked the girl in the window if she wanted to switch window seats with Brigan...she said sure...as I turned to tell Brigan, the other two people sitting next to Brigan were already starting to stand to trade with Tayden and I. I almost burst into tears at the kindness of this group of strangers.

So I sat with the kids on one row and Emma was two rows behind. The flight attendants were great giving the kids free ear-buds for the movies...and when I offered to pay for that first lady's drinks...and flight attendant saw my ID badge she waved me off and told the lady I had covered her drinks...which she was so surprised at. Win win!

That flight attendant also told the pilot we had a tight connection...well my anxiety was mounting as we got closer to JFK. I was watching my work programs monitoring both flights and could see us good to go on the JFK-SLC flight however there were still a few open seats so I knew once all the revenue customers had boarded the crew would not wait for us non-rev's...it would be all beyond my control. 
Inflight told me to have the gate agent, when we land, radio the new gate and tell them we were coming...then I had to run to the new gate! The doors opened...GAME ON! They told the agent to radio ahead and I hurried down the jet-way praying the customers would help Emma get her bags off...First thing I noticed we'd come in to gate #19 not gate #10 as indicated...so #26 was way closer to get to. 

I was into the hallway about to take off at a run when the impression came "Don't run! Walk quickly...but don't run" so I walked as fast  as I could...tempted to take off again the same impression came again..."Don't run...walk quickly" Finally #26 came into view complete with agent waiting for me....breathless I said can we board? the Gate was closed...
I had no hope...she said if the other's aren't here they can't get on...I explained my grandson was 4....I couldn't leave them.
I walked back to the hallway desperate to see them but totally without hope....she shouted at me "Can you see them?"...I looked and looked and suddenly I saw Brigans pink sweatshirt and her mint carry-on bag. I yelled to her "I SEE THEM" waving frantically at them to hurry....I began relaying a play-by-play..."They are at gate #24!" 
She's telling me OPS is all over her to get the flight out...all revenue was boarded...she had to ask the Pilot for permission to board us as the aircraft door was NOT closed.....

Meanwhile Tayden, Brigan & Emma came screaming around the corner and were suddenly in front of her! We waited breathless and praying while she talked to the Pilot..."Yes they are standing here" "Is that yes or no...?" oh the agony! 
She heard the answer on her walkie talkie and set "LET"S GO HURRY" 

No need for that command to be repeated- Tayden ducked under the rope and began running for the plane door....she was yelling out seat assignments as she chased us down the jet-way!
Emma & Tayden got seated together with Brigan directly in front of her and me a middle a couple of rows back. Gratitude prayers began immediately, before I even fastened my seat belt. 

Halfway to Utah I realized that had I run when I wanted to...she would have been asking for permission way before Emma had arrived at the gate and the wait would have been long enough to be denied. Because I walked fast instead Emma had time to get the bags and kids and she DID run! (She was a ROCKSTAR!) 

So the Lord knew the timing was critical for success. I am still in awe this morning...hence the long blog in an attempt to wrap my head around it all! 

Do the little things matter to the Lord? I learned from a Primary teacher when I was a child...If it matters to me -it matters to Him. YES it ALL matters. Even the little stuff. His love is tangible and surrounds me. I have seen so many miracles in the last two weeks in every area of my life. The trial are still up ahead but my sweet friend Deb Dowdle gave me a visual I love and have clung to...she said "When I am in the midst of my trials I picture His hands...but lovingly cupped together holding me like an infant in His beautifully scarred, infinitely loving hands." I choose to remember this and the accompanying feel of His enormous love for me...and all of His children.

And so this morning I am loving the significance of a world bathed in fresh snow, sparkling in the blue-sky-sunshine, knowing God is in His heaven and all is right with my world. Our family is finally reunited in Utah, where Kenton will be as often as possible too, and I am feeling incredibly blessed. In the months and weeks ahead as we get answers and solutions to my health concerns...I know I shall remember these experiences and draw strength from them again as that tangible proof that I am numbered as one of His Chosen Daughters. Blessed beyond measure, He loves me too! And He loves you too!