“It Was A Good Trip”

Well, we’re back from our trip. It was a full 6 days with many blessings and a few challenges. It’s amazing that once you commit to something, there’s no turning back… the bridges are burnt and you have no option but to push through.

Here’s a quick overview of our trip. Since we haven’t traveled for awhile, we did experience some new things. After we got dropped off, we maneuvered our caravan of luggage to the bag drop which was empty so we looked around, read the signs and eventually found the spot to drop off two of our bags….okay, so far, so good. We then proceeded with our other bags (computer bag, C-Pap bag, ice bag with Judy’s meds, Judy’s purse, coats) to the proverbial “security inquisition”. 

We zipped thru the identification part (boarding passes and ID’s) and headed for the scanning of our carry ons. Chuck, a former Gestapo agent, herded us thru with loud challenges, correction, a few tries at humor…. as I was stumbling thru the process, I realized my C-Pap bag was not with us… I looked around, checked my pockets as if it would be in my pocket…and then saw a kind lady holding it up back at the check in area. Okay, back on track. We walked thru the x-ray scanner only to realize that much of our stuff was going into the “dreaded double check” reserved for terrorists and imbeciles.  After being admonished for not taking my C-Pap machine out of my C-Pap bag, etc., etc, the rest of our stuff finally made it thru. Okay….so far so good, we’re still alive….we have our stuff and are heading for the gate. Time for a little break. Judy brings out the egg salad sandwiches which only the most season travelers bring with them, and we gobbled them down. Okay take a deep breath. 

We made it to Detroit airport and went to get our bags. The only excitement was when a lady came up to me (sensing that I knew my way around the airport) and in broken English asked where the flight from Lithuania was arriving. Using my best sign language and speaking loud and slow English, I was able to assist her and get her to the right place….hopefully it was the right place. Our daughter Cristin picked us up and we were on our way. I need to pick up the pace or this BLOG will turn into War & Peace.

The rest of the trip went very well. We had wonderful times with our daughter and family, celebration of our grandson Nick’s 18^th birthday, attending basketball games of Owen, Sam, Niamh….marveled over Max’s free-throw championship medal, and Ian’s fire making skills,  watched the Detroit Lions game which did not turn our well, tons of great food, wonderful hospitality from our “co-in laws” Mike & Barb, and more. Our presentation on “family life” went well; we attended a prayer meeting, and visited with a number of old friends. Wow, I’m out of breath recounting our visit. 

All in all, it was clear that God wanted us to make this trip despite the challenges. Hopefully we were able to bring God’s encouragement to many people which makes any inconveniences not really matter. The theme of our presentation and maybe of the entire trip was the “Goodness of God”. Thru our life it’s been clear that the Lord has been with us and has blessed us. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) Life has many obstacles, but with Christ all things will be well and will be worked to our good. So don’t give up when things get tough.

Well, we woke up to a snow storm as we left for our return trip to the Detroit airport and home. Our daughter did a superb job of maneuvering the snowy highways (with several cars and trucks having slid off the road into ditches) and got us to the airport. I’m not going to mention losing my glasses as we rushed to check in, or the delay to de-ice the plane …. but we made it home thanks to our daughter Anne picking us up in the midst of her busy schedule. 

We arrived home a bit physically tired but spiritually refreshed, believing we had said yes to the Lord’s call with this trip. And that is always very good news.