A delay and a pit stop

Our afternoon flight out of Springfield is cancelled due to thunderstorms and fog to the north. By then, we've had lunch with our friends and said goodbye, packed up the house, and taken a taxi to the airport.

The next flight is delayed, so we sit at the airport for 7 hours. Of course we miss our connection to Seattle. W makes sure Delta rebooks our flight for Asia for a day later. We wouldn't even have turnaround time at home, and our teaching supplies have to come with us.

Though W's a Platinum flyer, Delta refuses to pay for our hotel room. W goes online to find a place to spend the night. He gets an excellent rate at a boutique hotel: the Hotel Indigo. We just miss the shuttle and have to wait a half hour for the next one.

We get to the hotel  at midnight, close to the time we expected to be home. There's a long line at the hotel counter. Everyone else in line has vouchers. (Delta gave all the regular passengers a voucher but not W with all his miles? Hmmm. It's their prerogative: the delay was weather-related, but it seems kinda cheezy and arbitrary, especially when we're tired.)

Oh well. We're exhausted and happy to find a nice place to sleep. Beauty feeds my soul. And the room is beautiful, the bed comfortable. There's a tea tray on the end of the bed. The furnishings are gorgeous and modern. The spa-like bath is enormous and clean clean clean. (Not to be taken for granted, at this point and going forward!)

We're up by 5:30am and once again, have to wait for the shuttle. It fills up and takes off without us, before its departure time. But the driver comes back as quickly as he can to get those still waiting. Within a few hours, we're on an uneventful flight.

Seattle is cold and rainy after the humidity and heat of Missouri. Our d-in-love R picks us up, has lunch with us, and waits while we run an errand. It's good to see her face. Family!

Finally, we make it home. We do laundry, repack, and prepare what we need to teach for a month in SE Asia. There's no place like home. Even if it's just overnight. And our granddaughter is bringing her parents over for a quick evening visit. Doesn't get better than that!

Lesson for the day: this is the beginning of inconveniences. This little one, with a blessing of such a lovely space to enjoy, is NOTHING. Our desires are not comfort or ease. We really do want whatever it is that brings God glory.

Waiting is good for us - and teaches us that we are not the center of anything. And the extra day at home? What a treat! I am grateful.

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*The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep. Ecclesiastes 12:11 NLT

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Psalm 20:1-5 NIV

*O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Psalm 105:1 NLT

*Paul said, “I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24 NLT

Moravian Prayer: Great God, we know even our finest words of praise and our great hymns of thanksgiving can never fully express our gratitude for your sacrifice. May we share your love with the whole earth! Amen.