EU: Travel Adventures

Travel truly is an adventure, and our trip to Europe has already proven that it will be another memory maker!!

Last night, we were told to be ready to leave at 4am. However, upon sleeping through my alarm clock, I found it was 4:28am, and I panicked... To make matters worse, upon heading upstairs, (for I've been sleeping in the basement--the germ-free zone, since the stomach flu made it's way through our home {except me!} this last week....), I found everyone was still in bed too!!

Meeting mom, I found out that we had accidentally looked at a different trip's itinerary taking place later this month, and we actually didn't have to leave until 8am!! (Now that's a record on both scores! Wrong time AND so late!!)

6 of our Bumps on a Log...
(apologies for the color....my computer uploaded it weird)

So...we arrive at GEG, and find out that after we confirmed our flight reservations yesterday, somehow, there was a miscommunication between the 3 different airlines, and all the tickets for us kids from Portland to Amsterdam were cancelled, and 4 had been given to others!!!
Praise God, since it was their fault, we were able to encourage them to reschedule the 4 other passengers to a different flight so we could all be together...otherwise, it would be chaos from Amsterdam to Edinburgh...

Filling out Lost and Found cards for all of us... :)

Meanwhile, us kids patiently waited...and I had an interesting conversation with the lady next to us:
Her: "Are you from around here?"
Me: "Yes, we live in Coeur d'Alene."
Her: "Are you all homeschooled?"
Me: (confused), "Uh, actually yes....... Is it that obvious???"
Her: (smiling) "Yes!"

Wow....I think that is a compliment?? :) Never in all our travels have I had someone ask that.... Oh, and yes, she was Californian.. ;P

So...then we get on the plane, and I just happened to have a seat next to a very nice lady....with a very big German Shepherd/Anatolian cross, sitting "in her lap"!!!! NOT good, as I'm pretty allergic to dogs--especially gorgeous big hairballs....
(And I'm thinking....wow! What a way to start out our trip!!!" Praise God, Rebekah volunteered to switch seats with me, and was able to encourage her in righteousness...

So, a good friend encouraged me to try the "pen experiment"...something I'd never done before while flying, which through gravity shows what angle you are in the air.... Kinda fun (even though I grabbed my camera kinda late...) (And...for the note, that is Rachel's bunny ears behind me....) :)

On a completely different topic, something I'm really trying to cultivate right now is a heart of gratefulness.... Sometimes, it is easy to take individuals for granted, and react instead of respond appropriately when they do things that you don't appreciate... So, instead of reacting, I'm purposing to focus on what they are doing right, and praise them for those areas....

PS....David just made my day....crystallized ginger!!! Woohoo!!!!!

Until next time!! :) (Probably in Scotland--in a day or two??)

From my devotions:

Keep your eyes on Me! Waves of adversity may wash over you, and you may feel tempted to give up. Don't allow your circumstances to consume your attention, else you lose sight of Me.

Yet, I am with you always, holding you by your right hand.

I am fully aware of your situation, and I will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear.

Your gravest danger is worrying about tomorrow. If you try to carry tomorrow's burdens today, you will stagger under the load and eventually fall flat.  You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today. It is the present moment that I walk close to you, helping you carry your burdens. Keep your focus on My Presence in the present.

"Nevertheless, I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand.  Thou shall guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.  Whom have I in heaven but Thee?  and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.

My flesh and my heart faith: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."

~ Psalms 73:23-26 ~