Day 1

We woke up super early to finish packing and run a few errands. We headed towards the church around 9 since we had a few stops to make and needed to be there by 10. We loaded all the luggage, said a prayer and headed off to the airport with no problems. We started checking and at several of us went ahead through customs and on to the gate. A while passed and no one else came through so we gave someone still checking in a call and they said Leroy had left his passport and someone had gone to get it-no big deal. We had plenty of time. Then they announced that our plane was a few minutes late. Again, no big deal. Our layover at Dulles was supposed to be several hours so we had plenty of time. Amy and I headed to the gift shop to waste a little time. Since the B’ham airport is so small, we didn’t waste too much time there. As soon as we got back to the gate we heard the news that changed the tone of the trip-our flight was cancelled. We got word to stay at the gate and wait for news. . .

the group in prayer after we found out our flight had been cancelled

After praying, we got a call to come back to the check-in counter. They’d be bussing us to Atlanta. By the time we got to the counter things had changed. It was too late to drive to Atlanta and get on a flight in time to make a connection to Frankfurt. So we waited.

Richard, taking advantage of the opportunity to nap

me and Amy waiting for news

And waited, and waited. And finally heard that we wouldn’t be going anywhere, atleast for Friday, and Saturday was still up in the air. We finally heard that we had flights booked for the next day on a different airline. 16 of us would fly through Milan, and 2 would take the original path through Frankfurt.

So we headed home.

the buses coming to pick up back up

Once we got home we finally had an opportunity to rest after days of running to finish the last details. And then, we decided to order some pizza. Bad move-I had the worst allergy attack I’ve ever had-including a huge swollen lip. Now I know what it feels like to be pouty!