We began our morning at 2am, I had gotten about an hour sleep at that point. The drive to the airport and the initial boarding all went smoothly. The baggage was checked and the pets were checked. Once we were aboard the airplane that is when the fun began. As we sat there with our pets in full view outside the plane on the luggage car the stewardess approached to tell us that our dog could not fly on this particular airplane. The cat could but not the dog. She would have to go on another flight. At this point we were in our seats and she was unsympathetic to the fact that they had booked us on this flight, checked our pets and now become aware that this plane could not hold our dog. Anyways, simultaneously Jason had left a very important bag containing our orders outside the plane at the point where you drop the strollers. She was also unsympathetic to helping us check on this bag.We sat frustrate but there was not much we could do but trust God to help our family our dog and our orders to all arrive in LA together. As the pre-flight checks were completed I watched the dog and cat drive away. Now remember we were told the cat was going on this flight. I tried to get the stewardess's attention (who seemed annoyed with us at this point) to ask her why the cat didn't make the flight and where exactly were the pets going and what flight would they be on. Again she showed much compassion by replying with, the cat is on board, and you'll have to find out what flight the dog is on when you get to Chicago. I politely told her "no the cat is not on board, she just drove away with the dog" She had to go and check on that one.
Now the flight went well, and we just sat hungry (the snacks were also is Jason's bag that was MIA....This was a foodless flight.
We arrived in Chicago with about 25 minutes until our next flight left. Mad dash- food needed and not sure where the pets were at this point. We decided to split up. Jason kept Zach and went to find out what flight the pets were on, I took the girls and headed off for food. God is good our next gate was only a short run away. We all made it with food in hand and a flight number on the pts. We were told there were just an hour behind us !! Praise God, things were looking good.
LAX- Sue (Jason's mom ) was meeting us there to help with the luggage, kiddos, and pet crates. The mini-van we rented would be a tight squeeze for everything. We arrved and met her in baggage, the pets flight had some mechanical problems and were now at least 3 hours behind us. Slight delay. Jason was going to get the car so we could go eat and then get the pets. But the bomb scare put that on hold. No cars were moving through the airport. So on to plan 2..
We would be given a food voucher from United and we would sit in baggage for the next 3 1/2 hours eating burgers, fries and waiting for the pets. The bomb scare would clear, Jason would get the rental car, we would load up and shortly there after the pets would arrive. Under some stress because Heide had chewed her bed to pieces. Possibly during their mechanical delay. I would love to include all the exciting details of our stay in baggage claim, but it could go on forever.
OK- so what would God have us to learn through all of this. The only thing I could think of was that the pets could stay in their crates for almost 14 hours and survive. How is this useful knowledge? Well, the trip to Japan will be about 20 hours. I was worried how they would do. Now I know they can survive, not exactly happy but survive a long journey. Oh by the way, the bag with our orders was checked with the stroller.........
