Stranded at Christmas

Oh where to begin???

Well I began this year in London believing I would stay here for a complete year before returning home to Seattle, but because of health complications both in London and back home with my family, I decided I would make the leap and save my money to go home for Christmas, and this is how it all began....

The thought of going home for Christmas was something I would roll around in my mind in the first few months of being here, but I did not think it would actually happen.
Due to health problems, I spent many hours praying to God and consulting others about what would be the best decision about flying home in December.
We all came to the conclusion that if I could find a flight for 500 pounds or less I would go.
I quickly began checking all airlines in mid October and excitedly saw that going home was now not only a thought but an actual possibility.
I decided to save the little pocket money I was earning each month from the organization and with help from family back home I officially booked my ticket on December 5th.
School let out on the 17th so it was booked to depart on the 19th and return the 1st with a few days to come back to London time before school restarted.
After getting the booking, I thought I was now a sure deal to be home for Christmas. Boy was I wrong...

On the 18th of December, the morning before I would leave, London began to snow like no other for about 2 hours straight leaving 3 inches of snow on the ground. This was very concerning to me but I truly did not believe it would really affect my scheduled departure.

Sure enough, on the 19th I headed out of the house around 7am with a large smile on my face and announcing to my housemates that I would not be home until the 2nd, with little doubt that this would be false.

As I finally approached the airport I was in for a real surprise. Not only was every flight cancelled, but the entire place was packed to the brim like a can of sardines and me being the tall gal of 5 feet that I am, I was trampled. I fell loosing all my baggage and twisting my knee cap. Luckily, a man grabbed me and carried me and my bags to safetly where my knee immediately swelled to the size of a baseball.

Hours later I finally made it out of the airport to return home, multiple bags in hand and limping with a dysfunctional knee. When I made it home I came to remember that our internet and phone was out of comission and I was going to need to rebook my flight somewhere else.

Luckily, Tobi my house mate had a friend close by who graciously allowed me to come over and make arrangements. I spent about an hour and a half on the phone before I was finally rebooked to head out of London on the 24th and make it just in time for Christmas Eve dinner and change my return flight to the 8th.

The next day my supervisor took me to lunch and the day after that I spent sight seeing around London, places I had yet to see and needed to.
It was then Thursday the 23rd and another supervisor invited my over for lunch and company and I had a wonderful time, leaving saying goodbye and I would see her in a few weeks.

HA

On the 24th I woke up around 3 am and decided to check my flight was on time before jumping out of bed and getting ready to depart. This is when I was again faced with the saddness that my flight was cancelled due to snow in Dublin, a layover I was booked on.

With loud sobs and cries, I called United and was FINALLY rebooked once again to now leave on Christmas mid day and arrive in Seattle on the 26th at 11 am.

Convinced I was spending Christmas alone, I went back to sleep. Around 8 am I was awoken to my telephone ringing by both my supervisors insisting I spend Christmas eve with them and they would take me to the airport on Christmas since all public transport would be closed.

My bags were all packed and by the door and when Rebecca, a supervisor, picked me up around 4pm I was ready to see some people and celebrate what I did have to be thankful for and leave my own self pity party.

That night was absolutely lovely to say the least and although it is not the Christmas Eve I expected, it was definately beautiful and one I will never forget.

The next morning Santa found me! Even in a different house miles away in London! =] This was very exciting and put me right back into the Christmas spirit!
Around noon Edward, supervisors hubby, drove me to the airport to prepare for my 4:20 pm flight to WA DC and then connecting to Seattle. All went well to start with as all bags were checked and I was ready to depart. We were all loaded on the plane when an announcer came on saying there were maintenance issues and we would be delayed.

At this point I turned to the guy next to me and could not help but burst out into uncontrollable laughter. I mean what was I to do? Seriously, this could only happen to me! haha! So an hour after being told we would depart we set off on a 8 hour flight and made it safely to WA DC!!

Once landing there, I had to claim my bag and recheck it because I was spending the night in the airport due to a 12 hour layover before leaving for Seattle.
When I went to get my bag, it was no where to be found and after many calls and panic from me, it was found in the wrong terminal and an hour later back to me.
I then checked it, headed through security, made the mandantory calls home, grabbed my complimentary pillow and blanket, set my alarm and went to sleep on the rows of chairs.
After a pretty much sleepless night, I stood up ready to get on my next flight and be in Seattle.

This is when I decided to check the board one last time and saw those evil red bolded letters saying DELAYED. At this point I really couldn't tell you what went through my mind, and as I quietly made it up to customer service I stood motionless as they told me they had operational problems and it would be at least an hour delayed.

Pshhh an hour I thought no big deal. So I gratefully took the little bag full of complimentary goodies, including a tooth brush, comb, and lip balm, and went to sit in the gate until my flight was called.

You see this is where I am now. Literally as I write this they are calling that we will be boarding in 10 minutes and to say the least, I am ecstatic!!!!

This may be a typical travel story for many of you, but for me this seemed like a section from the movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!

So it is now the 26th of December, I have missed Christmas, but nonetheless, I should be home around noon today and when that happens, everything that went wrong this last week will no longer matter. Because I will be in the arms of the people who mean the most to me, and although I may have missed the day of Christmas, this truly is the best gift I could have ever received!!!

Love to all and Merry Christmas from London and Washington DC and soon to be Seattle =]

End of first term

Again I start this blog sending out apologies on my lack of posts lately allowing you all to see the journey I am on.

Today is December 11 and in just 8 days I will be flying across the pond to spend a much needed Christmas with my family and friends!! To back up a little I will let you all know that going home for Christmas was never in the plan when I left to come here. I was prepared to spend a full year in London and see you all again next summer, but as luck would have it, God had much better plans for me!! He made it possible for me to come home knowing how badly I need it amongst the struggles I have been facing over here. Of course, thank you Anna and Mommy and Jess for helping with the support to get me over there!! I look forward to heating and real food and most importantly the beautiful faces I have come to love soo much!! =]

This is my last week of teaching before next year and as I say goodbye to my kids for the holidays I can't help but feel that I will miss them dearly while I am gone. Many of them have made leaps and bounds in progress since the beginning of the year and this brings me to tears!! One of my children who has it particularly rough has been invited to bake cookies with me and another volunteer after school this week to give him that bit of extra love he so badly needs!
Others, I have not seen so much progress in and that is always difficult, but it is a constant reminder about how much these kids really need from me!
I am already thinking about how hard it is going to be when I come home for good and cannot continue to boost them on their journeys and tell them everyday how much they mean to me, I guess I will just be writing lots of letters =]

Most of you who read this will see me soon and get to hear many more stories about just what I am going through over here, but I can say without reserve, this has been the HARDEST most CHALLENGING year of my life, and I still have 9 more months to go!

At the end of most days I find myself on my knees praying to God to help these children and to give them hope, more than I ever could.

Keep sending those prayers my way, not only for my strength but for the impact in my kids lives and for them to just feel Gods love!!
I love you all so much and you better believe I am running around the house everyday excitedly singing "Ill be home for Christmas"!!

My housemates are wonderful and I have definately made some life long friends here and I absolutely love them to death! There is always something exciting going on over here in London which I am sure you can imagine. My supervisors at one of my schools are like surrogate mummys and always taking care of me! I am so blessed to have them. I believe they are my own personal guardian angels!

Ok I know I am rambling on but I just want you all to have a little insight into my daily life and know how much I love and miss you all! =]

Cheers!