Traveling Home

We woke on Saturday morning, already in Miami. It was with heavy hearts that we got up, got dressed, and got things organized to head off ship. We checked our final bill, and found that we had been charged twice for something, so I headed down to correct the bill.

We headed off ship around 9:15, and loaded a bus bound for Ft Lauderdale, where our flight was to depart from. We arrived there at 10:30, and were told we had to wait until 11 until we could check our luggage....so there we sat for another 30 minutes waiting to check in. Our flight was not until 2pm.

We checked in with the kids once it was late enough (there is a 3 hour difference) and found that Kristin had been sick--with the same stomach bug that hit the Noffsingers prior to them picking up the kids. Ryan had not had it yet. In light of that, we decided that we could not attend Kim's confirmation, and best head home.

After finally checking our luggage, we headed off to get something to eat, and wait for our flight. We visited with friends we were traveling with, and before long, we were on the plane to Philly PA. We arrived just in time to get to our next gate, grab a GREAT Philly steak & cheese (they don't make them like that here in OREGON!) and were on the next flight to Portland. Unfortunately, after we boarded and pushed back from the gate, we sat on the runway for 90 minutes as there was a thunderstorm and high winds. We waited it out, and then finally took off....arriving in Portland at 10:40 rather than 9PM.

Jen came to pick us up, and we headed back to her place to pick up kids & dogs, and head home. She brewed us a pot of coffee and sent us on our way. We arrived home at 1:30--to find that one of our cats had been locked up in error, and had not been able to eat or drink for seven days. Thankfully, she ran to the water bowl....drank a long time, ate, and then was ready for some overdue loving! She is happy and doing great!

We woke Sunday AM at 5:30 (UGH) and could not go back to sleep, so went out to the truck, unloaded our suitcases, and unpacked. We shared the few souveniers we came home with for the kids, and had a very leisurley day. Poor Ryan did come down with the bug...but recovered in about 24 hours, and so far, Bill & I are doing fine.

This was our greeting the afternoon we arrived home. God is so good...

Not Michigan colors...but still very pretty!