Learning our way to Heaven!

Every year my family meets up in Denver over the last week of March to spend some time with my Grandma and Grandpa Oborn. This year was no exception. I have gone every year but one for 5 years now. This year was quite a bit different as it was the first year that I did not have an eligible lap passenger and so all four of our munchkins stayed home with Dad while Mom went and partied. It was SO.WEIRD!  I took a cab to the airport early on a Saturday morning and landed mid-morning in Denver. I met up with my ever-wonderful friend, Marci. We enjoyed lunch and talked each others ears off in a game of speed catch-up. Which is funny because we've only talked a few times since last March and it was as though we had never been apart. I love that about her. Then I headed over to my Grandparent's house. Tessa and Dillon and their three kids, Ashlynn and her two, Jordin, and my Mom and Dad were all there, along with the rest of my Dad's family. It was so fun to spend some time with everyone. Mom, Jordin, and I spent a day and a half shopping and shopping, and more shopping. We didn't really have any fabulous luck, but we did each walk away with a hidden gem or two. We enjoyed late night dance sessions. Lots of talking, laughter, and more talking. It was a refreshing, rejuvenating week for me. I was set to fly out on Wednesday mid-morning and Tuesday morning I thought to myself, "I just wish I had another day!" and low and behold Tuesday evening I got online to check in and learned that we had an incoming snowstorm and my flight had been canceled. I rebooked right away, leaving about 10 hours later than I had planned. But, all was well and I felt like it was the extra time I needed. About three hours later I got a second email saying my flight had been canceled. The next flight would get me out at about 8 pm, but wouldn't get me into Manchester until 1 am. So I lined up a sitter for the kids and I snagged the flight. This really screwed Cody up as he was all scheduled for meetings on Thursday, so we would have to hurry home from the airport, just so Cody could drop me off at home and turn around to head back to work. AWFUL! Well, low and behold Wednesday early early in the morning I woke to an upset stomach and proceeded to throw up the entire night long. Oh, it was awful. I'm trying to recall the last time I threw up, it had been years. Wednesday morning I was feeling very relieved to be not boarding a plan mid-morning. About early afternoon I got a third email-flight canceled, AGAIN! I hurry and called in and the earliest they could get me out of Denver was Sunday. SUNDAY!!! So, I found a flight out of Salt Lake on Friday morning. As it would turn out we got over two feet of wet, wet, wet snow!! And that evening I was still feeling junky and was so glad to not be getting on a plane. The next morning my parents were heading to Idaho so I hopped on board with them and we left about 8 am. Only to get to Cheyenne and have the interstate closed. Our 7 hour drive ended up taking 12. UGH! It was so long. Thankfully I was in good company. Cody was able to round us up a hotel and my parents dropped me off first thing Friday morning at the airport. I was sooo excited to see Cody and the kids. It was unreal. I think Lacey had a little PTSD. Anytime I left home for the next few days or left her at school, she would be so very sad. Thankfully our Easter Bunny was still able to make it Saturday morning. He brought some cute, fun things for the kids and we enjoyed our Saturday together with a branch Easter Egg Hunt and playing catch in the driveway. Cody being the best dad that he is did the Holy Week Activities with the kids all week. Saturday we wrapped up our last activity and began to prepare for Easter Sunday. The kids looked oh so cute in their matching clothes. Because we had had no time to color eggs before-hand, we ended up coloring them when we got home from church. The kids all did a great job and were very detail oriented on their egg decorating. Despite the chaos leading up to the grand event, I think everything worked out for a reason. I had been praying my entire trip that I would be able to help someone in the airport. You see I can't even count how many times I have been blessed with Angels in my path as I have traveled by myself with my children. Anytime I saw a child struggling I would think, "AH!! Here's my chance!" But nothing ever seemed right. Finally in Chicago our gate had been changed. They announced it really late in the game. I was sitting with my phone charging and slowly took my time gathering my things. By the time I was ready to leave to the new gate it was only I and another lady in a wheel chair at our gate. I proceeded on my way when I had a very strong feeling to go back and ask her if she needed help. She did indeed need help. After taking her to the restroom, to the snack bar, and then back to her previous gate to see if they had found her missing glasses we got to our gate just in time to board. When I pushed her up to the gate she said, "Now you just stay right here!" We ended up sitting next to each other on the front row and Sally and I left as good friends. It felt like I was repaying some huge debts to all of the angels that have helped us on our way. 

One of my favorite quotes is by Brad Wilcox, he said, "We aren't earning Heaven, we are learning Heaven." I am so grateful that I was put here on the earth to learn with my favorite people ever so that I will one day be prepared to live with my Father again.