No Room in the Inn

Steve and I joked a few weeks back about a situation that came up about our trip to Minnesota for the Christmas holidays because the place we were to stay was no longer available and so we joked about how there was "no room in the Inn"!  Lodging got figured out and we were looking forward to spending Christmas with my side of the family. 

And then there was today, a day I never even anticipated. 

We arrived at the Orlando airport bright and early and boarded our plane with a very excited two year old and goofy grinned little ten month old.  Karis hasn't been on a plane in a while and she has been so excited to get on an airplane to go see "snowflake".  {Yea, we keep trying to tell her it's just called "snow" or "snowflakes"}  The flight was great, Karis was excited and very entertained by the goody bag I had prepared with all sorts of "busy activities" a two year old could ever want and Isaac just slept.  We got to Chicago, had time to find our next gate and get a bite to eat.  Steve said, "time to get our stuff ready to board the plane".  We do so and head over to wait...the waiting started taking longer and they weren't giving any reason for the waiting.  Finally they tell us they were waiting on crew members...but still more waiting.  Then the announcement came saying that the flight was cancelled. 

{WHAT?}

I have flown a lot (and Steve much more than me) and have never had a cancelled flight.  We know it happens a lot, but never had I anticipated it to happen today, with an arm load of stuff and two kiddos in tow.

The Lord instantly started working in our hearts so we would speak lovingly to each other {and our children} as we waited in the customer service line and figure out what to do.  Although we didn't succeed perfectly, we got through the day without harming each other :P  I found myself telling Karis "patience" several times and the Lord just reminded me as well "patience"!  Patience, it just kind of became the phrase for the rest of the day.  Isaac fell asleep in the carrier and slept for two hours {praise the Lord} and Karis also did very well, better than we expected!  She even napped in line as we waited an hour to speak to a customer service agent...impressive!

We made the most of the situation and now find ourselves in a hotel room in Chicago for the night.  A flight out of here before Christmas isn't looking to hopeful, so we will be en route to Minnesota tomorrow via car. 

{pray for us as we drive tomorrow}

Steve just said to me, "well I prayed God would continue to sactify me...guess I'll take a double helping of that today"! 

I am thankful though.  As we sit on the bathroom floor in our hotel room waiting for our children to fall asleep in the room, I'm thankful.  I'm thankful for how the Lord spoke to my heart constantly throughout today, a day that could have been extremely stressful.  And I am thankful that I am reminded of my Savior, Jesus, who was born in a huble stable because there was No room in the Inn for Him.  He didn't have to come into the world like that, but He did.  He didn't have to endure this life on earth, but He did. To save the souls of men.  For that I am thankful, and I am humbled.  Today was just another way the Lord was preparing our hearts during this Advent season to celebrate the birth of Christ.  We pray He continues to show us glimpses of His Glory and that our hearts will be turned toward worshipping Him alone this Christmas.

To be continued...