Days 169 to 170 | A Big Change of Plans

After a good nights sleep in an air conditioned hotel room with comfy beds and fluffy bath towels, we were ready to head off to Greece.

We really enjoyed our time in Romania and were very thankful for such a great city to stay in during COVID-19, but we were really excited to fit in a visit to one more country before heading home after our 180-day journey.

After a short, but awkward taxi ride to the airport (the driver acted like we were crazy for not wanting to walk half a mile in the rain with all our luggage and three kids), we were one step closer to what we had been waiting for. We were super excited, yet still cautious. Even as we walked up to the airport front doors, we told ourselves that it still might not work out for us to go to Greece. Even though we had read about and researched the regulations and rules for weeks and felt confident that the rules were allowing us to go, we knew we had to be ready for anything to happen.

This photo hurts my heart a bit. As we stood in line to check in, we thought everything was going smoothly and that we would be boarding the plane as scheduled. The smiles you can see through our masks even remind me how excited the girls were about this leg of our journey. About five minutes after this picture was taken, we were asked to show our passports and give the reason we were headed there.

After trying to explain how we had read we were allowed to travel, the lady at the desk called officials to confirm the rules. After that we were officially turned away. They had gone backwards on their restrictions related to the pandemic. As much as we were thankful to be safe, healthy, and have a great trip under our belt, we couldn’t help but feel disappointed that we wouldn’t get to make it to Greece on this last part of our journey.

We quickly got ourselves together and continued to move forward. We were told where to go to get our refund for the plane tickets then began trying to figure out what our next steps would be. We walked back and forth through the airport from one desk to another trying to find tickets to another country that would allow us to visit or to a country that would get us closer to home.

There were only a few offices open in the airport and the one we needed to talk to didn’t open for a couple of hours. In the meantime, we tried to see what we could do on our own online.

All the seating areas inside were closed, so we were led to wait here where there are fewer germs and the constant intercom reminder to stay 2 meters away from everyone. They even had a vending machine fully stocked with all the masks, hand sanitizer, and wipes that you would need!

Anybody need a mask or hand sanitizer? I’ve never seen a vending machine like this one!

Waiting for our next steps.

After a pretty intense few hours of thinking and planning, we were finally walking to our gate. We decided to fly to Prague, Czech Republic, stay there for the night, then fly to the US the next day. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it is what we chose to do to get back to the US without risking it becoming even more difficult to get there later.

Now we’re waiting at our gate to fly to Prague. Abigail knows how to enjoy herself while she waits!

On the plane to Prague!

The flight seemed pretty clean, but it was more full than I expected it to be.

When we arrived in Prague, things got a little complicated again. They would not let us through passport check and they told us we were going to have to stay at the airport overnight. We had reservations at a nearby hotel, but they wouldn’t let us through even for that.

When they said that we would have to stay at the airport, I pictured us having to camp out at a gate for the night. Then they explained there was a hotel in the airport. I was so glad to hear that!

The police brought our luggage to us since we were not allowed to go claim it ourselves, then they walked us to the hotel. We were very thankful to find clean and safe rooms to stay in.

That evening we had dinner from the vending machine, began recuperating from the emotional day, and played cards.

The sunset over the airfield was beautiful and another reminder of how God has taken care of us. We have so much to be thankful for!

We’re packed up again and ready for a new day and for whatever comes our way!

The girls didn’t complain about choosing a candy bar from a vending machine for breakfast. Many cafes and restaurants in the airports were closed, so we had to make do with what we could find.

We’re waiting for the police to escort us through security and to our gate. It felt as though we were the only passengers in the airport at this time.

When we arrived the security area (we were the only ones there) the police and security people were disagreeing about letting us through because we didn’t have our boarding passes. The police said we could get them at the gate. But security didn’t want to let us through without them. Somehow they came to an agreement. I don’t know the reasoning because we couldn’t understand what they were saying.

I really wanted to get a picture of all of this, but I figured it wouldn’t go over too well. I tried to take a good snapshot in my head:)

These girls have grown in so many ways on this trip. Sitting without Nathan or me is not something they would have wanted to do months ago. I’m so proud of how they’ve been so brave and flexible on this trip.

It’s always fun to see the clouds from above! This is more of God’s beauty that makes me feel so small, yet so important to Him that He would take the time to meet mine and my family’s needs and desires.

So beautiful!

Two of the seven flights that we took on this trip offered special gifts to kids. Both times were such blessings. The little touch of hospitality really helped our girls feel more at ease during the flights. It gives them something to do, but it also makes them feel noticed and comforted that the attendants acknowledge them during a potential time of anxiety.

Here we are at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany. We’re headed to our gate for the plane to Washington DC. The airport was pretty empty, but if you look closely you can see the crowd of people waiting to get on the plane. Check-in for this flight was a bit crazy. They were doing all the normal things on top of extra checkpoints related to the virus and extra restrictions.

She loves to check out all the gadgets on the plane!

This was actually a pretty comfortable flight. Again, it was more full than I expected, but the lighting was right, the temperature was good, and they served food at just the right times. I was kind of sad it was over!

The girls love being able to watch movies on the plane! I do too!

I’m glad she got a little nap in right before we landed.

We made it! It was hard to believe we made it back to the US, but we did!

Waiting to get our temperature checked. We made it through with no problems!

Our first night in the US was spent here. We got our first glimpse of what social distancing looks like in America and took it steps further to keep our distance from people.

Finally having a meal that didn’t come from a vending machine!

She was so tired! I love watching her sleep.

Our room looked over the airport along with green trees, the open sky, and purple mountains in the distance. This view was a gift that reminded me of many ways that God has taken care of us. He not only takes care of us, but is unchanging and gives us good gifts that we don’t even deserve or know that we need. I’m thankful for the gift this season has been and for God’s faithfulness to be who He is through it all.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
-James 1:17 (ESV)