In All Things

With most of my family living back in California, attending weddings, showers and other celebrations is more complicated than it used to be. Getting there from Michigan is not so easy, especially as Al and I are getting older.

 When my niece, Lily, announced her engagement last Christmas, we started making plans to fly west for the October wedding. In April, Al lined up a direct flight from Detroit to Sacramento.

 He also arranged for a rental car so that we could drive to the wedding venue near Placerville, a small community in the foothills of the Sierras east of Sacramento.

Besides attending the wedding, we decided to spend a few days visiting some of our favorite scenic places in the state as well as reconnecting with family and friends.

Unfortunately, during the summer the airlines cancelled the direct flight from Detroit to Sacramento and rerouted us through Salt Lake City. The departure time was also revised several times until the final hour was set at 7:00 pm from the DTW, arriving in Sacramento after midnight!

With the late arrival time, we decided to cancel the original reservation for a hotel in Placerville and reserve a hotel near the airport. Not ideal, but there would still be enough time to get to Placerville for the wedding which was scheduled to begin at 2:00 the next day.  

That was just the beginning of the many twists and turns of our trip to California!

Things went according to plan until we reached Salt Lake City around 9:00 p.m. While waiting there, we met a couple who were about our age. They were just returning home from a tour in Amsterdam and were exhausted after the long flight.

Before boarding, an announcement came over the loudspeaker that there was a mechanical problem with the plane and that a new one would have to be found! Audible groans! There was a long delay while a new plane was located, cleaned and the crew was boarded.

At last, we were in our seats and ready to go. As it turned out, our new friends, Rich and Val, were sitting next to Al and I was across the aisle from them.

By this time, it was getting very late. There was more waiting on the tarmac while a problem with the fuel was resolved. Then suddenly came the news that the crew had worked the maximum number of hours and could not continue. Since it was too late to find a new crew, the flight was cancelled!

Everyone was escorted off the plane, dumbfounded and confused about what to do next! Eventually we were shuttled away to different hotels with the assurance that there would be a flight the following morning at 10:00 a.m.

 One more hitch—the suitcases that had been checked into baggage, were not available. They could be picked up in Sacramento the next day! Oh well! It was nice just to get to the hotel, where we were able to get a few hours of sleep before returning to the airport.

As it turned out, we found our new friends and went through the security checkpoint together without any problems. After a few wrong turns and with the help of some agents, we were able to board the plane and reclaim our seats from the night before.

Al’s comment? “This seems like the movie ‘Ground Hog’s Day!’”

However, the plane got off the ground and arrived in Sacramento safely without any further problems. The four of us found our way to the luggage claims office in the baggage section and were relieved to find our suitcases there.

There was no time to waste! We said good-bye and left hurriedly for the car rental headquarters. Due to a rain delay, the wedding had been changed to 3:00 p.m.

 Without that time change, we would have been late; but thankfully we arrived a few minutes before it started! I was even able to give my mom’s tiny wedding Bible to bride Lily, so that she could carry it down the aisle. It was a beautiful wedding, so worth the trouble getting there!

God is with us always even when circumstances seem out of control! Fretting and fuming won’t get us anywhere! Trusting in Him is the right thing to do!

Dear Lord, Thank you for your faithfulness! Help us to love and to trust you more. In Jesus’ name Amen.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)