Last night Charlie flew to London. He got there safe. And those of us who remain at home are doing fine SO FAR. Wishing we could go too, and of course missing him. But before we know it, he’ll be back. And since taking a plane trip always involves a road trip, our adventure on the road provided lots to write about.
A trip to the Atlanta airport by the numbers:
2 – hours early Charlie had to be there for his international flight.
30 – minutes early that we arrived at school to check kids out.
20 – minutes for school secretaries to track down all three kids.
25 – miles per hour that Charlie drove in the school zone, twitching.
40 – snacks that I packed for kids to choose from on the ride.
3 – waters I packed for kids.
1 – water that was simply not cold enough for one kid, so he drank all of mine.
45 – minutes to drive to airport.
11 – “Ooooh”s from the back seat when we pointed out Atlanta’s “skyscrapers” to our country kids.
8 – drivers encountered going below the speed limit in the left lane, who sped up when we passed them on the right. Don’t want to be passed on the right? GET OUT OF THE LEFT LANE, SPARKY.
3 – planes that came in for a landing overhead on a short stretch of Camp Creek Parkway. How close together DO they land?
1 – dollar that we had to pay to park and walk Charlie in. (A bargain, in my book.)
2 – times I had to walk back to the truck – first for the ticket, then for Hannah’s card for her friend Abi in England. (Extra points for the second time, since I was accompanied by a hysterical Hannah.)
3 – times Abby got ornery and wandered off in a crowded airport.
3 – times I panicked and felt a simultaneous impulse to hug and kill her.
At least 5 – times we each hugged Charlie and told him we’d miss him.
At least 40 – times I’ve thought of and prayed for Charlie’s safety and anointing.
(Funny: On Stuff Christians Like today, Jon did an entertaining post on an algorithm for measuring anointing. And here I’ve been praying for it. “Please God, make Charlie likeable in spite of anyone’s predisposition to dislike him.” You have to read Jon’s post for that to make sense.)
(I have no brilliant insights on its significance either. It’s just funny.)
I miss my hubby, but I’m really glad he’s in the UK (consulting with churches). God invited him on this adventure, and he gets to participate in His plan with other believers.
One more number:
7 – times I was glad I had the kids in the car so I could travel in the HOV lane during the rush hour drive home.
Okay, just one more:
27 – meltdowns, crying jags or arguments produced by three kids in three hours between arrival home and bedtime. (A record LOW for a day when Daddy just left, I might add.)
12 responses so far ↓
1 Helen // Apr 23, 2009 at 10:07 am
Praying for Charlie’s success and safety in England.
Oh, yeah, and that you and the kids don’t starve…..If you need easy recipes, you know who to turn to….Do you have a crock pot?
Helen’s last blog post..Help Me Stay on the (Atkins) Wagon
2 Candy // Apr 23, 2009 at 10:15 am
Oh yeah, praying for you Steph. It’s so hard when they’re gone, especially when they’re so far away. You can call and melt down to me any time you want. Been there. I always wake up at 3 am and HATE that empty bed.
You won’t starve. There’s always the head cheese. You can even make it in the crock pot.
Candy’s last blog post..He is Risen Indeed
3 @ngie // Apr 23, 2009 at 11:23 am
And 1 very wonderful and devoted wife who supports, encourages and prays for her husband. This was a great read, SSBBBFF! Hang in there.
@ngie’s last blog post..GOT IT!
4 Charlie // Apr 23, 2009 at 11:35 am
Thank you for the prayers, Stephanie and bloggy friends.
5 katdish // Apr 23, 2009 at 12:05 pm
As a way to wish Charlie a safe, wonderful and God inspired trip, I think everyone that follows him on twitter should tweet him the following youtube video:
London, Baby!
Also Steph, I think it would be really cute if the kids said this to him everytime he called.
katdish’s last blog post..Hannah Montana Devotional
6 Jo@Mylestones // Apr 23, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Glad he got there safely! And hang in there, Steph. Here’s to fewer meltdowns and more laughs & fun during your short-term stint as a single parent!
Jo@Mylestones’s last blog post..Just a few of our favorite things…
7 Screwed Up Texan // Apr 23, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Ah, who’s keeping count? Oh wait…you are. lol!
Screwed Up Texan’s last blog post..Okie Adventures: Rosie
8 faemom // Apr 23, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Wow that’s a lot of work there. Good luck with the kids for two weeks. Let us know if you need some back up.
9 the domestic fringe // Apr 23, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Praying your two weeks goes by quickly.
Glad he got off safely.
-FringeGirl
10 Nina in Portugal // Apr 24, 2009 at 3:41 am
My kid’s loved the skyscrapers in Atlanta too.
Georgia drivers are THE WORSE in America!
I said that before I lived there and it was confirmed after I moved there!
Sounds like quite the adventure!!
I remember going to the Atlanta airport to pick my husband up from an international flight. I took a lady from the church with me. She was almost 30 and had NEVER been to an airport. There were more oooo’s and aahhh’s out of her than out of any of my kids!
Nina in Portugal’s last blog post..Our Latest Prayer Letter
11 Hat Chick // Apr 24, 2009 at 7:08 am
You take your husband to the airport?? I send mine off in his own car or have a car service take him. You’re a good wife.
12 Steph at the Red Clay Diaries // Apr 24, 2009 at 8:04 am
Helen- Last night I made my kids’ favorite Mommy meal: frozen tortellini and jarred sauce. Crockpot? Is that what that thing is? Guess I should transplant the African violets then.
Candy- Thanks for the prayers and commiseration. It means a LOT.
@ngie- No, YOU’RE the encourager!
Katdish- Speaking of encouragement… There are no words. Kids & I are just waiting for him to call so we can shout it. (Altho he’s not exactly in London anymore. And he’ll end up liking it, which takes all the fun out of it.)
Jo- Dear Wife-of-medical-resident, Thanks for the encouragement from one who lives in the trenches.
I can really sense everyone’s prayers.
Screwedup- Hee. I did kinda obsess over the numbers didn’t I?
Faemom- Backup? You mind if the kids and I show up in AZ? We’re due for a vacay…
Fringegirl- THANK YOU for the prayers. I can tell they’re helping.
Nina- You ain’t seen scary drivers till you’ve lived in LA. Then again, you’re in Portugal, so I guess you have seen worse.
Hatchick- Ain’t no fayncee ‘car services’ that picks up from way out here in the sticks. I HAVE made him drive himself before, but that’s a LOT of money for parking.
But thank you. I AM a good wife (she says with utmost humility).
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