43 Days Home

We have been home over a month now and - as life's pace of choice tends to be - things have been busy.

October 5, 2018

The boys were FANTASTIC on our flights home. I, however, had a slight meltdown on the final leg. 

Our flights were planned as follows - Budapest to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Chicago, Chicago to Fargo

We ended up flying - Budapest to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Chicago, Chicago to Minneapolis, Minneapolis to Fargo 

Chicago O'Hare has to be one of the worst for arriving internationally. Everyone who arrives to the international terminal and then transfers to fly domestically has to leave the terminal, catch a bus, and then reenter the airport - complete with all the lines, screenings, and security checks. Clearly I was exhausted and not having the best attitude for this part of our trek. 

On our final flight from Chicago to Fargo, we had to make an unexpected stop in Minneapolis. Our plane's autopilot had stopped working. Our actual pilot was phenomenal however, and kept us calm, very informed, and had us back in the air in less than an hour after everything was fixed.

My sister and 2 of her kiddos gave us an extra warm welcome! Thank you, Becky, for doing our laundry, cooking meals for us, and letting us sleep in that first day back.

October 10, 2018

We had our first snow the same day Hurricane Michael wrecked my hometown - Port St. Joe and Mexico Beach, Florida.

I took the boys to story time at the library, Tomas for the first time. Meanwhile, my parents, Granny, Aunt Ann, and many friends and acquaintances experienced a life changing disaster. 

Pictures from my parents' neighborhood, taken a few days after the hurricane. My parents evacuated and many roads were destroyed by the storm, so it took a few days for them to be able to return home.

The scene from my parents' deck

Their nearest gas station

The back of their neighborhood

The front of their neighborhood

It has been heartbreaking, and we are so thankful for the many who have volunteered time and resources to help my hometown.

So many organizations from all over the US sent search and rescue teams, policemen, fire trucks, electric companies, and volunteers to hand out free meals and needed items. This is encouraging to see. Please know those in my hometown are so grateful. 

Writing this, even a month after the fact, there is still a lot of work to be done. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.