Airports - Repentance - Welcome Home
03/16-03/18/2026 Sunday - Tuesday
One of my favorite authors, Erma Bombeck, wrote a book called,
"When You Look Like Your Passport Photo - It's Time to Go Home."
That's a fact.
As I write this, I am sitting in my comfy chair in my cluttered little home. It was a journey getting here, and I am so grateful to be home. I arrived home about 2 in the morning on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Thank you, Ian, for the late night ride home. The journey involved 3 buses and about 3 total hours of driving, two airports and two flights. We spent the weekend at a hotel near the airport. Ultimately, we were on the airplane for 13 hours. It was a long flight. If you've ever taken a long-haul flight - I'm sorry, but also - go you!! It's an endurance sport, for sure.
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| Journey to Amman |
When we left Jordan, we could see that our US destination, Chicago O'Hare, was possibly having bad weather. When we landed it was wet and stormy. Shortly after I sat down to dinner to pass my 3 hour layover, my flight was cancelled. I got into a hotel. My flight was pushed back from 9:44 the next day - an entire day! Then later, then still later, but after four gate changes we were only an hour delayed. In all, I spent 13 hours in the airport and it took almost 5 total calendar days to get home.
Before making a confession, I want to be sure I'm giving credit where it's due. Mitzi did an excellent job organizing everyone's travel, providing us information as we needed it, making all of the arrangements, and guiding us all through the complexities. She was patient, and helpful, and knowledgeable, and I'm grateful for all of those things. I want to be clear that I am only speaking about my choices, and my own responsibility in deciding things for myself.
What did I learn from this? I should have stayed in Jerusalem for the Sabbath. I can see that now. It wasn't that I made a wrong choice, as there is safety among brethren and I wanted to continue adventuring instead of sitting on the phone or computer booking travel on that Friday, but there was a better choice. I spent the money I would have spent anyway, and I am perfectly capable of making my own travel arrangements. I ultimately paid for transportation and for a hotel, all of which I would have done regardless. Two other friends, a couple, were traveling out on the Sunday, and I could have gone with them to Amman airport. I would have completely missed the O'Hare weather, and would have gotten home a little later than planned but would have gotten home the same day I ended up getting home. Of course, it's always easy to see things looking backwards.
I'm certain the Father gave me that time at the hotel and the airport to chew my nails and stand at the window and watch the snow and pray. I slept only a little, and had to check out by noon, so I knew in advance my wait at the airport would be a long one. In that time, I was able to admit to Him, and now all of you, that I should have stayed through the Shabbat in Jerusalem, and trusted Him to get me home. When the Father makes things hard, there's usually a reason.
The Father was faithful to stop the snow and stop the wind and even make it slightly warmer than expected so our flight took off, and I even slept a little on the short, 4-hour flight home. In fact, everything went more smoothly and felt better after confessing my mistake.
One fun thing is I finally got stamps in my passport. Israel issues a short-term little paper card visa, to be sure one is not harassed after coming to and fro from Israel. Jordan gave me two actual purple stamps!
Once home, I unpacked a few items, took a ridiculously long shower, and cuddled dog and cats before finally taking myself off to bed. I slept - got up and did a few things, and went back to bed. Got up and walked the dog, did a few things, then back to bed. I was so exhausted - yes from the trip, but also from the many nights interrupted by alarms, and the constant need to sleep light in case there's an alarm. It's draining, and I encourage you to continue to pray for the people of Israel living under these threats every day.
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| Reunited!! |
I came down sick almost as soon as I got home. I was able to work one day - with plenty of sniffling and tissues, but the Friday when I woke up for work my illness was in full-blown ick mode. I'm sure I caught this illness on the plan from Jordan as a few of my fellow travelers also experienced illness. I'm positive it's another consequence of not exploring all my options and taking the "easy" path. May YHVH help me to always hear His voice in the chaos - because sometimes it's hard to hear through the noise.
As I lay in bed recovering, I came to know that I need to move forward with my dreams for Bridge to Zion. I literally have no idea where to go from here - how to raise the funds, how to bring interest, how to even get started. But a lovely friend reached out and suggested I make a presentation. I have all the photo collages I made and many more photos, and I may be able to tap into the photos and perhaps videos of others. I know it seems contrary to try to start this up during a war, and I may very well completely fail yet again. But having gone and seen the barley for myself - having seen that it literally grows everywhere - like grass in Oregon, I know the depth of understanding that comes with in-person experience. The agricultural year follows the seven feasts so perfectly, I know it may only be able to be experienced first-hand in order to feel the blessings of YHVH's miracle in the land every year. I have many friends who would visit Israel if they could afford it, and I believed prophecy has already told us who will win this war. Creating a presentation and asking for funds are in my skill set - and I can leverage them to bring my dream to life. If you feel lead, please pray for my success.
If YHVH wishes it to be so, nothing can stop it.
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