25.7.2011 to 26.7.2011 Seattle Airport and flight on Condor

In Seattle we were able to get our stroller reassembled, and then we had an escort to an elevator because we were not able to take the stairs. This time we were able to actually carry our carry-ons by using the stroller and rearranging a few things. It was quite the hike across Sea-tac, and we were very relieved to make it to the International Concourse. We found the Condor gate, and quickly found a place to drop our things. At the gate it already felt like we were in a foreign country. It seemed as if most of the people around us were speaking a language other than English.

Our plane to a new land and new life

Stanley and I needed food so we set off to explore our options. We settled on a burger and hot dog at the Runway Grill. As we were waiting we realized that Stanley has been consistently initiating the need to go to the bathroom. For you non-parents you won’t appreciate this as much, but this has been a huge stressor for us recently. We have been trying to teach him to let us know, but he never would it has just been us that have been potty trained. Now in the last hours of our move and the move itself, he had made that transition to being fully potty trained! Hurrah!

Heather was able to get a little bit of wi-fi on our ipod, but we soon realized that we were going to have to rearrange our bags. Condor has 6 kilo (13 pound) weight requirement on all carry-ons. The first thing we did was utilize the large carry-on bag that Steve and Sue gave us before we left. It currently had baby items in it, but we loaded it with both computers and other heavy items we didn’t think we needed on the plane. Fortunately, they didn’t weigh it (as far as we know) or charge us to check it in at the gate! Next we loaded up the stroller with a few more items that we didn’t need on the plane like Heather’s Ukulele and a satchel purse. This gave us 4 bags plus Stanley’s penguin backpack and Heather’s purse to carry on.

Craziness before we board.

As we were standing around waiting to get on the flight a condor employee was going around weighing bags to make sure they were under 6 kilos. I was pretty sure my backpack and work bag were over the maximum weight. They weighed a bag belonging to the other couple headed to Germany to teach, and the employee started to tell me how my bag was too heavy. The gal it belonged to quickly claimed the bag as hers and had to unload a few things, exposing the Lego book that was supposed to be a surprise for her son. He went crazy and I distracted him as the mom put it somewhere else. When all that was done, the employee turned to our bags. She weighed one of our backpacks which came 5.9 kilos. I knew this was not good. My other two bags were heavier than the one she weighed. She then looked at our other bags. I think I might have even asked if she wanted to weigh another but she just said no and walked off! The Lord was really watching over us there. I don’t know what we would have unloaded.

Getting Ready to Take off for Germany-Stanley is glued to the TV

Soon it was time to board and we were the first ones on the plane. I once again had to fold up the entire stroller and this time I tied a large blanket over it to protect it from any banging around. As people boarded we got the kids in their pajamas, set up the car seat and prepared our little home. One of the things Heather is really good at is making any space a home just like she did to our spot along the wall at PDX. Holly, being the greeter that she is, was in Stanley’s car seat saying “HI” to everyone who walked past her. This garnered a lot of smiles. :-) Since Holly was under two she was considered a lap child and we only had three seats in the center. Fortunately, Heather was able to reserve the baby friendly section at the bulkhead. This gave us more leg room and floor space. Our flight took off around 7:45 pm, and we had a meal soon into the flight. We were shocked at the music videos they were showing on the flight, so we busied ourselves and the kids with some coloring and other activities. Holly would not sit still on our laps so she was in Stanley’s car seat while Heather and Stanley built a “nest” on the floor. By about 10 pm the kids were getting tired. We put Stanley in his car seat, and we got a bassinet for Holly (one of the perks of being in the baby friendly section). The bassinet was intended to be only for babies under 6 months, but since Holly is so petite the flight attendant gave us the bassinet anyways. What a blessing! Both kids conked immediately. We conked soon after. About 3 or 4 hours later Stanley started to wake up, so we transitioned him to his nest. He ended up sleeping the rest of the way! At the end we actually had to move his sleeping body back to the car seat for landing, and then had to wake him up to get him off the plane! That was a huge answered prayer. Holly slept for about 5-6 hours total so we only had to keep her entertained for about 2 hours at the end of the flight, but she got to be in Stanley’s car seat because he was asleep in the nest.

Our sleeping family, and Stanley sleeping in his nest (second picture)

The kids sleeping made the flight super easy, and it gave them (especially Stanley) great attitudes. On the plane ride we both said to each other, “we’re really doing this,” or “this is not just a two week mission trip.” It is a weird feeling getting on a plane with only a one way ticket and bringing only the luggage we packed. Not knowing exactly what God has in store but just walking by faith into the unknown. One of the things we can hold onto is that He brought us here, and He will provide the strength we need no matter what we face. When we got off the plane we realized that we were not in the Northwest anymore. We had to get through customs, find our luggage, and find our train. How in the world would we manage that with just the two of us and our 8 large bags (remember we checked another at the gate).