In a plane

Today, I was traveling by plane for nearly two hours. There is really nothing significant about being on a plane for me since I travel all of the time these days, but today started out a bit strange. 

I left my house at 7 am. My plane left at 9:45 am from Houston. I was sure I would hit some really bad traffic since I would be going to through Houston during rush hour, but there was no traffic. I thought surely hell had frozen over. I arrived at the airport in an hour and a half. That was weird. 

Then, I after I arrived at the airport, it seemed there were a ton of military people there. I always think I need to walk up to every one of them and say, “Thank you for your service.” Well, I said it so much today it started to feel weird. It seems they never know how to respond when I say that to them. So, it made me think it makes them feel uncomfortable. 

I don’t care. I know I really mean it when I thank them. I mean, I know I wouldn’t be able to do what they are doing. So, uncomfortable or not, they are still receiving my appreication. 

Then, I boarded the plane with about 30 high school girls. “Great”, I thought. They were all silly and at first I was a bit annoyed, but then I started to remember what it was like to be them. I remember my biggest concern in high school was whether the boy I liked would put a note in my locker… or something like that.  I started to really appreciate their age, and then, I appreciated mine. 

I really enjoy being around young people because they remind me of simpler times, the times before the responsibility of a child, even though I love being a mom. They don’t think about money in the same way that adults do. They receive an allowance and then they burn it, but that’s just fine. 

I think about things like abortion all day, they think about their iPod. I love it. I wish I would have slowed down and savored those times when I was in high school, where you’re not bogged down by any REAL responsibilities, although I thought I had them. 🙂 

I don’t think you really know what to savor until you’re out of that stage of life and into the next, where responsibility begins to pile on. What a pity. 

By the way, what is up with flight attendants these days????  Apparently, our flight attendant hates high schoolers. She was so rude!! But, the girls handled it pretty well and laughed it off. Good for them. 

Anyway, these girls were part of a soccer team. Apparently, they were headed to St. Louis for a tournament or something. They were so excited. For some reason they had their soccer balls in a mesh bag that was attached to a backpack, that all of them carried. 

And, I was sitting in my little teeny weeny seat eating my Shipley’s donut, which should tell me not to eat so many donuts since I felt so squeezed in to the seat. Anyway, one girl was sitting in the row of seats next to me and she, of course, had this ball attached to her. Her mom, who was standing behind her, said something to her, and in this extremely dramatic way, she turned her body towards her mother and the soccer ball flew at my face, hitting me square in the center of my face. 

When this happened I was holding a donut and being so shocked by the hit, I dropped my donut in my lap. Well, that was great. Now, I have donut icing all over my dark colored pants. The girl didn’t even notice!!!  Her mom said, “oh sorry.”  OH SORRY!? Your kid just smacked me in the face with her soccer ball, I have donut icing all over my pants, and I may have a bruise on my face because of that stupid ball. 

I never realized how hard soccer balls were until one hit me in the face. I’m not much of an athlete though. 🙂 Also, there’s no bruise and no remorse from the abuser. My nose was already sore from smacking it on my car door the other day. Even though my nose is plenty big, I definitely don’t need it to be swollen. 

Typically, I never sleep on planes, but I did on this particular trip. I started reading a book called Lovely Bones. It’s pretty good so far, but I’m only on chapter four. It could make my “book of the month” list. Haha. 

By the way, has anyone read “The Shack” like I suggested??? I promise, it will change your life. READ IT!! 

Anyway, after I decided I was tired of reading, I rested my head on my tray and fell asleep. I think I slept for a good 30 minutes. It was nice. I’m going to try that more often. It definitely made the trip go by much faster. My mascara was all messed up, but I was able to fix it before we landed. 

When I woke up we were making our descent. I looked out of my window to see what the ground looked like. I love doing that. I looked out and saw a whole parking lot of yellow things. It took me a few seconds to realize that it was a TON of school buses. That was somewhat cool. 

I always try to find the airport from my window before we land, but I don’t seem to be able to find it. I started to look at all of the cars on the roads below and I couldn’t help but chuckle because they looked so cute and tiny. 

I wondered if that’s how God sees us. I thought it must be, but then I thought, “Nah.”  I think that He only sees us face to face. I don’t think we look like ants to Him. It’s seems difficult to imagine, but I think He sees us straight forward, for who and what we really are. I don’t think He sees us as “cute.” We are His perfect creations, not toys. I mean, I haven’t heard it from Him, but I don’t think He looks at us and sees little ants scurrying around, but I could be wrong. 

There was a couple I sat behind and they had the cutest little girl. She was probably 9 months old. I really think it’s time to have another baby. Doug will be excited. 🙂  As I was looking at that baby, I just really felt that mama urge. I can’t explain it, but I think it is the right time. Doug and I will get right on that. 

Shawn and I spoke at a pregnancy center event tonight. It was great. I think we’re a good team and it’s fun for us to travel together. I think we have a pretty good story. 🙂 People seem to like us together. 

Right now, I’m watching wrestling, the fake kind. It’s basically a soap opera for men. I think I’m watching it because it reminds me of Doug. I’m not into it, but he is. Funny Doug. One of the wrestlers on the TV looks JUST like Doug’s best friend. It is so funny, but a compliment, too because the wrestler is pretty good looking. But his friend doesn’t like it, so I remind him of it as much as I can. Haha. 

Tomorrow morning, I’m off to Pennsylvania. I didn’t bring enough clothes on this trip. I may have to wear the same thing I arrived in. Bummer. You would think I would have this packing thing down by now, but I’m still working on it. 

I am off to bed now. I want breakfast tomorrow morning, which means I have to wake up even earlier. I miss Doug and Grace. Nothing about wrestling reminds me of Grace! Haha. I guess I will have to put it on Sesame Street or something. 🙂