D-Day Invasion- "Strange"-ly Imminent!! TRIP REPORT IS UP!!

[All7OfUs]

Thanks to everyone who is sending well wishes. It is times like this that I want, NO NEED, my Disney vacation more than anything in the world!!

Car will be towed in the morning.

We are struggling to find an available guest house until the car is done.

Praying that when the car IS done, the border will be open, and the country safe.

And tonight's little piece of drama, we cannot find a taxi willing to take our kids to the airport.

I'm trying to hold it together- it is becoming difficult.

 

[tinkgurl]

 

[KatMark]

More coming your way.

 

[glennbo123]

I'm so sorry to read about the difficulties you are going through.

Prayers are coming your way.

 

[All7OfUs]

More coming your way.

I'm so sorry to read about the difficulties you are going through.

Prayers are coming your way.

Thanks, guys! It's almost too bizarre to be even real. I'm wishing we would have flown; it'd have ended up being about as expensive at this point.

 

[All7OfUs]

Hi All,


I"m uploading photos to FB if you want a sneak preview/spoiler of our trip and Andrew's graduation. PM me if you're not friends with me and want to be...

 

[Sleepingbooty]

and prayers headed your way, Liesa. I'll check FB for those pics...

 

[Flossbolna]

I just read your bad news. I hope this situation will end soon and I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

 

[All7OfUs]

I just read your bad news. I hope this situation will end soon and I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Hi Magdelene!

I'm hoping that our travel in Germany goes somewhat smoother. But then again, most anything would have been better than this.


Well, actually, there are a WHOLE LOT more things that could have gone wrong, so we are counting our blessings!

-- The car didn't break down on the road in the middle of the steppe!!

-- We have already found a local man (actually, the "on paper" owner of the car itself!!!!) to help us navigate the tow/repair process.

-- The kids might have missed their flight, but we found the NICEST driver last night and they were on time and actually STILL in the air headed YOUR way. They have a 6 1/2 hour layover in Frankfurt, we should have planned a Meet for you and Bek and Andrew!

-- We didn't miss the picnic OR the graduation, and got to meet all of his amazing classmates and families.

-- We didn't show up to the Kyrgyz border just as it closed again because of arriving wasting a tank of gas and 8 hours of our time. NOR were we stuck in a country with active war going on. Which by the way is actually being sparked by ethnic violence- Kyrgyz vs. Uzbeks.

We're good.

 

[Flossbolna]

I am so glad that you can see the good aspects as well. Still, I Hope from now on there will be no more difficulties. I will be at my BFF's wedding today and will use the opportunity for a silent prayer for you in church.

I can understand how much you must be longing for your vacation. One of the things that draws me to WDW is its easiness - you can Plan so much and there isn't much that can go wrong. It must feel like such a wonderful Place gor you.

I am so sorry that your kids have such a hard Time saying goodbye. But I don't think you need to blame yourself for this. Moving away from somewhere is always hard even if it is within one country. And even if it is just à few hours away, it very often is a goodbye forever. It might just be much more obvious in your case. I can understand how sad it is nevertheless and hope all you will have the strength to go through all these heart breaking goodbyes. A holiday would have been a real help for that!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Liesa, I am amazed as always at your ability to look at the positive side!

That's great news that the kids made it to the plane!

 

[All7OfUs]

I am so glad that you can see the good aspects as well. Still, I Hope from now on there will be no more difficulties. I will be at my BFF's wedding today and will use the opportunity for a silent prayer for you in church.

A BIG congratulations to your friend! Please tell her hello- in fact, maybe I might even get to meet her in August??

I REALLY do too! The car has been towed and should be ready tomorrow afternoon. We'll be leaving as soon as we get it, and hoping that the border is open.

I can understand how much you must be longing for your vacation. One of the things that draws me to WDW is its easiness - you can Plan so much and there isn't much that can go wrong. It must feel like such a wonderful Place gor you.

Longing is a very good word to use for it. I know the mess and chaos that is waiting at my house, and the work it's going to take to get it ready to sell and leave. As much as I want to go to WDW right now, there's a lot to do before that. I won't be arrogant to say that, "I deserve it!", but I do "long" for it!

YES! The "ease" of a Disney vacation is one of those things I long for. Buses that hardly EVER break down, food served hot and tasty, top notch entertainers, oh! EVERYTHING!

I am so sorry that your kids have such a hard Time saying goodbye. But I don't think you need to blame yourself for this. Moving away from somewhere is always hard even if it is within one country. And even if it is just à few hours away, it very often is a goodbye forever. It might just be much more obvious in your case. I can understand how sad it is nevertheless and hope all you will have the strength to go through all these heart breaking goodbyes. A holiday would have been a real help for that!

Well, my kids ARE excited at the same time that they are grieving. Especially, Bek who will get to be her Grandpa's buddy for the summer. She has such a tender heart, and wants to be near him to comfort and just be near him. Andrew and his girlfriend, Laura, had an EXTREMELY teary good bye yesterday. Ever her mom sobbed as they said farewell, as he spent more hours at their house this semester that at him own host home. She told me that she had begun to consider him almost like a 2nd son.

Liesa, I am amazed as always at your ability to look at the positive side!

That's great news that the kids made it to the plane!

If I don't, it's easy to let my heart slip down a slippery slope of dwelling on all that's negative.

They are just arriving now in Chicago. I do hope they made their connection in Frankfurt; turns out they only had 1 hour and 10 minutes!!!!

 

[TrayRene]

Liesa - what a few days you have had!! I am so glad that your children made the plane though! Sending thoughts and prayers your way that everything starts to go smoother. It is always so hard to say goodbye no matter what our age.

Thanks again for taking the time to lend an ear, even with all that is going on in your life right now. I truly appreciate it.

 

[All7OfUs]

Liesa - what a few days you have had!! I am so glad that your children made the plane though! Sending thoughts and prayers your way that everything starts to go smoother. It is always so hard to say goodbye no matter what our age.

Thanks again for taking the time to lend an ear, even with all that is going on in your life right now. I truly appreciate it.

I can give a few more live updates on the vacation that most "never will be".

I'll know more tomorrow morning for sure, and can fill you all in then.

You are so very welcome! Always ready to listen, if you need an ear

 

[pooh'smate]

Glad to hear your kids were able to make it on the plane. Praying you will be able to get home safely.

 

[reelmom]

Just got back from Disney so I am trying to catch up. Will be back in a few to read.

 

[reelmom]

Oh My! What a whirlwind of emotions. I hope that everything is going well for you today and will continue. You are truly an inspriration to us. I could not imagine going through what you have gone through yet you remain upbeat and postitive.

 

[jenb1023]

Geez - I am MIA for several weeks and you are on to thread 3?!?!?

I am caught up this thread but don't think I will ever catch up on the other one so I will just plow ahead and tell me if I miss something/say something dumb because I am out of the loop!

I was going to complain about the whirlwind of the last several weeks which was why I have been off the DIS but then I read your updates - oh my! Sending prayers and good thoughts for you and your whole family!

Is there a list yet of who is coming to DC?

 

[All7OfUs]

Hi Guys!

I only have time for a VERY quick update, as we are packing to leave our VERY gracious hosts who've put up with our unintended over-stay.

We will hear about our car around lunch, but either way, we'll be leaving this home for probably a little "resort" up in the mountains to give them a break, and us SOME sort of "vacation".

We've decided to NOT go to Kyrgyzstan just yet, at least for the few days BEFORE The conference so we don't get stuck there, in case things escalate further. However, the leadership and conference organizers are not calling off the meetings just yet. They assure us that Lake Issyk-Kul is peaceful still, and that we can still keep our plans for the 16th-20th on.

So, it's a wait and see pattern.


On the kids' front:

I just talked to both my kids and each has arrived at their destinations- Portland, OR and Bowling Green, Kentucky. They are exhausted after 36 hours of traveling, and were headed to bed. But I am grateful that they've grown up in a "traveling culture" such as ours, and can easily navigate an airport now solo. I am BEYOND jealous, though! They got to watch Alice in Wonderland not once, but twice!!! Ah well, my turn is coming too

So, my sleepless nights of hitting the refresh button in Lufthansa's website are over for now. They are in safe hands with their grandparents and I'm am relieved.

I can't thank you all enough for holding our family in your thoughts. In one word, our last week has been "weird". Exciting, scary, nerve-wracking, emotional, too, if you wanted to add a few more descriptory words.

All for now, love you all!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I'm glad the kids are safe and sound! You are all on such an adventure - but you are all safe and God is in the details! I will continue to pray for you - I'll be really glad when you're back stateside too!