Sunday, February 22, 2015

We're Here!

We arrived in Washington DC safely yesterday evening.  It was an interesting day.  Here, I'll take you along with us.   We left home at 3:55 a.m. to drive to the airport. This was our welcome to sunny Portland, OR where we had a 2 hour layover. Mt. Hood in all it's glory from the airplane window.  Gorgeous.
Percy the train was photographed all along the journey and the pictures texted to Piper. Here he is on the famouse PDX airport carpet.  😄
We weren't sure we were even leaving Portland because of the nasty weather in DC.  We actually left 25 minutes early as they were hoping to get there before the storm got too bad.  No such luck.  The last two hours were very turbulent and then we circled the airport for 45 minutes (after a 5 hour flight), while they tried to clear the runway.  Finally the pilot came on and told us that we only had enough fuel after our cross country flight for one landing attempt.  If we didn't make it, we would have to divert to Norfolk, VA.  As we came in to land you could have heard a pin drop inside the plane it was so quiet.  But they did it!  We landed and the entire plane burst into applause.  We were the last big plane to land.  Right after us a Jet Blue plane touched down and literally skidded down the runway. It was a very scary experience.  I have flown a lot and don't remember ever being that scared on a flight before.  You could see the wings covered with ice.

This was the runway with the wing in the foreground.  Can you see the ground is completely covered in snow and freezing rain?  Because by now it had stopped snowing and freezing rain was pelting down.  We waited at this spot for another 40 minutes until they cleared the jetway of snow with tractors and dump trucks.  Finally we were off the plane.  Brad was waiting for us and we began the normally 45 minute drive to their house which took well over 2 hours.  But he's a great driver and we made it!
And today we went here.  Look at that beautiful blue sky.  What a difference a day makes!  The academy is in Annapolis, MD, about 10 minutes from the kids' house.
One of several of the flags on display.
This anchor was huge outside of the chapel.  
Gorgeous stained glass all around.
This is a three dimensional ship that is hanging from the ceiling.  Amazing.
A navy officer in stained glass.
I have many more pictures of this gorgeous chapel but I don't want to bore you. So much history.  I love history and to see in person many of the places I've only read about and studied is so wonderful for me.

The shops and buildings around the academy are over 200 years old.  I admired the architecture....and the name of this shop!  Sorry about the car.  There were cars everywhere and pictures of them were unavoidable.
And here was Polly when we returned home.  Smart dog, staying inside by the fire.
The two grandpa's really enjoy each other's company.
Now, I love my Mandy more than life itself, as I do all of my kids, but this little girl.  Well this little girl holds my heart in her tiny little fist.  She was so happy to see us.  She couldn't even talk.  She just grinned and grinned and squealed and jumped up and down.  I don't think she believed we were anywhere except inside the iPad anymore.

She was so tired here tonight, at the end of a busy day.  And she still loves her Grandma.  I am a happy Grandma.  Excuse me if you don't see or hear from me much for the next few days.  I'll be playing with Miss Piper.
The end.

Blessings,

Betsy

11 comments:

  1. Aw, so happy that you made it safely to DC and an amazing landing by the pilots!! An answer to prayer. Enjoy your time with Piper and her parents. I knew you were fine when you commented on my blog. So I had to visit your blog and there was your story. Hugs and blessings.



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  2. What a harrowing story of your plane flight.. I would have been fit to be tied. I do hope you don't fly into a blizzard again! I'll tell you what.. that photo of you and Piper cuddled up just melted my heart. I'm so glad you get to spend 3 weeks there with your little darling. And I hope Spring arrives there before you fly home! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  3. What a wonderful post. So very glad and grateful you arrived safely. Oh my! What a flight!

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  4. First of all I am so glad you are there safely, what a horrible experience. I had a friends son go to that Naval Academy, he got married there this past summer. I love the photo of you a Piper, it says it all, she loves you so, so much and of course we know you love her that much and more. Have a lovely time.
    Meredith

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  5. Hi, Betsy! Glad you are there with your little Piper and family. Flying in good weather is bad enough, sorry you had to endure all that mess. Ugh. You are brave. I would have stayed home rather than fly in potentially bad weather. What a beautiful church. Y'all have fun. I hope your return trip is easy-breezy!

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  6. Thanks for posting, Betsy! I am so grateful you are all safe and sound together, and I loved seeing some of the sights around you...as well as your hug with your dear Miss Piper :-) Blessings to you and yours!!! xx

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  7. I'm so glad you got there safely. I can imagine how scared you were. My husband will be flying into Dulles tomorrow for a business trip and I really hope the weather is okay out there. It's so nice to see you with Piper again, you must be so happy. Have a wonderful time!

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  8. Absolutely gorgeous chapel--would love to see it in person (I'll have to ask hubby if he did when he lived back there). SO good to see you with little Miss Piper! Wishing you the most blessed of times together.
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  9. So very thankful you both made it safely! Oh now the fun begins. You just take all the time you need and enjoy your visit, we'll all be here when you get back. Blessings to you always sweet friend. Loved the pic's, too. :)

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  10. ah Betsy so very thankful you made it safely surely the LORD knoweth them that are His and He watches over us along the way... or as Proverbs puts it, "The horses are prepared against the day of battle, but safety is of the LORD. Amen and Amen.
    Loved the images and little Piper is so cute enough to wrap around any grandma's heart...
    I love it !
    Shaz in warm and summery Oz.x (would send some warmer weather if i could!)

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  11. So glad you made it safely. That had to be a scary landing. I know lovely Miss Piper was as happy to see you as you were her. Enjoy your time with that sweet little girl.
    Hugs,
    Sharon

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