Rewind, an account of the trip over

So, Saturday, our fabulous neighbors, Sandy and Robert, took us to the airport and as we approached, huge storm clouds rolled over us and it started to rain. We got to the Delta check-in area and just a few people in front of us were Jena and Pete, who are also with our agency and are going over to meet a toddler sibling duo they are hoping to adopt! We knew they were on our flight, but this made it very easy to meet each other.

The check-in agent who assisted us was not very happy with all our hoards of luggage. :) In fact, 3 of the big bags came to 50.0 pounds each and 1 was 46 pounds! Then she looked at our 2 large carry-ons and 2 large computer bags and refused to take our 2 strollers! Our plan was to gate-check them, but she said you could only do that when you actually had children in them. So, we explained about the adoption, and she still refused! We continued to insist and finally her manager walked by and she asked her. She wasn't going to go for it either, but finally did since we could prove we were adopting with our paperwork. They checked them as "baby items," which was great because then we didn't have to take them to the gate or worry about them during our connection. Whew! That was a stressful check-in! It took so long that by the time we got through security we only had 30 minutes before our plane departed. Along the way we heard an announcement that if you weren't at the gate 20 min. before departure, you would not be allowed to board! Ahhhh! The running began! :)

We get to the gate at exactly 20 min. before our departure time, and I see that the gate door is closed! I know in my heart that they NEVER open this door once it is closed, and I feel sick inside. I turn to the Delta lady at the desk to begin to beg, and she tells me that the plane had not been allowed to land because of lightening, but that it will be here momentarily. I turn to look out the window, and sure enough there is not plane attached to the walkway. Whew! We sit down to allow our hearts to slow and then my stomach kicks in and we go get some food for lunch on the plane.

Our arrival in Atlanta ended up being an hour late, leaving us 1 hour before departure, so there was another bit of a rush to get to another terminal. Again this plane was late. Apparently the plane was overweight, which I'm sure had nothing to do with our luggage. :) They performed some quick lipo to the plane--skimming off extra "revenue producing" baggage which they assured us had nothing to do with our own luggage.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get comfortable and sleep at all on the 11 hour flight. Luckily they had the individual movie screens on this plane, so the flight went relatively quickly. We arrived in Moscow 1 hour late, got to our apartment and crashed for about 3 hours. Then for dinner we met up with Jena and Pete, as well as another couple with our agency, Shelle and John and their mother. We called it the Lighthouse Moscow Party! We had a wonderful evening visiting with these wonderful people!!!