Facing My Fear

My sweet friends, family, and fellow bloggers, I could sure use your prayers and encouragement. In a few short days, I'm going to be facing my biggest fear. I will be taking my very first flight...EVER.... So, it should come as no shock to you that the plane crashing into the Hudson River last week was just rotten timing! Getting on a plane was something I vowed I would never do, and for 26 years, I've never wavered even slightly. Then, last year, we had Hopey, and all of a sudden 22 hour car trips became completely unimaginable! So when one of my closest friends of 20 years called me from her brand new home in Colorado to tell me that she was getting married in February of '09, I had a huge decision to make. We had driven to Colorado in January two years ago and had gotten stuck in one of the worst blizzards Kansas had ever seen. We tried to imagine having a screaming baby added to that equation and quickly rejected any idea of traveling like that again. I started to realize that if I wanted to see my friend, who's like a sister to me, get married, then I was going to have to fly. To make an amazingly long story shorter, my doctor suggested talking to a therapist, a prescription for Xanax, and a practice flight. My amazingly sweet husband wanted to make the practice flight as easy on me as possible. So for Christmas, he gave me tickets to Medieval Times in Schaumburg (Chicago), a reservation at the Conrad Hotel that night, and tickets (for my first flight) to get us there. I'm absolutely thrilled to be going to Medieval Times and the Conrad, but I'm just sick to my stomach about how we're getting there. I just keep looking at this picture from Brian's birthday two years ago and realize that I really do want to go back!All the while, I'm trying to AVOID all of these pictures that are taking over the internet!I really do know in my head that this is all in God's hands and His Will will be done, but the rest of my body is on an anxiety trip. I would greatly appreciate it if you would be praying that I will continue to trust God, be able to control my emotions on the plane, and not be arrested at the airport for erratic behavior. And I'm truly serious about that, I'm so afraid I might freak out so badly that an Air Marshall will take me into custody. Thank you all so much in advance, I truly appreciate it! ALSO, I need to add a large bunny trail to this post! I wanted to send a big CONGRATULATIONS to Meghan and Eric on their surprising but wonderful news that they're expecting again!! Big hugs and high fives!! We couldn't be happier for you guys!