Planes, trains, automobiles ...0h my!!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!!!!!! We are now officially in the air on our last flight into Addis.  We were supposed to be arriving on the night of the 16, however, we entered travel hell from the moment we stepped foot into the first airport.  72 hours later, two deplaning journeys, two Tarmac stand stills and 3 hotels ( with no sleep), 4 bus rides, two airport taxi's and and 27 hours in Germany  ... We should be arriving in 3 or so hours.   It will be 8:30 pm on the 18th when we arrive ... 11:30 am our time the same day.  That actually would make it 73- count them - 73 hours of traveling now.  It seems crazy to even type that! Though it would take me a full 73 hours of retelling  the story to allow you the full  pleasure of our entire experience, I will work to hit the highest points of our "joys" along the way. 1.  We boarded our first flight, were just set to take off and the captain came on to say that Houston was grounded due to storms.  0ur first hint of rough skies ahead. 2. Sat two hours in the airport and reboarded the plane once Houston cleared us to travel.  Reboarded and headed out on a Tarmac and just as we were set to depart, the captain informs us Houston is again closed.  We sit ... 1.5 hours - this time on a very hot plane, on the runway,  as we had pulled far away from the terminal. 3. Upon Houston arrival, our plane has no place to "park" so we sit again - 1 hour. 4. We missed connecting flights- all of them that would go out to Frankfurt that night we  miss.   There was no one to be found to help us through Lufthansa to see about new flights.  Apparently, from experience ... The only way to find a Lufthansa rep is to go to Germany, their hub, where you can't find anything else.   After 4.5 hours of chaos, working to find our bags and re-booking flights,  we head to a hotel for the night.  We get there and eat dinner at 10:00 pm. 5. Hotel stay 1. Houston - we sleep a little restless ... But thankful we do sleep. We awake and pray that his mercies are indeed new each morning.   6. 4:10 the next day we depart for Frankfurt, but not before we sit on the Tarmac for an extra hour. This time, a coyote on the runway.  I can't even make this up ... But we lift off and we now officially are headed international.  So thankful! 7. Flight goes well - praise!  We arrive in Frankfurt at 8:55 am on the 17 - now one day after we were supposed to have arrived in Africa.  My heart aches - I should have met "Z" by now.   8.  We went to a hotel upon arrival as we had a 14 hour layover.  Praise!  We got our first 5 hours sleep in 2 days.  Our time it is the middle of the night remember.   9. We arrive back at the airport at 4:30 pm for a 10:35 pm departure.  Remember, we don't want to take any risks.  We sit and enjoy a dinner - first real food since pizza in Houston.   10.  Ethiopia finally opens the ticket counter at 8, we are excited and are one of the first in line.  We soon discover we are nowhere in their booking system.  We literally were never re-booked as we had both confirmed and had been told.  It is way too confusing and long to explain, however, after complete panic, some tears on my part and one awesome German Lufthansa ticket lady arguing on our behalf, they finally issue us tickets.  Joy and praises abound.  Dakota declares that Jesus"s angels and the devils demons are fighting over us.  She declares in truth that the Lord always wins. 11. We get on the flight and get settled.  The plane taxi's on to the runway.  By this time it is after 10:45 pm.  We sit for a while and a few minutes after 11:00 the captain comes on to say that we have passed the 11:00 pm air curfew in Germany by ONE - ONE - let me say that again so you can feel our pain - ONE minute.  He says they now need the Gov't to give a release for us to take off. 12. We WAIT.  An hour goes by 13. The captain informs us that we are denied release into the air space  - we must deplane and go out in the morning.  Words cannot describe the frustration and confusion. 14. Ethiopia airlines shuffles 300 passengers off the plane and on to buses.  We are transported to the closest airport - 30 minutes away.  It is now 1:30am.  We have also had the pleausure of seeing just how cold it is in Germany as we await our bus outside - in the cold. 15. We arrive at a hotel and wait in a line with our new closest 300 friends for a room assignment.  This finally happens around 2:30am. During this time I visit with the captain who tells us that this law justvwent into effect on November 1 .... And every night since, this has happened.  Mental note - don't fly through Franfurt. 16. We take naps ( well, the kids do)  and get up for a pick up by the buses of 6:30 am.  As we go downstairs, we are told the flight time is moved later - we will now leave the hotel at 8:30am.  - and should depart at 10:40 am. 17.  We sit. Again.  We haven't eaten in hours. We are exhausted.  Did I mention that we are in Germany? Our TV experience to fill our time tells us so. 18. Finally the buses come and we head back to the airport.  We are shuffled like cattle back through security, go back through passport entry and finally board a plane at 10:30 am. 19. We sit for two hours on that runway before we depart.  At this point, I still couldn't believe we would actually see the "friendly skies".  You know,  we have learned that not only is it not over until the fat lady sings ... But it isn't over until your feet have touched the ground in your destination place.  Anything- I mean, anything can happen!  I am now sitting here on this last flight with 3 hours to go.  I am sitting here and amazed that we have come through so much and still have our heads in tact.  I am amazed that my two kids have traveled this hell without one complaint or tear.  And well, I will be honest ... While I know you will tell me that it is "all in his timing" or that "he is sovereign", I will never understand this trip.  I will never understand why he allowed us to miss two full days  in Africa.  Why his plan included missing two days with my son I have yet to meet.  Why my kids were drug through the ringer and a living hell.   Yes, we know it is true .... But unless you have lived this.  Unless you have walked this out.... You will never know how hard a pill that is to swallow. So, we pray now we have guides on the other end who are as anxious to meet us at the airport as we are them.  We pray that the rest of the trip can be far less eventful. Remember that I had called in some prayer warriors during my "help wanted" post.  Well, you have officially been called into overtime!  There is a battle in the heavenlies .... We you intercede? Oh did I mention the poor baby that was 2 rows ahead if us on our 10 hour flight from Houston to Frankfurt?  She screamed - I mean screamed for 7 of the 10 hours.  She had just finally fallen to sleep when the attendants came and took her bassinet away.  That poor mama still had to get to India.  Praying her next flight was more peaceful for everyone's sake.   Sorry this is so long. Update, we have arrived at our guest house. Exhausted bit thankful.