Middleton Family Blog

Arrived

By God’s grace, safely.

Follow the Dot

We’re leaving Presque Isle this morning. We’ll stop in Yarmouth for a few hours to visit a friend, then hit the road again around William’s bedtime. Hopefully we’ll be in (our area of) VA no later than 7 am tomorrow.

If I did this correctly, the map below will periodically update as we make the drive, displaying the Middleton family vehicle’s current location as a red dot and our progress trail as a series of yellow dots.

GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com

If I Could Freeze Time

My last walk of this trip. Quiet night. A view of the Star City. Rain and mist that you can see in the glow of street lights but don’t really feel as you walk. My favorite smell is Maine.

Walk to the River

All but one place on my “to-see” list done for this trip.

August Festival

Was great to bump into those we did. William enjoying the view (mommy is spotting him) while daddy tries on some of his friend’s yardsale clothes.

For the Glory of God

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31

Elvis Lives

In Maine. Out and about with Kristin and Holly. Stumbled upon an Elvis impersonator.

Helping Drive

Looking at photos on my phone and noticed this one for the first time. William helping his Uncle Ryan drive his new truck down the cabin trail on Saturday.

East Coast

By God’s grace, I am on the east coast and although I have one flight left, I feel as though I am home.

Since Friday, I have been in 11 different states (my traveling companion - my boss - made a comment about some Michael Phelps shooting for a similar number in some unrelated context). Three flights I was supposed to take I did not and three flights I did take were not originally planned. Tonight is my second night in an airport in a few days. It’s been a great and memorable trip, and the vacation part of it has barely started. I am more than ready to see, hold, and kiss my wife and son.

The flight to Boston turned out to be one of the most memorable of my life. Two reasons: the first being my first experience with legit “I’m now tightening my seatbelt” turbulence than hit with unannounced force that lifted myself and others out of our seats; the second would be the view of the sky during sunset. Words can’t do it justice, and below is an almost after-the-fact picture I got when we could finally turn on electronic devices. Finding the right words to describe the view is a humbling reminder of how inadequate our languages are in describing God (yet how gracious of God to reveal Himself in His Word and speak to man in language he can understand). It’s staggering to think that one of the most authoritative and powerful ways God reveals Himself is by the statement “I AM.” We still see in a mirror dimmly. One day, face-to-face. Oh, what language will pourvforyh on that day from the tongues of justified sinners now glorified with Christ.

Got to talk to Seth on the phone upon landing as he’s on pacific time after arriving out west today for his own work trip.

Man, I need a shower.

DEN to BOS

My itinerary had me going from here to Vegas to BOS with less than 30 minutes to make my PQI connection. Not much time to help with delays. Found a nonstop from here to DEN that would get me to BOS around 1 am. Much more preferable. Looked into standby and was informed that my flights were with multiple airlines (some alliance they have where, for example, US Air can sell me United tickets and You have to read the fine print to realize), so standby wasn’t an option, but I could pay a fee (not the normal change fee) and switch to a confirmed seat. My employer said my mental health was worth it (apparently he thinks I had some to start with) and agreed to cover the fee. Such a blessing and a load off my back. I’m very grateful. 7:05 pm departure coming up soon.

By the way, DEN airport has the cleanest bathrooms I’ve ever seen in any establishment. They smell incredibly good. They constantly appear as if they were just wiped down top to bottom. To win a bet, I’d have little hesitation eating off the floor of one of these bathrooms. Yeah, that clean. Whoa… Update: I just saw a bathroom here that would only be considered “clean” and not “immaculately clean”. Still, very impressive location.

Catching Up

I just got back from spending time catching-up with J-Mak, who I hadn’t seen in over five years. So kind of God to make this crossing of paths happen. I enjoyed our time together and I hope he left feeling encouraged.

Kristin and William were able to spend time with my parents back in ME yesterday and today. So many bonuses in one vacation block…

Beautiful

Hotel

At hotel. Another potential humorous moment when a miscommunication between my boss who I am travelling with and the front desk had me qualify as a no-show last night. So my room was given away and i arrived to a totally booked hotel this evening. It all worked out fine, though. A shower made me feel like a new man. Saw this incredible display of rain and sun and clouds miles away while driving to the hotel. View from my room isn’t bad, either. Oh, before I forget, DEN has by far the cleanest airport bathrooms I have ever seen. It’s really staggeringly clean, especially coming from PHL. The view you see when landing in DEN is amazing. Awesome airport inside, as well. It is time for sleep, despite the mountains calling to come be marvelled at.

Lessons Learned

Don’t eat a hot dog and Slim Jim before 7 am. Nothing good comes of it.

Yes! Woo-hoo!

Denver

25 hours and 15 minutes after kissing Kristin good-bye at Portland, Maine’s airport, my feet are ok the ground in Denver, Colorado. For those keeping score at home, that’s 8 hours short of how long it would have taken to drive it. Ha!

Grateful to be here. I have an envigoratong suspicion that I saw my bag on the baggage cart before I got off the plane.

A View Worth It All

May I never take these views of God’s creation for granted.

Murphy’s Law

After boarding my flight to DEN, they pushed our plane out from the gate. I dozed off and awoke to the captain (not announcing that they found a big bag of cash that would be divided up among the passengers - nevermind if you didn’t get the reference) saying they needed to go back to the gate to check a hopefully small adjustment that needs to be made to the engine. In the photo you can kind of see the aircraft maintenance vehicle behind the wing. These were supposed to be the easy legs of my trip. Ha!

Oh! They say we are good to go now! Signing off from DFW hopefully for the last time…

DFW

That’s one time zone in the right direction. One more to go. Lord willing, I’m leaving in 40 minutes. Lord willing, my bag is, too (short-checked out of PHL).

Good Morning

Let’s give this another go.

I’m Not Sure Why I Thought It Would Never Happen to Me

Being on a plane for 45 minutes does not mean that plane will take-off. Deboarded. Reaccomodated. Lord willing, in DEN around noon. Could be much worse. First class, I hardly knew yee. Free upgrades not transferable to other flights. Can’t blame a guy for trying.

This is bed.

Waiting to Depart

1:32 am. I’m curious to find out if I have to pay for the food in first class I just ordered.

Huh

If automatic water faucets and soap and towel dispensers have thought me anything, it’s that I do not put my hands wherever it is that everyone else apparently places them to receive these goods. If anyone can provide some kind of diagram, that would save me a lot of time that will otherwise be spent waving my hands around like an idiot.

Gifts & Providence

A woman who I met in PWM also heading to DEN (she was kind enough to share info she got from ticket agents with me when rescheduling looked inevitable) bought two bottles of water in PHL (just as the store was closing) and gave one to me in light of my running like a madman. How thoughtful.

Also, when I was put on the later PHL-DEN flight, I apparently got the last seat on the plane (I cannot underestimate how different my day and week would be if I had been a few spots back in line). And it just happened to be in first class (so I cannot underestimate how different my night would be if I had been a few spots ahead in line). Four hours of sleeping with extra leg and elbow room? A gracious providence.

PHL

Supposed to be in PHL at 9:30. Connection (thanks to delays in my favor) leaving PHL at 9:30. Had to try. Flight to PHL took almost an hour longer than it should (more time in air and waiting on taxiway in PHL). Arrived 10:30. Checked Internet for connecting flight status: now delayed until 10:30. Still not enough help. Wait fir wing-checked bag. Sprint. Wait for shuttle. Sprint. Gate. Flight there. Delayed until 11:30 (now they are adding to that). Happy getting to DEN anytime before 7 am tomorrow. Much relief and thanks. Not there yet, though.

The Light of Things Hoped For

I could not see it until I was in the sky. There is still light on the western horizon. After a 4+ hour delay, I need to make an impossible connection in PHL.

…Make That Very Delayed

Hello, wrench.

Luke is Delayed in PWM

Weather in PHL keeping my plane (and many others) from getting here to turn around and take me to PHL.

Was good talking to you, Ryan. So close, yet so far.

Good-bye, Cabin in Maine

Day Outside & Dusk Inside

Parker Pond

We arrived and were greated by family and a wonderful breakfast.

Almost There

Pit Stop

Brushing teeth, changing diaper and clothes, touching trees.

Good Morning

An hour early

Maine