What Almost Wasn't

Story time!

Get your popcorn and get ready to laugh. This is a REAL story. Our misfortune is your entertainment – enjoy my friends!

This photo below always makes me laugh.

Not for a traditional reason, but the story behind the photo tells so much more than the smiles of our family on an airplane.

Let’s take a trip back to before this photo was taken on February 5th, 2020.

We had a trip planned with our very good friends for several months. We chose Texas to visit Dallas and experience all things Magnolia related in Waco. (I mean who doesn’t love some Chip and Joanna!!)

We were so excited to take a trip together again! We traveled with these amazing friends before during our honeymoon back in 2016.

Both families are blessed to have kiddos and we were so excited to continue our travel adventures together.

Wednesday, February 5th, 2020 rolled around, our son’s first birthday and our travel day from Wisconsin to Texas.

We woke up hours early to make our 7:05am flight.

As I was giving Micah a bottle before we got in the car to drive to the airport and I was chatting with my girlfriend.

The boys were running around loading the car and double checking we had everything packed and ready for our several day trip.

My girlfriend asked very happily “did you remember your ID’s?”

My husband and I both responded “Yup! We have them!”

My girlfriend asked, “And you have Micah’s birthday certificate?”

*Time stopped here*

Trevor and I looked at each other “SWEAR WORD!”

Girlfriend responds, “He can’t get on the plane without it……..”

We packed everything – diapers, wipes, clothes, more clothes, shoes, bathroom supplies, and hats.

But heck, we did NOT have Micah’s birth certificate.

*Panic mode begins*

How on EARTH did we forget his birth certificate…We needed our ID’s, Micah isn’t old enough to have an ID, so why oh why did we not think to bring his birth certificate……

We went through all options.

Could Trevor drive back to Sheboygan from Milwaukee to grab it? Nope, we had less than two hours before our flight was leaving.

Did we ever make a copy of it and email it to anyone? Nope, of course not. We have five copies at home in our filing cabinet, but no electronic copies.

Is anyone close by with a key to go into our place to take a photo of it? Nope, we called the one person with a key and they were at work.

Could we get a copy of his immunizations that shows his name and birthday? Nope, we called the doctor’s office and the lovely nurse on call wasn’t able to give that information out.

We. Are. Out. Of. Options.

But were we?

Last resort plan. Literally the only straw left to pull so we could take this awesome trip together with our friends and family.

Call our landlord, at 4:30am and PRAY to EVERYTHING HOLY that they are able to help us out.

I call the emergency number, one of our landlords picks up.

I frantically let them know our situation.

“We need a photo of our sons birth certificate. It’s in our apartment in the filing cabinet. Please, oh PLEASE, HELP US!”

The first (sleepy) response I got, “I don’t think we can do that.”

My response, “We would really appreciate your help. I know it’s early, I know we are asking a huge favor right now, but can you please help us so we are able to go on our trip.”

Landlords response, “Give me a few minutes, I need to get your building landlord to see if he can help.”

Our landlord is over the age of sixty-five. I knew we were really grasping at straws here, but I wasn’t quite sure if he even had a phone that could take a photo, let alone actually know how to take a photo and text it to me.

*At this point, we were in the car driving to the airport. It’s 5:15am and I am on hold waiting for my landlord*

Our landlord picked up the phone and was off to our apartment. I gave him clear instructions on where to go and where to find the birth certificate.

I hear him walking through our apartment, going into our filing cabinet to find this crucial piece of paper that we NEED to get on our flight.

A few minutes pass, I am constantly check on him, “Were you able to find it?”

His response, “I am still looking for it.”

A few more minutes pass.

Silence on the phone.

I ask our landlord “Did you happen to find it?”

LONG PAUSE

“I FOUND IT!”

Music to my flipping EARS!!!!!!!!!!!

Onto the next hurtle.

I ask our landlord, “Can you take a clear photo of it and text me the photo?”

Landlords response, “I can do that. But I will have to hang up the phone. Give me a few minutes and if you don’t get the photo text, call me back.”

My response, “I cannot thank you enough for helping us out. You are our last resort and we are able to take this trip because of your help. Thank you SO much! We owe you BIG time!”

*We are still en route to the airport at this time. Unsure if we are going to make our flight. Unsure if we are just going to turn around to go back home with our tail between our legs because we forgot the dang piece of paper.*

A few minutes go by.

No text.

Another minute goes by.

No text.

Then, by the grace of God himself, I get a text message.

A CLEAR PHOTO OF MICAH’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

I could have cried, but I was too stressed for any tears to surface.

I turn to Trevor and say, “He did it. I have a copy of his birth certificate.”

Trevor’s response, “Thank GOD! Let’s pray the check in person accepts it.”

WHAT!??!?! The thought didn’t even cross my mind that the check in person might not accept a photo copy and need a hard, physical copy….

You have got to be joking.

We call our friends we are in the car ahead of us to let them know the good news. We joke and say this is the ONE and ONLY mishap that will happen the entire trip.

I am still shaking in my shoes because we have a copy of it on my phone….But who knows if they will accept it.

I get this weird feeling that everything will be okay and they will take it as I present it to them. I try to breathe and just roll with the feelings until we arrived at the airport.

The boys drop us off at the airport while they go park the cars.

My girlfriend and I walk in with our boys and almost all of our luggage into the airport.

There is a line to check our bags and get the kids boarding passes.

So, I am standing there, trying to hold it together, still unsure if we are getting on the airplane or not.

I look down at Micah to see him fascinated, looking all around with a HUGE smile on his face.

The feeling again washes over me.

This is going to work out. It will all be okay.

We are called up to check in.

I hand over my ID, our flight information, and my cell phone that has the photo copy of the birth certificate.

The airport check in women takes all of the information, doesn’t say much, and types in Micah’s information to the computer.

She prints his boarding pass, weighs our checked bags, and hands over everything. She says, “Have a safe flight.”

I wanted to drop to my knees, throw my hands in the air and scream “YESSSS!!!”. (Clearly I didn’t do this as we are in an airport and I don’t want to create a HUGE scene.)

We did it….We were through the hardest part. We jumped over multiple hurdles and it wasn’t even 6am yet!

We went to security, later than we originally planned, and were escorted to the front of the line because of our baby strollers.

THANK YOU JESUS!!!

We made it to our gate with enough time to get coffee and BREATHE.

Thinking back to how everything played out, I am unsure how the puzzle was pieced together. I am unsure how we actually pulled this off and were able to put our butts in the airplane seats. All we can do is laugh at it as it’s behind us and thank God for helping us along the way.

This photo makes me laugh because of our huge smiles.

This was our photo finish to what felt like a marathon of obstacles.

This photo shows the relief and pure happiness that we were able to take our trip with our friends.

Morale of this crazy, funny, real story:

1. Don’t forget the birth certificate for your child or else you won’t be taking the trip. (Learn from our mistake)

2. God and people are GOOD! Often we get jaded and focus on what’s going wrong or see the worst in people. You will be surprised at the greatness of others when you ask for help.

3. Thank GOD for our landlord.

TANCKS for reading!