I am sitting at the airport baggage claim area in Los Angeles.  It is about 8:45.  I have another hour until I surprise my husband that I am here a day early!

I was supposed to fly here tomorrow morning, but after much thinking  and pondering and having a mini break down, I decided, late last night, I was either going to not go at all, or say screw it and pay the extra money and take the flight the night before.

Instead of flying direct into Las Vegas, I had decided that I would fly to Los Angeles.  Because of the ACM’s, I knew that the flights in and out of Las Vegas would be full the 2 days before the ACM’s and 2 days after the ACM’s.  Tom has to take a red-eye back to Nashville right after the ACM’s, so I will go back to LA and spend a day with my dear friend Lauren.

I am renting a car and driving to Vegas.

Tom is flying in from Hawaii tonight.  He was supposed to fly to vegas but, when I decided to go, he opted to drive with me.  The problem…he has a rehearsal in Vegas, Friday at 6:00 and has to be there by 5:45.  The original flight I booked was for Friday morning and it didn’t get in until 1:45,  so I changed my flight to the 6:30 flight with a plane change in Chicago, arriving at 11:30 LA time…7 hours from start to finish!!  Then add a 4-6 hour drive, depending on the traffic…

A few days before my flight, I began to stress… I couldn’t take a chance of him being late…so it was either drive myself, not go, or arrive the evening before.

Well, I was going to just bag the whole thing, but after mentally breaking down last night, Wednesday night, from lack of sleep, stress of all the kids and running here there and everywhere for them, lack of sleep, and not seeing Tom most of this month…I opted for door number 3!!

So, I called one of my best friends, Teddy, and asked her how much it would cost to change my flight, if I could even do it…all that jazz.  Then I called many of my other amazing best friends that are stepping up to help and watch my children!

Angels…that’s what they are, angels!!

So I ran to the store, and bought a few groceries, withdrew some money for the weekend.  Spend the morning doing laundry.  I came home, took out my clothes, packed stuff…what I packed,  I am not sure of.

Kissed most of my kidlets, execpt for Rowan, who was sleeping…, goodbye!

And I was off!

I had to put gas in my car, so I stopped in the little market.  Of course the 2 sweet ladies that work there chatted with me for a few…

I then was off again, and got behind a S L O W dump truck on River road.  Then got stuck in traffic on 440….Ugh

I was supposed to be there at 3:30…I got there about 4:05.  Teddy printed out my ticket and I raced through security and down to the gate.  I got on the plane and just chilled…

It was a 5 hour flight.  Actually, we got in a 1/2 an hour early.  That was direct!!

I took the shuttle from Southwest to American.  And now I sit.  I wait until about 9:45 or so.

I am sitting here in the baggage area of American, watching people.  I am enjoying all the styles of clothes.  Watching the little girl play with her dad, while they are waiting for family.  Watching families hug as they are reunited!

It is the coolest.  There is a guy sleeping.  Has been since I got here an hour ago.  People sitting on the carousel chatting, waiting for other loved ones, or waiting to be picked up.  Ahhh, the sights and sounds…there is a little boy watching a dvd.

I think I am most amazed at the shoes.  I am dumbfounded at the HIGH heels that many women wear when they are at the airport!  Whew, I would kill myself if I even attempted to wear them!

So I wait…More people walk past me, keeping me entertained.

I love airports…I know it’s strange, but it is a fantastic place to just sit and watch people.  How they interact, what they act like when they are alone, with loved ones, family, strangers.  It is quite an education.

Finally, the time has come and Tom’s plane had arrived.  I remained in my chair.  I saw several of the band guys pass by, HEADED toward carousel 1 right in front of me.  I looke over to my right just as Tom was passing by, and he had to do a double take, and stopped in his tracks and with a huge smile asked, “What are you doing here?”

It was great!