Did you know that Monday is a holiday? I didn't...

First of all, let me say. I love Veteran's. I truly appreciate the sacrifice and honor in which people strive to and so willingly serve our country. I feel like so many other "in the trenches" type professions their service is tremendously undervalued. Now that you know my opinion on that, let the lamenting begin... In case you didn't know, we didn't get the call about our court date until last Wednesday (November 6) Our caseworker told us Friday. Okay, I can live with Friday (of course the only two things we had planned the WHOLE month of November happen to take place on the 14 and 16). I was still okay, it was all good. "Friday, (I told myself) I can do Friday, no problem." THEN she says so that means you'll need to be in country on Thursday at the latest, we really would prefer Wednesday. At that point I blocked out the rest she had to say. Good thing Ryan was in on that conference call and listened to the rest of the directions. My mind had already gone to : "That means we'll have to leave on Tuesday". That meant we had 5 days to get everything together. 5 DAYS! Okay, okay, so I got my plan. I feverishly began to make lists. Thursday and Friday my lists had lists. It was crazy. Today was the first day I really began to see the light at the end of the travel tunnel. That was probably my first mistake! The day started like most Sundays. We went to church and then half of us went to a corn maze with the youth group (obviously something committed to BEFORE the call on Wednesday) and the other half went to my nephew's birthday party. It was good. I was on target. We were going to see people to let them 'Tag the Bag' in person. Day was still going pretty good we were be-bopping on along. We left the party (anxious to get home - I had it all planned out) My sister lives close to my sister-in-law so Owen and I ran over there to let me nieces sign the bag and I could give them kisses before leaving the continent. I'm sitting there chatting with my family when, somehow, it comes out the all I had left to do was to purchase our snacks and gum for the plane ride and go the bank. We have specific amounts we need and the bills have to be a certain year - the newer the better. My sweet brother-in-law, very matter of factly, points out that banks will be closed tomorrow. I wish I had a Kodak moment of that moment. I'm not sure which would be funnier - my face when I realized that I had O business days between now and leaving the country or when they realized I had no idea and the horror of emotions that ran across my face. At that moment, I was so NOT a fan of Veteran's Day! I frantically called Ryan - who had the same 'I do not believe this' reaction I did. Crazily, my second thought was "I was jipped!" I thought I had a whopping 5 days but in reality, I only had 4!! I know, I know, I've waited 3 years for this day - you'd think I could just be ready in a moment's notice. Just didn't happen. Luckily, my story doesn't end there. My brother and sister-in-laws jumped on their phones making some calls. Ryan called a couple of people. I called some people. People were so kind and gracious to us. I am happy to report that by tomorrow, we will have the bills we need. We may have to exchange a few for newer bills during our layover but exchanging cash for cash at a bank SHOULD be fairly quick and easy. It just proves yet once again 1)we have an incredible network of family and friends and 2) traveling internationally is not for the faint-hearted 3) I have a big God that cares about all of the details I miss. I'm pretty sure this will be a Veteran's Day I never forget! One. More. Day!!!!