We got to fly with Jack for the first time this last week. These are the ticket stubs from that flight. More specifically, these are the ticket stubs from the second flight that helped us get home sooner (over 3 hours sooner). I was really hoping that our first flight with Jack would have been under better circumstances. Unfortunately, this was a flight we had to take to get Lauri home to her family as soon as possible. These tickets show us departing at 2:51 pm. That’s right about 12 hours after we got the dreaded call that her father had passed away.
First flight for Jack
It’s pretty amazing how quickly friends and family can rally the troops for support during a period of crisis. The love, support, and prayers we received immediately upon hearing of Alma LaMont Henriksen’s death has lifted us when we needed it most. With all the support we received, I felt to send an email out to my family and close friends. I have decided to share it here on my blog in order to share our thanks with all those who prayed for us during our darkest hour. It was difficult to write, because of how deeply personal it is. I hope it not only expresses our thanks, but that it will help with the healing, too.
Jack looking out the window with dad
Here is what I sent and would like to share:
“For those of you who haven’t heard, Lauriann’s dad died of a heart attack at around 3am on Tuesday morning. It was mostly unexpected. From my understanding, he died quickly and did not suffer. For those of you who have heard, we want to thank you for your prayers. I can not tell you enough how much those prayers have helped us. Since words are failing me in describing our thanks, I thought I’d share our experiences throughout this day and how those prayers have been answered.
We were down in Roswell visiting my folks (and getting our plans detailed to move down) this week when we got a call from her family. They called my phone, first, at 2:54am. I got up, but didn’t answer in time. Lauri’s phone was off. I really had to go to the bathroom, so I didn’t think much of the late call (as I didn’t recognize the phone number). While I was in the bathroom, my parent’s house phone rang. At around 3am, my brain doesn’t like to work very well, so I just thought it was weird that my phone rang and then my parent’s phone rang within a couple of minutes of each other at that insanely early hour. It wasn’t until I got back to the bedroom and saw Lauri listening to her voicemail (she had turned her phone on after the house phone rang, as she realized something must be wrong). Upon listening to the news that her dad was in an ambulance on the way to the hospital and that he had more than likely passed away, Lauri collapsed on the floor. It’s making me tear up, literally, now, even as I recall the initial pain she felt from that call. It hurt to feel so powerless. My dad brought the house phone to me (Heidi, Lauri’s sister, was on the line) and Lauri had called back and was talking to Doug. Her family wanted to have a family prayer while the paramedics were taking dad to the hospital. We were blessed to be able to participate in that, despite being over 800 miles away. After learning that the hospital was unable to revive him, another wave of finality overcame us. It was hard! I don’t think we have ever cried together like that. My mom came in and held Lauri, knowing that this was the closest Lauri would get to holding her mom for now. Mom’s just have that natural instinct and my mom really pulled through when Lauri needed it most.
Lauri asked for a blessing (special prayer), so I got my dad to give it (I would not have been able to get out a single word at that point). It was a much needed blessing and we thank my dad for being so willing to give her a blessing at such an early hour.
Lauri stayed on the phone until well after 4:30 talking with her siblings (mostly with her sister, Holly). Holly has a gift of being able to make Lauri laugh, and this time was no different. Holly reminded her of some good, and funny, times with her dad. It was good to hear Lauri laugh during one of her harder times.
Phil (my sister’s husband) looked up plane tickets first thing in the morning. He was able to get a decent flight that took us through Denver. We only had about an hour and a half before we had to get on the road to Albuquerque. With my parent’s help (mostly my mom) watching Jack while we got packed and loaded, we were able to leave with just enough time to make our flight.
This is where the prayers were needed the most. As we arrived in Albuquerque, we had just enough time to grab lunch to go and get to the gate as they were announcing boarding for all seats. We arrived in Denver with a 3 1/2 hour lay-over (it was the best schedule available online) planned. Upon exiting the plane, I immediately talked to someone at the counter at the gate where we arrived to see if we could get an earlier flight. They showed me where the next flight was leaving (in 20 minutes), but was told it would cost an additional $75-100 per ticket to make the changes. Since I couldn’t afford that, we decided to just wait. After going to the restroom, I decided to give it another shot. I went back and told them why I was trying to get home so soon and if there was any way to bypass the extra fee. They said there was nothing they could do, but that I could try at the customer service desk. At the customer service desk, I told her my story and asked if there was anyway to get on that plane without the added expense, because I had no way of paying for it. She worked her magic and told me to go straight to the gate. I ran and got Lauri and we rushed to the gate. The lady at the counter had called and had them hold the flight until we got there. We were able to board the plane and take off 5 minutes later. Not only were we able to get Lauri to her family sooner, but the shorter wait made traveling with Jack just that much better. That was just one of the many answers to your prayers.
We were in such a hurry that we really didn’t have anytime to call ahead and schedule someone to pick us up. So how does Heavenly Father help us here? He had Lauri’s niece, Bridget, text Lauri and ask if we needed to be picked up at the airport. They were so accommodating for us. Even when we ended up with a much earlier flight, they were able to be there at the airport. We didn’t even have to wait one extra minute at the airport, as they were there waiting for us. Another absolute blessing for us.
Lauri was able to go to her family, but that left me with no car. So I tried calling around to see about getting a ride to the airport to get our luggage (our turnaround time was so quick that they had no way of getting our luggage on our new flight). Jayton and Janelle were willing to help, but it was going to be difficult, as Jack’s bedtime was when the luggage was expected to arrive. Once again, another blessing came. One of my best friends, Scott, was coming down to Utah County and would be passing near the airport shortly after the luggage was scheduled to arrive. I could not have asked for a more perfect solution to our luggage problem (which we had to have, because it had our bathroom supplies in it and Jack’s car seat).
Upon visiting with her family, Doug (the middle child and youngest of the brothers) told Lauri that he was glad she wasn’t in town to be there and see her dad in that state. As he told her, it’s not a memory he would want her to have. Lauri knows that Doug is right. Her next view of him will be of her dad touched up and looking as handsome as ever. That’s a much better memory than of her dad with the look of sudden death about him.
Do I believe that Heavenly Father was watching over my beautiful wife during this trial? ABSOLUTELY!!! Was it a coincidence that we were in Roswell at that exact moment so that Lauri would not have to witness seeing her dad right after dying, which would not have been a pleasant memory? Was it a coincidence that, with the help of so many friends and family, we were able to get Lauri to her family in the quickest time possible? Was it a coincidence that her wonderful niece offered to pick us up from the airport at a time with that was the furthest thing from our minds? Was it a coincidence that my best friend, Scott, was going to be near the airport when our luggage was due to arrive and was able to pick it up for us? I know that it is because of your prayers and the love of our Heavenly Father that all these “coincidences” were placed in front of us to help us during this trying (and crying) time.
It helped Lauri, tremendously, to get to her family so quickly. She has felt the peaceful touch of a loving Heavenly Father. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t miss him, as we both have had our “breakdowns” since. But the love and support and prayers we have received from all of you has been beyond description. We love you all so much and can’t thank you enough for your kind words. May you find comfort in knowing that your prayers are being heard and answered and we give Him thanks for all of our wonderful friends and family.
With All Our Love,
Perry, Lauriann, and Jack”
