Road Closed due to Volcano

As most of you know, I was on schedule to leave for Dublin, Ireland, yesterday afternoon and then precede onto Scotland the next morning.
Well, needless to say, Iceland had something to say about that.

As I was driving to the airport, I received a phone call from my team member, Bryan. He had informed me that the volcanic ash was in the air again and many airports had shut down.
My heart literally stopped. I thought, How can this happend? I am so excited and ready.

After arriving in Dublin the next day, I had plans to meet with dear friends of mine that I haven't seen in over a year. It was a time for reuniting and fellowship. It would have been amazing-if anything else. Anyway, I was counting on that night with them to catch up and just have fun. The world had different plans.

I got to the airport, not knowing what to expect. I was keeping in touch with some friends in Ireland while they were keeping me up-to-date on the status of the airport openings. The Dublin Airport was currently closed until 9 am the next morning, which was ok because my plane was due to land at 8:50 am. I would be just a little bit delayed. Relieved to hear that, they checked my bags and they sent me on a transfer flight to Philadelphia to wait and hear more updates about my flight into Dublin.

As I sat in anxiousness, I was praying that everything would clear up and I would be able to get there. My dad had walked me to security and calmed me for a bit. As he prayed over me, I felt hope that everything would work out alright. As we talked, he told me something that stuck out in my mind: "Maybe if this flight doesn't work out today, tomorrow's flight will be better. Now, Melanie, there would be a good reason why you would be flying out tomorrow instead of today. Maybe he wants you to sit next to someone on a flight tomorrow who needs to be witnessed to. Or maybe someone to be just a mere blessing to you." Those words I will always remember.

I got through security and reached my gate. As i waited to board, I called a few people to pass the time and say some last goodbyes for a few weeks. About 10 minutes before boarding, my phone rang.
At that same moment, about 15 other passengers phone rang as well.

My stomach had dropped. I felt so sick. I just knew this wouldn't be a good call.

I answered.

An automated voice came over the other end and explained to me that my flight to Dublin had been canceled. I immediately got off the plane to Philly and headed back to the ticket counter.

The kind lady at the counter had a really stressed expression on her face, as in so did I probably. She had explained to me that no airports in England, Ireland or Scotland that were safe for me to fly into. Everything was shut down and nothing was going out in terms of flights until tomorrow. I started to cry. Everything I was so excited for seemed to be slowly slipping away.

The lady had booked me in for a flight that leaves the next day to go into London and then transfer over to Dublin. She told me that there was an 80 percent chance of the flight being canceled tomorrow as well. That was really hard to take in. She gave me my new ticket and sent me on my way to help the other frantic customers. I went down to the baggage and got my poor suitcase full of hopes and dreams. I called my good friend and just cried to her. I was questioning everything and doubting it all. How could this have happened to me... i thought. why?

I got off the phone with her and an hour later my dad arrives to pick me up. I was so exhausted that I slept the whole entire way home. He told me that I should go out and have some fun tonight, but all I wanted was to stay in my room and not come out. I looked online at the status of the volcano ash and all airports were to re-open in the morning, but were unsure if they were.

Exhausted as I was, I passed out and fell asleep.

This morning I got up feeling better, but still in shock that this even happened. My dad made me breakfast (he is trying to do anything he can to make me feel better--bless him). We turned on the news and saw that all airports are open and it appears that the ash cloud is clearing. I am due to fly out of Chicago tonight at 10 pm and arrive in London at 11:25 am and then transfer over to Dublin.
However, here is where the complication arises: Since I am arriving a day late, I am missing my flight into Glasgow, Scotland, meaning that I am stuck in Ireland. That necessarily would not be entirely a bad thing, but the purpose of me on this trip was to be in Scotland. I needed to be there.
So, after 4 hours of searching online for solutions of travel to find a way into Scotland at a decent rate, I found that it was cheapest to pay 115 pounds and just take a train from London to Edinburgh and miss my connecting flight into Dublin.
My dad had asked me if I would be ok on my own with this, but he did forget that I have been to London before and know the underground and train system quite well. After all, i did figure out Paris all by myself. And at least they speak English where I am going.
I decided, though, that I will go to the airport about 4 pm to see if I can be a standby on any other flights to get there any earlier. I found out that my team member Bryan and team leader, Tim, will be on the flight before me. So my goal is to get on that flight with them. I am meeting both of them at 5 pm to just talk and sort everything out. First time I will actually be meeting Bryan in the flesh!
He did tell me yesterday that we all will have dinner and a glass of wine to make it all better.

And honestly, that sounds extremely wonderful right now.

Going to the bank to get more money out and then heading down to the airport. Will write more if I can tomorrow to keep you all posted if I got to Scotland or not! Lord Willing!

Please pray for safety and no more volcanoes please :)