Sign on the Dotted Line!

We have had so many people ask us how we are doing. It is wonderful to feel so much love and support. We are doing well. Trying to prepare for Ryan's graduation and our summer plans. Enjoying the fact that Mike has a new job.! Oh, but wait! There is this small matter of a PAYCHECK.

So, here's the story.

Mike is "made redundant" (term they use here-good grief!) on Jan. 20.

Bank is generously notified that Mike is no longer employed and will no longer be receiving compensation.

Mike rushes to withdraw savings we have stashed away to pay this year's rent (remember, rent paid by the year here, up front) , so we have something to live on-If in fact the rumors are true and our bank account may be frozen.

Meanwhile, Mike contacts everyone and anyone for job leads.

Ryan's tuition is due. As are two car payments. (Rent is not due. Good thing we pay by the year!?)

After 4 weeks of searching and great friends helping, Parsons, International offers Mike a job.

2 days later: Mike unable to get into our bank account to pay car payments-Account is NOW frozen(interesting concept...frozen AFTER employed). Sidenote: car loans are at the same bank. we left money in the bank to pay notes. we receive an interest fee charge for late payment????? they have the money. they control the account. Hmmm....

Mike is told bank account will be accessible again when he receives his first electronic paycheck. Parsons pays monthly and sometimes every 5 weeks. This is a 5 week cycle. (oh boy.)

Continue using cash withdrawn earlier. Ryan goes to China. Amazing experience. Envelope with cash gets skinnier. Family comes from Kansas. We all have a blast.

March 8: Hill pays Mike last payment. Unable to deposit it because account is frozen(another interesting concept, bank NOT wanting your money). Mike follows courier around the bank for hour and a half until it is deposited. (We can't touch it, but at least Mike is officially done with Hill at this point.) ( He puts it this way, "finally got their claws dug out of me.")

March 26: First PAYCHECK!!! But wait... can't deposit it. Bank will not take it unless it is electronic. Parsons does not issue the first paycheck electronically. Mike has a piece of paper with ink on it. Mike goes to bank for 5th time to unfreeze account. Has all the paperwork. The banker he usually works with is OUT that day. The lady he talks to says, But sir, your account is not frozen. Mike has visions of going postal. "Then why can't I access it online or withdraw money?" Blank stare. Further investigation reveals that Microsoft Explorer no longer works with NBAD..only Mozilla. Ok, thanks for the heads up. Also, only up to 30,000 dollars is frozen and Mike hates them. :) ( He just added that out loud to me. )

And there is the journey of the paycheck. No, it is not yet deposited as it is still PAPER but we are hopeful that this week we will have victory!!!

I know this was long and convoluted..but that's nothing to walking it out. :)

Here's to Jehovah Jireh. The God who provides.

We are truly thankful.

Lots of love,

The Hildebrands

Kansas Cousins and Ryan's Home!

Family dinner.

Jet lag wins.

Dressed for the Mosque.

Sunny day at the beach.

Ryan returned last nite from China. Safe and sound. Josh, our still jetlagging nephew, woke up to ride with me to pick him up, at 1am, at the school. Bless his heart. His suitcase is full of Chinese bargains and, although we were all pretty beat, he did tell us that the trip was great. We, too, have a great week with Don and Laurie and Josh here. We are getting plenty of touring in...the Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace, the Beach, etc. as well as just time to laugh, talk, and reminisce.

It was one of the better trips I have had to the Mosque. We latched onto a tour guide and heard some new things from her. There was also a ladies college visiting, so the mosque was filled with local Emirati women giggling in their black abayas and snapping pictures. Although from a distance it was hard to differentiate between the expats who have to cover in black when visiting the Mosque and the local gals who were there, when you got close there was no comparison. They are so graceful and wear their abayas so naturally. We spent the time battling with the shayla scarfs that cover our heads, trying to keep them on...They didn't have that problem. :) By the way, our trip to the Mosque was actually the second try. The first day we arrived too late and only Muslims could go in. Oh well. I appreciated the good attitude and flexiblity of our visitors. It makes it easier when people just go with the flow. :)

Before everyone arrived I told my friend Jill that I wanted to be sure that our Kansas family had fun on their visit. She laughed and said "Mattie, they will enjoy looking out your window! So many different sights." It proved to be prophetic. We have had some great conversations about all the activity outside the window! :) The parking, the laborers arriving and leaving from work, kids heading to school and just city life here. I am actually glad for our bustling location. Sometimes. :)

So we still have a few days. Coming up. Visit to Dubai, field trip to a nature preserve, Arabic food, and I imagine other adventures. Now that Ryan is here he will have several things he wants his cousins to do and see. :)

What a blessing to have them here. They should be over Jet lag about the time they climb back on the plane on Friday.

More updates later.

Have a great day!

Just the Usual. What a relief!

As I have the morning off from taking Ryan to school, I decided to update the blog. I think I sort of stalled out for awhile with all the stuff going on. Just couldn't live it and write about it at the same time.
But life is "calmer" now. Just the usual..no place to park, so I sat for 30 minutes for someone to pull out and then...get out of my way! I was in there. Or getting my hair cut but having to map a new way there cuz they have closed the street down completely for the next 2 years or so. No big deal..just a 6 lane major street thru the city. Ho hum. Bought a floor fan to possibly drown the 24 hour construction in my bedroom. It has helped. Amen! When I say, in my bedroom, it really is right there. Just ask the friends who have been here. :) Or the honking if you don't floor it right when the light turns green. Heaven forbid you have to sit for 2 seconds. Course, I can't complain. My friend got ticketed for a 1% tinted front window that apparently is against a law that no one had heard about. Something like 10,000 dirhams...divide by 3.6. Can't have his license back until he pays. Yep. Can't complain!
Ryan did get off to China ok last nite. He will be there 6 days for the Model United Nations conference. Students from all over the Middle and Far East will be attending. An amazing opportunity. They also get to see the Great Wall and Forbidden City. And shop. :) There are 12 kids going from ACS and many of them are Ryan's good friends. 4 from the basketball team, which makes it doubly fun for him. Now the kids were told to take swim goggles to wear to keep out the smog. Just could not picture that for my Ryan. We settled on good sunglasses. :)

And for us, 3 of our numerous Kansas family members are coming to see us tomorrow!!! We are so excited. Mike's brother Don, and our niece and nephew..Laurie and Josh..both on Spring Break from Kansas State are making the long haul over here. We are all very excited. Ryan will be back for the second part of their visit so it works out great! (He'll be beat, but hey! He's young..no big deal. )

And work, you ask? Mike and I are happy he is fully employed by a US based multinational company right here in Abu Dhabi. He completes his 3rd week today. Should be getting a paycheck soon. We hope. :) Sallie and Robert are doing well, too. Sallie is taking art lessons and somehow she is very good! Not from my side of the family. That's for sure. Robert started piano lessons with our friend Katie. He remembers quite a bit from his lessons in the States several years ago.

We head to the US in June. Our nephew Kent is getting married, and Ryan will be starting college. ALL of us are looking forward to that.

Stay tuned for more news from Sandyland.
Mattie, for the gang!