And It's Goodbye Again

Rebecca-leaving, Sarah-leaving, Emily, Jessica and Mackenzie-missing them already.

 June is normally a time of great fun and summer plans.So why am I so sad these days? It's like I am walking around in a fog.  Maybe it is the heat, unrelenting, night and day, living in sauna. Yes, it could be that. But it is more than that. It is all the good byes that happen this time of year. I try to focus on how in August more people will be here..new friends, new fun. But no, it isn't helping. We have 8 families leaving from our homeschool community. And several more leaving from the church. My poor friend's daughter (they have been here 7 years) has cried herself to sleep for two weeks now with all the goodbyes she has had to say. One week we had 3 good bye parties. Ugh.  

 Judy, smiling in the front in the picture on the left, packed up after 5 years here and like 16 in the Middle East. We will also say goodbye to two of Robert's best friends and their families. One to Canada the other to the US.  And the Harmons, the Bazzis, the Reillys, the Bakers(who left in April) , the Millers, the Hendrickse(back to South Aftica after years and years here) and Ian and Chris who have served in our church for 12 years. It's been one good bye after another. I know we will recover but the process is not fun.   

Daniel-leaving, John-leaving, Jerusha, Sallie-missing them already, Sarah-leaving

 My kids are grabbing what time they have with each departing friend. Having done this good bye thing so much growing up, I feel for them. Trying to create fun memories for them and help them to process the good and the hard. Very glad there is facebook now. And skype. It really helps. :) 

Another goodbye is to Sallie, Jerusha, Ethan and Jared. This is a fun one though. On Wednesday they head to Thailand to work in an orphanage for 10 days. They are going with Arabian Gulf Youth for Christ.  They will be with more students from Al Ain and 4 staff, including our leaders from here. Sallie is excited to experience a trip like this as she has heard about her brothers' many adventures!

Good-bye. Talk to you soon. Here's to the hellos that follow the hard goodbyes...
Mattie 

Turning 50-It's My Party!!

Bill, Pat, Mike and Me!

For days I looked forward to my party.  Mike and Pattie, and several others, were plotting and planning.  I didn't want a surprise. I wanted to look forward to time with friends and laughter.   I was not disappointed. The party, held at an Asian restaurant in Abu Dhabi, was a blast.  We had good food, lots of friends, an cake with chocolate and strawberries, and lots and lots of talking and laughing. The hardest part was limiting the guest list. We are so blessed in Abu Dhabi with many wonderful friends.(I was never good with that with my kids' parties either. :))                          

Wes, Chandra, Rita and Ray

Mylinda, Jaye, Todd and Kara

I suppose the pinnacle of the evening came when Krista blindsided me with the command to ride a stick horse around the restaurant. Not very dignified for a newly turned 50 year old. ( Just a few days earlier, Mike was telling Pattie how I made him do that on his THIRTIETH birthday..yes, 22 years ago...and he just can't get passed it. And I didn't do it, the restaurant did. Ok there were probably 200 complete strangers there, but still...It's been 22 years!! )(and Pattie did not actually tell Mike she was doing this, so technically he is off the hook.)   

Gilbert, Anwar, Julene, Bill and Marty

Rocky, Pam, Tom, Judy and Dave

Wael, Ligia, Jeni and Steve

Jean, Joe, Mary Kenney and Mike Tush

It was a wonderful evening. One of my top 10 events in my life.  The down side was missing the friends who could not be there.  (This included Pattie and Barry who had an emergency trip to the US. She missed the pay off of all her hard work. )  Mmany times during the evening I thought of my  great friends on the other side of the ocean, and my amazing family as well. I will say that I bet that stick horse shows up again in the near future...Just sayin.