Month Two

Today is the end of our first two months in Doha.  Our house is coming together thanks to the help of my good friend Pattie.  She was here during our visit to the US and she and Barry came last Wednesday to visit us as well.  We worked them like dogs.  But the house looks great!  Plants, pictures, furniture. All looking good. The best part though was having good friends stay a few days with us.

As I write this a sand storm has blown in.  The sky is brown and the cars have already changed color.  I am glad we didn't plan to do much outside today. Course, also as I write this I am watching the News report the megastorm that is headed to the US East coast. No complaints from this desert dweller.  That thing is huge!!

I can watch the news because we now have internet, and TV services to our villa. No more hanging out at the clubhouse while Robert does school.  No more running over there to check our email and facebook. I kind of miss it. No, not really. We are glad to have most of moving issues settled. All that is left is for us to get our residents permits and for me to get my Qatari license. Not bad when I think of all that was happening last July, August and September.

As I finish unpacking the last boxes onto our bookshelves, there is one thing that makes me sad. My Christmas decorations have disappeared. We will call the movers this week to report it. Perhaps they are sitting somewhere between here and Abu Dhabi.  That is what I am praying, anyway.  It is only stuff but those boxes had stuff from my mom, and all the decorations I have collected for the kids over the years. Every time I think about it my stomach churns.  No way to replace it.  Maybe the movers will have good news. Again, it is all about perspective... I could be packing up and evacuating because of a huge hurricane heading our way....

Praying for friends and family on the East Coast,
Mattie

 

And Finally

Harper with Great Grandma Iolene

Russell introduced Robert to Crossfit while we were in Kansas. Robert says it is not as fun here in Doha.

As a final entry to my rambling about our September visit I must include all the great hugs given and received during the two weeks we were there.  Although it was such a short time we did get to see many of our friends and most of our Kansas family. (  I was very sad not to see my sister, her husband or my niece and nephew though.  It has been more than 3 years now. Not fun.  ) After our trip to Lubbock we stayed in Dallas for 3 days.  People coming and going. Lots of catching up in a short amount of time!  Then on Wednesday, early morning, off to Kansas for a few days.  It was pretty cold for these desert dwellers but we survived. Mike attended his 35th high school reunion and all of us, except for Sallie, got to meet Harper Hildebrand. Harper is the first member of the next generation in our line. And she is a cutie. She wears the title well.

Waiting for the Oktoberfest Parade in Stafford. Robert was chilly. 

Another special hug came from my brother, Scott. I had not seen him in several years and actually did not know where he was living.  Through many amazing connections and God working in his life, we saw each other Tuesday morning for breakfast.  It was a wonderful reunion and I am so thankful for that blessing on top of all the other great things that happened on our trip.

Breakfast with Scott. 

  The two weeks flew by and soon we were flying, too. Back to Doha, Sallie, and 90-100 degree temps. It is good to be back and over the jetlag.  Mike is working hard and this week is a short one with Eid coming.  Time for friends to come see us now!!        

Raiderland with Ryan

Seeing San Fransisco with everyone was not the only fun thing about our whirlwind trip to the States.  Early Friday morning we headed to Lubbock to visit Ryan at Tech.  We have wanted to do this for awhile and on this trip we made it happen.  Tom and Bonnie roadtripped with us so that made the 5-6 hour drive go by much faster.  Laughing and catching up across west Texas is the best way to travel.

Ryan has some terrific friends and we were glad to finally meet them.  Our short visit was packed with meeting his buddies, seeing Lubbock and Texas Tech and eating at some of his favorite restaurants. We weren't sure about Tech before he went there but he has made some good friends and obviously, for now it is home to him.  As a senior he has lots of decisions to make in the upcoming months but for now he is happy in Lubbock and we are glad we experienced just a little of his life there. \

Lunch at Chimys with Tom Bonnie, Curtis , Emily

Hmmmm guess who decorated the living room?

Although it wasn't California, this part of our trip was just as special.  It was hard to hug him good-bye.  I wanted to say just get in the car..and come with us. The goodbyes do not get easier.

San Fransisco in September

Big ships at Fisherman's Wharf.

Chatting and laughing on the way to Alcatraz.

Last spring Mike and I pretty much invited ourselves to an anniversary trip with our dear friends Pat and Darren and Mark and Marganne.  Little did we know that between the time we hatched that idea and the scheduled San Fransisco celebration, we would change jobs and move countries.  For weeks it was touch and go. I even think that there was a bet on whether we would be there or not.  By the time September 20th rolled around we were more than ready to get on that plane and take a breather. After jumping thru hoops and meeting friends who would be here for Sallie(she stayed here in Doha) , and travelling for about 25 hours we landed at DFW.  Early Saturday morning we were on another plane to beautiful San Fransisco ready for 6 days of laughter, good friends, and great memory making. And that is exactly what we had.

All my life my mom talked about her favorite city in the world..San Fransisco.  I can remember her breaking into song "I Left My Heart in San Fransisco..."  I would roll my eyes and smile. She loved that city. They moved there in High School and that is where she met my dad. He was visiting his parents who lived across the street from Grandma and Grandpa Brown.  They were engaged before he left town, and married 3 months later.  As Mike and I and our friends trooped up and down those amazing streets my mind constantly wondered if mom and dad had been there. Did Dad have a drink at the Top of the Mark with  his war buddies?  A tradition apparently going back to World War II before soldiers shipped out that still happens today.  Did he and mom walk along Fisherman's Wharf?  Celebrate the New Year down there? Where the prisoners of Alcatraz could hear their laughter?  I remember how mom would laughingly say how Dad was the only man in the world who would eat steak on Fisherman's Wharf.  I had a hamburger. :) When we got back from our trip I wrote to my Aunt Sally...Maybe she can answer my questions. I hope so. She and Mom had fun there. She will know.

After touring SF we headed to Napa and Sonoma Valleys.  It was so peaceful. We stayed in a 3 bedroom house on a creek.  Tasted wines, ate great food, laughed and talked for three days. I could feel the tension melt away.  I think we need to vacation every time we head back to the US...the decompression is amazing.As for California. We loved it. Not sure I would want to live there but it is a great place to visit!

The Three Amigos behind bars on Alcatraz. 

Possibly the best meal we had, a roadside diner that Mike spotted.  Served Pork. :) 

We could not get enough of the beautiful scenery. Soaked it in.