Senior Scenes

Prom 2013

Noor and Sallie being themselves

It is the end of the year. Regardless of the fact that I have done this twice before, it is still difficult.   This week I have thought about how fast time has flown. Partly it is because several friends have had grandchildren born recently.  Coupling that with Sallie graduating ..well, it has made me pensive. I remembered back to saying goodbye to Russell the day we left for Abu Dhabi in 2007. the picture of him standing at the airport, waving as we went thru security.  And the group that was standing beside him..all yelling..We love you Hildebrands. And they loved on Russell as he continued in college while his folks lived halfway around the world.  Then I thought about Ryan and his graduation. How lonely the apt. felt after he left. How empty.  For all of us. I remember how he said to me.".Mom, I'm not dead. You'll see me at Christmas." :) Something I have seen these new moms share on facebook is the phrase,"..Now my heart lives outside my body." Next to the picture of their newborn. You know, that is true. And when your heart is halfway around the world, it can hurt a lot. I keep hoping it will get easier but it hasn't so far. So, here are some pictures of our baby girl. Just a few shots of her senior year. We couldn't be more proud of her. Moving here as a senior. Making new friends. Working hard. She even won a drama award at school. Pretty cool for only being here a short time.

Spring Break Nepal

 

Senior Night at Youth Group

Youth Group again..covered in eggs, shaving cream and flour. 

Sallie's Drama Class

Seniors waiting to be prayed for in church. Last Friday for many of them.  

 Graduation is June 7th.  I did not cry today at church when we all prayed for the kids but I am not promising that on Graduation Day!

A View to the Future

In honor of our upcoming 30th anniversary Mike and I traveled to Jordan for a few days this month. We joined our good friends, Pattie and Barry, in Petra and at the Dead Sea. It was a quick getaway and we didn't get to see everything in Jordan, but we did have a wonderful time!  For several years Mike has been wanting to go and this worked out to be just right. Sallie and Robert managed on their own in Doha for 5 days and we relaxed and uncovered a bit of Jordan. :)

The views( very different from dry, desert Doha), the weathe(much cooler than dry, desert Doha), our good friends, and seeing parts of the New and Old Testament history come to life were all part of what made this visit special.  Mike and I are so thankful for our life together and we could not think of a better way to celebrate than with a trip like this.

And did I mention the views? Just couldn't get enough of them. Here's to the next 30 years!

View of the Promised Land from Mount Nebo

View from our hotel balcony at the Dead Sea

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo

Sallie watches the rain.

It was fun to celebrate Robert's 15th birthday last weekend.  Robert, our Cinco de Mayo boy,  invited 5 buddies to go see Ironman 3 and then spend the night.  Highlights of the celebration included..video games.. no surprise there... pizza...again no surprise  and ...Playing basketball in the rain!  Big surprise there.  

Mike and I are having trouble believing he is 15, but we are so glad for his new friends and our continued adjustment to living here in Doha. Friends make all the difference. :)  

Mike and I wanted to go out for Mexican dinner as many places hosted special Cinco de Mayo evenings, but Robert said he wanted Stroganoff and yellow cake with chocolate ice cream for his family birthday dinner. So that is what we did. 

Feliz Cumpleanos, Roberto!