Togetherness

I returned to Doha first. Sallie came in later that evening. Mike arrived the next day.  Ryan two days later. At one point I was sure I would forget who was supposed to be where and when they were supposed to be there. The day after Sallie arrived in Doha, she, Robert and his buddy Adrian flew to Abu Dhabi.  Both kids wanted to see their friends there and that was part of their Christmas present. Then Russell flew back here with them on December 24th and finally! after 12 months we were all 6 of us together again! For me that was the best part of Christmas. I know that with Ryan now working in Austin at the Mariott(starting Jan. 5) and Russell working hard in Abu Dhabi and Sallie in Dallas in College, well, it will be harder and harder to have the 6 of us together.  So it was a quiet Christmas but just right. Now Ryan is in Abu Dhabi seeing his friends for a few days and hanging out some more with Russell. He will head back here on the 1st then off to start his new job. Very excited for him.

As 2013 winds down, I think back through the months that flew by.  The sadness of my brother's sudden death combined with the joy and peace of knowing he knew Jesus. Celebrating 30 years of marriage with my best friend. Sallie's graduation from high school. The many friends who came to see us. The many friends we were able to visit. Our niece's wedding in Kansas. Sallie getting her driver's license and starting college in Dallas. Leaving her there with good friends to help her get reacquainted with American life. Robert starting traditional school here in Doha. Russell moving to Abu Dhabi. Thanksgiving with good friends here in Doha. Then like a bookend to my year, another sad but wonderful celebration  of Mom Hildebrands homegoing... What a precious time that was to be with family and remember her. (So glad we had the summer wedding with almost all of us there.)

So here I am. In that pause between Christmas and New Years. It was a great year. Not an easy one, no, but still a very good year. I just started reading One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp. That's my hope for 2014..to see and name the wonderful gifts in my life.

And I'm starting with family.  and friends. and...

Thanksgiving at the Mitchell's with many of our Doha friends

Before they headed to Abu Dhabi for New Year's

Christmas Dinner

Four Wheeling fun in the Desert. Apparently Ryan also tried flying but we didn't get a picture.

My kids complain that I take too many pictuers. tough.

Goodbye, Mom

I'm waiting to hear today if Mike, stranded in ice-locked Dallas will make it out of their today. We had his flight to Wichita all booked but didn't plan on the ice storm of all ice storms.  He is on his way to Kansas.

Here we are minus Russell. We were all in Kansas to celebrate Mom's 80th birthday. 

 We got the news early last Thursday morning that Mom Hildebrand passed away.  Another one of those gut wrenching, it is hard to be so far away, phone calls. Mike went into work late and I worked on his flights out of here. His coworkers were so kind. A parade of folks passing thru the office to offer their condolences.
As a daughter in law, and member of this terrific family for 30 plus years, here are some of my thoughts on this strong, intelligent, kind woman. From my first visit in 1981 she made me feel welcome and included. I think one time I asked her about what she thought of me those first visits, ha ha.. the city girl who could not sew, cook, play piano, garden, etc. etc... But she never made me feel that I was  anything LESS... ( I may have felt those beginning years, but not from her! :) ) My favorite memories are the ones of my summers at her place. I didn't see much of my grandparents growing up so I wanted my boys to have time with their cousins and grandmother. I would take the kids up to Stafford and we would just stay for two or three weeks. We had so much fun. Mike would come join us and I loved those times.  The boys would play in the sprinkler or wash the toy trucks their dad had played with as a boy, and mom and I spent many hours on the front porch. Or maybe all of us would head to Mary and Norman's and get rides in the tractors. Including me. Mom and I had lots of long talks during those summer evenings. Or those glorious summer mornings. There were pizza nights, dinners with all the cousins, vacation bible school, and even a trip to Dodge City to see Mom's childhood home.
 Mom H welcomed me and so many others into her home.  The Hildebrand Hotel just off Hwy 50 was open for so many friends traveling East to West and West to East.  But more than that, all of us were welcomed into her heart.
I will fly to Kansas on Thursday. Then the family will all come together on Saturday and celebrate a woman who walked with the Lord and is now rejoicing in heaven with Him. And as great as that is, we are still sad and will miss her very, very much.
Iolene Hildebrand. We love you.