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Sallie was baptized this summer.  A special time. 

A couple of days ago I decided it was time to clear off my floral,  summer table cloth( a lovely birthday gift from a dear friend here in Doha) and replace it with something more fallish.  It is still getting up to 110 or so here on some days but we know change is right around the corner. So I took off my flower centerpiece and pulled out my browns and oranges. A couple of pumpkin candles and I'm ready for a change!

I thought about my summer as I put the table stuff away.  It was a great summer.  Full of time with friends. Time to catch up with their lives and catch them up with mine. Time  to laugh and cry over the various good things going on and the hard things that  happened as well. Hugging Sallie's neck as we talked on her couch in the new place she and her roommates will be in for the next year.  Just having time with her that was relaxed and easy.  We loved the movie Hundred Foot Journey. Both of us laughing over the cultural clashes between India and France. We loved finding cute things for the house and setting things up. Mike and Robert set up the big speakers for a stereo for the girls... Oh boy!  It was so good to see Ryan in Austin.  I feel more connected having been in his house and having met his roommate. My heart was full as he cooked us a meal in his kitchen. My stomach was full, too. He really is a great cook. And to be with my sister and her hubby, Adrian and my niece , Tiffyn made the week in Austin perfect.  Ok, not perfect because it went by WAY too fast but wonderful, nevertheless.

My terrific sister and amazing niece. 

It's a strange thing this  "Expat Living",    Being torn between two worlds and connected deeply to both of them can kind of make a person feel schizophrenic at times. As my friend here in Doha said to me when we hugged after not seeing each other for nearly 3 months, "Mattie, it's kind of like having that second child. You can't imagine loving another baby as much as you love that first one. But then ..you do!  I love my US life and all so much and yet I find life here is wonderful, too. And to be blessed with a whole extra set of amazing friends!" She's right. Both of my lives are rich, and meaningful, and challenging, and full. Both are very, very different. But both are exraordinary. I'm so thankful. So blessed.

One of the very special things I  missed by being in Doha.. Pat became a grandmother. ( And so did Susan, and Anita, and...)  

As Robert and I stood in the DFW security line I noticed he seemed pensive. "Are you ok?" "I guess so, I just feel sad." "I know, me too. This is the hardest part, isn't it. It's like we know when we go thru that gate we have said goodbye. No turning back..and yet, we're so ready to be home with Dad and back to our lives..." "Yeah. This is the hardest time. When you still have a choice..." And once we were on the plane? We were fine. Ready to be home in Doha. Missing our home in Dallas. Yep. schizophrenic. :)

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Robert, Sallie and Lolo enjoying the puppies at Debi's house.  

Good friends moving Sallie's couch to her the new place.   

Chef Extraordinaire...Austin, Texas

Our time was short but oh so sweet.