Eid Mubarak-Abu Dhabi Style

Fun to celebrate Pattie's birthday with her. The four of us took a boat across the water and ate at The Meat Co. Brought back lots of fun memories as it was a favorite place for birthday dinners. 

In a spur of the moment decision, we decided to spend Eid in Abu Dhabi.  Pattie and Barry were going to be there as well, so being with them, and with Russell and Talitha ,clinched it for us.  We bought inexpensive plane tickets and made our plans.  Also motivating us was 7 days in Doha wondering about a job... Pretty sure we would have driven each other crazy.

Our visit was great.  Lots of time with Russell and Talitha is always special, even in the high humidity and hot weather.  We got to see a new park that opened. Our friend, Milt, worked on that project for several years and it was nice to see the fruit of his labor.  Along with seeing the kids and the Gardebleds, we also had lunch at The British Club with Talitha's folks.  The Club was opened in 1962..and nothing else was around!  Fun to spend time with Russell's fantastic in laws and deepen our friendship with them as well.  I'm glad we are getting to know them better and are able to see them on our visits!

When we go to Abu Dhabi it feels like going home. It's nice to know our way around and  revisit favorite haunts.  It's also fun to hit the new restaurants and malls that have opened since we left.

Russell and Talitha spent the day with us at the park and we all enjoyed just hanging out.  It's such a blessing to be living close to them at least for now.  (Being in Abu Dhabi though also makes me pensive as wherever we went I thought of other times and people that we miss.  Especially our other kids!) 

Mike and I are back in Doha now.  There are a few of us left after the summer exodus. :) Went to church today, had lunch with the summer survivors, and now we are hanging at the house. It's good to be home. 

Keep Smiling

Today is the last day of Ramadan.  Tomorrow begins Eid al Fitr.  Most of Doha will be heading out for the break. This includes Mike and me. Although we are staying close to home, we decided that we have to get out of here..so off to Abu Dhabi we go.  It is our favorite, spontaneous escape place.  Funny how when we lived there we always wanted to get away.  Ironic. :)  We can't go far as Mike is still searching for a job and we don't want to spend a lot of money.   Abu Dhabi is a cheap flight and we get to see Russell and Talitha, too!   There are  friends who haven't left for the summer or moved away that we might get to visit AND Barry and Pattie will be in from Riyadh, too. It will be a regular party and we are needing a party ....      The job search has been tedious and at times discouraging, but we continue to pray and are hopeful that we will at least get to stay for one more year. We would really like for Robert to have his senior year here.

To cheer us up Russell and Talitha came to see us last weekend.  A group of us went to see Jurassic World. Then we ate at Which Wich(new to Doha).  After dinner some of us walked around the Marina. It was such a fun evening and a great weekend.  All of us are getting excited about Russell and Talitha's upcoming visit to Texas. He can't wait to show her off. :) Their visit did cheer us up. Mike and I are blessed with 4..no 5 of the best kids ever.  We have so much to be thankful for.  It may be hard right now but we know how blessed we really are.  And tomorrow we get to see them again!  That puts a smile on my face.

 

Laughing and Crying

Despite the mass exodus of many friends from Doha this summer, some for a couple of months and some permanently, we managed to have a fun 4 th of July.  The men kept Mike company in the blistering heat and humidity while he grilled the burgers. We women had the easier job of getting things ready in the kitchen.  No fireworks but lots of laughter and talking.  It was nice to laugh and hang out, especially as we are losing many of our community to lay offs this year.

Due to the economy right now there have been sweeping lay offs across all sectors this spring. Many of our friends aren't ready to leave but it seems this is the way it is.  We continue to pray for them as they job hunt or return to the U.S. without options.  Even friends who have been in the region decades have not seen the extremes we are seeing right now.  It's been really sad. Mike and I are on pins and needles ourselves right now.  Not sure if we will be here next year or not.  It's very tenuous for many of us.  

In the meantime, we pray and enjoy the friends who are here.

One last goodbye dinner for the Germans(second couple from the left) They will be missed. Thankful they live in Houston so we will see them again.