Hildebrand Holidays

The Hildebrands 2015

We finished our year pretty much like we started it.  All of us were together in Abu Dhabi.  In January of this year we gathered with many friends and family to celebrate Russell and Talitha.   They got married on January 16.  I can't believe it's been nearly a year since we were all there for the wedding.  Abu Dhabi is a special place for our family.  Moving there in August of 2007 was the beginning of adventures, challenges and great experiences for all of us.

We are thankful that for Christmas this year once again we could all be together in the UAE.  Ryan flew in from Austin, Sallie from Dallas and Mike, Robert and I from Doha.   Once again, our friends , the Johnsons, opened their home to us, as they did in January for the wedding and several other times over the years, as well. We were able to all stay together as well as use the Johnson's car. It made it so nice to be able to go where we wanted and be with Russell and Talitha who, for the time being,  live with her folks in Abu Dhabi.

Christmas Eve Gingerbread Houses. Dinner was provided by our personal chef, Ryan. Mike served as his sou chef.:)

Although we didn't have a wedding this visit, we did have another special event.  Robert, who has wanted to be baptized for awhile,  was able to do that.  His one request was that all of his family be there. We never know when we will all be together, so we took advantage of this time as well as being in one of our favorite places and Robert was baptized.  He has grown a lot in his faith this past year and was ready to make a public testimony as a follower of Christ.  Our friend, Graham, who is Robert's youth leader in Doha, our friends from Doha who now live in Dubai, and some dear friends from Abu Dhabi also came.  Talitha's mom, Elmarie, was also there and we love how are families are growing closer.   We all met up early on Christmas Eve at the quiet, nearly empty public beach.  Jared played one of Robert's favorite worship songs,  and Mike and Robert waded in.  It was a sweet time.

I will treasure these Christmas memories forever.  Although 2015 has been a hard year, and 2016 looks kind of uncertain,  I know that God is with us and God is good.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It's a Matter of Perspective

It really is.  A matter of perspective, I mean.   Mike and I have spent the last several months trying to figure out our next move.  When he was laid off suddenly in June, after just renewing his contract for another year,  we were reeling with what to do.   It was Ramadan. Nothing happens for that month. Then it would be Eid.  Another two weeks of no activity in this area of the world.  And so on.  Literally we were crazy trying to make plans and job hunt and juggle life. I'm not going to go into all the crazy details. It will wear me out. But let me just say, with Robert going into his senior year,  the cost of living being exorbitant here,  versus the job market more active here,  and so on and so on..we have been living in a perpetual state of "if we do this, then this... if we do that, then that..."  etc.   Nothing was a no brainer decision. Every choice had a "But what about that?" tacked on the end of it. In the last couple of weeks it's been more like, "..ok, time has run out, let's just go.  "  Set some dates, started the liquidation of our stuff,  and started the grieving.   Must be time to go. God, your ways are perfect.  We are sad and still unsure of what is next but, God, you know.  We look to you and trust your ways and your plans and your goodness.   Most of that was just last week.  And then last night we had a huge scare.  I mean,  totally changed our perspective.

Mike calls a number that was left on our US number answering machine.  A guy starts talking and next thing we hear is "back taxes. tried contacting you. immediate payment. frozen bank accounts. cancelled drivers licenses."    Let me tell you. We were freaking out.  Mike is very diligent about our taxes over here.  He works hard to make sure they are filed and filed correctly..but international taxes with property and stuff is very confusing and there could always be things that are missed.  Anyway,  we were both shaking. Mike asking questions and explaining.  The guy gets his supervisor.  Who has the same foreign accent...  Our hearts are racing. We are in the middle of thinking we are moving back to the US and here we think we may be arrested when we step on US soil.   I know by now you realize it was a phone scam.  Easy to see from there..but when you are over here., far away and you have already dealt with a LOT for several months, it wasn't quite so easy to see.    "Of course, we want to make it right.  " "Yes, sir, we will take care of it. I will need the documentation and the paperwork so I can look it over. " Click.   Call back, no answer. Meanwhile, I am googling phone scams and I find ALL those articles on what's been going on. Sheesh.  We were able to reach our CPA in Carrollton and talk to him. He assured us that we are ok and also said that he had 3 other clients who had been scammed with this.

After our hearts slowed down, and our hands stopped shaking, we looked at each other and said."You know, things aren't so bad.  30 minutes ago I was going to jail and my bank accounts were frozen."

We are breathing easier this morning, and thankful that everything is ok.  It's a matter of perspective, for sure. :)    

One More Time!

Thanksgiving 2015.. Muscat, Oman.  Russell and Taitha flew in from Abu Dhabi and we all stayed with Jeff and Mary.   This was our 9th Thanksgiving in the Middle East and I think we have spent all but two with Jeff and Mary.  That's pretty good statistics for this transient place.  When Mary pulled out the table cloth that I had made for  our second Thanksgiving dinner in '08, I couldn't stop smiling. All the wonderful friends who we have been blessed to share the table with..well, it was a nice memory.   I remember that year, I think Katie and I were in charge of table decor and we scoured Abu Dhabi for the look we wanted.  

Our visit in Muscat was filled with good food, great friends and family and even some adventure.  We hiked  thru Wadi Shab to see the waterfall and it was fun.  It was also my limit on how hard I want to hike. But it was worth it. For sure.  And although one person twisted his ankle...it wasn't me.  I'm just glad the old lady wasn't the injury. :)   Beautiful cliffs,  clear blue skies, and a fresh water swim in the wadi to get to the waterfall made the sore muscles a day later all worth it.  

Grabbed a final Tex Mex lunch before we flew back to Doha on Sunday. 

 
Thankful indeed, for a wonderful holiday trip.  Precious family and friends near and far.  And  an amazing God who is always with us.

Happy Thanksgiving, 2015!

Beware the Rain

Everyone was talking about the rain that was headed to Doha last week.  Honestly we listened but..really, rain? I mean how bad could it be? Last time I ever take that lightly, that's for sure. Robert and I left for school and before we had been gone 20 minutes Robert gets a text from Mike ".How is the rain?""Just sprinkles. Nothing really."    Robert chats back and forth with Mike for a bit and goes on and on about the flooding. Still on sprinkles for us.  I make sure Mike gets some pictures.  Although the commute took a few minutes longer than usual, it still wasn't bad.  And then I headed home...  Mike calls me, "Can you pull over to the side and I will come get you in the Expedition?" "No, but really it's raining now but the road isn't bad." "It's a mess over by the house. " "Well, I am coming up to the roundabout on Al Bustan.  I think I am ok. "  Wrong.  I couldn't see from where I was at that minute but 10 seconds later as I pulled into line behind the car headed into the roundabout I could see the water collecting on the other side of the median. Then a car stalled. The water was washing over the hubcaps and sloshing even higher as cars maneuvered passed.  The water on my side was rising as the rain continued and I waited for my turn to go.   Mike called. "You ok?" "Ummm, no, meet me at Java U. I will park and you come get me. Gotta go. Moving again. "  By this time I could hear the waves slapping the doors and under the car.  I imagined my blue honda civic floating into the Landcruisers next to me.  "God. Get me home. Please God. Get me home. "  Just let me get thru this roundabout. Slosh, slosh, slosh. All the video clips of cars floating down streets running thru my mind. "Please. Please. Move cars. Move. "  Finally it was my turn. The cars coming around were sending up spray right to the windshield.   15 minutes later I made it to Java U. I was shaking.  The coffee shop was full of wet customers. Most of them were there after picking up their kids from the school around the corner. The school was flooded so they closed it.   Mike made it to the coffee shop and as we drank our coffee we talked about my adventure.  Ding. Text from Robert. "School closed. Can you come get me? " So off we went. This time in Mike's car. Much better.  Finally, we arrived back home with Robert.  I had been gone for 4 hours.  On a 25 minute commute. Next time they warn me about the rain here..I'm gonna take Mike's car. Or he's going to do the driving.   Just glad it only rains about 3 times a year.      

This is our garage. Mike took this less than 20 minutes after we left. It was dry. (dates are wrong on the photos. i should fix that....)