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. :)
