Done, Done, Done

Chicago-done. Kansas-done. Maryland, Virginia-done.  Dallas-done.

Joel, Robert, and Sallie at the aquarium in Chicago.

Abby and Bella let us stay in their home for the last two weeks of our visit..OH. and Darren and Pat did, too.

It is getting harder and harder to fit the whole Kansas Clan into one picture. We were only missing two of the gang.Matt and Laurie.

Sallie and Lolo had a whole week together. That was fun!

Grandma, Josh and Ryan catching up in Kansas. 

In my previous post I mentioned about all the Hellos  we were looking forward to.  They were wonderful. In Chicago we got to say hello to Gary, Candice and Joel..and to American soil. After two years the anticipation was fun as we waited for the wheels to touch down. Although the time was short there, we had a ball. All of us fell in love with Chicago and want to go back!!
In Dallas, my good friends, Marganne and Pat took me directly to a ranch for two days. Our hellos were filled with laughter, tears, stories and lots of hugs. I think we will make this a habit if we can. There is a lot of life to catch up on, even with skype, email, facebook and everything else. :)  And on my return to Dallas there were great hellos after great hellos.  It is fun returning to the place we lived for 20 plus years, people who know us and  knew us when.....
And then our trip to Kansas. Our nieces and nephews, all growing up or grown up, even. Brothers, sisters, FAMILY. What a blessing.  Ryan wrote a poem on facebook about Stafford. I think my kids appreciate roots more than before. As a kid I never had them so I love going to Kansas and just being there. My kids are learning about that. Mom Hildebrand looked great and as usual opened her doors wide and let us pour out all over the house.  We love our family!!
Several friends flew in from other places to see us. My friend, Anita, came in from Missouri, and the Hones all came in from Phoenix. I've known Anita since I was 15.  She has some stories to tell on me, but she behaved herself. :) Laurel Hone is one of Sallie's oldest and dearest friends. So it was great for the girls to be together. Robert enjoyed his buddies as well, and all his favorite foods.
In Maryland we reunited with some of our oldest friends. Greg was Mike's roommate when he worked at OU. He and Mary Kaye got married two weeks before us and we have been friends forever! In Virginia we attended a wedding of the daughter of our dear friends from Abu Dhabi, and then also had lunch with the Pritz's who lived in AD for two years and are so much fun! It was a summer of wonderful celebrations and reunions.
Driving the roads from here to there and back again, I found myself smiling at all the memories. Stores, restaurants, even intersections sometimes would jog a memory to the front. Old friends who were amazed at the kids and the changes.  Ryan, unfolding himself from a chair, to hug our old neighbors, Sallie and Robert answering questions about life in Abu Dhabi,  worshiping at our old church and remembering  many wonderful times but then recognizing that our church home now is halfway across the world: all of these things were part of a summer we won't forget.

Now we are back in Abu Dhabi. School started for Robert. Ramadan is nearly done...one more week. And life is moving on. It's good to be home. And it was good to be home in Texas, too.  

And It's Goodbye Again

Rebecca-leaving, Sarah-leaving, Emily, Jessica and Mackenzie-missing them already.

 June is normally a time of great fun and summer plans.So why am I so sad these days? It's like I am walking around in a fog.  Maybe it is the heat, unrelenting, night and day, living in sauna. Yes, it could be that. But it is more than that. It is all the good byes that happen this time of year. I try to focus on how in August more people will be here..new friends, new fun. But no, it isn't helping. We have 8 families leaving from our homeschool community. And several more leaving from the church. My poor friend's daughter (they have been here 7 years) has cried herself to sleep for two weeks now with all the goodbyes she has had to say. One week we had 3 good bye parties. Ugh.  

 Judy, smiling in the front in the picture on the left, packed up after 5 years here and like 16 in the Middle East. We will also say goodbye to two of Robert's best friends and their families. One to Canada the other to the US.  And the Harmons, the Bazzis, the Reillys, the Bakers(who left in April) , the Millers, the Hendrickse(back to South Aftica after years and years here) and Ian and Chris who have served in our church for 12 years. It's been one good bye after another. I know we will recover but the process is not fun.   

Daniel-leaving, John-leaving, Jerusha, Sallie-missing them already, Sarah-leaving

 My kids are grabbing what time they have with each departing friend. Having done this good bye thing so much growing up, I feel for them. Trying to create fun memories for them and help them to process the good and the hard. Very glad there is facebook now. And skype. It really helps. :) 

Another goodbye is to Sallie, Jerusha, Ethan and Jared. This is a fun one though. On Wednesday they head to Thailand to work in an orphanage for 10 days. They are going with Arabian Gulf Youth for Christ.  They will be with more students from Al Ain and 4 staff, including our leaders from here. Sallie is excited to experience a trip like this as she has heard about her brothers' many adventures!

Good-bye. Talk to you soon. Here's to the hellos that follow the hard goodbyes...
Mattie 

Turning 50-It's My Party!!

Bill, Pat, Mike and Me!

For days I looked forward to my party.  Mike and Pattie, and several others, were plotting and planning.  I didn't want a surprise. I wanted to look forward to time with friends and laughter.   I was not disappointed. The party, held at an Asian restaurant in Abu Dhabi, was a blast.  We had good food, lots of friends, an cake with chocolate and strawberries, and lots and lots of talking and laughing. The hardest part was limiting the guest list. We are so blessed in Abu Dhabi with many wonderful friends.(I was never good with that with my kids' parties either. :))                          

Wes, Chandra, Rita and Ray

Mylinda, Jaye, Todd and Kara

I suppose the pinnacle of the evening came when Krista blindsided me with the command to ride a stick horse around the restaurant. Not very dignified for a newly turned 50 year old. ( Just a few days earlier, Mike was telling Pattie how I made him do that on his THIRTIETH birthday..yes, 22 years ago...and he just can't get passed it. And I didn't do it, the restaurant did. Ok there were probably 200 complete strangers there, but still...It's been 22 years!! )(and Pattie did not actually tell Mike she was doing this, so technically he is off the hook.)   

Gilbert, Anwar, Julene, Bill and Marty

Rocky, Pam, Tom, Judy and Dave

Wael, Ligia, Jeni and Steve

Jean, Joe, Mary Kenney and Mike Tush

It was a wonderful evening. One of my top 10 events in my life.  The down side was missing the friends who could not be there.  (This included Pattie and Barry who had an emergency trip to the US. She missed the pay off of all her hard work. )  Mmany times during the evening I thought of my  great friends on the other side of the ocean, and my amazing family as well. I will say that I bet that stick horse shows up again in the near future...Just sayin.  

Good news/Bad news

May is flying by!!! Russell buzzed through on his way to Austin for his second time as best man.  He and Ryan are grabbing every minute they can while he is there. He will return through Abu Dhabi on May 29 and stay a couple of days. We like living here for many reasons, not the least is the chance to see Russell as often as we do!!

May also is Sallie's last month of school. She is working hard to wrap it up. We are looking into enrolling her in one of the schools here for next year. They have the paperwork. We are just waiting to hear. Apparently people are still moving here in large numbers.  There are waiting lists at many of the schools.

Although people are apparently moving here, we are also saying goodbye to a bunch.  In our homeschooling group alone 5 families are leaving.  Included in this group are two of Robert's best buddies. It was a tough day when we learned they were leaving. Not to mention their moms are very good friends of mine. Yuck.  In fact, we are friends with all of these families and this is not fun.

We have been watching the weather news on TV.  It is heartbreaking to see all the devastation.  Missouri, Oklahoma, and all over the Mississippi River Valley...  so hard to see all of this.  Lots to pray for. All over the place.

On Saturday, Mike and I celebrate 28 years together. Now that is some good news! Cannot believe it. And then on June 1 I turn 50. Hmmm.....well, ok, not great news but still...Mike and my friend Pattie have planned a fun party for me. That will make it better. Will post pictures.

 Have a great Memorial Day. We tend to forget about those holidays over here. Until everyone goes on and on about not being at work. :)
 

Malls and Milk Shakes

Eventhough we have lived here nearly 4 years now, we still find things to laugh about. Or things that seem surreal to us. :)  Like yesterday, when I parked on the street, in front of the dumpsters and beside a toilet someone was throwing away.  And my thoughts?? Woo hoo. A+ parking place.   And the other day, driving to the mall, we were all wondering why I didn't get a ticket while parked on the street and other people did. Robert said maybe it was because I have a parking permit, and Sallie said that made sense. Then we all looked at each other and said..If it makes sense we are probably wrong. Wow. How sad is that?? We are still laughing about that one.

Robert had a busy birthday on the 5th-My cinco de Mayo boy.  He spent the morning with his buddies at the Dubai Mall in a place called Kidzania. The evening was a Youth group pool party where they sang Happy Birthday, ate Krispy Kreme Donuts and threw Robert in the pool. So our youngest is 13.

A couple of days ago, Robert made an announcement in the car.  At first I stared at him blankly. What? What are you talking about?  "Hey Mom..They just put a Shake Shack in Mall of the Emirates. "  For several seconds I was thinking Sheikh Shack.  What in the heck is a Sheikh doing with a shack in the mall or anywhere? Just so you know..that was what Mike and Sallie pictured first as well. (Yep. 4 years.)  I am looking forward to trying it out though. :) Hope the shakes are good.





 

A Multi-Cultural Mix

It is Tuesday morning here.  I am having the hardest time with this blog. The last two weeks were great. Russell's visit, Easter, the Royal Wedding(fun because I got to watch it with some British friends), a Japanese fund raiser for the Tsunami victims sponsored by the Japanese school here, and even alittle bit of Sweden at the new largest Ikea in the Middle East.
 And then the news yesterday, which is why it is awkward writing this blog.  We woke up to the breaking headlines...Osama bin Laden is dead. Wow. After all these years. I know how we process all of this, as Americans, is personal.  For me, it brought back memories of that day.  Watching the TV, buildings collapsing, people running, falling, crying.  And nightmares.  Even writing this I feel the tears behind my eyes..the lump in my throat. So much sadness. Pain. Grief. Fear.  BUT I must be honest. I'm not jumping up and down over this man's death.  Maybe it is where I live. Surrounded by the lost EVERYWHERE.   There is just too much to do to sit and celebrate death. Too many dying. Too many  without hope.  Sure, I am relieved. And yes, justice has been served. I'm glad. BUT all the partying just feels weird to me.  So that's just me. We all have a hundred reasons for our responses.  And naturally, with Russell living in Kabul and us living here, well, it does make for some interesting days.

Sunrise Service

Russell sharing with friends about his job in Kabul. He did a great job. We are so proud of him. 

Tea and Tiaras- watching the Royal wedding. My friend Pat, from Northern Ireland and London had a poster that said, Love is in the Heir.  

Enjoying a snack at the swedish cafeteria in the new Ikea. 

People wrote their wishes and prayers for tsunami victims and hung them on the bamboo tree .  My friend said they raised  about 20,000 dirhams for the Japanese Red Cross and Red Crescent. (about 5500 dollars) She was so happy. She is from Japan and said "We are way over here. We need to help anyway we can. "  

  

April brings Visitors!

At church last Friday we met Mike. Had been here about 10 days.  We took him with us to the Mesopotamia exhibit. Mike is from Kansas City. Graduated from KState the same year as my Mike!!

This month we also met a young performer from west Africa. He was here for WOMAD.  The World  of Music  Arts and Dance.  He came and did a workshop with the kids. Here he demonstrates the Kousa. or African harp. We got to see him perform at the beach as well.  The group is the African-Celt Sound System.  Irish and Afirican music. AMAZING!!  

Look closely. 3 tired young men. They spent the whole night watching Lord of the Rings. Finally at around 5 am they passed out. 

Our friend Katie Pritz popped into Abu Dhabi on her way home to US from visiting her hubby Kevin in Djakarta.  We had coffee on Pattie's porch and freinds popped in to see her.

So April has been a busy month so far. And Russell is coming on Friday. More pictures to come! 

Surprise!! Sallie is 16!!

Historically, I worked hard to give fun birthday parties for my kids. My friend Cindy and I talked about how we should start a birthday party business.  We never did, but we did have fun with our own kids' birthdays.   One year Russell had big Texas party..with an Alamo cake.  Another year he had a lego party and my friend Rhonda made big lego blocks for the cake.   Ryan had a superhero party and all the kids came as Batman, except his one friend, Josh.  He came as Robin. Made for great pictures. :)  Sallie had a bug party one year and we hid plastic bugs in the park. The kids were all given bug nets and had to hunt for them.   For Robert's first birthday we did a smiley face theme. His cake was big and yellow and happy. :) He also had a Buzz Lightyear Party one year.

So we just finished Sallie's 16th birthday. In her own words.."Best Party Ever, Mom...well, except for maybe my Moosie party when I turned 11."  (We played Dog Dog Moose, and our sweet dog Moose sat in the middle of the circle the whole time. We miss him. )  Anyway, this year Sallie's friends Nadia and Jerusha surprised her at the park.  They invited her friends and she had a blast. Mike and I are having trouble with the fact that our little girl is 16, but other than that we are glad it was a good day for her. Next month Robert turns 13 (NO WAY) and no, I don't have any idea what we will do for his big day. :)

On a side note, summer is here. Ugh. This week we have been hitting 100s. So glad Sallie's day was nice. This evening after I dropped Robert off at church for some teacher training, it started to sprinkle. I rolled down my window just to feel the drops. The  "rain" only managed to make my car filthier but there is hope for  more. Hah.

Been missing Ryan and Russell lately. Russell is coming for Easter but we won't see Ryan until July. The hardest part of living over here......

Off to clean up the kitchen.
More later.

Jason, Josh, Sallie, Emma, Laurie, Emery, Meghan, Nancy and  Kaityn-at Sallie's 5th birthday 

Sri Lanka in the Spring

As sort of a mini spring break, Mike and I went to Sri Lanka with our friends Barry and Pattie last week.  It was a fantastic 4 days.  We stayed at a boutique hotel with only 7 rooms.  Decorated to the nth degree. Tranquil. Green. On the ocean. Coconut palms. Hammocks. Masseuse. Infinity pool. Mouthwatering meals. Yep. Four days of relaxation.  Oh, and elephant rides, too. We really wanted to relax, which is what we did, but we also toured a little bit. Not too much but a little bit. Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, until the early 70s, is a beautiful island. Full of tea plantations,  sunny beaches, and smiling faces, it was a fun, beautiful place to visit. We went to a turtle hatchery and to a castle/ plantation home built in 1903.  Time flew by and we are really thinking about a return trip, this time with Sallie and Robert(who are very upset that they were left out... :) oh, and Russell and Ryan were a bit jealous, too....)  Maybe we could go back someday with all the kids. Now that would be a great time. I miss being able to do things with all 6 of us.

If I ever questioned how fast things change, which I really haven't, but if I did..There's no question now.  I kind of wish I hadn't posted my Bahrain blog until the next week. I was shocked to see the Saudi tanks roll into Manama on the news, not even 3 days after we got back from there. Also, since we made so many friends there, many of whom are unhappy with the current government, I was worried for them.  We keep praying for them and for  the people of Libya, and Syria, and Jordan, and Yemen and Japan. It is hard even to turn on the news.

We are feeling the temperatures heating up this week. You can see the fear in people's eyes. Oh no. Here it comes. A couple of days we hit the 100s already.  We are planning to visit the US this summer. It has been two years so we are excited to see our family and friends..and get a break from the high summer temps. Always on the lookout for relief from the heat. :)

Bahrain

The Pearl roundabaout, Manama, Bahrain

On Tuesday, last week, my friend Nadia and I flew to Manama, Bahrain to visit her brother and his family. This was my first time in Bahrain but I hope it was not my last.  I loved meeting several Bahrainis and enjoyed Nadia's family. Great people who love the Lord and made me feel so welcome.  We also got to visit the Bahrain Evangelical Church,  the American Mission Hospital, and several times we drove around the Pearl roundabout where the protesters are camping out until changes are made in Bahrain.

I was surprised at how calm and quiet the city was. From the news it seems like everything is in turmoil there but the truth is..well, it's not.  The Bahraini people are serious about the need for government change but they are not being violent at all.  During the day the roundabout felt more like one unending picnic.  Hani(Nadia's brother) said at night it swells up to 10,000 people,  but during the day it was very quiet.  We also saw several   marches from day to day but again, it felt more like National Day in Abu Dhabi and not really negative at all. I had an opportunity to speak with a young man who goes to the roundabout every evening. I could hear the frustration in his voice as he explained how and why the government needs to do more and make changes. I don't know how things will change but I do know it is important to pray for Bahrain and for all the countries in the Middle East right now.

Nadia and I returned on Thursday night.   It was just in time to make sure Robert was all packed up for another Boy Scout campout early Friday morning.  He had a great time in the mountains on the border of Oman.  His last campout of the year. Apparently they made a Monkey Bridge... :)  

Wednesday, Mike and I are flying to Sri Lanka with Barry and Pattie for a 3 day RnR on the beach. Pictures will be coming soon.!

Educational Opportunities :)

Honestly, since Russell left, I don't know where the time has gone!  On the Friday after he left the youth group at church did the service.  Ushering, Music, Dance, and Sermon.  I knew Sallie was in it but she never really told me what her part was. Mike and I were both surprised when she and her two friends did an interpretive dance with music and sign language. They all looked graceful and it was very good. :)

Other than that, my friend Pattie's mom, Barbara, was here so we did several things with her.  One day we had lunch at the Sorbonne...Abu Dhabi.  'This is quite unique.  We had to have special permission to go on the campus.  Pattie's husband, who was project manager, got us the permission and we had  a nice time eating in France. :) 



We also squeezed in a trip to another educational location just before Barbara left. We went out to Masdar Institute.  A couple of years ago Abu Dhabi was in the news with this Green City, zero carbon footprint, and so on..that they were building.  The project is pretty much dead in the water, but they did finish the institute.  At one time the city would be totally connected by these magnetic cars.  A very futuristic concept. No cars at all in the whole city.  Ok, so they have one building. And the cool cars run you to a parking garage and back.   Not exactly the vision but fun for a morning outing.  We had dear friends who lived here before that worked on that project. It was fun to see it and retell his  "funny" stories about trying to get it built.  Our favorite was about the Mayor of the city, when he was looking at the plans..with no parking places for cars cuz there were no cars allowed in....Yes Yes , all very good. But where do I park my Hummer???  Well, sir, the PRT(magnetic cars) will take you from the garages outside the city to your home, office..whereever. Yes, I know this, but where do I park MY hummer?? I am the Mayor.    Just not getting it, I'm thinking.  But we did have an enjoyable morning.

Inside the PRT...magnetic car

At Masdar they have and Organic food store. 

the PRT

the road for the PRTon the way to and from the parking garage 

 yesterday... we took a trip to EMEG.  This place is fighting tooth and nail to save the oceans and water wildlife around the UAE.  And obviously, as you can see from the above statement,  it is one heck of a fight.  They are doing great things though.  They have fish hatcheries to breed Hammour(Grouper) which is an endangered fish from being a favorite fish dinner here.   They plant Mangrove trees..also in trouble from all the construction along the shoreline, and educate people on what we can do to help.  The kids love it every time we go. It is one of the prettiest places around here. (This trip made me homesick. Last time we went our family was here...made me think of  Don, Laurie, and Josh.)  

Yes, we've been busy. Trying to store up the wonderful cool weather before the heat hits.  Last week we had a few days in the 90s.  I almost hyperventilated thinking the cool weather was gone. Just couldn't catch my breath...:) but it cooled back down. So, I am good for a while longer.