Leaving One Behind

We have spent a long summer in the US, and tomorrow we return to our home in Amman.  Though I’m looking forward to returning to our lives abroad, I do so with a very heavy heart.  This is a time that I have dreaded for the four years since we joined the State Department.  Tomorrow I have to leave one of my own behind.  Tomorrow Sixabroad will be reduced to Fiveabroad.

I’m thrilled that my oldest child will soon start college.  She’s a girl who is very familiar with change and has coped with it splendidly.  In my opinion, college is the most fun time of life.  I know that she will flourish in that environment.  And I know that she is ready for this new adventure in life.  I’m so happy for her, but I’m so sad for myself.  

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to take my daughter to college.  Instead, I will entrust that task to my sisters.  They’ll drive her to college, take her shopping for some food for her dorm fridge and give her that final parental hug at the curb.  I’m so grateful to my sisters for taking on this responsibility for me, but it breaks my heart that I won’t be there to do it myself.  I know that lots of Foreign Service parents have had to do the same.  

So tomorrow, I’ll push my little bird out of the nest.  I know that she’ll spread her wings strong and wide and take glorious flight.  And in the meantime, I’ll stay in the nest and hope to catch occasional glimpses of her soaring into adulthood.  I’ll try to be brave.  I know that she is well-prepared and ready.  And I know that she’ll do well.

You got this Cecily!

Summer Fun 2014

I recently had a friend ask me if I dreaded going back to Jordan.  The answer is an enormous NO!  I very much look forward to going back and resuming our life in our adopted Arab home.

However, I do love coming back and spending time with family and friends in the Rocky Mountains.  I love reconnecting with home and eating greasy American food.  So, with just over two weeks until we head back to Amman, here is my list of Top 10 things I’ve done this summer (in no particular order):

1.  Spent a week doing girlie stuff with the Parker women which included my mom, sisters, sister-in-law, nieces and daughters in Park City.

park city

2.  Enjoyed the best of redneck Americana at the demolition derby in Heber City with our Taiwan friends Ryan and Matina Roberts and kids.  Ryan is one of the funniest people I know and he kinda thinks he’s Chinese.  Which he obviously isn’t, thus adding to the hilarity.

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3. Barbecues on Pioneer Day at my sister Freia’s house and Independence Day at Aunt Diane’s house.  Raucous fun ensued at both parties.

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4.  Hiking to Timpanogos Cave every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with Pamela and Andra.  I laugh so hard every time we go that I almost forgive them for dragging my sorry behind up the steep mountain switchbacks.  Note:  I’ve never actually entered the cave because I have an irrational fear of caves.  I’m not sure if it’s the small enclosed spaces or the guano that bothers me more.

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5.  Drove to  Rexburg to visit the BYU-Idaho campus where Cecily will attend school in the fall.  Their unofficial slogan is: BYU-Idaho:  Almost more fun than a nunnery!

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6.  Caught up with my BFF Kris B.  She’s been my BFF since we were 11 years-old.  She’s one of the great blessings of my life.

Artists Rendering
Artist’s rendering of our summer encounter

7. Hung out with our good friends from Taiwan:  the Roberts (see above), the Stathams,  the Jensens and the Gordons.  Our years in Taiwan were some of the most enjoyable years of our lives because of so many fun families.  We miss them all!

The Gordons at The Canyons resort
The Gordons at The Canyons resort

8.  Attended the lovely wedding of our beautiful niece Tania to her dashing new husband Alec in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple.  Aw, young love!

wedding

 

9.  Saw Wicked with my girls.  Wish I had sprung for better seats.

wicked

10.  Went on lunch dates with the following amazing women:  Jana, Kathy, Anne, Angie, Michele and Amy.  There is nothing that fills the soul like good food and girl talk.

Views of the Blue Lemon Bistro, down town Salt Lake City

Bonus:  The last thing on my list of top things I’ve done this summer is hanging out at our home, sleeping in, reading good books and driving my beloved 12 year-old Sequoia (which every summer, starts up the first time I try and always passes inspection.  Thank you Japanese engineering!)

house
The yard work – not so great.

These things may seem like completely normal summer activities to most Americans.  But we look forward to doing them every summer and feel so blessed to have a great home and incredible friends and family to come back to.  They enrich our lives and make our living abroad all that more meaningful.

Syrian Refugees

Our adopted home of Jordan is facing a serious humanitarian crisis.  The number of Syrian refugees that have crossed our borders is mind-boggling.  I recently read in this article from The Atlantic that the scale of refugees that have crossed into Jordan in recent years is comparable in scale to the entire country of Canada crossing into the United States all at once.  Jordan is now also facing Iraqi refugees and may very soon face Palestinian refugees crossing its borders.  Injured Palestinians from Gaza are already being treated at King Hussein Hospital in Amman.

As an international community, we often see images in the media that stir our hearts.  We want to help, but don’t know how.  My son Ben is attempting to alleviate some of the problem by using his Eagle Scout project as a way to help refugees in Jordan.  He is seeking donations, every penny of which will go toward purchasing school kits for refugee children that are attending Jordanian public schools.

If you are inclined to help, here’s your chance.  Click here to read more about his project.

 

Off to School

Here are my kids this morning–headed off to school:

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They’re the only kids in the entire world that are still in school.  AND, they don’t get out until June 18th.  That’s ten whole days away!  They are well aware of the fact that they are the unluckiest kids on the planet.  And don’t think that I don’t hear about it all day, every day.

But, as for me, I still get to enjoy peace and quiet for ten more days–making me the luckiest mom on the planet.