Sunday, December 4, 2011

Together Again

This is part of the family on my husband's side.

I know, I know. I have really neglected my blog since being back in America. There just isn't as many exciting things to post about here in the States as there are in Egypt, but, I just thought I'd post to let you know how life is going here.

We just made it through Christmas and New Years. Hard to believe it is 2012, isn't it? Well, it was our first Christmas in the States in 7 years, and it was the first Christmas in 6 years that all 5 members of our immediate family were all together. It was great! We have kids who have returned to the States from Egypt to finish their schooling, so over the years usually one or two of them have been in the States while we were in Egypt for Christmas. This year, our oldest would have been in Egypt had my husband not flown her back (as a surprise) for me and the whole family for Christmas. My husband, youngest son and I had not seen her for 6 months, but other family members, such as our middle son and extended family had not seen her for a year-and-a-half. I was the first one surprised on the night before Christmas Eve, and it was great to see the faces of all of the family as we showed up to their homes for all of the Christmas celebrations. Needless to say, there were more than a few tears shed.

Our daughter will be in Egypt until sometime in June because she is teaching 6th grade there in the school she attended while there. She will return and finish her University studies where she is pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. The sad thing is, we will be going back in July, and this time, we may return as "empty nesters". Our youngest will be a senior in high-school and will probably stay and graduate from the school his two older siblings graduated from. Please pray for our family, as this will probably be a very hard thing for us.

But for now, I am still relishing in the memories of a wonderful Christmas and New Years spent with the whole family and in the fact that I am so wonderfully blessed.