Help [ME] Ronda

who turned up the heat?

Yes you read that correctly.  That's 120 Fahrenheit.  Andrew tells me it get's hotter in July & August.  Two months you won't find me in Doha.  We have been settling into life here with Andrew.  The gulf coast beach called Sealine was beckoning us to come forward for a visit, especially with the high temps.  It's just south of Doha where the giant desert sand dunes meet the beach.  You can ride camels & atvs or take your jeep out for a stroll on the huge dunes.  We opted to spend time under umbrellas on the beach and near the pools.  Anthony had fun photographing the crabs in the water and building a sand castle.  It was fun watching him just be a kid.  Andrew & i took to reading especially after Andrew spotted a jellyfish in the water.  Here's a look at our day at Sealine.

In the Desert

We made it safely to Doha, Qatar a couple days ago.  Honestly with the jet lag and time zone changes, it's hard for me to keep track of days.  Andrew always says Day 2 is the worse and i would have to agree.  Anthony & I both were having issues staying awake and being coherent.  We are extremely happy to have time together with Andrew and blessed that he has a few days off with us at the beginning. 

This time around things feel a bit easier.  Maybe it's because i know what to expect.  The unknown is always hard.  Our first few days are always about getting acclimated again so we just do casual jaunts around Doha until the jet lag subsides a bit.  The first night upon arrival we did visit the Villagio Mall.  We are shocked & saddened by the recent fire that happened some 14 hours later. We are heartbroken for those families who lost loved ones.

Our first day we drove around downtown after breakfast at one of Andrew's favorite places. We were checking out potential future apartments since he lives pretty far out from the city center.  We also had to stock up on some groceries since his cupboards were, shall we say, lacking.  This requires a trip to the mall were most of the grocery stores are located.  Grocery carts in the malls still fascinate me.  Andrew also scouted out an Art Supply store for me and wanted to share it with me.  Gosh i love that man.  We also visited the Souq Waqif one night for dinner.  It's such a cool area where you can purchase all kinds of unique items along with some very generic tourist items.  Here's a pictorial diary of our journey so far. 

soon we'll be

Soon Anthony & i will be heading to Doha, Qatar to spend two weeks or so with Andrew.  Lexi is staying here to work but will have an opportunity to see him in July when he comes home to Colorado.  I am very excited about a couple things.  One is time with Anthony as my seat mate on the plane.  It's good bonding time for us and i know we need it.  It's been a trying year to figure things out, life without his dad here, his struggles with school & adhd, our relationship especially with me being the task master.  I am looking forward to just easy time with him where we don't have to worry about every day life for right now.

The next one is pretty evident, we get time with Andrew. He will have to work some days but we will be with him.  We both need that.  We plan to explore Doha a little more as well as some other beaches.  Anthony & i are going on a photo safari, meaning we will be on the hunt for cool photos.  So happy we share that love.  And we will most likely will be finding relief from the 108 F (42.2 C) temps.  I grew up in Florida with the heat & humidity.  I choose to live in Colorado.  Me no likely that warm of temps nor the humidity.  I can imagine my thick hair is going to grow by leaps & bounds.  It's all worth it to be with Andrew again. 

She's Back

Lexi is home from University after completing her first year at college.  Last year she decided to take a leap and go to college in California.  Anthony & I drove her out last summer to get her all set up.  Leaving her was the hardest thing.  It felt like abandonment but i knew it was time.  It was time for her to be on her own.  Isn't that our jobs as parents?  To raise independent function children so that when it's their time to leave the nest they have been given the wings to fly. 

The first semester was really rough on her.  She would often speak of wanting to come home.  She was severely homesick.  We were told this would happen by the University.  They really prepared us for it and i was super impressed with how much information they gave us parents on how to cope & deal with things. 

Lexi faced many more trials like roommate issues, changing majors again & again, and a car accident just one month after arriving to California. She was ok but her car had a lot of damage and had to go in for repairs.  As the year progress things got better.  Lexi became more involved on campus which helped tremendously.  She became more of a defensive driver, learning to anticipate other drivers.  Only every now and then would she bring up coming home and going to school in Colorado. 

We have seen tremendous growth in her and has become quite a responsible young adult.  College in California has been good for her and for us.  It was easier to let go since i really couldn't be there to rescue her.  She had to do it all herself.  Next year she is going back early to help orient the incoming freshmen.  She is jumping into more activities and has finally found a major she is really excited about completing. 

But for now, we are going to enjoy the three months we have with her over summer break.

Once in a lifetime

Say you got to go to Ranger U with 23 other incredibly talented women in the industry, would you think it could get any better than that?  How about if you got to add dinner with Suze Weinberg in her house with her wonderful husband Lenny and your friends?  Suze picked up Lisa Pace, Carolyn Ross, Aurea Estelle, and myself up from the hotel and brought us back to dinner at her house.  They welcomed us with open arms.  As i sit here typing this, i still cannot believe it.  I remember the first time i picked up UTEE and fell in love.  Never did i think in a million years i would have this opportunity.  Her house was stunning.  I mean stunning.  Like the kind you would see in a design magazine.  Suze took us on a tour while Lenny cooked us dinner.  There were so many amazing pieces in her collection and she told us the stories behind them.  I have to say that my favorite pieces were hers.  Her melt art pieces are just incredible.  We then sat down to dinner and wonderful conversation.  What you see what you get with Suze.  She is honest and generous.  I was truly blessed to get to spend the evening with my friends.  Take a look at her pieces and a few of her other art pieces.

3 weeks

This exchange program isn't your typical exchange program.  You know the ones that one kid comes over for 6 months to a year.  This one is more of a community exchange.  A cooperation between two schools, one in the USA and one in Germany.  17 German students came over with their English teachers to stay for three weeks with host families.  They went to school with the host students, went on field trips and site seeing tours. They visited middle schools & elementary schools.  And they just hung out being part of our family for those three weeks. 

Moo was our German.  He was a perfect match for Anthony and a great fit for our family.  We thoroughly enjoyed having him here in our home.  He knows he is welcomed back anytime.  He really opened up and quickly became part of our family.  He makes us laugh very much.   In July 14 of our students will stay with the same kids and go to school with them.  I am so excited he gets to spend more time with Moo and see his life over there.  It is building a true friendship that i hope will last a lifetime.  Plus it is great for these kids to be fully emerged into each others cultures. 

This past Thursday, the German students flew home.  Some were ready to go, some were ready to stay but they all had a great experience.  Tears were flowing at the airport and it made me weepy in such a good way.  So happy this opportunity build bonds and had such a positive effect on all the kids.  Anthony is really looking forward to his trip their in a couple months for he knows his friends are there.  The last photo says it all.

Instaweek

I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter weekend.  Ours was spent with family and friends.  We did miss Lexi & Andrew but thankfully Lexi got to spend it with her grandparents who went to visit her in California.  Our exchange student Moo has become part of our family quite easily and we have had a blast showing him around town.  He's extremely easy to be around.  I love that we also get to play tourist in our own town.  Anthony has been having a blast with Moo as well.  We know this has been a great thing for our family.  We did see the Hunger Games a while ago.  It was fabulous.  If you haven't done so, pick up the trilogy to read it.  It's a really good read.  Here's a few photos from these past few weeks.

Willkommen in Amerika

When i was in High school, i always wanted to travel abroad as an exchange student.  We had a few at our high school and i always found them fascinating.  When you are young, it's hard to picture the world being bigger than the area around you.  It wasn't something that was meant to be but one day i still hoped to travel.  I really didn't start to travel that much in the US until i married a pilot.  At age 29, i took my first real trip out of the country to Scotland and spent 2 weeks there in the summer.  Next came Switzerland as a surprise from Andrew for my birthday/Valentine's day (best birthday present ever honey!).  And then we just couldn't stop.  I know i was born to wander, to know more cultures, to be out in this great big world.  It's just part of who i am.

The kids have been blessed with this wandering gene and have gotten to see some really cool places.  I always thought they would get a chance at being an exchange student either in high school or college.  Lexi has been talking about studying abroad for a semester so we will see if it happens.  Anthony at the beginning of this year asked about a German exchange program. 

You see he's been taken German for about a year and a half now.  They do this cool program at his school where we host a German student for about 3 weeks and then in July he spends 3 weeks in German with the same teen.  Enter Moritz.  He's here for the next three weeks soaking up some American culture, going to school with Anthony and playing tourist in our town.  At first i was nervous signing up for the program.  I wasn't nervous about Anthony traveling abroad.  He's really good at it.  I was nervous for hosting.  What if we are too weird?  It's funny to think of that now but i guarantee i am not the first person to think that way.  Aren't we all a little bit weird in our own way?  I do reside in Dorkapolis!

We picked up Moo (pronounce Mo) yesterday and it felt right.  It felt good.  He's part of our family now and we are happy to host him.  It's been a good thing for us right from the start.  I love learning about other cultures & other places.  I love seeing Moo's wonder in his eyes.  "It's so big here!"  I love how we can learn from each other.  and i love seeing that two teens who grew up in two different countries have so much in common.  It's a great big world with global connections to be made and i'm loving it. 

Now all i need to do is visit Germany! I have never been but i think it might be time to visit sometime soon.

Mama Said

there will be days like this.  Andy left Thursday morning and i already miss him so much.  Friends & Family say "I don't know how you do it." Frankly, neither do we but we just do.  Change is a powerful thing.  One thing i have learned is how much i really need him.  My life doesn't feel complete without him by myside.  I also know i cannot sit here pining away for him and not live.  it's not fair to my kids, to him, or to me.  So we just do it.  We live.  Our daily lives do include each other.  We are in constant contact.  We skype, we text, we email, we facetime, and we write.  I get postcards from around the world.  That's really of cool.  I am so happy he does get to see a lot of this amazing world.  So we will keep on moving until we see each other again. 

The Balance

Andy is indeed home.  I picked him up late Thursday night and cried into his arms so happy to have him home.  I breath easier when he is around.  We have been doing little things here and there, hanging with family and friends.  He has his honey do list in hand and has been helping me out around the house.  He has also had time to just sit and be which is important too.  We are thankful for this time and for the fequencies of the visits this coming year.  Here are some instagram photos from these past few weeks.

Photo Love