My Happy Birthday

     So what's not to love about 49?  I used to dread the onset of 50, fearing that the best years would be seen only in my rear view mirror by then, but I'm thinkin' that was just ignorance!  I've never enjoyed my walk with God more; I sometimes get misty eyed just thinking about Him.  I have a best friend for a husband who still pretends I'm perfect and treats me like a queen.  My kids are well on their way to independence and are quite likable. And, I see no shortage of challenges and new adventures on the horizon to keep me growing!

     

     I enjoyed a fantastic Birthday Cake by Molly, even though it was tricky for her to make without all her usual ingredients.  Robert offered to take me to the Radison Hotel for  dinner but it was super expensive and a school night for the kids, so I opted for carry out Lebanese which we all love.  We went back to this nearby diner like place and the Arab there remembered Robert; he was so happy he came back, he sat us down & gave us tea while we waited, patted Robert on the arm (better than a kiss,) and carried our bags to the car when it was ready.  My birthday surprise is that I'm getting an i pod Touch!  It does EVERYTHING except for being a phone which is provided free to me here anyway.  I can't believe it.  The kids even volunteered to teach me how to use it:)

     I used to wish for a clean van on my birthday; it was a treat to get it all detailed when we were in London.  I just learned that our car is getting washed twice a day here!!!  Robert says the gardener washes it early in the mornings, and we just discovered our neighbors "Harris" is washing it late at night...what a problem!  Funny thing is, I was told by my friend that for Force Protection, it is best to NOT have a clean car so you can see if there are fingerprints in the dust & know if your car has been tampered with!  I'm hopeless; I can even remember to check the car for intruders every time I get in like I'm supposed to.  I can't remember to notice if we're being followed.  I can't remember to NOT look at people in the cars around us...God, his angels, and the guards who sit an monitor our house will have to be extra vigilant!

     We are completing the first full week of school (except shorter Ramadan days) and I think I can breath again! Most of our concerns about academics & social challenges at least so far, have been unfounded.  Emily is finding kids to be pleasant and bright in the classes she has chosen.  The work is challenging for her in most classes except chemistry where it is "dead easy."  Ethan loves his algebra but does find English to be not so stimulating; I'm hoping it will pick up.  He does not have much homework at all but since he has "Oliver" practice most nights, and Boy Scouts is starting soon, that is just as well.  He worked on the fight scene yesterday where he is learning to make it look like he is pelting the kid while it is all stage tricks...he loves it!  This weekend, all three kids are off to Falaka Island for the annaul Youth Retreat with church; I so hope this will be spiritually and socially nurturing for all of them.

     The team from  housing arrived this week to hang all our pictures, mirrors, ironing rack, etc.  It feels so much nicer with our personal touches everywhere since none of the furniture is ours.  They worked non stop for 5 hours and took great pains to measure and level everything; they even hung all Ethan's weapons in a handsome arrangement he designed.  Most of them were Pakistani Muslims and were so kind and pleasant to work with.  They always bring their own sweeper and clean up any dust or mess they make.  This is THE WAY to decorate a house!

    Last night, Robert & I had reservations at the AWARE (Arab & Western Relations & Exchange) Center for a Ramadan lecture and Iftar (breaking the fast meal.)  This was an impressive bit of...Robert called it "propaganda."  The most interesting thing was that the host and speaker were both American women who had converted to Islam & now live here.  One was a lovely lady from Indiana who married a Kuwaiti, & now works to promote good relations between countries.  The speaker was a lady with a doctorate in education who teaches at a University here but spoke about the spiritual benefits of Ramadan.  The place was packed with expats new to the country; mostly teachers who've just arrived for the new school year.  The information was really basic but it was presented in such a positive light, you would never think anyone got ill or cranky from fasting all day in the heat.  She said "you must wonder why everyone is so happy about fasting, well I will answer that for you..." actually, we had not noticed that!  I wanted to know how to advise our children who say that the Muslim kids are hungry at school and want bits of the lunches American kids bring to school & eat in hiding...she found that almost impossible because "no one forces their children to fast, it is always voluntary!"  This does not reflect the reality my kids are living.  She also mentioned how restful it is during Ramadan days when there is not the usual need to be cooking and preparing meals....Yes, but what about the dear house maids who are working longer hours than ever?? What about the ones who must work all day, catch a nap after 9 pm, then get up at midnight to fix the pre-dawn meal.  I found this troubling but didn't want to be a trouble maker!  After a couple of questions that she found "hard" the other lady stepped in to inject a question that was not so probing:  what do Muslims in Alaska do when the sun does not set? They follow the schedule of Washington state.  When she spoke of fasting as an act of worship and a spiritual discipline, this I could relate to and find admirable in those who do it with this motive.  What was sad to me was when she explained how they are filled with "hope" at the end of Ramadan...not hope as we understand to be linked with faith and certainty about what we do not see: they are full of hope that their fast was accepted, and that their efforts were good enough.  Oh, how I wish I could somehow communicate about GRACE!!!

     I don't want to be critical, she made many good points about how much Islam shares in common with Judaism & Christianity and it is very helpful to see how they view Muhammad to be the final prophet to complete what other "prophets" began.  I just struggle with the fact that while it is supposed to be about "cultural exchange" when I asked her in private if there was also an interest from the Kuwaitis to understand our traditions such as how we celebrate Easter or Christmas, I was met with a blank look.

     As usual, the hospitality was superb.  The catered meal was a huge spread of delicious meats, salads, desserts, exotic fruit drinks and it was all free.