Friends, Family, and Fun Times

Thumbs up for Friends and Family!

About 212 days ago I started a daily Gratitude post on Facebook. My plan is to continue to give thanks for the big and little things in life for 365 days. This habit has made a difference in my life. Not only am I feeling more thankful in my heart and head, I am feeling better about life.

I recently found this acrostic poem on line. It describes one of the most precious relationships we can have in our lives- that of a true friend. I feel very fortunate because in my life I have made personal connections with several true friends.

But what is even more exciting is that some of these true friends are also part of my family. My husband, children, grandchildren, sisters, brother, cousins, second cousins, in-laws... I count as friends and an important part of my life. For them, I am grateful for their consistent care, communication, and encouragement

What I want to share with you today is a story about some very special friends that came into my life in September 2008. They reached out to my husband and me shortly after we landed in Egypt to begin our international teaching career. I will never ever forget that first formal phone call, "Hello Ms. Barbara; you and Mr. Clarke are cordially invited to the ELK Lodge for tea." And the rest is history.

ELK Lodge was the flat of Emily, Lindsay and Kelly- who had established their home sweet Canadian home away from home in Ma'adi, Cairo, Egypt. Fortunately, we accepted that invitation and many others that year, and it was lovely being called Mama and Papa Cairo.

Unfortunately, at the end of that school year, Emily left the school and the country to go to Vietnam. Fortunately, she never lost touch. An Internet guru, she was a master at blogging, Facebook-ing and emailing. She knows how to keep in touch with her friends!

We stayed on another year in Cairo, and spent some great times with Lindsay, and later Phil, to whom she was married in June of 2010. At that point, Clarke and I headed to another school in Saint Maarten, while Lindsay and Phil took jobs in Kuwait. Like her bff, Emily, Lindsay is a blogger, Facebook friend, e-mailer, and encourager from afar. We even received Christmas cards from Kuwait from both of them that Christmas.

In the summer of 2011 we hosted a reunion for the Egypt people, mainly because we missed our Cairo family so much. And sure enough, it was like we had never been apart. Lots of laughs and plenty of reminiscing was at hand.It was there that I learned that Emily was now also heading to Kuwait. How exciting.

Lindsay and Phil

  A year later Clarke and I were  teaching in Bangalore, India, and I flew to Kuwait for a catch up visit. One look at the school had me interested but it wasn't until 2015-16 that Lindsay and Emily encouraged me to apply for a vacancy at their school. Now in my third year at the same school, they are both teaching at a different international school in Kuwait. The best part is that we are still in touch and I frequently visit their living accommodations across town.

Lindsay and Phil and Nory

 I am proud of my adopted daughters. They are both bloggers, entrepreneurs, and social facilitators, who have made a huge difference in their community. I am thankful I remain part of their large "Kuwait family," It is indeed a privilege to spend time with the them and their families.Together, they celebrate successes, bear burdens, tell stories, and live life to the fullest. It is an honour to know and love them.

Nory and Emily and Lindsay and Jet

It is the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend (already!) here in Kuwait. I was invited to their residence for a community potluck dinner to celebrate the season, and even bought some American grown spuds for the occasion. After a busy week I woke up with a headache and upset stomach, and decided to stay put, so as not to pass around any germs. However, as I write, I can well imagine a gathering of wonderful people, sharing food, fun, laughter, care and kind words.

Lindsay and Emily- I look forward to your Thanksgiving blog posts!

Until next time, 

Bee Rich