WE'RE OUT OF THE CLOSET

Finally the world can know our future plans.  We are sadly leaving Abu Dhabi in June of this year.  Every year we have been here has been better than the one before.  We have grown closer as a family and shared so many great experiences to cherish as memories for a lifetime.  We have had a chance to share this part of the world with many of our friends and loved ones who may never have traveled here without us to encourage them.  We have found a home here and it will be hard to leave.  It is bitter-sweet.  We will head home to Utah but not to a home we have known before.

We will be moving to Cedar City where Brad will be the Provost of Southern Utah University.  It is the right thing for our family to do at this time but it doesn't make it any easier to leave the friends we have made here.

Any of you who have been thinking of making a visit here should plan to come soon.  Our last few months will be crazy with packing and planning but we always have time to accept visitors and would love to show people around.

It has been inspiring to me to see the growth that can come from making changes that are challenging.  We are all better people for having come to this part of the world.

The sweet will come with living closer to family that we have missed so much.  I am thrilled to be returning home in time to see Sarah and JD's new baby girl grow up.  The kids are so happy to be closer to all their cousins and best friends.

We Got JoJo for a Few Days!

Brad's sister Jolene came to stay with us for a few days after a quick stop in Jordan to see Mom and Pop Cook.  We crammed all we could into the 3 days she had with us.  We took her to the henna salon, the camel track and to buy camel blankets.  On her last day we had Marilyn stay with the kids while Brad and I took her to Dubai to see the regular stops: Ski Dubai, Atlantis on the Palm Island, Madinat Jumeriah...Then we had to say goodbye to yet another visitor as we dropped her at the Dubai airport for her long flight home.  It's always great to have visitors and well worth the sadness of saying goodbye to them..

Removing the 2nd cast in 2 weeks..I had no idea casts could or needed to be changed almost as often as some people change their socks.  Always willing to lend a hand, I was asked to assist the technician.

This was taken at the appointment to get the 4th cast..Yes, 4 casts in 4 weeks.  We are all getting really creative with our artwork on the new cast every week.  This is the 1st week we don't have an appointment to go into the ortho clinic..My Thursday morning will be free again...At least for this week!

Heely's are the NEW THING at the Fortress Compound.. Poor Charlie cannot take part but thanks to Marilyn and a stroller he gets to roll along with his buddies.  I know Heely's have been around for a long time but our compound seems to have just caught on.  Cairo got Heely's for Christmas and the other kids all HAD to have them.  It's been great to see all the boys and girls in the Fortress spending time outside enjoying the ride.