December 2014 Update

I have had multiple people asking me to post an update to my job situation. So here it is: I did NOT get the job I had interviewed for recently:( I was very disappointed at first, but after taking some time to reflect, the truth is I really wasn't the most qualified person for the job, though I have no doubt that I would've learned my duties quickly and done the job well. 

However, I think it's actually for the best. Upcoming jobs include two I think I'm more well suited for and both include duties I think I'd prefer doing. Apparently there are even more options coming as well; though I'll have to wait and see what the offered salaries will be to determine if I can feasibly apply for those. In the meantime they'll keep me working on a temporary basis, so all is well at this time. Thanks to everyone who's encouraged and supported me through the job hunt, you know who you are:) 

In the meantime, we've had a beautiful Christmas at home in Texas with friends and family, good food and even better wine! Merry Christmas to you all and may you be blessed with health and happiness!:)

M-I-C...K-E-Y...

We just got back from the Happiest Place on Earth! What an amazing Disney World trip we had! We met up with family friends, (our goddaughter and her parents). She's a couple of months older than Kellan and they were adorable together, often holding hands and chattering excitedly about the rides. It was so nice for Kellan to be around someone his own age; their interaction was priceless!

As for Steven and I, it was awesome sharing our experiences freshly back in the States with such dynamic and fun friends. 

We laughed, joked, drank wine, ate good food and screamed loudly on rides. Truly one of the best vacations we've ever been on! We got back Friday evening, and we're finishing unpacking and reorganizing the house, getting settled in. Next week: going back to work for the first time in over a year!:)

Going Home! Officially!

We finally made it from Abha to Riyadh, not uneventfully however. Before we boarded our first flight we were told we had to go back to security as one of our checked bags had been flagged. Turns out they were antsy over Kellan's replica Pirates of the Caribbean gun from Disney World. 

Going through security here in Riyadh, the same bag was flagged, but this time we were ready for them. They laughed when I took it out and demonstrated it. One of my bags got flagged twice as well, all over a mini genie's lamp I had purchased in Turkey! I thought it was ironic that we were in Saudi Arabia and an item featured in the story Arabian Nights caused all the fuss!

It was an exhausting set of flights, the first: 1 1/2 hours to Riyadh, about 6 hours to Frankfurt, Germany, (a 5 hour layover) and finally a 10 hour flight into Houston. We were so happy to be back in the States, tired beyond belief but in good spirits. And then...Steven got flagged by Customs and pulled into a back room for an interview with Homeland Security. Kel and I waited and waited, and finally after close to an hour Steven emerged irritated, and even more tired. They wouldn't say why specifically he was flagged, but they asked several detailed questions about his work in Saudi. We finally went on our way, but slightly deflated from the experience.

We had 4 days to relax and acclimate at home and then on to 9 days in Walt Disney World, Florida!:)