Friends like Family

The best part of where you live (in my opinion) are the people you meet and the friends you make. Here in Abu Dhabi, we've made lifelong friends. These people have become our family these past three years. They celebrated with us when we had a new baby, brought countless meals, offered hours of babysitting and companionship and advice and have just become an integral part of our lives. We are definitely leaving a big piece of our hearts behind. Words cannot express how much we will miss them. I know we'll see each other again, but it will never be the same as when we were all living in this little Arab country out by the ocean.

May 19: One last, epic, taco party. The memories I'll have of these: late nights; dozens of kids running around the house - upstairs, downstairs, outside, everywhere; Forest's famous fish tacos - there's a reason his business was so successful in NYC; Abby's taquitos - nothing compares; that one time we had a crockpot of camel meat. And a piñata. Friends that you can talk to for hours about anything, and never run out of things to say. We had these every few months, and whether it was at the Parke's house, in the desert, or at our place, it was memorable every single time!

May 14: Adopted Grandparents. They still buy you sugary treats and the junk food mom says no to, just as a grandparent should. The kids were thrilled to run into the Sharps at the ACS book sale, especially since I had told them I wasn't buying them any food. Grandpa Sharp to the rescue!

These girls have supported me not only when I got here and had to figure everything out, but as I leave and deal with a health trial that has proven to be the hardest thing I've ever gone through up to this point. I love these ladies!

 I'm going to miss my Thursday morning outings and lunches with Abby!

May 27: Last dinner at the Sharp's house. Once again, words fail me when I try to describe the kindness, friendship, love and support they've given us here.

May 10: Hailey's BFF, Naomi. The good thing about foreign service friends is that they make really good pen pals - these two are already wearing halves of their "best friend" lockets around their necks and ready to write letters to each other!