On being back in the States

We have been in Texas almost two weeks. I have loved being here- enjoying the fresh air and beautiful weather and all the lovely conveniences, but Ariel and I have both been grappling with a lot of guilt and sadness about our sudden move. We both feel immense guilt leaving our housekeeper and driver behind so suddenly, and obviously Ariel feels like he left his work incomplete even though all of this has been out of his control. I also feel sad having left the schools and the girls teachers and all the people who are part of our lives back in Cairo. It's hard. I feel like I can't fully enjoy myself knowing I have so many loose ends; the apartment full of our stuff, bank and utility accounts still open, etc. etc. As for now the plan is for Ariel to work here until April, then attend a 3 week training in Malaysia, followed by his probable return to Cairo for a few months, and then most likely, his company will be transferring him back to Texas. The plans are still tentative, but that's what we are working with right now.

The girls are now in a local school and doing well. We are all still feeling reverse culture shock, which can be pretty funny. The littlest things make them happy, like H-E-B and "real" commercials. Little by little I feel like we are readjusting to life back home, but part of me is still sad about all we left behind.

Sadness

We have now been in Texas for a week. Before that we were in Turkey for 4 or 5 days. I don't even remember anymore. The past few weeks have been a blur. I have gone from feeling anxious to scared to sad to relieved to sad again during this time. I am happy to be home in Texas but I am sad for all that we have left behind. Our dear housekeeper, the girls schools, our friends, our clothes, and toys, and other personal belongings. Ariel has been assigned here until the middle of April and then will probably be returning to Cairo. Us on the otherhand, I just don't know. I am enrolling Jackie at a local school Monday, so we will most likely finish out the school year here. Then we will most likely spend the entire summer here (as we had always planned to do). I don't know if or when we will return to Cairo, It really depends on the situation and what Ariel's company wants him to do. I feel like the rug has been pulled out from under us. Never in a million years did I think something like this would happen.

Ok.

We are fine. We were evacuated from Cairo a few days ago and are now in Texas. I left Egypt with a heavy heart, unsure of what will happen next. I will update more later when I get a chance. Thank you to everyone for all the kind thoughts and prayers. It's wonderful to know we have so many family and friends who care so much for us.