Alicia Visits!!

As time goes by, we are realizing more and more just how special Maddie's Saudi experience truly was. The friendships we developed there will last a life time as the bonds that were formed are unbreakable. Common joys and common sorrows in a place that is so completely different from one's own base have cemented friendships for which we are extremely thankful.

Alicia and Andy Lewis came to Saudi our last year there and are quite simply, the best of the bestest people. Alicia was a music teacher extraordinaire with talent and personality! Maddie loved going to Alicia's room to play instruments... piano, bongos, whistles... you name it, Maddie loved it. One of my favorite memories was of Alicia and Maddie sitting at the piano at Alicia's house and Maddie trying so very hard to play just like Alicia. Alicia has patience and joy in her heart and Maddie's responds well to her because of it.

We are in different places now, but we were lucky enough to have Alicia come to Shanghai as part of an Atlas Rubicon visit to Maddie's school. Alicia stayed with us and Maddie, of course, remembered her. When we saw Alicia and Andy this summer, Maddie remembered the lady with the piano and when Maddie saw Alicia this time in Shanghai, she again asked where her piano was... I had to explain that it didn't fit in the suitcase!

Why am I not surprised that Maddie jumped up on Alicia's lap to snuggle before bedtime? Why am I not surprised that Alicia let Maddie work on her computer in her lap? Why am I not surprised that Maddie let Alicia carry her up the stairs and put her to bed? It's wonderful to see such acceptance and joy in Maddie's heart! She's a special girl who was able to spend more time with a special lady. Thanks for being here Alicia!!

Maddie's Carpet

When we lived in Saudi Arabia we had access to some of the best carpets in the world. It's funny because we didn't even like carpets... until me moved to Saudi. It's kind of like how I didn't like pottery... until I moved to China. (See the April 16th blog entry!) Since we moved into our new place in Oregon and have bamboo floors, it only makes sense to buy a carpet!

In the middle of May, we contacted our favorite carpet man in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He was absolutely wonderful when we lived in Saudi and Maddie loved going to his store because he would let her crawl all over the carpets. He's actually from Afghanistan and always had "the story" behind the carpet. See the article written in Arab News back in January of 2003 where they wrote a great article called "From Andkhoy to Jeddah" about him and his shop.

Sadly, we have discovered that because of recent times, the US had made it VERY difficult to wire funds overseas and it just didn't seem to pan out. So...... we started looking for carpets in the States. When in Tucson, look for Persian carpets! (That just sounds so weird.) Today Maddie got a taste of carpet shopping again and it felt great! Hope you all like Maddie's choice!