Happy Thanksgiving!

Another Thanksgiving has arrived with us in Qatar. This year we do have a turkey although we aren't cooking it until tomorrow. I am hoping to figure out how to make a home made pumpkin pie although I may have to substitute squash or maybe I'll try a sweet potato pie....I've never had one, let alone made one, but sweet potatoes are easy to come by here. Wish me luck!

Life has been hectic and crazy. My classes are going well. I have fabulous students this semester. All of my reading and writing students (my core group) passed their mid-terms and only a couple of my listening and speaking students did not. I am very pleased. I have been much more strict this semester and very demanding, and my students seem to be thriving and learning. Maybe they are simply more mature (some of them are anyway) than the level 2 students I have taught for so long. I was teaching Level 2 before I came here, so it was getting old.

The plants are growing like gangbusters at our villa! Betty Boog (as we have named the bouganvillea that we were afraid might die) is blooming with leaves (although boogies don't actually bloom....the leaves turn pink, there are no real blossoms). I will post a photo tonight or tomorrow.

My knee, which simply couldn't take the stress of the stairs and then horseback riding, is coming around and feeling much better. Of course, I went to the clinic and got a nice shot and some pills for it the other day. I don't know why I waited to do it.....it helped so much when I came off Hattan in January. I won't wait next time! Now that I'm feeling better, I'm eager to get out there and ride Esteem...REALLY RIDE! We have decided that one horse is enough for us right now, although we will continue to work with Hamahm and try to bring him back to the endurance rides eventually. He needs some nutrition, some shoeing, some retraining to get him to round his back and move more comfortably for himself and for his rider. He is a sweet boy though.

Though we can't give details, we have some irons in the fire, so to speak, in the form of a business proposal with an important personage. Who knows what may happen as a result? A better life, for sure! I am afraid we might end up having to move if it does work out as we currently live an hour away from the farm where our base of operation for this business would be. I just KNEW if we moved to Al Khor, things would take off for Nelson. Oh, well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. We really love Al Khor and I'd hate to leave, but this driving so much every day is killing us! Maybe we can keep the villa as our "weekend" place. :) LOL In any case, any positive vibes you can send our way are appreciated. This business proposal could mean a comfortable retirement for us someday.

Today is the first day of Eid Al Adha, when Muslims make the trip to Mecca. My students explained a lot to me, and from what I understand, this also celebrates Abraham's obedience to God when he went to the altar to kill his son, Isaac (?) at God's command. I find it fascinating how much history and scripture we share. It is always a comfort to find that we are not so different after all!

It's time for me to get moving as we have a lot to do today. I want to ride and Nelson has some horses' feet to work on. I will need to go shopping and find ingredients for this pie I want to make for tomorrow. I hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving. We are thinking of you today and will make some phone calls tonight to see who we can surprise! :) On the other hand, you can give US a call and surprise us. This would have to be after 2 or 3 p.m. Michigan time! We certainly won't be home before then. :)

Living forward,
Maggie