A time to reflect on old relationships

We attended a reception for a newlywed bride and it was a chance to meet many of the groom's family who happened to be our in-laws from two sides.the bride was cute and so were her mom and sisters.

The biggest surprise was seeing the groom's sister ,a person I value and respect,she was in Europe with her husband(business 2 year trip) and was due to come in a couple of weeks.My next surprise was seeing my uncle's ex-wife,a woman I love so much,still as graceful as ever and as funny as ever,she sat next to me practically the whole evening.Of course my neighbors were there too.

Upon meeting about twenty to thirty family members I knew personally(or thought I knew)I found out that my knowledge was in reality a very superficial one.You know you visit people on occasions and you talk and discuss some issues and you keep meeting them in family parties and get-togethers,you laugh with some and have arguments with some...then you see : I know so-and-so,she is so sweet and the other one is alttle uptight,so-and -so is a very flexible person,the others are very or too formal...etc......taking in mind that I do have a very bad judgement when coming to character.

I really do take people at face value...if they are cordial and amiable,usually that is enough for me.Apparently it doesn't work that way, there are other things to consider and think about.

The funny thing though(or is it the sad thing)is that even if I get hurt I tend to forget and still be friends with some or think that some are nice but misunderstood,or didn't have a cahnce to show the good side..

In the end I always get hurt by the ones I get attached to emotionally or by those I have done good to.So yesterday after saying hi's and hellos and how-do-you-do's I sat back in my seat chatting some with my auntie and one of my neighbors,and noticing things about some people i THOUGHT I knew and thinking of how far i would go to help and be there for...the people I have thought for the past ten years to have been people of special status whether relations or friends...I have been cheated again and again...I have been robbed of my feelings,I have been swindled of my time,time I could have used for my immediate family .

My problem is that when i give...I give and when I like somebody I give with heart and soul....and some people are just there to take and take and take...I mean all I expected in return to my goodness was some care and some asking about when down,to remember me when they have happy times...
No,only in their sorrows and when they need a shoulder to cry on,only during their needs and otherwise you are but a fleeting memory!!

I will give you two of the ten examples I have seen in this one night:
1)I invited to my daughter's wedding some in-laws of ours, 7 women from the same family because they love to attend weddings and parties together(close-knit family),in doing this I had to(not invite) some of my neighbors,since the number I was inviting was according to the number of seats that were reserved at the wedding hall,so far so good?They held two weddings during the past year,and neglected to invite me,yesterday what was their apology??Oh sorry we completely forgot about you!!Notice when they have a newborn I run with my gift and say congratulations,if they are in sorrow I go and visit to give my condolences...etc
2)Another relative was sitting nearby,we haven't seen each other for over a year,she was sick and I did all the visiting,also I was there in all her griefs and happiness,she invited me to sit at her table,but I couldn't leave my aunt nor my neighbors and I am OLDER than my relative ,so I invited her to my table since I had a free seat nearby,she just looked at me and her stare went blank,and for the next two hours we each sat at our tables busy or acting busy lol!!

*Of course other people(relatives)in the wedding did some more stupid UNINTENTIONAL mistakes and disrespect...and now I have the proof that some of my neighbors are the best in the world...they have been my friends for 20 years for good and bad :)

Just spilling out my feelings here,sorry!!

Eid is over!!

This year Eid was very nice...my mom was here,my kids were all here(one studies abroad),my aunt returned just in time from Jeddah,and alhamdulillah everybody is in good health.We had a newcomer (my cousin's sister-in-law)very nice lady...new blood...lol!

Cold came suddenly right after the Eid Dinner I gave on the third day.
Everybody enjoyed the food...at last nearly everything was homemade...the trend here is to get food from restaurants for every invite...but this year we decided to do our cooking at home..there were eleven men and fifteen women in all, and of course four lovely children.
I did an easy menu so I could cope...the men's roast leg of lamb turned out beautifully,


(this isn't mine its from the internet but mine was very close to this :) )



there was also roasted chicken,russian salad,folded pizzaz(my daughter),two chocolate cakes and a fruit cake(my cousin's),macaroni with becahmel....and other yummy things!!
Anyway that is all and I hope all the eids will be nice and quiet...we do tend to have some stir in some Eids by some stir-loving people...lol!!

Happy Eid

My children came and had Eid breakfast with us and these are the grandkidos with their Eid clothes....










After breakfast we went outside and the kids had fun playing
bumper cars.

Life goes on!!

This is the building ,owned by my in-laws,I have lived for four years there, and had two of my kids(one 29 and the other 26,mashallah),I have seen good and bad days but c'est la vie!!







Well I guess nothing lasts in this world...here it is being destroyed because of lack of maintenance and the great salt content in the area...you see this land was originally part of the sea and was buried to be used for building!!


What makes me feel good is that the new building behind is getting a lot more sunshine now!!

New car.........

Azouz received his first real car...it goes forwards and in reverse too....and it has a radio with five channels, wow just like dad's....

You should see how happy he was when he received it..as soon as he got on he said where is my brother call him?!

I love his love of sharing mashallah even when we give him candy he says where are Hala and Aboudy's candies?!
Sorry!!The pics were not so clear as he received the present at night and since they were too excited to stop long enough for me to catch the photo!!

At Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaast

I finished Azouz's hat on the same day and we all went out to the garden and the kids played with the swings and slide!!

Winter hath come

I have promised my grandchildren winter hats .....and I have finished two and a half so far.The older one of them(poor thing) is the one who was so enthused about the hat and until now his, is only halfway done!!
Today inshallah I am taking the half-finished product with me downstairs and will inshallah finish it today in front of him.....If I don't deliver??well he won't believe me any more :(

Characteristics in people is a mistery

I don't understand human nature any more...
You make friends during your life ...you take them into your heart,your home...you help them ...you nurture their love and give them care...but always those you give most hurt you most!!

I remember my uncle's saying now!!
No,I won't say it for fear of returning the hurt......

Not to be so sad...mom always said to do good and throw it in the sea...it will come back...true from not the same people you did good to but Allah will give it back through others...not that I waited for the return for whatever I did....

I helped many friends throughout my life and did get rewarded with bad from them but on the other hand Allah sent me others to whom I have never helped...in fact I barely knew them and they stood by me during my bad days...

Ella chavez .......this post is for you...I know you have been hurt by the nearest and the ones you helped most,but don't worry my dear u will get other people who will stand by you and return your good !!