So my time at home was great. The wedding was wonderful, as Ann and I tied the knot on Friday, December 10th. All the planning and hassle Ann went through really paid off, as it was a very tasteful, classy evening. Ann looked absolutely stunning (does she ever not?), the kids were so perfect...I have to say, even thinking about it makes we tear up like a kid who has fallen off his bike. I am very, very blessed to have the family I do, and to have inherited the new family from this union. They have been very gracious in welcoming me with open arms, and I am very thankful to have them in my life.
Ann and I got to do quite a lot while I was home. While it felt like we did a lot of chasing, it was wonderful to actually sit down and spend quality time with her and the kids. Having my parents up for two weeks was very nice as well, and I love that Ann, Haley, and Carter have embraced them as family members. We got to spend some time with the neighbors on the block, which is always a good time. We also spent an evening with Kristen and Diane. I have to tell you something about them- In this world, there are people you meet (rarely, I might add), who make you a better person just by being around them. Kristen and Diane are like that for me. If I could give any gift for the holidays, I would bottle that feeling and give it to everyone. They are delicious. Like socks (That's a little inside joke).
We stayed at the Inn at Cedar Crossing the night of the 13th. It was a beautiful place, and the food was wonderful. We took a carriage ride through the town of Sturgeon Bay, and spent some time in the little shops there. We found a great water pitcher, and just enjoyed the time together.
Back in Bahrain....It is difficult to explain, but it really feels much different. The job is challenging, as always, and I really enjoy what I do here, but there is a tangible empty space in my life, and I don't think it can be filled until I come back. I am a little surprised by that, as I figured it would be the same as it was before being home. I am sure I will fall back into the routine, and re-acclimate myself to life here, but these past few days have been harder than I imagined. The next two weeks are going to be pretty slow, as a lot of people are on leave for the holidays, so I have some time to dive into the latest project I have on my plate. I am tasked with reinventing our coalition web pages, redesigning them to have a more customer-focused appeal and ease of use. At least I feel that what I am doing is important, and I can see the practical application as our coalition partners use the technology to make their jobs easier.
So, I am going on a bit....Sorry about that. I hope everyone has a great holiday season. Drop a line if you get a chance, it is always good to hear from friends this time of year. By the way, it got down to 60 degrees or so, and I made the mistake of telling Ann it was chilly. Yeah, I got a lot of sympathy on that one.....
Take care-
Sean
p.s. new pictures up on the web from the wedding, check them out:
www.geocities.com/seanfeiler1