The Only Way is Up!

Six months post transplant and things are already looking up. I celebrated my birthday with family and close friends a couple of days ago (thanks for ALL the wishes!) and ever since then everything seems to fall in place. The Lebanese have finally agreed to agree. I am getting better by the day. Zee is doing well with her treatment. AND David Cook has won American Idol!!! What else can I possibly ask for?

Yes, I am finally home. Yes, I saw the sea, and smelled the gardenas, and felt the warmth of the sun, and tasted the hommos, and heard the bombs! There's no place like home.

Lord knows what He has in store for me next, but meanwhile, I shall live each day to the fullest. I shall be thankful and appreciative of ALL the good things around me. I shall look forward to every sunset and impatiently await every sunrise. I shall hope and pray for a quick and painless recovery for Zee and I shall spend more time with people who mean the world to me.

Goodbye princes and princesses,
Till we meet again (or till I get another inspiring idea to add to this blog!)

love u tons,
mwah,

Hala

STOP...<<... REWIND...<<... PLAY

YAAAAYYYYYYY!!!! I'm going HOME!!!!! YAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!! YAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!

After ten days of having arrived in Beirut, I am actually going home to stay for good, inshallah. I will finally enjoy my couch. I will finally feel the warmth of 'home'. I will finally see my friends and go to the places I miss so much. I hope. I hope I hope. (unless They have more surprises in store for us!)
I am not complaining, though. These past ten days at mom's have been very uplifting, regardless of what was going on outside. We had good 'quality time', good food!, good conversations, good hugs, good care, etc... It's as if I was in "pause" mode, preparing myself for the new ME, the new life, the new challenges.

I will not say much more today. I just want to share with you a prayer I got by email today from a very close friend/relative. (I don't usually pass these on, but this one touched me deeply, so here it is)

GOD WANTS ME TO TELL YOU

Everything that is going wrong in your life today shall be well with you this year. You have been destined to make it and you shall surely achieve all your goals this year. For the remaining months of this year (2008), all your agonies will be diverted and victory and prosperity will be incoming in abundance. Today God has confirmed the end of your sufferings, sorrows, and pains because HE that sits on the throne has remembered you. He has taken away the hardships and given you JOY. He will never let you down.

To that I say, AMEN!!! Ya rabb! Ya rabb! Ya rabb! So, pray with me, to whichever god u believe in, that these words actually do come true for me and Zee and you and ALL your loved ones!

On that note,

Cheers!!!!

H

Home Away From Home!!!

Oui, I am home! I had a lovely, warm welcoming, with huge fireworks and lit streets and some kinda 'magic' in the air! We arrived at the airport in Beirut around 8:00 pm last Wednesday, right in the midst of all the frenzy! Noone was allowed to enter the premises, so some friends had to go to hell and back to get us out of there safely. Hamdillah, about an hour and a half or so later, we arrived to our house. The minute I stepped in, a wave of warmth swept ALL over me! I had forgotten how coulourful and cozy my house was. I immediately felt relief, regardless of what was going on outside. And a lot was going on outside!

The next day was even worse. We only managed to go to the hospital to see Zeena's new doctor, the one who will be taking care of her from now on. We took an appointment for next week, and hopefully she will resume her treatment on Thursday (according to the same British Protocol).

At night, the situation around us became very annoying. The girls were scared of the sounds, and we were worried about what might happen. So, we packed a bag and planned to leave for Broummana; however, we couldn't leave the house. We were surrounded by militiamen who weren't letting anyone go out or into the area.

Yesterday, it was sort of quieter, so mom and dad passed by us and we followed them ALL the way up to Broummana. We are there now. It's frustrating for me, I must say. I still feel that I am a prisoner, although I must be thankful that I am safe and with my whole family. I would have gone crazy had I been stuck in Sutton with no way back to my girls!

And to top it ALL, it's COLD!!!!! Yes, VERY COLD!!!! I was looking forward to the sun and the beach and the t-shirts! Well, I guess that'll have to wait a while. Maalesh, inshallah this thing will be over soon, and I can go back home, to my bed, to my sofa, to my sea and my sun.

Thanks to ALL those who sent emails and messages asking about us in this silly 'war'. Sorry couldn't reply earlier, but had no internet connection in Beirut. Welcome back!!!

later dudes,
Hala

And it lingers...

The SUN, that is. Hamdillah, we finally had a WARM, sunny day today. We took advantage of the weather and went to London probably for the last time this season. So, we took the "last train to London" around 11:00 and headed to High Street Kensington for some shopping. After about an hour, we decided it was too lovely a day to spend like that, so, we headed to Chelsea Farmers' Market for lunch. We sat OUTSIDE, in the sun. Hallelujah! Then, after that we headed to Duke of York Square on The King's Road, a wonderful new space with shops, restaurants, cafes, live music and a food market. It was great to be out and about, mingling with ALL the Londoners, none of whom is actually British! The only downfall to the whole trip were the Lebanese girls we saw at the restaurant. You could spot them from a mile. They ALL look the same, they have puffed up lips and blondish hair, big designer handbags and a snubbish attitude! What a pity that this is how we present to the world!

Anyway, to wrap up a really nice day, we took Zee to Hyde Park to feed the ducks in the lake. However, Zee was very surprised when the ducks didn't eat her 'crisps', hehe. We just lay there, drinking in the warmth, bidding farewell to this wonderful city, and probably this 'lucky' weather!

A week ago, I couldn't wait to get back home. Now, I kinda feel bad that I am. Actually, not bad, but sad. London's been good to me. It has witnessed (and facilitated) my rebirth. Yes, I have TWO birthdays now. Do you think they will give me a British passport??? I don't think so!

London, or Sutton in London, has become my second home. I sure am going to miss it. I'm going to miss the 'bloody' English, and their weird sense of humour, and their excessive politeness, and their technology, and their and their and their... Yalla, baseeta. Thank God I need to come back for check-ups every three months! Isn't it ironic that I only got to enjoy London right before I left it? (Oh, did I mention I'm going home in FOUR days?????) YAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY!!!!!

Here's to more visits to London, free of headaches and worries and bad weather, hopefully.

mwah,

halalujah!!!!!