We love the Festive Season for all that it represents.For some, it’s about celebrating their religious beliefs. For others, it’s being amongst family and friends:-sharing, giving, loving, laughing, relaxing and taking time to appreciate what is important in life.
For us, we have spent many years abroad and away from our loved ones.
When we first married in Jan 2004, I moved to be with my husband in Dubai, where he was already working. I remember feeling out of place as the newlywed trying to fit in, get a job and make new friends.
There was an Expat Mums group that I asked to join, despite not having a child! I was invited to attend a meeting with this group of ladies, which later changed their name to include women like me who had no little ones at home or school.
Here I met two remarkable women who embraced and accepted me into their family circle and have been our friends ever since. Knowing we had no family in Dubai and not wanting us to be alone, they invited us to be part of their family Christmases and showed us what loving, sharing, laughing, acceptance was all about. We still talk about that 2004 Christmas in Dubai as though it was yesterday, only now their kids are all grown up!!
We meet when we can, whether in the UK over the summer break, or in Dubai on our way back from visiting family in Australia.We feel quite privileged to have shared many wonderful memories together since that time with all of our families.
Today, we reflect on the year 2016. It has been a year of loss and sadness, failures, triumphs, and successes.With hindsight, we wonder what we would have done differently or better with our choices.We look at the friendships we have made and lost along the way and wonder why they are no longer. Some of these friendships were only meant to teach us something about ourselves, whilst others remained for a season. Some have been true relationships that have withstood the test of time and distance. We hope to learn from these chapters in our lives, as our experiences enrich and teach us how to become better and more decent people.
We look at our children and are grateful that they safe and in good health, able to enjoy the freedoms of where they live. We often take these subtle things for granted when in fact, we should be grateful and happy for all that we have.
So on that note, we hope that you have been amongst loved ones, laughing, eating and enjoying each other’s company. We hope no-one has spent the festive season alone.
At Essentially Lili we wish 2017 brings you success, happiness, health, love, peace, joy and the desires of your heart.
Please be kind to one another irrespective of your personal beliefs and ambitions.
Be mindful of those who have less or nothing as we reflect on how lucky and fortunate we are. And let’s make the world a better place for everyone… especially the next generation.
Merry Christmas And Happy New Year to you all from us at Essentially Lili x
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Kind Regards Lili @ Essentially Lili
Oh Lili you just made me cry! Love you xxx
Rose, you and your family are very special to us – thank you for always just being you!! 🙂 Love you too xx