Blessings

I had really debated about posting this because I am afraid that I will forget someone and feelings will be hurt. If your name is left off, please forgive me and my very distracted brain. If you'll let me know that I left you off, I'll add you to the list. :)

I feel like I should say thanks to all those who have helped me on this "adventure." Those who know me well know that I really like my independence sometimes to a fault. I don't mind helping others but I really hate needing someone to help me. This experience has forced me to rely on others and let them help.

In order to protect anonymity, I'll only use first names. Some of these people have very well-earned titles and when I normally address them I use their title and last name. However, I feel that with the internet it's best to just stay with first names, so here goes (in no particular order):

1) My loving husband, Joshua - If he had his way, we'd have a dozen children. He loves kids and he is a great father. However, my sanity can only handle so many. I thought that number was 2. Apparently, it's 3! :) My heart still skips a beat when I hear his voice on the phone. :)

2) My terrific little boy, Andrew - This kid has had to roll with the punches!!! From losing his spot as only child with Mom and Dad's constant undivided attention to having to sit quietly in an unairconditioned building when it's 110 degrees outside while we wait for a judge to sign a paper, to having to go live with his Aunt, Uncle and cousins he barely knows while we sort out this mess. I'm so thankful that I've been blessed to be his mother.

3) Holly - Where do I start? Transportation, babysitting, phone calls, visits, unbelievable patience, flying back to the states with me and I know there is more. Especially in the past two weeks, she has been my rock! There is so much that I admire about her.

4) Mary - for telling me about this adoption opportunity in the first place. I won't hold it against her that she thought it would be easy and cheap. :) It IS worth it though!!!

5) My family - for listening to me vent about the process over the phone and for contacting Bill for help. My sister and her family have done so much to help us transition back to the states from getting our utilities turned on, to receiving our shipment to taking care of our son. It's been nice to have a few less things to worry about. She's even getting the house ready for a possible hurricane. My family has also made it clear to not worry about the hurricane and just get SOMEWHERE in the US an someone will come get us.

6) Ali - For the promises of chocolate desserts, mailing a TON of things, phone calls, e-mails, flair on facebook, etc. She is truly a wonderful friend and I'm thankful that I can call her my best friend. I can't wait to be closer to her so we can spend more time together.

7) Zoubida - I think it would take pages and pages of writing to share all that she did! Whenever I hit a roadblock along this process, Zoubida managed to make some calls and get things moving again. She is an amazing person.

8) Fouzia - Like Zoubida, she made calls on our behalf to get things moving. She also had Andrew over for a day while we were stuck in our house without our things and Andrew was bored out of his mind. Fouzia has a sweet spirit about her.

9) Touria - Touria was the one that got it all started for us. She would spend her days off visiting orphanages around Morocco. She initially told me that there was about a 6 year waiting list for a girl. I knew our next one was to be a girl and I told her that I would try here for a girl and if it didn't work out then I'd adopt a girl in the US. I'll never forget when she called me and told me that there were twin girls available and how no one wanted both, but others had offered to just take one of the girls. The idea of twins was shocking at first but I'm glad I said yes!

10) Hamid and Ouafa - These two work for the foundation that runs the orphanage. Either one or the both of them would accompany us each time we went to the courts. I honestly lost count how many times I went to that courthouse!

11) Cindy - Cindy came in July from the states to adopt two boys. She experienced the unexpected and called me to tell me she understood when I was terribly upset about Josh and Andrew having to leave ahead of me.

12) Jeffery -This poor guy replaced Josh's boss a few weeks before Josh's job was done. He saw me in the embassy one day after Josh and Andrew left and made the mistake of asking me how I was doing. I fell apart right there! He was truly concerned and offered anything to help.

13) Andy - He was there when Jeffery asked how I was doing and I made a fool of myself breaking down. Later that evening he called to check on me and ask if there was anything he and his family could do.

14) Tom and Nancy - These two are very busy people but they took the time to step in and help when it looked like there was nothing that could be done. I greatly appreciate their efforts and the time they took to help me.

15) Lori and Dan - They gave me a place to sleep and food to eat when I had to move out of my house until I was able to move into Jai's house. They have wonderful kids who were so great with the girls. Lori did some translating for me as well. I think they saw me at my worst (all sad and pitiful missing my guys)!

16) Jai - Jai is new to the embassy. His wife just had a baby in the US so he went home for a few weeks to be with her and will bring his family back when the baby is old enough, etc. He graciously offered his home to me and the girls while he was away. It was nice to be able to spread out and not disrupt anyone's family routine, etc.

17) Ted and Lynn - Ted offered many times to help by running background checks, making phone calls, etc. Lynn was a great sounding board and even e-mailed me from the states to check on me when she heard it was getting tough.

18) Haziz - This guy fingerprinted us several times for all the clearances we had to do. He also personally accompanied Josh to some government offices when our paperwork was stalled for 2 months.

19) Ahmed - This guy fingerprinted us even more than Haziz! He always dropped what he was doing to get our fingerprints done because he knew how important it was to us.

20) Caroline and Jake - Such a sweet couple. They visited us back in February when they were looking for a house and then they moved to another city in Morocco in May. We really like this family. I wish we were geographically closer. Anyway, despite their distance, they kept in touch with what all was going on and offered their love and support.

21) Maggie - She called me one day after the guys were gone just to check on me. I really needed that phone call right then. Thanks!!!!

22) Tammy - For stopping for a few minutes to see how things were going and to offer anything to help. Like Maggie's phone call, running into you was just what I needed right then.

23) My embassy community - I don't think I've ever been so close to a group of people like I have with this embassy community. Everyone offered love, support, anything they could to help. I think my girls were the most popular kids at the embassy. I couldn't take 5 steps with them without getting stopped so someone could admire the girls. Anytime I go to the embassy without the girls people stop me to ask where the girls are and why didn't I bring them!!!

24) My LFR sisters - These wonderful ladies have offered prayers, words of comfort, love and support. They are even making sure I have a place to stay if the hurricane prevents me from getting to my final destination in the US. I'm so grateful for the support they've given me through this entire process.

25) My in-laws - My inbox frequently has sweet letters with well wishes and encouragement. Those meant a lot during this "adventure." Like my family, the offer to come get me anywhere in the US has been extended as well.

26) Dennis and Cathy - For the advice early on in the process when we were trying to decide if this was the right thing to do and for the love and support throughout. We are thankful you guys are part of our lives.

27) Those who left comments on the blog - It's nice to know someone is reading this and that I'm not just talking to myself! :) Seriously, the kind words were so needed. I'm hoping my future posts for a while will be fun, upbeat and "life is good" type posts. It's more fun to write about the good stuff! :)

28) Julienne - For shipping baby things (like formula) at the last minute to us because it would get to us faster from you than any other method.

29) Bill - He's our congressman and although he's not part of the political party I usually vote for, he's got my vote! He became our advocate with Rome and as you can see, we got results!

30) My Heavenly Father - What a comfort it was when I would pray about this to know these girls were ours and were meant to be in our little family. I honestly feel that I was stretched beyond my comfort zones but I learned so much and feel that I have grown from it all. However, I have no desire to go through something like this again!!! :)

I've fretted over this post for days knowing that I have forgotten someone. I hope I'm wrong, but if not, please know that I am appreciative of anyone and everyone who played a part in helping these girls become ours.
With great joy,
Rachel