The Amazing Race

Here I sit for a few minutes the night before Thanksgiving counting blessings and just in awe how richly Ray and I have been blessed. We have experienced so much the last 6 months that will forever enrich our lives. Today was such a joy we took 7 girls to the beach - 3 who had never before been to a beach- and got to experience their joy in laying down in the water and being buried in the sand and searching for shells. We had a difficult time in pulling them into the showers to clean up enough to get in the van to drive home. Our blessings at this time include (2) 4 year olds, (2) 6 year olds, an 8 year old, a 10 year old and our 15 year old who is at this moment at 10:30 at night helping Mr. Ray thaw one of our a/c units.

Life has been non stop since 3 sisters joined us in October. We are required within 30 days to get our new children to the doctor, the dentist and get a vision exam. Then there's enrolling them in school. Our campus has been beset with lots of viruses and I have been to the clinic 4 times in the last 10 days. But hopefully, we have doctored everyone up and we will all be well for the holidays.

Last Friday I was making my afternoon run...to Head Start to pick up a 4 year old, then to an elementary to pick up a 1st grader (our other Elementary did not have an opening for this child so it was pick another school). When this was accomplished I was to take them home and pick up 4 siblings on campus and then to Jr. High to pick up one and then on to the Sr. High to pick up another in order to take them to a parental visit. While at the elementary school, I got a call that my 2nd grader was ill and they did not want to put her on the bus so please pick her up and take her to the doctor....trying to figure out how to be in 2 places at once it was decided that Ray would have to do the sibling visit run. So now at 3:00 all I had to do was grab my 1st grader, get to the other elementary and get the 2nd grader and then get back to campus to drop these kids and get Ray filled in on his run. He was in the yard without his phone so I could not alert him ahead of time. My time constraint was to be at the clinic by 4:00. At each school I had to park and go in for the children. So at 3:25 I'm back on campus, run in and give Ray the low down - I'm taking 2 children with me you are to take the other 4 and drop 2 off at one house and pick up one and drop 1 at another house and pick up 2 and then on to the Jr. High and Sr. High. Since Ray was going to use the van I had to go to the office to get another car - which they had trouble finding the key then on to the social service office to get paperwork and then checking the time...I had 7 minutes. Everything in town takes 5-10 minutes to get there. It all depends on how you catch the lights. So as I'm scooting down the road hoping to catch the lights ...and trying to catch my breath...I realize one of my dreams has been fulfilled...I'm actually a part of the Amazing Race - no, not to exotic locations, well, the valley is a little exotic and our prize won't be a million dollars but we won't take anything for the hugs and smiles and the I love yous that come our way every day.

Yes, I made it with 30 seconds to spare. And Ray made his run - not without complications. He got to the Jr. High to receive a call that the child had been transported to campus by another houseparent and he was to go back to campus to pick her up.

May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving and while dining on that turkey remember that we love you all and will be thinking of you as we persuade our girls to try a little dressing and sweet potatoes.