Many Thanks

I want to take a break from the logistical aspects of adoption (before I bore everyone to tears) and I want to thank everyone for their support. Taher and I have been flooded with emails from family and friends on facebook, via email, and via this blog. And we are both humbled beyond belief at the kindness people have shown us. People have offered to donate items for our fundraising efforts, people have given us many fundraising ideas, and people have made themselves available to help us with anything we need. Truly humbled.


Part of the application process involves having friends and/or family members write letters on your behalf. Taher and I choose wonderful people to serve as our references, and I wanted to share one of the letters written on our behalf.



Writing on behalf of Taher and Leah Omar:

I have known Leah for over 20 years, as we grew up in the same hometown. In addition to sharing experiences with her in our hometown, we also graduated from the same college, Augsburg College, and have remained friends since.

I have known Taher as an acquaintance at Augsburg and as a friend since he and Leah were a couple and subsequently married.

Leah and Taher's lifestyle and character is one that is built on support; the support of family, friends, and each other. The couple gets along well and has a healthy, communicative relationship. They are responsible, ethical, and self-aware; and this serves them well as individuals and as a couple. Their individual lives are a product of the family support system that they have received, this is something that they will pass on and will be a valuable attribute to their children. Their lifestyles are reflective of their individual characteristics and they have created a loving family environment between themselves which is ready to share that love with another.

The strength of the Leah and Taher's marriage is the individuals which make up the marriage. Both Taher and Leah have strong characters that they share and appreciate with each other. In their marriage, Taher and Leah have wonderful communication skills and are able to support each other as they are, not with an expectation of what each individual wants. This genuine love and respect for each other is a great strength, and it is from this position of love, and not necessity, that they will adopt a child. More so, the couple knows what responsibility is and they are engaging in this process with their eyes as open as can be to what raising a child will entail.

I have seen both Leah and Taher interact with children in a way that would leave me extremely comfortable if I left my own children with them. They are responsible and caring and seem to get great joy out of the experience of being around children. They speak dotingly of nieces and love their time with them. Both Taher and Leah are sensitive, tenderhearted individuals who relate well to children, yet at the same time have the capabilities to also teach and help children grow. In short, they interact exceptionally as adult role-models to children.

An adopted child would be a wonderful addition to the union of Taher and Leah. These two people come from unique backgrounds, yet they are able to appreciate their own uniqueness and grow together rather than allow it to be a hindrance to them. An adopted child would be fortunate to be a part of this setting and would find love, understanding, eclecticism, and proper discipline from Taher and Leah. A child whom they adopt would have above all a sense of self-worth because of who that child is, and their future child will find love from the Omar’s just for being that special child.

I recommend Taher and Leah as parents without reservation and see no reason why they should not adopt a child.




Nothing about this process feels normal to me. Probably because this process and experience is so different than anything I've ever experienced. Reading such a positive letter from someone I consider a great friend makes me realize without a doubt that Taher and I have so much love and support in our lives. And for the 10th time in this post I say to you. . . I am truly humbled.