In the Chinese culture, the number 8 is a lucky one. Apparently it is for our family, too! We had our finalization today (08-08-08!), and our sweet little guy is now officially "Joseph Michael Standard." Fortunately, we were able to have the hearing via phone so we didn't have to travel to Iowa. Brett's Aunt Bobbie served as the notary, and all of us were present for the hearing over the phone! We knew Joseph belonged to us from the moment we saw his face, but what a relief that it is finally official!
At this time a year ago, we were so overwhelmed with paperwork, essays, forms, interviews, birthparent letters, home visits, background checks, that the end result of our adoption process looked so out of reach. And even once the initial paperwork was complete, the phone calls and need for frantic decisions, the"hopes up" moments followed by the "let downs" almost got the best of us. We were told over and over "You'll know when you get the right call." But after months of waiting for the right one, we were feeling discouraged. We didn't know it then, but there was always a bigger plan for us...."It [does] seem so exceptional that things just work out after all," Sarah McLachlan, Charlotte's Web Soundtrack.
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