Ahhh... enjoying the last days of summer!

We have had such beautiful weather for August these last few days. We have made the most of it with lots of lunches, walks and swinging outside. Although I love fall weather, I will be sad to see summer go. We have enjoyed our time outside. Sophia had her meet the teacher night for her four year old preschool tonight. She is nervous, but excited to be in the "Brave Bears" room. She was pretty thrilled to get to take a balloon AND stop for ice cream on our way home! She even gets to bring her favorite bear to school with her next week for the first day. She has already decided to bring her very special "Cheer" Bear!

Happy Baptism, Joseph!

It's Official

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.