Hello and Merry Christmas to all! 2007 has been a busy year for us. We were thrilled to be able to finalize Carter’s adoption once he was six months old. In February, we made the trip to Utah for the court finalization, our temple sealing, and Carter’s baby blessing. We were happy to have so many of our friends and family members there with us. Thanks to those who traveled and made the effort to be there. We especially loved that Grandpa H was able to perform our beautiful sealing ceremony.
In March, Shane’s parents were able to visit us while on a business trip and we initiated them by taking them to IKEA and to the Chandler Ostrich Festival! The day they arrived, our realtor contacted us to let us know she thought she had found the perfect home for us. We took Mom and Dad H to see it after we picked them up from the airport, not knowing at the time that it would end up being exactly the right place for us!
We closed escrow in April and after a week of painting, we moved into our new home. We love it! We are much closer to Shane’s work and to church, schools, shopping, etc. We are in the same ward now as Shane’s Uncle Joe and his family and we feel so blessed to be welcomed into an amazing area and ward. Everyone adores Joe and Claudia, so it seems we’ve been especially warmly received. Shane has been called as assistant scoutmaster and as the proclaiming the gospel chair in the Elder’s quorum. Megan is serving on the activities committee under Aunt Claudia and loves that!
We had a very fun summer. The first week of July, we had a blast at the Foho Family Reunion in Midway, UT. Carter began walking the following week and we celebrated his first birthday July 28th. In August, Megan went to her friend Karen’s wedding in Lake Tahoe while Shane and Carter drove to Oceanside, CA to meet up with the H clan. Megan joined them a day later and we enjoyed a week at the beach and Sea World before we ended up in Redlands, CA for Shane’s brother Tyler’s wedding. Shane was Tyler’s best man and the wedding and festivities were so nice. We visited Megan’s brother, Chad, in San Clemente, CA for a couple of days before heading back home to AZ. The following weekend, Shane went to Utah for Tyler and Emily’s reception there. Megan’s mom came to visit the first week in August and we had a good time trying to keep cool!
We did our best to celebrate Autumn in Arizona. We took a day trip and then a weekend trip up to Payson, AZ a couple of hours north of here. It was much cooler in the mountains and we needed the break from the heat! Megan and Carter took a trip to Utah for a week at the beginning of October. We loved the cooler weather and the changing leaves. We also went to the Pumpkin and Chili Festival at a local family farm that is known here in AZ for having the best Fall festival in the state. We picked out pumpkins, ate some great food, got lost in the corn maze, and caught the fireworks on our way out. It was around 90 degrees when we got there but cooled off a lot after dark. Still, at the end of October, we were still wearing shorts comfortably!
We were glad to join family for Thanksgiving in Utah this year. It was really cold for us acclimated Arizonans, but we made it through! We had such an amazing time last Christmas in Mexico that we are excited, thanks to Joe and Claudia, to be headed back again this Christmas! We are looking forward to spending our Christmas in the sand and enjoying great company.
Our most exciting news is that we are once again approved and waiting to adopt through LDS Family Services. We didn’t think it was going to happen quite so soon after Carter came along, but we are extremely grateful to know that the Lord is in control and that everything will work out according to his timing and wisdom. Please think of us if you know of any birthmother who is considering an adoption plan for her baby.
We wish you all a peaceful holiday season as we remember and celebrate the birth of our Savior.
Much love,
Shane, Megan, and Carter
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