i800 RFE'd

We found out Tuesday that USCIS issued an RFE in our case on August 22.
Request for Additional Evidence.
In some of the baby's paperwork his date of birth is listed as the 5th of the month, while other paperwork lists it as the 4th of the month. So clearly his date of birth has to be consistent on all his paperwork.
This is a big, big deal for our timeline!
This means our Kenyan agency must request that the hospital issue him a new, corrected birth certificate.
I have no idea how long that process will take. It will take even longer if a hard copy has to be sent back and forth everywhere instead of being emailed.

So prayer warriors, pray specifically that 1) the hospital quickly reissue Zac's birth certificate, 2) that USCIS will accept emailed versions of the certificate as opposed to a hard copy, 3) that USCIS will hear our case again quickly, and 4) that all the paperwork is complete and accurate so our case can be accepted!

God knows our timeline. He knows when we are scheduled to leave this country. God is bigger than all our paperwork struggles! Depending on you, Lord.

Roaming To and Fro Again

The enemy is roaming to and fro again, out to destroy my relationships.
I realize this is part of the spiritual battle again.
"Difficulties" seem to switch month to month from relationships between friends, to husband, to family, to physical problems (my broken toe!), back and forth in cycles. I can easily recognize it now.
I realize that's what it is. And I just laugh at the lies of the enemy.

So I am withdrawing a bit for right now, dropping out of a few social things, online groups, and out-of-the-house activities, making my blog/facebook a little more private.
I think I just need to focus on my family (and few close friends) during this time.
Until the target on our back gets a little smaller...

Care Package for the Baby

We are trying to think about what we want to place in Baby Zac's care package.
I have read somewhere (on a China adopt blog) that disposable cameras are a good idea. Not sure about that one though.
So far I am thinking: baby blanket, stuffed animal/rattle, small photo album of our family and house, and a few laminated photos hole-punched so they can ziptie them to his crib (thanks TH for that idea!).
I realize we may never see any of these items again, too, so I am not sending anything irreplaceable.
And he is only 15 months old, so he may not understand any of this at all. But we can try!
I have been sleeping with his baby blanket every night so it will have our scent. That sounds really weird but maybe I won't be completely foreign to him when he sees me for the first time on Gotcha Day!

USCIS Notification

I received an email from USCIS that they offcially received our i800 application.
Countdown to see how long this portion will take. Exciting!

The Steps From Here

We received an email from our stateside agency (from LAN) that outlines the exact next steps of the process from here. We were REALLY HOPING to have custody of Baby Isaac by October, but I'm not sure that will happen now. In fact, looking at our timeline is really making me nervous.
The foster period is 3 months, then court dates are 6-8 months. We have to be out of here in June. Well, God is going to have to step in and do another miracle! I'm so glad to keep giving Him these opportunities to shine and I have to keep giving him my worries in the meantime!


Ø  USCIS grants the I-800 approval
Ø  CAS formally communicates the approval to LAN and sends a copy of the approval
Ø  LAN does an official letter to New Life Home to officially introduce the Powers family, in addition to the letters, a family album and a small toy is sent to the home to start preparing the child for placement (on average a two week period is required for child preparation but this varies depending on age of child)
Ø  LAN and New Life Home agree on a date for the first meeting between the child and his prospective family.
Ø  The family goes to the home and meets their son and start the bonding visits
Ø  The family takes the child to a doctor for a second medical opinion
Ø  The child is placed with the family officially and agreements signed to begin the three month foster process

i800 Filed!

I just received notification that my stateside agency mailed our i800 packet to USCIS today!

THIS IS THE LAST DOCUMENT WE HAVE TO FILE IN ORDER TO HAVE ISAAC IN OUR ARMS!!

I cannot believe I am writing that last sentence!!