NVC, GUZ, RTF, DS260: So Many Abbreviations!

We had a fun week with our adoption process progress! On Monday, I sent an email to the National Visa Center (NVC) to request our GUZ# and Invoice ID from our I-800 approval. I needed both of these numbers to fill out the DS260, which is Rynn's Immigrant Visa application. Thankfully on Tuesday morning, they emailed me right back with the information I requested! 

Right away, I went online to start filling out Rynn's visa application. I've heard stories of the website being locked up for hours and not typically working properly. BUT, to my surprise, I was able to log-on right away and get started on her application. I did get booted out every 20 minutes, so was sure to save my work page by page. It took about an hour, but wasn't too difficult to complete. 

The next piece of information I needed from the NVC was called an RTF, which is a PDF that basically says our I-800 approval has been sent to Guangzhou, China. I sent an email on Wednesday requesting this information. 

Here comes the cool part (for me it was, at least :) ).  I hadn't heard back from the NVC for 24 hours, which is their stated time limit for a reply. I was about to type another email on Thursday afternoon. I had the email all typed up and was saying a short prayer before sending it. I just prayed about being anxious to get the RTF and about not wanting to send another email.  I was literally about to click send, when I noticed my inbox said "1 new email". I clicked on my inbox, and sure enough, it was the RTF I had been waiting for! I know God answers our prayers, but I didn't think it would be that quickly! :) 

Sometimes I feel discouraged and overwhelmed by all the paperwork, finances, waiting, unknowns, of this process.  But it's little moments like these that I know God is with us, each step of the way. And we have no option but to trust Him. We still have quite a few obstacles in front of us that will require much faith and trust. But I am often reminded that God can move mountains with even the smallest of faith we have to offer. 

Next and final step before Travel Approval is the Article 5! Update on this to come hopefully later this week!

If you haven't already seen our post on facebook about our puzzle piece fundraiser, I placed it below. :) Ayin wanted to start putting the puzzle together the other day, but is a little concerned at how difficult it's going to be! Haha.

Help bring home our missing piece with this puzzle fundraiser! Buy one piece (or 20!) of Rynn's puzzle for $10 each. We will write your name (or whatever name you would like) on the back of each piece you purchase. The puzzle will later be placed in a double-sided frame to show the love and support from friends and family! Comment below: How many pieces would you like?

There are a few ways to donate:

1. For a tax deductible donation: http://www.connectedheartsministry.org/waltner-family-sponsorship

2. Send a check to our address which will be deposited in our adoption savings account.

3. Get it to us in person anytime or at Rynn's shower on November 5th. 

Thanks so much for your continued love, support and prayers!

I-800 Approval and HER NAME

We did it! Finally, on Wednesday last week, we received a call saying our I-800 had been approved. The official document arrived in the mail on Saturday, and I posted it to our portal today! What does this mean? It's a small step on our journey towards Travel Approval, but an important one! 

Next we will be working on getting our daughter's immigrant visa. This process has a few steps. We will wait for our I-800 to arrive at the NVC in New Hampshire. Once it arrives we need a GUZ#. This number shows our case has been assigned to the Guangzhou consulate in China. (Guangzhou is a city in southern China where ALL adoptions are finalized).

Once we get our GUZ# and Invoice ID, we can fill out a form called the DS260, which is the application for our child's US immigrant visa. After this form is submitted, there are just a few more short steps until we get Travel Approval from China! 

We are still hoping to travel in December and it's still a possibility!

We are also getting our applications for our Visas to enter China ready. We went to Costco this weekend to get our visa pictures taken (only $4.99!). We had some leftover passport photos we were going to use, but we were smiling in those. Turns out, you can't smile in your visa photo! So, we took some mug-shot-like photos and had to laugh at ourselves. Travis made me laugh on the first one, so the photo guy had to take another one. Travis said I look mean in my photo, but I can't ever think of a time where I've posed for a photo without smiling! It was so strange! :) What do you think, do we look tough? 

We also had another photo-op this weekend. Travis's mom took our family pictures out at their farm! Before we took pictures, we had all three kids crying, a poop explosion followed by rinsing clothes and waiting for them to dry, and a kindergartner who got his outfit dirty playing with worms.  I said, all we need is ONE GOOD PICTURE! I think we got one...just barely. Paxx isn't looking but it. will. do.

Jhett with his worms. Shortly after this he got dirt all over his pants. 

Ayin, our best poser. 

The good one. Thanks to Grandma Ginger for taking the pictures for us!

One more little photo I snapped was of our daughter's coordinating outfit. We were thinking about her and how the next family photo session will include her!

 We have some more exciting news regarding our sweet girl! We have decided to give her an American name in addition to her Chinese name. Her full name will be Rynn Jiani (pronounced John-ya) Waltner! Rynn is taken from my grandma's name, which was Matilde Catherine. Rynn, short for Catherine. :)

We will probably call her both names for a while until she gets used to Rynn. 

Stay tuned for some fundraiser announcements. My sister and friend are organizing a shower for Rynn and will be selling puzzle pieces for the home stretch. Check out the facebook event. 

We'll keep you posted, as usual, on the next steps. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers!