Meet Zac!

Big news!  On Sept. 10, only 7 days after our last post, we received the file for the child who we now know as our son, Zachary Ryder Horton!  Zac is adorable!  He is about 16 months old right now.  According to his file, when he was 14 months old, he was pulling up and walking, finding his toys, clapping his hands when he saw his caregiver, "reading" books, and playing hide-and-seek.  According to his caregivers, he is easy to take care of, smiles a lot, is active, and is interested in learning.  It was his smile in the first picture we saw that melted our hearts.  We always thought we would know our son when we saw him, and we did!  Strangely, it feels like we've always known him, we just had to find him again...  Like his face was written on our hearts, and we recognized him when we saw him.  We submitted our Letter of Intent (LOI) with China on Monday, Sept. 17, and received our Pre-Approval (PA) on Thursday, Sept. 20.  The PA says that the China Center of Adoption Affairs agrees to move this application file into the procedure for adoption.  Typically, it's 6 months from the PA to travel, sometimes shorter.  We're told that since our Log In Date was so long ago, our wait may be shorter.  Let's hope!

The photo that stole our hearts!  Zac at 11 months
when Lifeline and the IAC visited his orphanage in April.
Look at those little teefies!

Ken's favorite, Zac somewhere after 11 months.
"The 'Snoopy' outfit"

Zac at 14 months on the playground.
They buzzed his hair, but he's still so cute!

Our newest photo, Zac at 16 months, taken
by Lifeline and the IAC during their current visit,
in Sept. "The 'Angry Birds' outfit"

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,

For His steadfast love endures forever;

to Him who alone does great wonders,

for His steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1&4