A Quick Update

I want to apologize for not updating on what's going on here in Colombia! I had plans tonight to post a lot of pictures, as well as an update, but it has been crazy, Will hasn't slept in so long, and I'm exhausted! So, I thought I would give you the update, and hopefully post the pictures tomorrow (which you will want to see...we celebrated my mom's birthday today at the hotel...yes, I know, it was yesterday, but yesterday, they were stuck stranded at the airport...a story for another time) and I have a great video of her dancing the birthday dance with the men of the hotel...stay tuned!

This week has proven to be a week of ups and downs, as I think all sentencia weeks are. But through it all, we have seen the amazing hand of God, like I have never seen before. Monday morning at 4 am, Will and I boarded a plane for Bogota, and left my mom, Scott's mom, Blaine and Ally in Cartagena to enjoy some more pool time and sun. The day went relatively smoothly, and Will did amazingly well for someone opperating on no sleep. We went and signed sentencia and also got his new birth certificate. (a few glitches with the birth certificate, but we got it figured out). The signing of sentencia was special for so many reasons. First of all, it means that Will is officially a Schrotenboer. Second, the judge personally came in to sign the paperwork (which isn't necessary) and he expressed his thankfulness to us for adopting Will, and told us how much he appreciated us. The whole court staff joined us and we then all had cake and there were hugs and kisses all around. My only regret was that I couldn't convey in my broken spanish, that it is we who are the lucky ones and who have been blessed by the addition of Will into our lives. How I wished I could have let him know that.

As smoothly as Monday went, Tuesday was the exact opposite. I think the lack of sleep coupled with getting about four teeth had finally gotten to Will, and he managed to cry the entire day. We had to go and get his passport and also made a trip to the doctor...both of which were extrememly long and hard for a boy that had had enough. Nontheless, we did get the items we needed and for that I am so thankful. Meanwhile, we discover that we need a letter from Scott saying that I am allowed to take ALLY out of the country. Yes, that is our child with the U.S. citizenship. I, being the lowly mother, can not take her out of the country without my husband's permission. A permission that can only be granted by the Colombian consolate in Chicago. (well, you can also get it here, but Chicago's a bit closer) I'll spare you the details, but we worked on getting that all set for Scott to go to Chicago on Wednesday, and that proved to be quite challenging...we'll just leave it at that.

On to today. Carmen and I went to ICBF this morning to pick up a letter stating that Scott and I followed the rules while in Colombia, and we are ok to adopt Will. We then traveled to the U.S. Embassy to get our Visa for Will. Things went well there, and if all goes as planned, I will pick up the visa tomorrow afternoon. I want to just take a moment to thank Carmen and Isabel who work so tirelessly for the families throught the whole journey, but most of all through this time. They have both been so amazing, and I know that I couldn't have done it without them. Their love for the children and their families show in all that they do, and we are so blessed to have worked with them.

The drama comes in while Scott is in Chicago. At the Colombian Embassy, they ask him for Ally's ORIGINAL birth certificate. Yes, the one from when she was born, when she has a different name. No one has told Scott that he needs it, so that's not something he normally carries on his person. After a call to our agency, he finds out it's not in our file. And here's where we see God's hand (of course we know His hand is working all the time, but it's so amazing when we actually get to witness it). Scott's dad just happens to be home when he calls (which he normally isn't) and can get online to find the number of the hotel here in Colombia. I just happen to be out to lunch...I almost didn't go...but decided to at the last minute. So Scott gets Valarya on the phone and asks her to go through my paperwork in the room. He tells her that it's probably in a black folder. So, she looks through the folder...no birth certificate. So she just happens to look in a file that I had the night before put out, which had been burried in a drawer earlier, and finds it there. I would have not even known that I had it because the orphanage copied that for us when we asked for Ally's file weeks before, but we hadn't asked for that piece of paper, we had only asked for a few other things...we don't even know why that was there. So Valarya faxed it to the Embassy, and Scott had what he needed. If that's not God working, I don't know what is!!!

So, we're not out of the woods yet, but it's looking pretty good that I will be able to travel on Saturday with the moms. The final hurdles are...changing the tickets to a different time as well as a different destination. The airlines are not too keen on this, so we're going to try to find a Delta office here in Bogota and go beg. Second, we need to actually pick up the visa tomorrow. Seems like a small thing, but crazy things happen here in Bogota, and you never know until you have the items in your hand. The third, final and most difficult hurdle is getting that piece of paper that Scott sent out today here before Friday night. Fed Ex said that there are no guarantees, but they are hopeful it will get here by Friday. If it doesn't, I don't leave Saturday, because without that paper, Ally doesn't leave Colombia. So we're asking for prayers that all will continue to go smoothly, and we are praising God for His amazing provision and love for us!

Thanks to all of you for your amazing support, love and prayers...keep them coming for a few more days!

Becky (for Scott, Ally, Will, the moms and Blaine too)