Patience is a (hard, hard, hard to learn) Virtue

The holding pattern continues, and we're learning patience here. Again. For the third time. And we still struggle. The question is: Why? Why do we struggle, not knowing what tomorrow will bring, when we know fully that Someone does? Someone who has known, from the beginning of time, how our family would take shape, and that it would be in His time? Kinda goes back to the last post, and how apropos that bible verse is. Not just to our family, but to everyone and everything. Patience. We try to pound it into our childrens' heads hour after hour, day after day, and yet, at the end of each day, after baths, after books, and after prayers giving thanks for how much we are blessed, we still ask questions about why we're still stateside, still here waiting to leave. Patience. What a funny, frustrating-at-times thing.

So a short update: our paperwork went down to USCIS on the 7th, and they received it on the 11th (due to a holiday). So they have it, and as of today we're told that it could be up to 14 business days before we have clearance. That puts us around the first part of November- cutting it pretty close to the "not going anywhere until after the holidays" deadline. FBI clearance is going well- they've even offered to help with expediting things if needed. For now, we wait. And of course, we'll continue to update (hopefully more regularly).

That being said, I thought it'd be fun to to give you a glimpse of what Becky and I see every day, and often many times during those days:

Here is Ally the Ballerina, and Will, well, Will the Copycat (trying to become a ballerina- or would it be ballerino?):

We've got Ally the soccer player:

And lastly, in the spirit of Halloween, our 2 oldest monsters playing around:

So, prayers for a quick turnaround at USCIS would be appreciated. We're running SUPER short on time, and every day into November is going to make it more difficult to get clearance to travel before the holidays. Of course, only One knows if we'll go or not by then. But we'll do our best to be patient and trust in His timing. That's what we should be doing anyway, right?

Happy Halloween!

A Continued Journey

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. My favorite verse, especially considering how we started this journey many years ago: the disappointments, the setbacks, the trying times. And now... my goodness. I couldn't imagine it any other way. He DOES know the plans, doesn't He?

What a fitting verse to once again start this, our third, journey. I (we) can't believe that it's been almost 17 months since Beck, Ally, our moms, and Blaine came home with Will. Seems like just yesterday we were talking about how a son would be so much different than a daughter, and how quickly the family demographics had changed. And now, as of Tuesday, October 4th, 2011, it's changed again.

We welcome Max Richard Schrotenboer to the family! Born just June 12th, weighing in at 7 lbs 9 oz., and at 21" long. Born in Bogota, Colombia, and patiently waiting for us to "go down and scoop him up", as Ally likes to say.

And here is new Big Brother Will with his cool new shirt:

And a little video from Ally and Will, to Max:

Ally and little brother Will, posing for a picture to send littlest brother Max:

Right now, we're not sure when and even if we'll be able to travel yet this year. Beck worked feverishly today to get some paperwork down to Texas by Monday, so that's a great start. But realistically it's going to be difficult to make everything work out. But as we've been shown time and time again over the last 7 years, it's God's plan- not ours. Kind of makes you feel like anything's possible, doesn't it? :)

Colombia, here we come!!

Love,

Scott, Becky, Ally, Will, and (the newest addition!) Max