USCIS Clearance, Halloween Chicken, and Resemblances

So, on October 26th, another step was accomplished on our journey to Max- we have USCIS clearance! Great news of course, and there is still a glimmer of hope that we may be able to travel this year.

We still need to remember, though, this verse from Psalm 37:

7. "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."

The second part of the verse may not apply as much (unless you consider the traveling delays "wicked schemes"!), but we're always learning patience. Patience, patience, patience. If this keeps up, we may be patients, patients, patients! All kidding aside, we're thankful for the clearance, and will let you know what the next step will be, which will be:







We covet your prayers for not only quick deliverance of our clearance from USCIS to Colombia, but especially clarity on the decision that needs to be made once that happens. It'd be super lonely here around the holidays without Beck and Ally (who most likely will stay with Beck after Will and I come home), so we ask for clarity of the decision we know is coming. We want to get to Max SO badly, and are going to do everything we can to get him before the holidays. But, more than likely, if we're going to go before them, we need to get clearance, Clarence, soon. Anyone remember the movie "Airplane"? If not, maybe this will help:




I know how Kareem feels in this one. Sometimes when you're going through the adoption process, you just say, "Huh?" Some things don't make sense, but we know the wait is worth it!

As everyone else has, we've just finished up Halloween, where our kids dress up and go door to door begging for someone to give them candy (which is totally opposite of what we teach them the other 364 days in the year, is it not?), which in turn will guarantee that our kids will have sugar buzzes and act like they're demonically possessed. Regardless, we had some good times. Ally was Strawberry Shortcake, while Will was a chicken. And a funny-looking one at that:

Thanks to sister Cathy for hosting Beck and our kids, along with Beck's mom, sister Lisa, brother-in-law (and Road Warrior!) Brandon, and their 3 kiddos in Nashville 2 weeks ago. They had a riot! (outside of the traffic near Louisville :))

Lastly, we received a couple updated pics of Max today, and there is quite a resemblance between him and Ally at that age (the pic of Ally is while she was at Los Pisingos). Check this out:

Ally has obviously changed a lot- we can't wait to see Max grow up along with his big sis and big brother!

Here's hoping and praying that the next post will be the announcement on what we'll be doing. Again, please continue to pray for clarity about what God wants us to do, and also for health and safety for Max and the other children at Los Pisingos. I think oftentimes we, in our excitement, neglect to remember that there are many, many more children that also need homes. If we could take them all home with us, we would!

Love to all-

Scott, Becky, Ally, Will, and (almost there!) Max