Chen Chronicles

Okay, so firstly, Aaron and I BOTH want to thank everyone who continues to pray for us as we await news on our baby girl, Katie Allison Chen. There have been some recent developments in adoption news between the U.S. and Russia and at least one newspaper (The Moscow Times, I believe) reported this morning that an agreement between the U.S. and Russia was signed. This, however, sadly is not the case. BUT, the latest information received over the past couple of weeks is indicative of a move in the right direction for both countries to come to a mutual agreement about how the children should be protected once they are released to adoptive parents in the United States. 1. Joint Statement of U.S. and Russian Delegations on Inter-Country Adoption On July 21-23 in Moscow, U.S. and Russian experts led by Mary Ellen Hickey, the Managing Director for Overseas Citizen Services at the U.S. Department of State and Alina Levitskaya, the Director of Department of Upbringing and ...

So, I haven't been to sleep at all tonight and it's 3:40am here. I've tried my normal sleep medication so I thought writing and getting some of my feelings out there might be a great way to get some sleep. You know, that unburdening feeling...that might make me feel better. I read a quote today about adoption and wanted to share it: Pray, hope and don't worry. Anxiety doesn't help at all. Our Merciful Lord will listen to your prayer. --- Saint Padre Pio I sure do hope this saint is correct because we are ALL praying for our little Katie and trying our best NOT to worry about the outcome, or specifically, when we are going to get a referral. I think it is all-consuming these days.  Some days it is easier and others harder.  Though when I consider where Aaron and I both are in life at this moment, it almost seems better that we get our little one next year because he'll be closer to being done with graduate school (graduates in June) and he can come hom...

Please keep Aaron and I in your thoughts and prayers because we were called a couple of weeks ago by our adoption agency and because of what the woman in Tennessee did, referrals have slowed dramatically in Russia.  It could be anywhere between now and December to March 2011 time frame before we even get information on a child.  With that kind of delay, Aaron and discussed switching to domestic adoption and we've already paid thousands into this program so we've decided to wait it our for now....realizing that our timing is not always God's timing and that HE is never late (though sometimes we feel like he is).  The only positive thing we see in all of this is that they haven't shut down the Russian adoption program and we are still in line for a little one.  We think some things just have to be worked out and hope it happens soon.  Though, in situations like this there is really only one thing we CAN do....and that is trust God....our maker and creator!  W...

So, we've all heard the saying that, "God is never late...he is always on time.."  This doesn't, however, mean he is on OUR time and this is becoming more evident as we wait for news on our adoption.  Friday, we were pretty upset because that morning our agency called and said it would be 2-3 months before the rep in Russia expected to get ANY referrals.  That time period was okay, because we knew with diligence and hard work on our end that we may be able to complete our adoption of our Katie Allison by Christmas this year.  That STILL MIGHT happen, but then that afternoon we got another call and our coordinator told us that because we are requesting a baby girl under age 2 (whom we will name Katie Allison Chen), that this could take 6-9 months before we receive a referral.  Taking what she said to heart was very difficult and sad as we had been dreaming of a Christmas as a family of three.  This isn't to say that won't happen, but it isn't as likely as i...

So, we really are trying NOT to be negative about this adoption, but I got an email from our coordinator yesterday saying that referrals out of Russia are coming really slow.  She said that her rep told her that they should hear something in the next 2-3 months, but there are no guarantees.   I just want to cry right now, because ever since we started this process since December 11th last year...we were expecting to have our little Katie Allison home for Christmas.  Now, if we do not get a referral until October or later, it could be sometime in 2011 when we actually get to bring her home!   Not that the adoption tax credit was the ONLY reason we were hoping to have our adoption completed by the end of the year (though a definite bonus), but this is just another worrisome blow to this whole process.   Last year and earlier this year before the wacko woman did what she did in Tennessee by sending back that six year old child to Moscow alone, I dre...