Chen Chronicles

I was inspired to write this because of our church's MOPS chapter.  This month's theme was "Courage to Tell Your Story," and falls under this year's theme, "Be You, Bravely."  Thank you for inspiring me to share this testimony.  I did not see God’s purpose in all the suffering until over a decade later, in the cold, dark abyss of Eastern Russia.   Twelve years ago, I was a tiny, energetic, beautiful 22-year old with stars in my eyes.   I was an on-air personality for a national radio conglomerate and was going to be the NEXT Katie Couric.   I had the world by a string….until one fateful day when a host of medical problems stopped me in my tracks.   Three kidney stones, a horribly traumatic infection and a blood clot left me a miniscule of my former self. I was broken. What I did not know then is that God had greater plans for my life than even I could envision. In the book of Jeremiah, it is written,"For I know the plans I have for ...

Handwriting Horrors & God's Majesty Lately, we have been working with Katie on her handwriting.  I just have to make the statement that I have a whole new respect for teachers who teach these littles proper handwriting.  There is probably nothing more frustrating (at least that I have seen so far), than teaching my daughter to write her letters.  So, let me show you what she does with the lowercase "i." So we have been explaining to her that a lowercase "i" isn't a line with a circle above it or even a line with a dot touching it.  Aaron has had to even work with her on it.  We downloaded an App for the 1st generation iPad that she uses to "write" her letters with a stylus.  So far, this is the letter she has had the most trouble with...and seemingly, it should be an easy one.  At school, they are doing "Handwriting without Tears."  I am glad at the moment we only have ONE child to teach how to write.  I have to say tha...

This MUST be from our God above because it has been exactly NINE months since we started this process & we all know it takes NINE months for a baby to grow inside it's mother.  However, I don't feel labor pains.  I feel travel worries and adoption pains (all good emotions....and LOTS of adrenaline at this point)!  God Bless our friend Leah for talking us through this week....well at least me, because otherwise I'm not sure I would have made it without totally freaking out! We are so excited, nervous, scared.....I think the entire gamut of emotions has been felt by Aaron and I this week.  We're nervously awaiting Visas and have been told they are on there way to us.  By the time of posting, which is 2:17am here, I can't sleep tonight!  I have SO much on my mind and later today is that trip out to get stuff for Baby T and to get things that will entice a 23, almost 2 year old little girl to want to have anything to do with you.   I know I'm ...