Chen Chronicles

As our international adoption is about to be finalized, I feel there are some people and organizations that we would like to express our most sincere gratitude and say "thank you," to...although there really are not enough words to do this adequately.  First and foremost, I have to rejoice in the Lord our God....for bringing us through this perilous process. We also ask for prayers for our final trip over to Russia (at least for this adoption) and the time that Aaron can't be there where I must function as a single parent while he comes home to work and save up time off for when we actually get back home.  Firstly, we know that we have probably been a very frequent caller at Building Blocks concerning issues and questions and we appreciate the patience they have taken with us during this 14 month journey. I hope to be able to "pay it forward," by helping someone else as they go through the adoption process.  When you start this journey and complete one step, I...

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/01/25/medvedev-blames-airport-security-bomb-attack/?test=latestnews Yesterday, I was out doing some errands and first heard about this tragedy from our other friend I talk with pretty regularly, Leah, who adopted her daughter from Samara in 2009.  This is not the airport (thankfully) where Aaron and I will traveling through, so I am posting this for a couple of reasons.  First and foremost, our prayers all go out to the families affected by this heinous act and secondly, to as for your prayers as Aaron and I travel on February 5th through March 4th.   Because Aaron would like some time off when we bring Katie home, he will come back to the U.S. earlier than planned (a few days after our court hearing) to work and save his time off.  However, we will get to spend Valentine's Day together and I am praying that this will be our "Gotcha Day."  We pray that everything goes according to plan at our court hearing the Friday befor...

So, at first last week there was no urgency in getting our new medicals to the SOS for apostilles, but then on Wednesday I heard from our coordinator in the afternoon and she said, "You are going tomorrow (Thursday the 13th) to get the apostilles, right?"  I said I was.  She said, "Well, I have good news for you..."  The anticipation built because both Aaron and I have been waiting to hear those words for what seems like forever!!!  We have pictures of this princess on our refrigerator and were hopeful that we'd have finished our adoption by the end of 2010, since we started at the end of 2009.  We probably would have, had it not been for Torry Hansen.  Our little girl (boy that feels strange to say) is in the same region in Russia where the 7-year old boy was returned on a one-way ticket.  That has rocked the adoption world and I know there will be questions about that in court.  We're praying Oksana (our awesome coordinator) can help prepare us ...

So, Aaron is changing positions (most likely in March on the 1st) that may take us out of Ohio, making our home study null and void.  The court in Vlad has had our dossier #2 since 12/28/10 and we're anxiously awaiting a court date!  Not only because we want our daughter home, but also because it looks like the Air Force is not going to grant my husband the extension that he requested (letter in hand from the adoption agency).  I don't know what this means for our Katie if he doesn't get that because we NEED a court date ASAP.  Seriously, how LONG does it really take to get a court date?  We can't move out of Ohio until this adoption is completed.  What stinks though is that when Uncle Sam says you have to move, you have to and there's nothing we can do about it.  But we were told we could lose our little one that we already LOVE so much!  I pray and pray everyday that we get that court date as we have done all that we can and there is nothing we ...

Today, we talked to our adoption agency and they told us that finally the MOE release letter was received on December 28th and that finally our file was complete and in court.  Our agency said they expect us to hear something soon after the Russian Christmas holiday--which is January 7th-11th and some offices don't open back up until as late as the 17th.  The dilemma now is when they decide on our court date, we are praying that it does happen and we can make it back in time for Aaron's stepmother to come over when he leaves and fly back to the U.S. So, we ask for prayers that we can get our court date in a timely manner such that things work out so that some member of our family can come over and do the return trip with us.  Thank you for praying that we get our little girl home soon!!! 

One of the things Aaron and I have learned to do through this journey is to trust God, no matter what!  He has put this amazing little girl (who looks like both of us) in our lives and we are so grateful!  However, we thought we'd be going over to Vladivostok to have our court date the last week of December of the first week of January 2011 and it turns out that our court date will not be until after the Russian Christmas holidays which are January 7-11th, 2011.   The main reason for this delay is that Vladivostok is the region where the little six year old boy was returned alone on a plane last April to Russia and things were at a standstill in that region, and really all regions for a number of months.  Now, the judges are just more cautious and going over everything with a "fine tooth comb."   This means we have to have our blood work and medical paperwork re-completed, but I did not get any grief from my physician today when I explained the situation...

We were so incredibly blessed to have TWO baby showers thrown for us and yesterday it was SO exciting to have a friend, Beth and her beautiful daughter Emma, come shopping with me for clothes for Katie.  At our shower we got a lot of stuff that is 24 month size because that's what I originally thought she wore, but she is in more of size 18 month right now, I think, based on her weight.  We found some awesome deals at Target and Toys R' Us on clothing.  I, of course, could NOT resist getting her a lullaby glow worm.  I remember having mine when I was very young and sleeping with it through the 2nd grade before I decided I was too old for it.  Then, I slept with a cabbage patch kid doll.  :-)   I guess I really am aging myself when I mention cabbage patch kids, jelly shoes and New Kids on the Block.  Those were some things I remember from my childhood.  Oh, and let's not forget Full House, Captain Kangaroo, Garfield and Care Bears.  Wh...