It is with great sadness and tears that I leave this blog. We are not pursuing the adoption at this time. Because of financial issues, not related to the adoption, and strain on our marriage, we may look adoption sometime in the future. I am a crying mess right now and would appreciate your prayers.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep". I am rejoicing with you all and your wonderful adoption journeys and look forward to hearing from you in the future.
My email is niecechen@aol.com.
I will be shutting this blog down in a week or so.
God bless you all richly
Monday, February 4, 2008
Monday, December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas--Love, Paul
Yesterday I asked Paul to please fill out his information on the application to Better Future Adoption Services. He reviewed the application, we discussed what to write for why we wanted to adopt and why from Ethiopia. It was a wonderful TEAM effort! So then I proceeded to finish addressing newsletters (hey! It's only Christmas eve eve!) and then he said, "Merry Christmas!" He signed the application with 12/25/07 on it. Best gift I've ever received! Just imagine next Christmas we will be having twin baby girls here celebrating with us! God is so good!
Have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful new year!
Have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful new year!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Lookin' like Christmas!
Let it snow! Let it snow! Boy is it beautiful here in Freeland, MI. The children have been enjoying building snow forts, ramps and snow men. I have been busy doing Christmas shopping--all done except stockings, yeah!
Thanksgiving was super nice. We had Paul's parents, my parents and Uncle Earl here and Zac was home for college. The food was delicious and the fellowship was sweet. Zac has matured so much since he left in August, thanks to our prayers and ROTC. It is a pleasure to have him home. The kids love playing board games with him and he seems to enjoy the "celebrity status".
On the adoption front, we have officially pulled out of Acres of Hope, have sent a letter asking for our amount of the adoption fund back and after the check comes back, we will officially decide our next move. I know what I desire, but Paul will be the one making the decision after much "watching and praying".
Hope you all are enjoying your families and friends during this Christmas season!
Thanksgiving was super nice. We had Paul's parents, my parents and Uncle Earl here and Zac was home for college. The food was delicious and the fellowship was sweet. Zac has matured so much since he left in August, thanks to our prayers and ROTC. It is a pleasure to have him home. The kids love playing board games with him and he seems to enjoy the "celebrity status".
On the adoption front, we have officially pulled out of Acres of Hope, have sent a letter asking for our amount of the adoption fund back and after the check comes back, we will officially decide our next move. I know what I desire, but Paul will be the one making the decision after much "watching and praying".
Hope you all are enjoying your families and friends during this Christmas season!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Another Quote!
"If our hopes are being disappointed just now, it means that they are being purified. There is nothing noble the human mind has ever hoped for or dreamed of that will not be fulfilled. One of the greatest strains in life is the strain of waiting for God." --Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
I have read Oswald for years and don't remember this quote, but I'm sure there are many I miss! This so applies to my life right now. I definitely feel the refiner's fire, a laying down of my desires, maybe even a DEATH of a vision. The cool thing about a death is that new life can come with it. God will fulfill my desire to adopt in some way. The waiting on the Lord is hard but oh the fruits are sweet!
Have a blessed day and chew on the quote for a while!
I have read Oswald for years and don't remember this quote, but I'm sure there are many I miss! This so applies to my life right now. I definitely feel the refiner's fire, a laying down of my desires, maybe even a DEATH of a vision. The cool thing about a death is that new life can come with it. God will fulfill my desire to adopt in some way. The waiting on the Lord is hard but oh the fruits are sweet!
Have a blessed day and chew on the quote for a while!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Hope Deferred
Proverbs 13:12 says: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."
Amen to that! My heart is sick. I feel numb, kind of pointless and seeking God for direction. I am having a hard time finding the joy of the Lord during this waiting time. I am hormonal, weepy and despondent. Paul and I are going back in time to see what God has directed us to. For the past 15 years we have trusted God to open and close my womb and trust Him for our family size. Where does adoption come into all that? Adoption is a choice we make to offer orphans a family and a way to expand our family size and to offer them a Christian upbringing. We all know the James 1:27: "to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." and to have the lonely brought up in families.
So please continue to pray for the Nelson Family as we are in the seeking and waiting mode once again.
Amen to that! My heart is sick. I feel numb, kind of pointless and seeking God for direction. I am having a hard time finding the joy of the Lord during this waiting time. I am hormonal, weepy and despondent. Paul and I are going back in time to see what God has directed us to. For the past 15 years we have trusted God to open and close my womb and trust Him for our family size. Where does adoption come into all that? Adoption is a choice we make to offer orphans a family and a way to expand our family size and to offer them a Christian upbringing. We all know the James 1:27: "to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." and to have the lonely brought up in families.
So please continue to pray for the Nelson Family as we are in the seeking and waiting mode once again.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Update
Hello, no I have not dropped dead! Alot to share but can't share alot! We have requested our dossiers back from Acres of Hope and are now praying for the direction of the Lord.
In September we found out about a sibling group that was brought into Acres and inquired about them. All through the month of September we were psyched! Wow, maybe these are the ones for our family. Well, then they were taken back to their village because the birth father accused the birth mother of selling the children and had her put in jail! So Acres staff, the Ministry of Health, the police all went to the bush with the children to prove that they weren't sold and to have the mom released from jail.
The birth father didn't want the children adopted, but did not want to take care of them, the birth mom couldn't take care of them. So the children stayed in the village and it would be a miracle if they were brought back!
So now you are up to snuff on our latest adventure in adoption. Acres is saying for us to received twin baby girls under age 2, the referral would take 1-6 months and another 6-12 months before they are home. That's a long time to wait and with the US Embassy policies changing, where Ms. Alma is only seeing one family per day (only on Tuesday and Thursdays), visas will slow down even more.
So we are asking for your prayers about our future. We want clear direction from the Lord, want to be in His will, His timing and His favor. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, etc.
My e-mail address is niecechen@aol.com if you want to ask me any questions--I am an open book!
In September we found out about a sibling group that was brought into Acres and inquired about them. All through the month of September we were psyched! Wow, maybe these are the ones for our family. Well, then they were taken back to their village because the birth father accused the birth mother of selling the children and had her put in jail! So Acres staff, the Ministry of Health, the police all went to the bush with the children to prove that they weren't sold and to have the mom released from jail.
The birth father didn't want the children adopted, but did not want to take care of them, the birth mom couldn't take care of them. So the children stayed in the village and it would be a miracle if they were brought back!
So now you are up to snuff on our latest adventure in adoption. Acres is saying for us to received twin baby girls under age 2, the referral would take 1-6 months and another 6-12 months before they are home. That's a long time to wait and with the US Embassy policies changing, where Ms. Alma is only seeing one family per day (only on Tuesday and Thursdays), visas will slow down even more.
So we are asking for your prayers about our future. We want clear direction from the Lord, want to be in His will, His timing and His favor. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, etc.
My e-mail address is niecechen@aol.com if you want to ask me any questions--I am an open book!
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Hudson Taylor
No news on the adoption front. We continue to wait for a referral. Here is a super quote from Hudson Taylor:
"I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: First it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done."
Praise God! That really touched my heart! Adoption is truly a miracle working journey! First it appears impossible, then WAM! another hair pin curve and another and another (difficult) and then it is done: ie-God sends you the right children for your family.
Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength! Thank you Lord for keeping me strong and trying to keep my focus on You and not the children or the storm around us. Thank you for sustaining me and watching over our whole family (including those not yet seen!)
Have a BEAUTIFUL weekend!
"I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: First it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done."
Praise God! That really touched my heart! Adoption is truly a miracle working journey! First it appears impossible, then WAM! another hair pin curve and another and another (difficult) and then it is done: ie-God sends you the right children for your family.
Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength! Thank you Lord for keeping me strong and trying to keep my focus on You and not the children or the storm around us. Thank you for sustaining me and watching over our whole family (including those not yet seen!)
Have a BEAUTIFUL weekend!
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