Too Wise to Be Mistaken, Too Good to Be Unkind

Around the time we adopted the middle trio (Christina, Faith and Hope) from Russia in 2005, God, in His providence, led me to a gem of a book that I've read and reread a number of times as we parent special needs children. In Too Wise to Be Mistaken, Too Good to be Unkind: Christian Parents Contend with Autism, Cathy Steere opens her heart and shares the story of her family's painful and often-times confusing journey to their oldest son's autism diagnosis.

Although none of our children are on the autism spectrum, I've still found the book's raw honesty about the faith struggle the couple endured helpful. Parenting developmentally-delayed and disabled children as we're doing can stir up big questions about God's love, goodness and wisdom!

One of the ways that Cathy and her husband endured the spiritual confusion was to cling to truths about God's loving sovereignty captured in an old hymn sung at their church. I'm so glad she shares the lyrics in her book, the words have been a balm to my soul a number of times, too:

Whate'er my God ordains is right:
Holy his will abideth;
I will be still whate'er he doth,
And follow where he guideth:
He is my God;
Though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall:
Wherefore to him I leave it all.

Whate're my God ordains is right
He never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path;
I know he will not leave me
I take, content, what he hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away,
And patiently I wait his day.

Whate'er my God ordains is right:
Though now this cup, in drinking,
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it, all unshrinking:
My God is true,
Each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
And pain and sorrow shall depart.

Whate'er my God ordains is right:
Here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet am I not forsaken;
My Father's care
Is round me there;
He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to him I leave it all.
(Words by Samuel Rodigast, translated by Catherine Winkworth)

Blessings,
Denise

"First-Time Voting" Tradition

Mrs. Beaver:

In our family we consider ourselves utterly blessed to live in a nation where we're allowed to vote. Our awareness of this wonder is probably heightened by the many ways in which our lives are intertwined with Russia. In fact, nine of our children's birth grandparents lived through communism's repression of rights in the former Soviet Union. Having a voice in our political system is an amazing privilege!

When our children vote for the first time, it is our family tradition that I take them out for coffee immediately afterwards. Today, Jaynie (19) and Cassandra (18) cast their votes alongside their mom and dad just after 7 a.m. Then we headed to Le Mars for a breakfast indulgence.

Jaynie (left) and Cassandra just after voting. Ready to mark an important milestone with early morning coffee!

Waking Up to the World

Mrs. Beaver:

When I visited Aaron and Anna just after Brielle was born in early June, I told my son-in-law that I love seeing God's world through a camera lens because I see things I would miss otherwise. The nuances of creation are opened up to me in a whole new way when I have a camera in front of my face. I'm much more careful to note the finely-tuned details of the glorious work of our Creator when I'm taking--or then reviewing--pictures.

As you well know if you're a regular reader, I have a favorite new photography subject--my first grandchild. Last night her mommy, Anna, spent some time out with a friend while our second oldest daughter, Lissie, and I tried our hand at babysitting a one month old. (Grandpa was out of town and the many others in our household were at Bible study.)

Little did we know what a treat we were in for! Brielle was ready to show off her emerging personality for my camera as her auntie held her. With her deep-blue eyes full of life, she gave us a private showing of a little girl who, while sleeping less and less, has begun to investigate--and comment on--the world around her.

In the end, Brielle's focused spurt of energy required yet another...

...nap. She is after all only five weeks old!

Who but God could create such a wonder as a human baby?

Who but God could weave such poetry into such a small frame?

Who but God could love Brielle enough that He would sacrifice His own child to make eternal life possible for her?

Who, but God?

Hot Chocolate and Herbal Tea

Joe:

Oksana creates a new taste sensation: hot chocolate stirred in with herbal essence tea!

A few days ago I caught my youngest sister in the act of combining her herbal tea with hot chocolate. Not exactly my idea of a tasty mix! Apparently she didn’t think it was too great either, because a few minutes later she was telling one of my siblings, “Nee kaishu,” which is her unique version of the Russian words for “I don’t want it.”

As amusing as this escapade was, it does illustrate how my youngest sister is learning and experimenting developmentally. This particular event was perhaps not too unusual for a child her age, but I've watched some of her other experiments, such as repeatedly trying out doorknobs or lightswitches, that show a toddler-like perception of the world. Oksana is very capable physically, but her understanding of the world has not caught up to her dexterity. I think it’s a little sad to see the depth of the neglect she was shown by her mother in the fact that at six years old she is now progressing through the stages normally experienced by toddlers.

However, I have great hope for Oksana, because I have watched God do a great miracle in Princess Bink’s development. When she came to our home she was so small, malnourished and unresponsive that she seemed barely alive. Now God has transformed her into an energetic lover of life.



Princess Bink in her orphanage director's office in Russia



After watching this great miracle, I believe God can and will heal my new sister from the effects of all the neglect she endured. That’s one of the things He does best!

Look what God is doing in my little sister Princess Bink's life!