Ever since Princess Bink began learning English at age three when we adopted her from Russia, she has shown real creativity in her use of words.Our family gets much delight out of her unique uses of the language. We call them "Binkisms."
Yesterday she was busy memorizing Romans 6:4. Her version went like this:
"Therefore we have been buried with Him through bathtism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."
What a blessing this former orphan is to our family! She truly is a gift from God!
Most people don't have 11 people over to stay whom they have never met before.
But, when you are doing college in an unconventional way, you have to do some unconventional things to hang out with your fellow classmates. Lissie, Joe and I are earning our Bachelor's degrees (in Humanities, Business with an Entrepreneurial Emphasis, and Music respectively) through CollegePlus!, an accelerated distance learning program. On the CollegePlus! forums we have made good friends across the country, from Alaska to Florida, with the same beliefs, goals and convictions. Who says college online comes without socialization?
However, our friendships have been confined to our computer screens. Over the July 4th weekend, we opened our home to facilitate a face-to-face meeting of our fellow CollegePlus! friends. Students came from Massachusetts, Tennessee, Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa and South Dakota.We enjoyed being "3D" with one another after having only experienced the "2D" version before this!
Back row, left to right: Tessa, Elizabeth, Annika, Amanda, Britt, India, Lissie
Front row, left to right: Samuel, Eric, Mac, Sam, Joe
We played Frisbee, Duck Duck Goose, Capture the Flag, Pig in the Middle (aka Eric in the Middle), the Knot game, Kum-Chai, Squealing Pigskins and Ninja. And that was just outside.
Inside we played Apple to Apples, Faces, and Phase Ten Twist. But we didn't just play games. We did a lot of talking and laughing--sometimes even falling to the floor holding our sides.
The very best part was the spiritual fellowship we found together. We watched the Louie Giglio DVDs Indescribable and How Great is Our God which gave us all a sense of awe for the Lord that had to be followed up by some intense prayer. How wonderful to pray together and feel as if we were in God's very presence! We also worshipped God through singing praise songs together.
Saturday morning we went to a park to have breakfast and take pictures. Two of the CollegePlus! students brought their siblings. We were blessed by their presence as well.
Unfortunately five of the students had to leave Saturday evening. We missed them when they were gone.
On Sunday morning the remaining students came with our family to church. We could sense that the Lord was with us during the weekend when the 17 of us in the house were ready for church 30 minutes early! Unheard of!!!
My six younger siblings enjoyed the weekend as much as the three of us who are CollegePlus! students. Our visitors were great about including them.
We spent the rest of the day laughing together--playing games and making music before we went to watch fireworks at the home of some friends in South Dakota. For some of the CP! students, this was the farthest west they'd ever been.
Here is a video that Britt made of the whole gathering:
Great fun was had by all and...
..."2D" friendships were strengthened as we spent "3D" time together.
Before they left, Eric and and his sister Kali shared a quote with us that fit our long weekend together perfectly:
"The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer...It is true, of course, that what is an unspeakable gift for the lonely individual is easily disregarded and trodden underfoot by those who have the gift every day...Among earnest Christians in the Church today is a growing desire to meet together with other Christians in the rest periods of their work for common life under the Word. Communal life is again being recognized by Christians today as the grace that it is, as the extraordinary, the 'roses and lilies' of the Christian life."
This week's Monday Musing is a favorite quote from Bible commentator Matthew Henry (1662-1714) as he reflects on Galatians 6:1: "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness: each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted." (NASB)
Mr. Beaver and I have found this verse to be critical to approaching our children with the right heart when they have done wrong. I found Henry's words deeply impactful when I first stumbled across them. I have rehearsed this quote many times since, especially just before I correct a child.
"We are here taught to deal tenderly with those who are overtaken in a fault [and] the manner in which this is to be done: with the spirit of meekness; not in wrath and passion, as those who triumph in a brother's faults, but with meekness, as those who rather mourn for them. Many needful reproofs lose their efficacy by being given in wrath; but when they are managed with calmness and tenderness, and appear to proceed from sincere affection and concern for the welfare of those to whom they are given, they are likely to make a due impression." (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete and Unabridged)
Following our family's celebration of Joe and Lissie's graduation, Mr. Beaver and I blogged about the power of the love of extended family in the lives of our former orphans (More than Relative-ly Important). I was reminded of that last night again as we visit my parents.
Cassandra and her Nana (my mom) got the giggles together as went outside for a walk.
Then on our walk the two of them were inseparable.
As we returned to my parents' house, I was privileged to watch this interaction.
"A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows,
We rejoiced with our dear friends the Henns on Thursday, July 1st as they celebrated the arrival of their newest daughter and sixth child, Lilly Joy.
God's hand was evident as many prayers regarding Mrs. Henn's pregnancy and labor were answered in amazing ways.
The next day we had the honor of meeting little Lilly for ourselves at the hospital!
What a rare privilege to be in the presence of a baby less than 24 hours old!
Mom (Mrs. Beaver) and Mrs. Henn have been warm, loyal friends for many years now. They offer each other support and a listening ear as they seek to parent God's way. Between our two families there are now 15 kids, so lots of wisdom is required!
God's skillful handiwork is evident in this beautiful little wonder! Lilly's little button nose, rosebud lips, and softly molded cheeks all speak to the Creator's loving care.
The lovely Henn ladies
.
I have had the privilege of babysitting for the Henn family for several years now, and I respect Mrs. Henn deeply for her evident love of God, her husband and her children. Mrs. Henn has a caring, fun-loving personality and is a wonderful mom.
"Bugg" and "Erna" are like my cousins--we've spent so much time talking, laughing, and playing games together. They are both creative and responsible and will be great sisters to little Lilly.
Lilly's awesome and tough brothers "Oggie", "Dash", and "Bear" are adventure loving but have a tender side as well. They are always willing to offer a hug and are eager to watch over their littlest sister.
I look forward to watching Lilly grow and change, and pray that she may come to know the saving grace of the Lord Jesus, and thus become a valiant princess of the Great King.
"I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in secret,
and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me,
Last week I shared a favorite quote (Go Forth) on the nature of love. I found I spent the week returning to Winslow's powerful words again and again. This was helpful in my parenting. Thus I ask our readers' indulgence as I begin to try to regularly share quotes and verses that have aided me in turning my thoughts toward the Lord. I'll call these posts "Monday Musings."
About two years ago this longtime journaling wanna-be finally began to journal regularly. My first effort was to copy my all-time favorite poem. I stumbled upon the untitled poem in my late teens in Markings, the posthumously published journal of Dag Hammarskjold, Secretary-General of the United Nations in the 1950s.
Thou who art over us,
Thou who art one of us,
Thou who art--
Also within us,
May all see Thee--in me also,
May I prepare the way for Thee,
May I thank Thee for all that shall fall to my lot,
May I also not forget the needs of others,
Keep me in Thy love
As Thou wouldest that all should be kept in mine.
May everything in my being be directed to Thy glory
And may I never despair.
For I am under Thy hand,
and in Thee is all power and goodness.
Give me a pure heart--that I may see Thee,
A humble heart--that I may hear Thee,
A hear of love--that I may serve Thee,
A heart of faith--that I may abide in Thee.
Rejoicing in our great God's goodness and holiness
~Mrs. Beaver
This week I had the privilege and joy of watching my oldest daughter, Tessa, receive flowers for the very first time. The whole family watched as she opened them.
The flowers were sent by the young man who is courting Tessa. Aaron and Tessa define courting as "entering into a relationship to determine if it is the Lord's will for us to marry."
Tessa and Aaron met at a gathering of CollegePlus! students in Oklahoma last fall. After discovering on CollegePlus!'s student forum that they had many theological commonalities, they began, with the permission of Tessa's father, to exchange emails. They then progressed to telephone calls.
In May, Aaron visited our family for a long weekend so that he and Tessa could spend some face-to-face time together.
Aaron good naturedly joined in family activities like cooking.
He also joined us for a visit to the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor...
...and posed for many pictures.
A few days after Aaron returned home, he contacted Tessa's dad to ask if he might court Tessa. Mr. Beaver gave his permission. Mr. Beaver is working through a series of questions with Aaron via email and phone calls to help him get to know Aaron better and be able to help guide the two of them.
As Aaron and Tessa began their courtship, we could see that they would be blessed by having the opportunity to see one another again. An unusual break at work opened up for Mr. Beaver and we made the two day journey to Ohio to vacation in Cincinnati.
Before we left, Aaron contacted Mr. Beaver and sought his permission to hold Tessa's hand.
Tessa and the rest of us had the opportunity to meet Aaron's family. And what a warm, lovely, generous, kind family they are! We were encouraged by how close-knit they are. Their love of Christ permeates all they do.
They had us into their home for two dinners. Two other nights we met at nearby sites. All four evenings were filled with good conversation, games, laughter and fun.
On our last afternoon in Cinci, Tessa enjoyed getting to spend some time with Aaron's sisters.
Toward the end of the visit, the four parents met with Aaron and Tessa to discuss the shape of their courtship. This is all so new to both families!
As we sat together in a park as the sun slowly sank below the horizon, each of the couples offered Aaron and Tessa some thoughts on what it takes to create a strong, enduring, delight-filled marriage. The experience of the two couples is rich. By God's grace, Aaron's parents just celebrated their 30th anniversary, and we will mark 27 years in December. Aaron and Tessa were open to and even eager for our counsel.
The encounter between the six of us was a sweet gift of God's grace!
Saying good-bye was hard after a great week together.
Until another opportunity presents itself for the two of them to be together, Aaron and Tessa will continue to get to know one another through email, Skype and phone conversations.
Those who love them in both families will continue to pray for the Lord to lead them to His will for the two of them.
Recently we received two large boxes from a knitting club in Colorado. Our grandparents are friends with some of the knitters and had mentioned our newest adoption to them. Their response was one of eager, self-sacrificing love. The group asked if they could knit hats for us to take as a donation to our new siblings' orphanage. The combination of their skill, love, and generosity resulted in over 150 beautiful handmade hats.
Cassandra, ready to open the boxes.
Tatiana watching the unveiling process.
Behold, the hats!
It must be admitted, we had some fun looking through the boxes.
The hats came in so many colors--bright and happy colors that will warm and cheer many little ones through the long bleak days of winter.
Tatiana, the actress of the family, paraded around the room announcing to all (in her best French accent) that she was a candelabra.
Poochita wanted to join in the fun....
We thought she looked rather like a Dr. Suess character in the adorable blue and purple stocking cap, but Poochita was not amused.
Even Princess Bink's beloved stuffed pig modeled for the camera. The variety in the hats was amazing! There were striped hats, solid hats and speckled hats. Some had ear flaps; others, a pom-pom at the top or a tiny flower at the base. Rib stitch, seed stitch, and stockinette stitch added individuality to the caps. The thought and love that went into each hat was unmistakeable.
We are grateful for friends like these knitters, who not only support us in our journey of adoption , but join us in our mission to care for the needy. Thank you, knitters!
An ever-present challenge of being the mother of nine is to look for the best in my children and to be busy watching for opportunities to encourage them, rather than roaming about our home waiting to pounce on anyone who strays.
I am struggling today with being a "pouncer" as we settle into routine at home after a wonderful week of vacation. I share this favorite quote while reminding myself of the nature of God's extravagant love. ~ Mrs. Beaver
"Go forth and be loving, even as your Father in heaven is loving. Let your heart be as large in its creature capacity as God's heart is in its divine. If He has a large heart for you, beware of a small heart for your fellow man. If his heart is open, see that yours is not closed. And since He does not depart at our sinfulness, ingratitude, injury, or unworthiness, be imitators of God. 'Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good' (Romans 12:21). God has so dealt with you, overcoming and winning your evil heart with goodness and love of His own. Go and do likewise towards all who have injured you, wounded you, and despitefully used you..."
Tessa and the rest of us had the opportunity to meet Aaron's family. And what a warm, lovely, generous, kind family they are! We were encouraged by how close-knit they are. Their love of Christ permeates all they do.
Toward the end of the visit, the four parents met with Aaron and Tessa to discuss the shape of their courtship. This is all so new to both families!
Until another opportunity presents itself for the two of them to be together, Aaron and Tessa will continue to get to know one another through email, Skype and phone conversations.
