Russian Adoption: Last But Not Least

Dad with his littlest, now nine years old, adopted at age six.

Russian Adoption: Tremendous Progress in our Princess

Oksana ~ adopted November 2010

Mrs. Beaver:

Sometimes it's good to look back.

When living from day-to-day following the adoption of an older child, it can be easy to miss just how far that child has come. This evening I stumbled upon a post (My Little Beauty) from just over a year ago. It's too late tonight to do a true update. Suffice it to say that Oksana, who will be nine this month, has come so far since I penned those words. Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of her progress is her joy in learning. Oh my, how I love this little girl!

I thank the Lord that he placed this precious orphan with a learning disability in a family where she can get the attention she needs to reach her full potential. Her orphanage was truly an amazing place, but Oksana's intellectual needs could have been so easily missed in the crowd.

Thank you, Lord, for interceding in the life of this fatherless child by placing her in our home.

Milestone Celebration

Mrs. Beaver:

Today is our 18-month anniversary, and looking back can be so healthy. The Lord has brought us so far! His faithfulness is unfathomable! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to those of you who have cried out to God on our behalf! We're more grateful for your prayers than we could ever express!

Here are some random photos of the sculpting God has done on the 15 of us (I'm including our beloved son-in-law, Aaron) to turn us into a family utterly committed to one another:

  

 

Daddy and Daughters

Mrs. Beaver:

I'm still reveling in the beauty and wonder of our family's celebration of Easter last weekend. Just as we were gathering at our large dining room table for a mid-day meal of ham and Daria's amazing mashed potatoes, I saw Cassandra and her dad enjoying a snuggle:

When Oksana saw the cuddle going on she chirped, "Me, too! Me, Too!" and ran to her daddy's end of the table with her arms lifted high:

There isn't a day that goes by that our family doesn't thank God for making us a family. There isn't a day that goes by that Mr. Beaver and I don't marvel at God's goodness, His kindness, His love in using both pregnancy and adoption to breath abundant, vibrant life, in the form of children, into the home of an utterly barren couple. We revel in his resurrecting power, displayed in our lives as redemptive love.

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!