New Blog: Christian Optimistism Bolstered

Mr. and Mrs. Beaver:

Photo credit -- Cassandra

Our oldest son, John (known until now by the blog name "Joe"), has observed a cultural trend. In fact, he hasn't just noticed it. John would tell you that for the past couple of years he's been a participant in this trend. Skepticism has wound its tentacles around the hearts of many, and John knows the monster well. He has shared with us that the temptation to bend toward worldly thinking has held his hope hostage, leaving him frequently joyless and all-too-often vulnerable to irritation and exasperation.

John wants to be more consistently buoyed by belief. He's ready to fight skepticism's sinister power. On the eve of turning twenty, he's determined to stand on the life-producing belief found only in Christ, even as his generation is at risk of being crippled by cynicism. He's going to share his thoughts in a new blog called Surprised by Optimism. We invite you to read his first post. Then follow as he wars against culturally-correct doubt and disbelief. He'll share his struggles, while not losing sight of opportunities for humor. We hope you'll read, then engage in the fight to ward off the quiet creep of cynicism in your own life.

Home Safely

Thanks to those of you who've prayed for us. Our whole family is grateful to God that Mr. Beaver and Joe are home. Joe is already tucked in bed after they just made it in time to urgent care before it closed. He has a double ear infection so the decision to drive the last leg rather than fly was a wise one.

More to come on the adventures going on in our family...

God is good and does good,
Mrs. Beaver

More Pleas for Prayer

Mrs. Beaver:

Joe and Jaynie in Jake and Kristin's home

I got a call from Mr. Beaver about an hour ago telling me that he and Joe were back on American soil after escorting Jaynie to Central Asia.

Mr. Beaver told me that with Joe being ill the past couple of days his ears gave him tremendous trouble as they landed. In fact the pain was so excruciating that instead of flying from the Twin Cities to our home town (about an hour long flight), they've rented a car. The drive is about 4-1/2 hours.

Please pray:

• for Mr. Beaver's alertness as the driver. He's missed so much sleep in the past 8 days as he's traveled to the other side of the world.
• for God to heal Joe. His throat and intestines are also bothering him.
• for the two of them to reach our medical clinic's evening urgent care before the office closes at 8 p.m. It'll be a race for them to get there in time, but if they make it Joe can start an antibiotic tonight. A blessing in all this is that our PA is on duty tonight, and she's like family!:)
• last--but really most importantly--for all of us to trust God and BELIEVE that He is good and does good (Psalm 119:68).

Just because I'm posting these prayer requests, don't miss Mr. Beaver's newest post just below.

Thank you, friends,
Mrs. Beaver

Please Pray for Mr. Beaver and Joe

Mrs. Beaver:

Mr. Beaver and Joe are now on their way home after escorting Jaynie to the families she will be serving in Central Asia for the next several months (see posts below this one for more info).

I just talked to Mr. Beaver from Dubai (their connecting city in the Middle East). Both he and Joe are ill...fever, aches, chills, etc.

After resting in a hotel for a few hours, they are now on their way back to the airport for the 14-hour flight to the U.S.

Please pray that God will heal my men. Please pray that our Heavenly Father will lift the symptoms that would make such an incredibly long flight MISERABLE.

Thank you, friends near and far. As we have said before, your support means so very much to our family, and that sentiment is that much truer in the extreme circumstances we are currantly experiencing as we seek to serve our beloved Lord.

God is good and does good,
Mrs. Beaver

Brothers...and Friends

Mrs. Beaver:

When we initially made plans to adopt again, we requested two sisters. With seven sisters already, Joe, who's nineteen, was sure happy when there ended up being a boy in the mix, instead! And it's turned out even better that Joe would have dared to hope. Even though the two of them are eight years apart in age, they've formed a fast friendship in just eight months. They share the same sense of humor which keeps the rest of us laughing. God is so very good to blend families with such care!

Two Birthdays and a National Holiday... All in One!

Mr. and Mrs. Beaver:

Joe and Lissie at Gooseberry Falls State Park, Minnesota

January 1st was a national holiday... and for good reason. It was Joe and Lissie's 19th birthday!

That may sound like it's coming from biased parents, but Joe and Lissie are truly amazing people whom we love and respect. They are both the embodiment of lovingkindness, dying to self and taking up their crosses daily to reflect His glory into an otherwise dark world. They are both of incredible character, largely, we think, because they love God, love His word and have spent many hours memorizing and meditating on it.

Lissie is a picture of the Proverbs 31 woman. She also has the faith of a spiritual giant, the heart of a servant, and the gentle and kind spirit that Paul urges of all Christian women. She is diligent, committed to excellence and has a godly character that will make her an excellent wife and mother someday (after I (Mr. Beaver) scrutinize any potential suitor, of course).

Joe is a godly young man that we are proud to call our son. He is both manly and gentle. He loves God deeply and has both the faith, the spiritual curiosity and the intellect to become a spiritual redwood of our time. As he has grown into manhood, I (Mr. Beaver) am proud to call him friend as well as son.

As our only biological children, Joe and Lissie may sometimes feel lost in a a family so focused on adoption. But they never complain. In fact, their study of God's word has led them both to be ardent supporters of orphan care. As the older siblings of nine adoptees, they have already sacrificed more and done more to care for orphans in their brief lives than most people will in an entire life time. In fact, their sacrificial leadership has been critical to the success of all three of our adoptions of orphan trios.

But, Joe and Lissie, hear this from your parents - We LOVE you! We thank God for you daily! We can't imagine life without you! We are FOR you! We pray God's blessings upon you in the coming year!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Our twins in the Red Square Area in November

Feasting with Friends

Because of all the uncertainties with the adoption process last year, our family never went on a vacation. (The trip to Russia as a family was INCREDIBLE, but didn't quite qualify as a relaxing vacation!) So during this first week in January, we are sneaking off to one of our favorite spots in the world: the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota.

On the way to our destination we stopped at the home of our dear friends, Gary and Amanda, (for more info see A Few Photos from our First Full Day at Home). One of the highlights of our time together was a huge Thanksgiving-style meal on New Year's Eve. Amanda's brother, Victor, who was visiting from Guatemala, skillfully carved the two turkeys. (Amanda is originally from Guatemala.)

It was good that Amanda had purchased two turkeys because she fed 18 teens and young adults...

...our three little ones and a table full of adults. 

Everyone had plenty to eat, except perhaps the poor, frantically busy hostess who was still nibbling after everyone else was finished.

After this glorious meal, the kids played a game for a while...

...and then Gary and Amanda kindly celebrated the 19th birthday of our New Year Day twins, Joe and Lissie, a day early. The broke out an enormous chocolate cake and a cheesecake.

We all watched as Cassandra masterfully carved the beautiful chocolate cake (Joe and Lissie's favorite flavor).

Th cake was as delicious as it was tall, and we all enjoyed it...

....especially Princess Bink.

Joe and Lissie were overjoyed to spend their birthday with some of their closest friends. God has been so good to bless us with an enduring friendship with people who have such servant hearts.