Doubled Joy!

Each New Year's our family REALLY celebrates. No, the change from one calendar year to the next doesn't set our hearts to dancing. The reason for the doubled joy is that on January 1 each year we're privileged to rejoice over God's gift of TWINS. This year John and Alison turned 24.

I love the look on John's face here. He and Alison became best friends before their births. They have been the most remarkable cheering section for each other. Their relationship is just what you would hope of twins. Since Alison married Eric, John and Eric have developed and invested in a close friendship. In addition, John is a favorite uncle of Eric and Alison's little guy, William. John is eagerly awaiting the birth of his twin's first daughter.

We were informed, after untold testing and medication, that I would NEVER get pregnant. As a result of that never, our joy at having TWINS is to the sun and back. Our gratitude to God for the miracle of John and Alison is limitless. The Lord has shown us great kindness.

before they departed

Alison and her funny guy, Will, left earlier this week. We'd all enjoyed a blissful seven days of love and laughter! To mark the special time, I wanted to make sure I had a photo of everyone in the family with their favorite 5-month-old little boy. I'd already taken pictures of Zhenya and Eliana with William, but this post includes photos with the rest of the gang.

You'll see William's tongue out in most of these photos. During the last couple of days Will was with us, the silly boy was almost continually trying to roll his tongue. In those moments when he forgot his passionate pursuit, there was always someone around from our extra-large family to remind him by rolling his or her tongue. I was left out of all this fun because I'm one of those folks who can't roll my tongue. Can you roll your tongue?

When William was placed in Hope's arms, he was quite interested in tasting her. Perhaps this was because he was born in October everyone has been wearing sleeves. Maybe? Perhaps...?

One lick became two before we could get Will to turn toward the camera.

Love this guy's sparkly eyes! Even when he isn't smiling, he still looks happy. God has been so kind to give him delight in his world.

And when Will smiles, we find we can't resist smiling with him.

In fact, when William smiles, the whole room lights up.

The Bible says that grandchildren are the reward of old age. William's grandpa and I are relishing the sweet reward of having this precious child as one of our grandtreasures.

These two were buddies during Will's visit.

As were these two.

When John got home from work, William used his lap as a throne.

Christina had been volunteering at the horse therapy ranch near our home, but when she returned I got a photo of this auntie and her little nephew in his pajamas just as the sun set.

Now that our grandson has gone the house just seems too quiet.

William's Very Busy Day

William's second full day of his unexpected visit started with his mom lovingly letting the five-month-old investigate a whole new world at his grandparents' house.

During the morning, Will was lavished with affection by his Auntie Zhenya.

When she laid him down, William was one massive grin!

Will carried that same happy-hearted smile into the dining room as we ate lunch. He passed the time in the "jumperoo" bouncing up and down with glee.

After nap time, William spent some special time alone with Auntie Eliana while others in the house were occupied in other ways. We all marvel at what a natural Eliana is with babies. Knowing how to keep them happy seems to be a God-given gift.

In the late afternoon, William got another round of kisses from Auntie Z.

Uncle John was eager to get in some time with his twin's son when he arrived home from work. However, William was too hungry for his evening oatmeal to be willing to play. The little one wasn't even interested in the pacifier his Uncle John offered him. Alison told John that she'd make sure he got some time with his nephew on Saturday morning during William's happiest time of day.

While William's momma prepared her son's dinner, a whole crowd gathered to see the baby through those long moments waiting for food. Will had had a very busy day! And we all had a very blessed day having Alison and William here with us. Our deepest thanks to Alison's husband, Eric, for this incredible gift!

And He Huffed and He Puffed...

Mrs. R:

On January 1st, we celebrated John's birthday. As the lights were dimmed in the kitchen, and John's dad began lighting the candles, I realized I had forgotten to grab my camera. I went running. As I dashed back, John was patiently waiting for me with Nathaniel at his side.

We were surprised at what an inferno the cake had quickly become!

John gave his best effort to put the flames out. However, the trick candles had a mind of their own...

...and the kitchen began to fill with smoke!

John gave blowing out the candles another try....

 ...but the flames refused to die.

John's siblings begged for the chance to blow out the flames. Despite their multi-person effort, the candles blazed away.

John then decided the best hope for actually getting to eat Christina's rich, chocolaty creation was to take the candles off the cake and drop them in a nearby glass of water. However, he quickly figured out that the cake was too hot to get near.

Dad stepped in with tongs to give the stubborn candles a wet finale. Who new just 23 candles could cause such drama -- and so much laughter? We finished John's birthday with ample servings of smoked chocolate cake!

Birthday Thanks to Our Twins {The Role Siblings Play in Adoption}

Mrs. R:

Happy 23rd, John and Alison! Our family has been wildly blessed by the two of you in ways too numerous to count. 

However, on your special day, I want to acknowledge a role you have played in our unusual extra-large bio-adoptive family. You two are the only ones who weren't added to our family through adoption. As the biological children, you could have tried to claim a special place in your parents' hearts. At times it would have been easy to mock or demean your other 10 siblings. But you haven't--ever. As your older sister, Anna, met her birth parents after she turned 18, you were in her corner cheering her on and praying for her.

In addition, each of the three times we adopted three children from Russia, you demonstrated the constancy, patience, love and encouragement your new siblings needed so much to adapt to their new lives in America. You lived sacrificial love like no one outside our family could possibly fathom. And you did so without a word of complaint. In fact, each time we considered adoption, you were in the forefront of the crowd encouraging us. You saw children who needed a family and helped give us the fortitude to take the steps of faith needed to be that family for them. And then you followed up with day-in, day-out love and support for them as they adjusted. You lived Christ-like love before you knew much about the theology of it. 

This time around I'm only posting photos from our first adoption of a trio of siblings, but each of these pictures is worth 1,000 words. These photos were taken in the first six months after the adoption of Zhenya, Sarah and Matthew. Despite the short time your new sisters and brother had been your siblings, their security in your all-embracing love shows in their eyes and their smiles. Although there are no photos here from the adoptions of your other six siblings, the story is the same. Your sacrificial love made an incredible impact from the start and, your dad and I firmly believe, has been a key factor in the reason they are all progressing so well years after their adoptions.

Thank you, twins, for making all the difference in the world.

With much love,

Mom

Alison (rear) age nine and Zhenya age eight -- December 2001

Matthew age six and John age nine -- December 2001

Matthew age six and Alison age nine -- Christmas Day 2001

Matt age six and John age 10 -- Spring 2002

Sarah age 7 Alison age 10 and Zhenya age 8 -- Easter 2002

Zhenya age 8 and Alison age 10 -- Spring 2002

Joy...and Pain...for Our Twins

Twins John and Lissie, friends since conception, prepare for change

While our photographers were preparing their equipment to take pictures on the church's second floor, the Lord granted our twins, John and Lissie, a moment alone. In the hush of the cavernous sanctuary, our twins embraced and silently braced themselves for what the day’s “leaving and cleaving” would have to mean for the two of them. This brother and sister had been conjoined at the heart in a fiercely loyal friendship since sharing the womb. But the day had arrived when their friendship had to be remolded as Lissie became Eric’s wife. My heart ached as I looked on even though I knew that Lissie's marriage to Eric was God's perfect plan for her life. So I prayed. I prayed for God's grace to cover them both as they faced such profound change. I thanked the Lord that our twins’ hearts were so closely intertwined as they grew up. I asked God to provide the perfect wife for John. I look forward to the joyous day when it will be his turn to stand at the altar and pledge a lifetime of friendship and faithfulness to his soul mate. Both John and Lissie have learned much about living the kind of self-denying love that a great marriage takes through God's great gift of being twins.

Twice as Nice

Mrs. Beaver:

On our blog we often tout the blessings of adoption. Truthfully, I think our reason for this frequent focus is to get our readers to consider the role they can play in the world-wide need for orphan care.

Today, however, I'm reveling in the other miracles in the make up of our family--the twins to which I gave birth, John and Lissie. What a blessing this duo has been to a couple that was told they would never conceive! God does do the impossible!

This photo was taken on Christmas day. On New Year's Day, John and Lissie turned twenty-one. I look forward to watching what our great God has in store for our precious twins as they each navigate their way through their twenties with the Lord as their ever-faithful guide.

Thank you, Lord, for giving this very infertile woman the desire of her heart. Gratitude wells up in me today for the gift of twins. You are so good, God. You are so kind, Lord. I thank You and praise You with all my heart for John and Lissie. Thank You for the miracle of multiples!

Finished!

Mr. & Mrs. Beaver:

This week we dressed up for a special occassion.

With God's above-and-beyond grace,
our twins, Lissie and John (20), have completed college!

Such a milestone called for a visit to the fanciest restaurant in town

that we might declare God's lavish goodness to our family.

We only visit for very special celebrations.

 

John earned his Bachelor's degree in Entrepreneurship in May. He feels so blessed to have been selected by Wells Enterprises, maker of Blue Bunny Ice Cream, as the one and only summer intern in Marketing. We're all praying this opportunity will lead to permanent employment with Wells. In any event, he's already gaining tremendous experience which should equip him for future employment.

Lissie earned a Bachelor's degree in Humanities. She is currently preparing to spend approximately 9 months in Central Asia, working as a homeschool teacher for some dear friends. (She'll be in a different country than that in which her sister, Jaynie, lived). Lissie will also study one of the local languages at the university there. She already has a violin student awaiting her arrival, so she will be taking her passion for music half way around the world.

Both John and Lissie had a blessed experience in earning their degrees. They "attended" college through a distance learning approach called College Plus!, a program that allowed them to earn their degrees on accelerated timing at a very reasonable cost. These parents are grateful to God for the CollegePlus! program!