Sunshine in a Cowboy Hat

Mrs. Beaver:

After writing about Natasha in our last post, I stumbled across this picture of her which I didn't realize we had in our archive. The photo was taken last May, not long after she turned 12 years old. The hat was the horse-lover's birthday gift from her brother, John. We thank God for our precious daughter!

Russian Adoption: A Happy Story

Mr. and Mrs. Beaver:

Eight years ago, we adopted three biological siblings from Russia. Tonight we celebrated the middle sister's 13th birthday.

Here is Natasha at 4-1/2 years old on the day we met her in her orphanage director's office...

 ...and here she is today:

Natasha--now 13 years old

On this day that marks Natasha's birth, we also celebrate God's goodness in this former orphan's life. You may have heard stories of Russian adoptions gone wrong. What has happened in a very small number of these adoptions has gained wide media attention. Negative stories do that. However, the terribly sad stories of American adoptive parents wrongly mistreating their children wildly misrepresent the love and encouragement nearly all the families who have adopted Russian children seek to lavish on the kiddos they treasure. These adopted children's lives now tell tales of what the love of a family and the stability of a home can do for an orphan.

When we adopted Natasha, she was five-years-old and weighed a mere 26 pounds. Three months after becoming our daughter, she was diagnosed by a pediatric endocrinologist with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) as a result of the intoxication of her mother during pregnancy. Her mother's drinking was the reason Natasha had been taken from her mother in the first place. Thankfully, the Russian government valued this little one enough to let Americans give her a fresh start through adoption. (This was after a thorough search to see if any Russians were interested in adding the four-year-old to their households. Russians had the first priority to adopt her.)

On the day we learned that Natasha has FAS, we were told that all children diagnosed with the syndrome will demonstrate mild to moderate retardation. Natasha's mental development has defied the prognosis. She reads at a collegiate level and reads voraciously. This serves her well because she has an unquenchable curiosity. Natasha is self-taught and well-versed in the areas of: horses, dogs, insects, horticulture, cooking, interior design and the functioning of the U.S. government. Natasha has a strong interest in relearning Russian (Small children adopted into another culture can't hang on to their original language unless they're in a bilingual environment.) Her 17-year-old sister Daria, adopted from Russia in 2010, is tutoring her. Natasha enjoys writing, working on political campaigns, baking and craft projects. In the fall of 2010 she was a finalist in the National Bible Bee after memorizing hundreds of verses. This qualified her to compete in the nationals in Chicago.

As a parent, these accomplishments can't help but bring a smile as we reflect on the teeny-tiny child who joined our family in April 2005 speaking only Russian. However, the state of her heart is much more important to us than any intellectual feats. Did you notice the shirt Natasha is wearing in the photo making her birthday? Natasha has a heart for orphans. This tenderness for children who need a family like she once did was even demonstrated in how the 13-year-old wanted to celebrate her birthday. Her request for her birthday gift was that we would forego buying her anything. Instead, she asked if the family could use the money we would normally spend on a present to host a fundraiser for families who are adopting.

Natasha has one other birthday wish. She longs for the four siblings whose adoption we had almost completed to be given the same chance she's had to join a family in America. She longs for the three brothers and their sister to become her brothers and sister. We continue to pray with her that her dream will come true. Please, Russia, reopen the door...

Minnesota Moments

Mrs. Beaver:

I was sorting through photos this evening and came across some pictures taken by our kiddos on a walk in a park near the home of our friends, the Nisius, in August. I wasn't on the jaunt, but judging from the pictures that were taken, fun must have been had by all.

 

As soon as Daria could speak enough English to communicate the thought, she told us that she'd like to own a German Shepherd some day. She gave us the impression that the breed is revered in the part of Russia in which she grew up. While she's waiting for the puppy of her dreams, Daria has taken a shine to the Nisius' one-year-old, Sasha. Perhaps Daria is especially drawn to a canine that is her favorite breed which also happens to have a Russian name!

 

 

 

If I were handing out awards, I would give Elizabeth Nisius the prize for "Least Likely to Get In Trouble with the Law". However, just in case my instincts are wrong, Elizabeth's friends got a mug shot of her on this particular outing.

 

 

 

 Elizabeth seems to have had a hard time keeping a straight face for this particular photo shoot!

 

 

The final triumph that day was the discovery of a tiny turtle, pictured here by Natasha's hand. Our 12-year-old burst back into the Nisius' home happily retelling the tale of the teeny treasure, that was the size of a small acorn.

 

All photo credits for this post go to Lissie

I enjoyed stumbling upon these pictures. Getting a peek of what went on that day made my "Mama's heart" happy. Sometimes the little things are loaded with joy!

 

However, my greatest joy in putting together this post was to come across the picture below of Elizabeth and Daria.

 

 

You see, the photo reminds me of a staggering blessing in our lives. Elizabeth and both her siblings, Andrew and Katherine, have loved, loved, LOVED on our adoptive children each time we've brought home a trio from Russia over the past decade. What a gift it has been to our new kiddos to have instant friends in the Nisius children! The three Nisius kiddos have been involved in orphan care in a very real sense most of their lives already. They have visited orphans (or at least newly-adopted former orphans) in their distress; God calls this "pure and undefiled religion." (James 1:27 NASB) Thanks, Elizabeth, Andrew and Katherine! We love you deeply!

Yet Another April Reason to Celebrate

Mrs. Beaver:

Saturday was an important day for two reasons. First, it was Oksana's birthday. (See most recent post). Second, that day was also the 7th anniversary of the adoption of biological sisters, Tatiana, Natasha and Amy. As I've commented here before, anniversaries are very special to adoptive families. They give us the chance to look back and appreciate all God's done for us.

What an unspeakably precious gift our Heavenly Father has given us in these three girl! Children truly are a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 127)!

These three girls add the color to our world. Here are some favorite photos of them:

Natasha (left) (5), Amy (3) and Tatiana (7) dressed to go to church for the first time, four days after arriving from Russia - 2005

The girls on their first trip to one of our favorite vacation spots, the North Shore of Lake Superior.
They'd been part of the family for about four months - 2005

Near their first anniversary, the trio were making "cakes" for the celebration - 2006

A happy swimmer - 2006

Baking buddies sharing the same stool while "helping" an older sister bake - 2007

Our family was blessed with the opportunity to return to England where the first five of us had lived for a couple of years -- 2008

Feeding swans on England's Thames River - 2008

Tatiana at "Odds Farm Park" in rural England - 2008

Yet another bug hunt - 2008

A tired 8-year-old after a long walk through the Cincinnati Zoo - 2010

On vacation in Cincinnati in 2010

Tatiana's first roommate was Lissie. The two share a special bond.

Amy has been Oksana's closest friend since we adopted Oksana in late 2010. Amy has truly been a life saver.
Despite Oksana's speech delay, Amy has learned Oksana's language -- a mixture of Russian and English.
The two of them play together beautifully (well, okay... most of the time).

Oksana's best pal!

Cuddling a pup we "met" at a rest stop - 2011

If you're aware that we've just started the process of adopting a sibling group of four, you may wonder WHY we would be willing to increase our tribe from 12 to 16 children. A portion of the answer is captured in the pictures above. When we look back of over the past seven years we see many truths about God. Our God is a living God. Our God is good. Our God answers prayers. He has proven Himself perfectly faithful through the adoption of and our raising of "The Three Little Girls."

We know we can depend upon that faithfulness in the adopting and parenting of yet another four kiddos. In fact, we eagerly look forward to seeing the Lord move mountains on behalf of the four orphans awaiting a family in an orphanage in Russia.

Middle Kid in the Middle Trio

Mrs. Beaver:

When you're the middle child in the second of three trios of children your parents have adopted from Russia, it can be all-too easy to become nearly invisible. But this past Sunday, by God's grace, I noticed 11-year-old Natasha. I noticed Natasha doing something she loves--crafts. This time she was making and stringing paper beads.

Natasha was concentrating so hard I wasn't sure she was even aware of my presence, until she looked up and gave me the great big grin below. Then I knew that the extra effort I'd gone to in order to give the middle, middle kid some photographic attention was worth every snapshot!

BTW, some of the girls and I had a dance-a-jig kind of celebration as we shopped for new blue jeans today. Teeny, tiny Natasha has been off bottom of the growth charts since we adopted her. Last spring the 11-year-old was wearing 6X blue jeans. When we purchased 3 new pair today, they were all size 10!

Six-years have passed, but God is answering our repeated pleas for healing. We've prayed that Natasha will grow in wisdom and stature as Christ did. We give Him all the praise! He is good and does good. The Father of the Fatherless has been faithful to care for this child who experienced shameful neglect and deprevation as a baby and toddler.

Summer Afternoon

Mrs. Beaver:

Sisters...and Friends

Mrs. Beaver:

Natasha (11) and Tatiana (13)