Just Love Those Eyes!

One of the rich blessings of adoption is that variety is often added to the family gene pool. In our case, the Lord has gave us Eliana's half-moon crescent eyes. They are a completely different shape than those of anyone else in our tribe. I just love the way Eliana's crinkle into tight slits when she's happy. The consensus in the family is that the beauty of her eyes is increased by their deep brown color. We thank God that He had made our family more diverse and beautiful by adding Eliana to our number.

I look forward to seeing what the eyes of Eliana's children look like! I sure hope the happy crescents are replicated in the next generation! What a blessing adoption is!

Our Baby's Ten--Oops!

Last week we celebrated our youngest child's birthday. In my current push to keep our blog more up to date, I worked feverishly that night to post photos. However, in my tired state I accidentally posted them on my personal blog, A Deep Breath of Hope, instead of here on our family blog. For anyone who would like to take a peek, here's a link to Our Second April Birthday. ~Denise

Russian Adoption: Last But Not Least

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

Sandwiched!

Late this morning, I sat in our 15-passenger-van surrounded by most of our twelve children in the parking lot of a memory-care facility in Lawrence, Kansas. Mr. Beaver and a couple of the kids were taking Grandma back to her apartment following a breakfast at a restaurant. While we waited, a news story on the radio rang true while leaving me bemused at its ironic timing.

The newscaster said that some are renaming the "Baby-Boomer" generation. Apparently, Baby-Boomers are now being dubbed, "The Sandwich Generation". This is because so many of us are involved in the care of what the story called "veteran" parents, while still parenting children of their own. In some cases those in the "Sandwich Generation" are also now grandparents themselves. Mr. Beaver and I are among those who fall in this camp.

The newscaster implied that a real stretching takes place for those seeking to meet the needs of generations on both sides of their own. Even with just the short taste we've had of being involved in Grandma's care since the death of her beloved sister and caregiver in January, we'd have to agree that it is easy to feel like a rubber band as you're pulled in opposing directions by the needs of those, both older and younger, whom you love and want to serve.

The news story failed to mention any help for those sandwiched by the very real needs of their parents and their children. But as I listened, my mind was recalling words from the Bible that were enough to encourage me. First, I know Jesus wants Mr. Beaver and I to spend our lives in service of others. Our leisure wasn't what our Savior listed as His top priority for our lives in this season. While Jesus was walking the earth, He told His followers, "Even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve." (Mark 10:45 NASB) His life was about service to others, and we're to follow in His footsteps.

Second, God provides just what is needed to live selflessly: grace. While the context of this next verse was a gift of money the church in one city had promised those struggling in another location, I believe the principle behind the passage also applies to our use of time:

"Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed." (2 Corinthians 9:7,8)

Did you see how many versions of the word "all" are captured in God's promise to His people when they set out to serve others? Grace, grace and more grace. The very power of God will be at work in us as we do His Kingdom work here on earth in His stead. Wow! All we have to do is cry out for help and He'll enable. I find that so reassuring.

Finally, the news story I heard just after breakfast never mentioned the reward of being sandwiched. I believe you can see it in the picture above. Mr. Beaver and I are well aware that we're blessed to watch as something fleeting-but-oh-so precious is taking place--the tender affection of grandparents and grandchildren who've had years to build deep relationships. Our kiddos adore their grandparents, and that feeling is more than mutual. What a privilege to witness the depth of this love! The happiness Grandma exhibits when surrounded by her grandchildren makes the tiring road trips we're trying to make monthly worth the weekends they take. The sense of belonging and rooted-ness that Grandma's love gives our children will keep us heading south to Kansas over and over. We're weary around the edges, it's true, but the reward of witnessing mutual multi-generational devotion goes a long way to energize.

So we have Jesus' command to love through service, His promise of grace to make this possible and His kind reward in watching a bit of heaven on earth in the form of a grandparent-grandchild love exchange. Perhaps its not so bad being sandwiched after all.

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.

It Takes Love to Make a Family

Grandma listening to Oksana last night as she excitedly
 talked about leaving for her Bible memory program

"Love is extravagant in the price it is willing to pay, the time it is willing to give, the hardships it is willing to endure, and the strength it is willing to spend." Joni Eareckson Tada

John and Grandma just before he took her out on a "date"

In Her Father's Arms

Mrs. Beaver:

Today after church Oksana crawled into her daddy's lap while we waited for lunch to finish cooking. He was sleepy. She was happy.

Lord. I thank you for giving this precious girl an earthly father.

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.

April Birthday Number Two

We celebrated another birthday today.

Exactly one week after Amy turned 10, Oksana reached her 8th birthday.

A few weeks ago, Oksana told us she was hoping for a big stuffed dog.

A great God-given joy for these adoptive parents is being able to grant the often simple wishes of our former orphans. From our perspective, life just doesn't get much better than this!

As soon as Oksana had unwrapped her giant bull dog and pulled him into an embrace, Mr. Beaver asked her what name she was going to give him. She stretched out her arms to study her new toy's face and said decidedly, "Daddy." Mr. Beaver was a bit unsure of the implications of having a giant stuffed bull dog named after him. However, upon seeing her affection for the pup, Mr. Beaver has chosen to see Oksana's naming choice as an effort to express her love for him.

We've had a number of ups and downs with Oksana over the past year. The suffering she experienced as a very young child has evidenced itself in number of ways that have touched the whole family. She's learning now what most kids learn at two or three. Despite the hard times and challenges, God has showered us with his grace, and we all treasure and deeply love this dark eyed beauty who is now eight years old. We cannot imagine life without her! We thank the Lord for the unspeakably good gift of Oksana. His love and goodness never cease to amaze us.

Picture credits go to Daria, Cassandra and Tatiana 

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.

Orphanage Life

Van in which we traveled from the capital city in the region to our children's orphanage in October 2010

Daria just after our arrival at her orphanage begging her new parents to hurry so she can give us a tour

Some of our regular readers may have wondered what life was like for Daria, Alexander and Oksana during their years in the orphanage. We adopted the three of them through the Russian Orphan Lighthouse Project. The Lighthouse Project's Becky De Nooy is author of the group's blog. In January, Becky interviewed a recent adoptee from their orphanage about her life in the Children's Home.  Becky's post, titled Orphanage Life, offers insight to our children's former lives. The details which Becky shares closely match the many stories they have shared with us since becoming part of our family.

Our children were well cared for in a very good orphanage. However, it was still an orphanage, not a family. What a merciful God we have who places the lonely in families! (Psalm 68:6)

More Snow Fun

Mrs. Beaver:

Although the snow storm was a few days ago already, I can't resist sharing a few more pictures from my impromptu shoot of Oksana (7), Alexander (12) and Amy (9).

That afternoon I hadn't planned on being able to get any photos of them playing out in the white stuff that's been so rare this winter. When they went outside, big, wet flakes were still falling, and I knew I couldn't risk getting the camera wet.

However, when I heard laughing and giggling from my bedroom, I peeked out the window to discover they were romping just below. I had the perfect perch to catch some of their silliness without putting the camera at risk. (I apologize for the graininess of these photos, but they were taken through heavily falling snow.)

And they were silly--what a variety of expressions and reactions I got to watch as the trio kindly posed for me!

I think here Alexander is reacting to Oksana throwing her very wet and cold glove around his neck. He's so good-natured, though, that he just grimaced a bit and carried on with his posing, smiling all the while!

Then, for some resaon Alexander decided it would be helpful if he leaned down. The only problem was that then both sisters followed suit.

About this time I realized the melting snow on the window frame was dripping on my lens. Needless to say, the shoot immediately ended, but not before three kids and their mom had shared some serious snowy silliness.

Recently, one of our friends commented that he enjoyed when I posted pictures of the siblings together. Isn't our God amazing that these three are just that--siblings? None of them is biologically related and yet they're family. Love is thicker than blood. God places the lonely in families. (Psalm 68:6) He is so good!

A Kid's Dream Come True!

Mrs. Beaver:

After a nearly winter-less winter, northeastern Iowa finally got snow today. Many thankful children in our home, watched eagerly in the early afternoon as the white precipitation flew sideways.

I took these photos during the time each afternoon when I read aloud to our youngest four children.

I wasn't surprised to see Oksana's happy countenance as she watched the snow fall. If EVER there was a child who loves sledding, it is Oksana!

While his sisters watched the weather, Alexander was more interested in his Legos.

Although Alexander hadn't shown much interest in watching the snow, he was more than eager to play in it. By late afternoon, the wind had calmed enough for those who've waited all winter for snow play to go out.

Homeschoolers don't usually take snow days. While traditionally-schooled children get time off for weather, we just keep pluggin' away. But tomorrow I'm calling a snow day around here. What fell today is the wet, sticky kind of snow that is a kid's dream--perfect for fort building, snow angels, snowball fights and the crafting of snow men.

I better get the hot chocolate ready!