Update on Christina's Injury

Our deepest thanks to those of you who have been praying since Zhenya posted for Christina. She is pictured here on the right in Moscow five years ago this fall with her two biological sisters, Hope (middle) and Faith.

I will do my best to share more of the startling twist that took place four days ago later today. For now, I'll share a quick update on how 17-year-old Tina is doing since being kicked by a horse four days ago. God has been exceedingly merciful. The kick broke no bones but landed squarely in her abdomen. Remarkably, she's had no internal bleeding. As a However, her internal organs have been enlarged since the trauma. This has caused significant pain for Tina. God has granted her much grace though through the gift of drugs like morphine. She is slowly showing improvement which is ahead of schedule based on the surgeon's original estimate following an MRI. We don't know how much longer she will be hospitalized.

If you happen to be on Instagram, I have been keeping a running "journal" of sorts of this odyssey. You can find me at "barrennomore83".

I continues to amaze our family that anyone follows our blog, but we sure are grateful for your kind support. Thank you again to those who have been praying for Christina! Prayer MATTERS because our God LISTENS! We're so grateful to you! Denise

Sarah and her Dad's Journey to Zambia

Denise Reynolds:

All of these photos were taken by our daughter Sarah. I'm posting them for her due to the challenges of getting electronics to cooperate during international travel. Even with those challenges, our whole family is so grateful to God for the advances in technology. Sarah texted these photos to me using an free app called "What'sApp", and it looks like I'll be able to share them with you through this blog post. Amazing! When Mr. R and I married, cordless phones didn't even exist!

Sarah and her Dad left Omaha on Saturday night.

Chicago as they were preparing to land.

A very tired world-traveler in the Dubai airport after a 14-hour flight.

I think father and daughter look marvelous for all they'd already been through!

There was not doubt that Dubai's culture was unlike the upper midwest in the USA!

After a 12-hour layover which allowed for a short night's sleep in a hotel near the airport, Sarah and her daddy were on there way to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. This is a view of Dubai from Sarah's plane window.

And this is the view from the air as they left the Middle East headed for the southern part of the African continent.

The Lusakan landscape as their plane prepared to land.

Sarah's short-term tourist visa. The people with whom she will work at the orphanage will help her to obtain a longer term visa, Lord willing.

Sights as they entered the city.

Sarah texted that she was disappointed that she failed to get a photo of the bike rider carrying two goats in baskets on the back.

My beloved and our dear daughter showered and ready to see the city by foot and get some dinner. 

We thank God for His tender mercies in allowing their travel to go so smoothly!

Russian Adoption: Last But Not Least

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

Russian Adoption: What Was Going Through Her Mind?

When we were blessed to travel to California in April, Daria, age 18, was able to stroll the ocean's edge for the first time. Her beach combing was an experience she most likely never would have had without having been adopted. I wonder what she was thinking as contemplatively sifted the sand with her toes.

Preaching to Myself...

Mrs. Beaver:

Me and 13-year-old Natasha, April 2013

I tape a great many index cards around my bathroom. Some of them have scripture verses on them, while a few hold a sentence or phrase that's caught my attention. Usually these 3"x5" cards will eventually go unnoticed. If I leave them in place too long, I just don't see them after a while.

There is one exception. I have one card posted that has been part of the room's decoration for months and months without fading into the wallpaper. This card I purpose to read several times a day because I need its crucial reminder. I need the words to penetrate my thick head and stubborn heart. I need the words to penetrate my self-absorption. What does the card say? "Every child needs a protector, an advocate and a confidant.*" 

It's a simple message. Just 10 words. Ten very insightful words. The need of every child is as profound as their soul is fragile. Kids need someone to shelter them from the worst the world has to offer. Kids need someone to stand up for them. Finally, kids need adults in their corner who will nurture their dreams. The only way I can function in those roles is to know each of my children. And the only path to knowing my kiddos' is to slow down long enough to listen when they're ready to talk--no matter what time that takes place--day or night. So when I'm tired, I return to the card in my bathroom and read it yet again, "Every child needs a protector, an advocate and a confidant." That 24/7 availability is what differentiates me from an orphanage caretaker. Orphanage workers have their own homes and families. They go home at night. Not me. I'm a mom. 24/7--by God's grace, through His power, in His strength.

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*I wish I could give the author credit of the phrase credit for her wisdom. One day while at my computer, I flew past this sentence on a blog when I didn't have time to read the author's post. I just jotted the note and thought I'd return to read the her full explanation later. By the time I made it back to my blog roll, the article was long gone in today's cyber world and couldn't even remember which blog the words had come from. My apologies.

Russian Adoption: April Girls

Mrs. Beaver:

I love adoption. I love Russia. I love Russia due to all the time I've spent in the country as a result of international adoption. You see, nine Russian children--all of whom had been orphaned by the alcoholism of their mothers--call me "Mama". Russia is dear to my heart.

I love our two youngest daughters, both born in Russia. Both have April birthdays. Both are like spring flowers blossoming before our eyes. Oksana (on the left) just turned nine, and Amy turned eleven last month.

Sadly, our family is missing an "April Girl," as I like to call them. Last year we worked hard toward adopting yet another little Russian beauty, also born in April. This precious princess was one of our Oksana's friends in her orphanage. They were playmates; Oksana and this other little "April Girl" slept in the same room. As the end of last year rolled around, we thought we were so close to adopting this little girl who would be our youngest daughter. All our paperwork was completed. We were simply waiting on THE call that a court date had been set.

Then, in late December, the Russian government shut the door to Americans willing to open their homes and families to children in Russian orphanages. We were crushed.

We still long to add this little "April Girl", and her three older brothers, to our family. The wait hasn't dimmed our desire. In fact, the government-imposed wall has only heightened our longing for these four children.

Please, please, President Putin, reopen the door to adoption. Please, Duma members, let us come get our "April Girl" and her brothers. Please consider the hearts of these children who had met their new parents and had been told that they were wanted after 2-1/2 years in an orphanage. "When will you return to take us home?" were among their last words as we waved good-bye last September. Please, President Putin and Duma members, don't let these precious children languish!

Mother's Day Reflection: A Better Plan

Mrs. Beaver:

We were never able to have children like most people do, and yet I'm the mother of twelve. God's plan was better than ours!

Twelve years ago this month, I was wrestling with whether we should double the number of our children. Mr. Beaver had already come to peace with the idea, but I was scared stiff at the thought. We'd felt led by the Lord to adopt one older Russian orphan. Then the Lord led us to the idea of adopting siblings. When we received our referral, we were shocked that our agency wanted us to adopt a trio of siblings. Like Jacob in the Old Testament God won the wrestling match--I ended up with a hip out of joint--so to speak--and we went from three children to six as the result of one court hearing in Russia in September 2001. A dozen years later, I can smile this Mother's Day and say God's plan was better.

This first of the three trios we've adopted from Russia has reached adulthood. Jaynie turned twenty this month. Cassandra will be 19 in July and Mark's 18th birthday will fall near the close of 2013. We've come to the end of parenting them as children. There's been "hard", as the expression goes, to get to this point. But Mr. Beaver and I would tell you that most of that hard has been the result of sinfulness in the two of us. God has refined us through the parenting of Jaynie, Cassandra and Mark in ways that would have never have proven necessary if we hadn't adopted older children. Through the process, He has made us a bit more like Christ. God's plan was better.

Our role now will be to shepherd them as they make their mark on the world as adults. Watching God open doors for them is soul satisfying to Mr. Beaver and me. After all, these were cast-away kids. Living in an orphanage doesn't allow you much opportunity to develop the gifts God has placed in you. But when you're in a family your special talents stand a better chance of being recognized and utilized. God's plan is better.

While Mark is still a bit too young to have his direction settled, Jaynie and Cassandra's dreams are opening up to them. Jaynie learned this week that she has been accepted for a graphic design internship at Wells Enterprises, makers of Blue Bunny Ice Cream. For years Jaynie, who loves to draw, has had a desire to illustrate children's books, and we believe this is the first of a number of steps in that direction. God's plan is best.

Cassandra's world is also opening up before her. Months ago she pulled the two of us aside and told us she had a dream of serving orphans in Africa ~ and perhaps widows at the same time. This past week Cassandra and I attended #Summit9 hosted by the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) in Nashville. There, a "God story" began to unfold as Cassandra found a ministry that works in Zambia with orphans and widows. She was told they have just the place for the talents, skills and giftings the Lord has placed in her. We still have many details to work through before she goes, but Cassandra is so excited that she cries tears of joy when she tells the story of the Lord matching her with this ministry. God's plan is best.

If I'd had my way with motherhood, I would have given birth to four children. God has only allowed me one pregnancy, but that resulted in our beautiful twins, John and Lissie. To our great surprise, He's also given us ten other treasures through adoption. His plan has been so very different than mine. His plan has been far better than mine. His plan ~ as always ~ is best.

Russian Adoption: Broken Hearts

Yesterday the U.S. State Department met with Russian government officials. Today the 1,000 or so families that were caught in the process when the Russian legislature, the Duma, enacted a ban nearly four months ago on American adoption were informed of the Russian government's official position on the issue.

Our State Department was told that the ban is a law with no room for negotiation. No orphans will be allowed out. No allowances will be made for special needs children or those who are hard to place because they are older or parts of sibling groups.

Our hearts are so heavy. Since December, we've held out hope the orphans who had already been matched with families, like the three brothers and sister we were hoping to make part of our family, would still be placed. Today our hope crumbled. We've held the four kids we planned on naming Timothy, David, Luke and Katherine so close to our hearts for a whole year now. The pain is deep.

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.

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...

If It Weren't for Adoption...

Mrs. Beaver:

Oksana (8) with her niece, Brielle (6 months)

If the little girl in braids hadn't been adopted, she'd never have had any brothers or sisters. She also would have missed out on the delight of being an auntie. Thank You, Lord, for placing the lonely in families. Thank You for placing Oksana in our family! (Psalm 68:6)

Lissie's Take on Having Russian Siblings

Mrs. Beaver:

Here's another link. This time written by our daughter, Lissie.

Adoption Update: We Could Use Prayer

Mrs. Beaver:

About ten days ago I was pleading with the Lord on this blog for a court date before Lissie arrives home for Christmas break. It has become clear that isn't His will. The Russian judge issued a request Thursday for quite a string of additional documents. Getting them to Russia and then processed there will definitely take us into the next calendar year.We're busy reminding ourselves of biblical truths about God's wisdom, goodness, and sovereignty.

In fact, today I listened to a great sermon on contentment that helped my wrestling heart. Here's the link: God is More than Enough.

That said, to even keep the adoption moving, we could use some urgent prayer. One of the judge's requirements is for a "police clearance" for Lissie from the city in which she's living in Central Asia. (The point of the document is to prove that the person has no police record in that location.) Our hope is that Lissie will be able to bring this document home with her when she travels back to the States late this week. It's already Monday morning on that side of the world so the time table is TIGHT. In addition, the culture is so very different there that we don't really know what we face to even accomplish this. What we do know is that nothing is impossible for God! Pray for wisdom. Pray for cooperation from law enforment officials. Please join us in prayer that the Lord would grant us an early Christmas gift in the form of a document critical to getting the Fab Four home as early in '13 as possible. Thank you, friends!

(Lissie is pictured with her oldest student, Anna)

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!

Back to Mayo Clinic

Mrs. Beaver:

My first granddaughter, Brielle, and I enjoying some quiet moments in the midst
of bustle of the CollegePlus! gathering in Minnesota in August.
Photo Credits--Brielle's Aunt Lissie

I feel a little odd filling a post with pictures of me. This is a post I've put off writing for a long time. In many ways, its all about me. I'd much rather focus on my husband or children or the other passion that grips my heart--orphan care for the sake of Jesus. However, since we have many readers who are willing to cover our unusual tribe with prayer, I think an update, on what has turned out to be a major family event, is overdue.

In June we shared that I was due to have surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Our primary prayer heading into the surgery was that the surgeon would be able to accomplish the task laproscopically through five small incisions, rather than needing to make a major cut in the muscle wall. We hoped for this because we knew we could then anticipate the recovery to be significantly quicker. Those prayers were answered! Using an almost surreal technical advance, the surgeon sat behind the controls of a multi-armed robot. She accomplished the removal of tangled scar-tissue attached to numerous locations in my abdomen, as well as a full hysterectomy--a four-hour operation--robotically. Amazing!

Despite the tremendous blessing of a technologically-advanced surgery, my healing has been slower than we'd originally hoped. We're not sure why. Although its only one factor, the doctor's estimate for the recovery time most likely didn't take into account my being a mother of twelve.

The unusually dry summer ticked by, one sweltering day after another, and I gained little strength. When we returned to Rochester for my six-week check-up, we thought the mystery surrounding the slow healing had been discovered by the doctor. I hadn't healed internally--something that happens in only three percent of the cases she said.

While in Rochester, Mr. Beaver worked on documents pertaining to our adoption, while I underwent a series of medical tests. He finished the first of two significant batches of paperwork necessary for us to add the 'Fab Four' to our family. With the submission of these documents from the FedEx office there in Minnesota, we had to commit, several weeks in advance, to whether I would be up to the rigorous travel necessary to meet our four kiddos in Russia, as well as getting Lissie settled in her new location. I was still weak enough with lessening-but-ongoing pain that we were unsure. We sought the Lord fervently in prayer, and sensed Him whispering to step forward in faith. He gently urged us to go ahead and make the reservations trusting that He would provide the grace necessary for me to make the trip.

If you've seen some of the photos from the trip on this blog, you have witnessed in my happy face the Lord's provision of a perfect umbrella of grace for the wild adventure that spanned the end of August and the beginning of September. During eleven days, we slept in nine locations! On a couple of the days, I did need some extra rest, but the timing was perfect. I slept and posted while Lissie and her dad spent precious time touring together, first in Moscow and then in the Central Asian country where she now lives.

I said at the beginning of this post that I was reluctant to share this story because it seems so focused on me. However, God has woven a twist into the tapestry of this adoption that isn't about me and my health in reality, despite all the details I've shared here. The tale of my weakness is a story of His strength. His greatness. His goodness. His provision. And, we're learning to trust Him--even when the way seems dark.

This season of clinging to God in the midst of the shadows inherent to ongoing physical suffering isn't yet over for me. Since returning from our international trip four weeks ago, my pain level, which had never fully abated, has increased steadily. Within the past week there have been days when the pain has been down-right debilitating and nights when I haven't slept. So tomorrow night Mr. Beaver and I will make the five-hour drive back to the small city that is the home of the renowned Mayo Clinic. On Friday, I'll see both my original surgeon and a gastrointestinal specialist to try to understand and solve the mystery.

The tapestry of this adoption isn't finished yet. When asked by our former agency if we would consider adding three brothers and their little sister to our family, my health was already sliding down hill. However, as we wrestled with whether to adopt yet again, God pressed upon both our hearts--through time spent in His word and in prayer--that we were to have faith and say yes. We continue to we walk in faith toward that goal, despite my compromised health. Walking by sight simply won't work right now. I'm not yet fully healed, but we're trusting the Lord to make this mother of twelve ready to be the mother of sixteen in His timing. He is God. He is good, even if the healing is slow in coming in our eyes. We're learning to hang on to and believe this familiar verse in a whole new way, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 NASB

Captivated

Mrs. Beaver:

When we were at our children's orphanage on the first day of September, we got to see a preschool program marking the beginning of school. We've since learned that in Russia school begins on September 1st every year, and is a shortened day called "First Bell" that's seen as a celebration. The little girls wear big white bows in their hair and the children take flowers or candy to their teachers.

As we watched the preschoolers perform during our time in their orphanage, the little orphan in these photos was captivated by what she saw, and I, in turn, was captivated by the beauty of her profile.

Once we got back to America, Becky, the coordinator here, told me the little girl's younger sister is sitting on the far side of her in this photo. This adorable duo of siblings is available for adoption. For more information about these sister or others like them, contact Becky at (612) 245-3216 or click on Becky's name to be linked to a flyer with many orphan photos and more details.

I hope that a family soon rescues these young sisters from their status as orphans through the Russian Orphan Lighthouse Project (our adoption service provider). Then Becky can provide them with copies of photos we were enabled by God to take during our time at the orphanage. I would be so pleased to have been used by the Lord to give these girls the littlest bit of a photographic record, since older orphans from Russia normally enter their new families without a single picture of their lives up to that point no matter what age they are.

A Quiet Request

Mrs. Beaver:

The woman (on the left) was our interpreter when we went to court two years ago to adopt Daria, Alexander and Oksana. We were so pleased to learn when we arrived in our children's region on our recent trip that she was to be our interpreter again as we visited their orphanage. What a heart this woman has for orphans! That large heart was unexpectedly tugged in a painful way when we visited the "older girls' room." There this teen, Olga, hugged her tightly, looked in her eyes and said beseechingly, "Would you please find me a family?"

Please join us in beseeching the Father of the Fatherless on Olga's behalf. Please, please cry out that He will locate the perfect family for her before she ages out. At that point, the statistical chances of her eventually turning to prostitution or suicide reach eighty percent!

For more information about Olga or other children waiting to be liberated from their status as orphans, visit The Russian Orphan Lighthouse website. We highly recommend you follow Becky's blog listed in the sidebar there or click our link here. What she shares rings so true to what we've experienced. If you use FaceBook, considered following Becky's posts there. She often shares opportunities to pray for orphan-related specifics. She also shares happy endings! Not everyone can adopt, but everyone can pray!

Love Lessons

Mrs. Beaver:

We're approaching the 11th anniversary of our adoption of Russian siblings Jaynie, Cassandra and Mark. Each year as we reach mid summer, memories of the time surrounding the addition of the three of them crowd out other thoughts. Not only do recollections resurface, but this time of year inevitably brings reflection. This year our rumination has revolved around what we have learned about loving others.

Interestingly, God has used His more-recent placement of Daria and Alexander in our family as a grace-filled teaching tool for both of us. Daria and Alexander were older than any of the children we'd preciously added through adoption. When we adopted them in late 2010, Daria was nearly 16, and Alexander was going on 12. We knew enough about both adoption and parenting teens to understand that if we lost their hearts initially, we'd most likely never win them back. Unlike the children we'd parented from infancy, they had no long history with us to look back on to remember that we could be trusted. So, we were gentler, more patient, more long-suffering, more understanding, more forgiving, and better listeners. The result? Daria and Alexander have willingly poured their hearts into our hands, demonstrating confidence in our trustworthiness.

As a parent of kiddos in their early twenties, my pride wishes that I didn't have to admit its taken us this long to "get" a clearer picture of how we're to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1,2) as we parent. But that very pride has been a problem all along. It's pride that drives the thought, "I deserve better." And any focus on "me" or "my rights" gets in the way of sacrificial love. Period.

So, in a nutshell, here's a glimpse of where the Lord is taking us:

• No stingy grace!
• No miserly forgiveness!
• No *scrimpy love!

Our affection must be unselfish, ungrudging, unfaltering. After all, love never fails. Our kindhearted, giving God has sacrificially lavished grace, forgiveness and love on us. We must do no less! (I Cor. 13:8; Psalm 86:5; John 3:16; Eph. 1:3-8)

With brokenness over how we've parented in the past, the two of us are fervently studying our Bibles and working to write His word on our hearts as we cry out for the Spirit to change us. Not only do we want to do a better job of parenting all our current children, the Lord still has one more set of siblings for us to love on. The Lord has been perfectly patient with these two sinners. He is so good!

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*Scrimpy: (Yes--this really is a word!) It means scanty, meager; barely adequate.

Encouraging "Math"

Mrs. Beaver:

Oksana and Alexander on the day we went to court to become their parents
October 2010

Mr. Beaver shared a quote from John Piper recently that I have found very encouraging:

"Mom (never enough) + God (infinitely enough) = Mom enough"

As I anticipate next week's surgery and the recovery afterwards, this "math equation" has become even more precious to me. I can never be all my children need in a mom in my own power, but during this season of chronic pain, surgery and recovery that's especially true. It's okay, though. God is meeting my children's needs. The same God who calls Himself "Father to the Fatherless" is also more than willing to help our family during this season of hardship. Mr. Beaver and I need only lean into our saving, rescuing God and He makes us "parents enough" by His abundant grace!