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...

Five Things I've Learned from My Husband

Mrs. Beaver:

Tomorrow is our 28th wedding anniversary. I can't think of a better way to celebrate God's incredible goodness to me than by sharing some of the ways He hs used Mr. Beaver to impact my life:

1. Never go to bed angry. This idea didn't originate with Mr. Beaver, of course. God records this relationship-saving wisdom in the Bible, "...do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity" (Ephesians 4:26,27). When we began marriage nearly three decades ago, Jim insisted we live according to this principle. This has made for some late, late nights, getting very few zzzzs. However, the effort has been worth every nearly-sleepless night as it has kept our union free from the growth of bitterness.

2. Never go to bed without relationship reconciliation. This may sound redundant, but it goes a step beyond Point 1. We can tell ourselves we're free of anger and still not be free of our agenda. No matter the depth of disagreement, my husband insists we stay awake until sweetness returns. He requires us to live, "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ Jesus has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32). Jim's leadership on this point has kept our relationship with each other amiable and gracious. He demands the same standard in our relationships with all 13 children (10 by adoption, two by birth, one by marriage).

3. Never part from a loved one without relationship reconciliation. Again, this may sound redundant. The focus of this Point 3, however, is not saying good-night but saying good-bye. Jim's father died in a plane crash when he was just seven. His mom has spent decades grateful to the Lord that the two of them had this "rule." When my mother-in-law became a widow, she had no regrets. Their relationship was free of fresh bruises and free of unhealed harm from old battles. Jim has insisted that everyone in our family love each other in this same way. Even if we're running out the door late, we must stop and set any damaged relationship right. (See Matthew 5:23,24)

4. The way to a person's heart is through service. I've learned the value of meeting the needs of others by being the object of Mr. Beaver's ongoing selflessness. For as long as I can remember, my husband has walked in from work uttering the same four words to me, "How can I help?" His willingness to put my needs and those of his children before his own desires, even when he's exhausted, has refreshed me nightly and left our kids in awe of their daddy. They "get" what a sacrifice their father's offer is, and they're able to recognize Christ at work in him. The influence his service has had on their hearts has made me to want work harder at honoring Jesus' words: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..." (Mark 10:45) Mr. Beaver imitates His Saviour beautifully, day in and day out.

5. God's word is worth knowing. On my first birthday after we married, Mr. Beaver gave me a study Bible. My thought was a disgruntled, "Great...what kind of gift is this?" Obviously I didn't understand the value of God's word. However, I've had 28 years to watch as my man has read the Book, studied the Book, memorized the Book, shared the Book with our children in the evenings, and taught the Book at church. I've watched the Book change him. He's grown more tender, humble, gentle, patient, thankful, and compassionate. The more time Mr. Beaver spends in the Bible, the more he prizes God and becomes like God's Son. The Bible says, "...like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word". With the many other ways Mr. Beaver could spend his time (he loves to golf and has his private pilot's license), he invests it in knowing God through His word and it shows! Unlike 28 years ago, I now understand the value of knowing God's word and try to follow Mr. Beaver's example in impressing it on my heart (Deuteronomy 11:18)!

I love my husband deeply. I thank God for Mr. Beaver, and for all Mr. Beaver has taught me since we stood at the alter. This list barely scratches the surface. Daily, I watch him. I learn from him. I glean more and more wisdom from him. I hope and pray the Lord will allow me many more years to follow him as he follows God.

Nothing will be...

Mrs. Beaver:

I had an especially sweet time in God's word this morning.

"Nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)

Nothing,
   Nothing,
      Nothing.

Does it further His kingdom?
   Nothing will be impossible with God!
 NOTHING.
   Nothing,
      nothing,
         nothing!

Will it glorify Him?
   Nothing will be impossible with God!
For His glory, By His grace...
   Nothing, nothing, nothing,
nothing will be impossible with God!

Last Year's Bible Bee was Life-Changing

Note: This is a bit last minute, but we wanted to make sure all our family and friends were aware that registration is underway for the 2nd annual Bible Bee. Joe and Lissie participated last year and found the experience life-changing! Even more of the family will be participating this year. We hope many of you will read Joe and Lissie's impressions below and check out the website for yourselves (link below). But hurry! Registration for the National Bible Bee ends June 1, 2010.


The Bible Bee scripture memory competition profoundly impacted my sister and me when we participated last year. Now we hope many will take advantage of the same wonderful opportunity this year. There are numerous good reasons people should compete in the Bible Bee, and here are two reasons that were especially important to me.

First, the selected scriptures for the competition proved to be very helpful. Prior to the competition, I had been memorizing chapters of Scripture. However, the passage length for the Bible Bee ranged from one verse to twenty verses, and this variety allowed me to call them to mind in more situations than if I only knew chapters. Also, the Bible Bee coordinators selected from many different books of the Bible, keeping my interest in memorizing God's Word high.

Second, the Bible Bee study materials taught me a method for studying the Bible that has allowed me to mine it for greater treasures. Before I participated in the Bible Bee, I would read a passage of Scripture and see the main point it conveyed, but after that my time spent with God would tend to stagnate. Now that I learned this method for Bible study, my time in God's Word is filled with interest, discovery, and most importantly, greater intimacy with God.

I have only mentioned two of the many reasons I enjoyed and benefited from the Bible Bee. Now that the Bible Bee is open for registration again this year, I hope many people will take this chance to deepen their relationship with God!

-Joe


As soon as I heard about the Bible Bee, I knew I wanted to participate. I had no idea what a blessing the Bible Bee would prove to be!

1) The Bible Bee showed me I had not been as diligent as I could have been in Scripture Memory. It pushed me to new levels of memorizing and meditating on God's word.

2) The significant amount of time studying Scripture forced me to think less of my own thoughts and more of God's. I realized how much I had allowed my mind to wander in selfish directions.

3) Both at the Local and National levels, Joe and I had the opportunity to fellowship with likeminded families and specifically with people our age who passionately loved God's Word. I was challenged and encouraged by these people.

4) I was often convicted. The Holy Spirit used the memory passages to show me my feeble love for God and His perfect and holy Scripture. Also, these passages often confronted me in time of tempation and pricked me when I was ready to sin. I was also confronted with the reality that I was prone to memorizing without applying it to my life (major ouch!), and reminded that I need to be a doer of the Word, and not just a hearer. Although painful, this conviction has drawn me closer to my Savior, and I am grateful that God used the Bible Bee in that way.

5) Most importantly, the challenge that this competition presented forced me to examine my motivation behind why I memorized Scripture and also reminded me of the right motivation to write His word on my heart. I want to treasure, thirst, and pant after the Bible as a way to know God better.

~ Lissie