One Little Girl Missing

Mrs. Beaver:

Oksana (left - 8) and Amy (right - 10)

This duo was destined to be a trio. God has ordained the most amazing set of circumstances to join the three as sisters. But we're one little girl short... She's still living in an orphanage in Russia with her three older brothers. So we pray...and pray...and...

I long to wrap my arms around her as she sits in my lap, and rock her gently back and forth as if she'd been mine forever.

I long to brush and stroke her silky, chestnut tresses.

I long to dress her like a princess and release her from the stigma she's faced every day as an orphan.

I long, with all my heart, to teach her about Jesus, and His Father--the God who has adopted me (Gal. 4:5).

I long for my baby to be home...

Lissie's Home! 67 Hours of Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Mr. and Mrs. Beaver:

We're all very tired... so please forgive if this is confusing. We'll look again tomorrow to see what we missed or mis-stated. Suffice it to say that God led Lissie and the rest of our family on a grand adventure on the way to being reunited in rural Iowa after Lissie had spent the last 4 months in Central Asia.

Plan "A" was for Lissie to come home to Sioux City via Moscow, with an overnight stay there to break up her trip. We learned that it is nearly impossible to get the visa needed for that overnight stay in Moscow. And to make matters more complex, the airline she was scheduled to fly no longer flies into Sioux City. Enter plan "B"!

Plan "B" was for Lissie to switch airlines and routes, returning through Istanbul and Chicago to Omaha where we would pick her up after about 30 hours of travel. Unfortunately, her originating flight from Central Asia was delayed by 6 hours, which caused her to miss her connection to the US... and those flights happen only once each day. Net, she spent an unplanned overnight in Istanbul.

Then she flew to Chicago... the day after a blizzard. When she arrived in Chicago, she learned that she didn't have seats on the connecting flight... and due to the flight delays, cancellations and general post-blizzard chaos, she learned she couldn't get a seat to get home until December 30th!

She and the people she was traveling with (more about these heroes in another post) checked to see if they could rent a car to get the rest of the way home, and were told all cars were rented in all of Chicago!

She learned all this and called to let us know while we were driving to Omaha expecting to pick her up at 10:30pm. After a brief time of prayer, Mrs. Beaver and I decided our course was clear. We were already about 1 hour south of Sioux City, nearly to the junction where I-29 meets up with I-80. We turned east toward Chicago and told Lissie we hoped to see her in the morning. Understand that this was a completely unplanned trip... no clean clothes, no toothbrushes... nothing but 'Welcome Home!' signs we had planned to have at the airport greeting.

Off we went toward Chicago, expecting to make the 10 hour drive overnight!

Fortunately, the weather was clear. Unfortunately, the night before had been anything but clear. It had been a blizzard, and the roads were still feeling the affects. The road grew icier and icier the further east we traveled. As we drove on, we passed about 30 cars and 20 trucks left abandoned in the snowy ditches from the night before. With increasing regularity, we were also getting icy surprises of our own, finding ice patches 1-2 inches thick in many places, some of which threw our 15 passenger van around like a toy. About 40 miles east of Des Moines we decided it was foolish to continue on in the dark. We exited the interstate and found God's provision in securing the last few available hotel rooms in the town of Stuart Iowa for our overnight stay.

In the morning, we received the good news from Alison that they had found a rental car and were starting their trek our direction. We also got on the road, heading east, hoping to meet Lissie as soon as possible by meeting between Des Moines and Chicago.

This is what we saw when we could see the roads in daylight... we counted about 100 cars and 40 trucks in the ditches!

As we headed east, we kept in touch with Lissie, trying to find the ideal meeting spot. It turns out that spot was a Kum & Go c-store at exit 155 in rural Iowa. Here we awaited Lissie and her traveling companions. We really didn't care where... we just wanted the reunion to happen. Can you tell we were ready for it?!?

Lissie and her twin were quick to reunite and give thanks for the reunion!

And here are the heroes who escorted Lissie all the way through 67 hours of travel and adventure, delivering her through storms and delays to our arms in rural Iowa.

We took just a moment for a big family picture with this precious couple. Then we let them go to be reunited with their own family in eastern Nebraska.

 

 

More about the story later, but for now, this is a quick snapshot of Lissie's great adventure! So grateful to God to have her home!

A Happy Marmee (my version of "Grandma") !

Mrs. Beaver:

I was so blessed to spend a few days in Ohio with Aaron and Anna this past week. Here's a few of photos of 6-month-old Brielle. What a gift from God she is!

 

A dear family friend made the beautiful quilt in which Brielle's wrapped

 

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)

Could It be Any Clearer?

Mrs. Beaver:

I don't normally post first thing on the Sabbath. However, as I've come around again to the book of John in my reading of God's Word, something struck me powerfully. It's just a phrase. But what if the words became the story of my life?

Jesus and His diciples have gone to a wedding. You know the story. The wine has run out and Mary, in a very motherly way, insists that her son do something to help. The two of them go back and forth for a short time.

Then in John 2:5 Jesus' mother says to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."

That's it. Seven words. Just seven words. But what if I lived these seven words? Of course, there's the big things...like go adopt those four siblings in Russia. In other words, be My hands and feet to the vulnerable. (James 1:27, etc., etc., etc...)

But there's also what I'm going to call the whispers of His word. He commands us to deny self...forgive...be gentle...be kind...look out for the interests of others...love our enemies...be the Good Samaritan, not the religious person who crosses to the other side of the road. I could go on and on, couldn't I?

"Whatever He says to you, do it." Oh my, I'm overwhelmed by the implication of these seven words. We're told more than once that Mary pondered what she saw of her dear son's unusual life. Now I need to ponder. Oh, may her words sink deep this Sabbath. Then, Lord, through the power of your grace, may I live Mary's admonition.

You may wonder why I've placed a photo of my granddaughter at the top of this post. What do Brielle and Mary's words have to do with each other? My circle of influence is primarily my husband, my children and over time will also be my grandchildren. I need to take Mary's word's seriously as I interact with them so that they SEE Christ in me. They in turn will interact with so many others. Kind of like a stone being thrown in a pond.

Who are the primary people in your circle of influence? Mary says to you regarding them--and anyone else with whom you come in contact, "Whatever my son tells you, do it."

A Gift x Two

Mrs. Beaver:

I just received two of the sweetest gifts from my Lord and Savior following a day of seeking Him through prayer and Bible reading.

I was doing laundry, and I pulled doll clothes out of the dryer. On other days this same act would have probably escaped my notice as I rolled darting thoughts through my head such as, "Yikes! I wonder what we're having for dinner tonight. It's nearly 5 p.m. and I haven't gotten any meat our of the freezer."

But today the doll outfit that I pulled from the dryer was medicine to my soul straight from the Giver of All Good Gifts. You see I've fought fear all day. I've been in a fog of faithlessness.

This week I had a respite from being mom to the ten who still live at home. I had the opportunity to accompany Mr. Beaver on a business trip to LA.  With the exception of our career man, John, the rest of our kiddos were very happily cared for in Ohio by their oldest sister Anna and her husband, Aaron. Anna and Aaron also had the help of Aaron's loving parents, Ric and Tina, and Aaron's sister, Amber who is one of those rare "kid magnets."

However, tomorrow the nine children return. Thus, my fear. I have given in to a common doubt I face--my ability to meet the needs of so many. I've also battled with knowledge of my own sinfulness. When it's just me and Mr. Beaver, I'm able to be fairly Christlike. But when you throw in ten kiddos who all have needs--often arising nearly simultaneously--then I'm all too likely to get impatient--at best--and angry (in all its ugly shadings) at worse.

Pulling that piece of doll clothing from the dryer gave me a sudden shot of reality. I am SO blessed. When Psalm 127 says that children are a blessing from the Lord, no truer truth exists in Scripture (I feel safe making this bold statement since every revelation in the Word is pure, perfect Truth.) As I stood in the laundry room, I pulled the little black velvet jumper to my chest and reveled in the fact that I still have little girls playing with dolls. I am SO blessed. We're even about to add one more doll-playing beauty to our number! I am SO blessed!

My soul was swept free of the ravages of fears that had made their home in my heart since I awoke this morning. The doll clothing wasn't the only reason for the disappearance of the fear, however.

As I was doing laundry, I was listening to music on my iPad. Just as I was being reminded of the blessing of my children by an itty-bitty piece of clothing, a song began to play that I listened to dozens and dozens of times during the advent season of Christmas 1997. We had just moved to England, and only our air shipment had arrived. It would still be weeks before the majority of our belongings, traveling by ship, would be delivered. When packing our temporary shipment, we hadn't thought to throw in any Christmas music. So, as a spur-of-the-moment purchase in a bookseller on High Street (their version of our "main street") I bought Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas. I could tell from the cover that the songs were innocuous enough and knew they would provide a bit of Christmas cheer for newly relocated Anna (7), as well as our twins, John and Lissie (5-1/2). What I didn't expect from the secular album was a God-glorifying song called "Jesus Born On this Day."

Hearing those words again while in my fog of fear today, I was reminded that I will not be alone in my role as mom after my children return. The child who was born 2,000 years ago is King of all nations, and, yet, He will be with me. He will help me manage and even meet the need for attention that each of our children represents. And He can keep me from sin as I abide in Him, my Vine. Here are some of the words from Carey's song:

"He is our light and salvation.

He is the King of all nations.

Behold, the Lamb of God has come.

Behold, the Savior has come.

He is our Lord and Savior.

The light of His birth fills us with hope.

He is life...He is love...He is grace...born on Christmas day."

(I share the song that has meant to much to me here, but please be extra careful of where YouTube may take you afterwards since she's a secular artist.)

She's Six Months!

Mrs. Beaver:

Thank you, Lord, for Brielle!

Adoption Update: Our Plea

Mrs. Beaver:

In our last update, we asked our readers to pray for a court date before Thanksgiving. Thank you to those of you who prayed. We humbly acknowledge that was not God's will.

So, with all paper work completed and in Russia, we are on our knees again. We've been told by our agency contact that we will not get a court date in December, and that will mean that our tower of documentation will need to be updated just because of the change from 2012 to 2013. This is daunting, both in terms of added expense and, even more importantly, the time lost parenting the "Fab Four."

We've been told that it is impossible for us to get a court date yet this year. However, one of the first verses the Lord gave us to cling to as we began this particular adoption was Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

We're boldly asking the Creator of the Universe to orchestrate the details so that following our appearance in court we might be able to travel back to America with Lissie who has a lay-over in Moscow on her trip home close to Christmas.

So in faith, I record here a prayer written in my journal this afternoon. I realize it's long, but I'm attempting to obey Jesus when he told us to persist in our prayers like the widow nagging the unrighteous judge (Luke 18). This is the cry of my heart:

O, Lord, when we started this adoption You gave Hebrews 11:1 to us. I grab that verse now for all I'm worth and beg, plead, and beseech You for a court date in mid December. I even boldy ask my King to allow us to travel home with Lissie as she takes a brief respite from her service in Central Asia.

I know these requests are nothing more than the desires of my heart. I do not deserve these gifts. Yet I also know that you are my exceedingly kind Abba-Daddy, and I can come to my Father, the all-powerful King of the Universe, with any request. So I ask. I seek. I knock. (Matt. 7:8) I plead. I cry out to You for the absolutely impossible. Please grant us a mid-December court date. Please put Your majesty and omnipotence on display through our lives and our adoption. Oh, Abba-Daddy, I ask knowing you give fish, not snakes. You are the Giver of All Good Gifts.

Oh, my Abba-Daddy, You are the Father of the Fatherless. Please, please, I beseech You, set our four wonders free from their status as orphans. Liberate them! They have been fearfully and wonderfully made in your image (Psalm 139) and yet they're trapped in a place of hopelessness. Give them parents and siblings. Give them the opportunity to know You.

I bang on the gates of Heaven crying out for a miracle. People have told us it cannot be done. But with You, God, nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37). Nothing! Oh, Abba-Daddy, all I want for Christmas is my four children. Please, God, do the impossible for us that we might give you that much more glory.

Jesus, You turned water into wine. That was impossible. You even gave the bride and groom the very best wine.You granted a miracle with Your special touch of love. Please do the same for us. Please grant us a mid-December court date. Please do far more abundantly beyond all we could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Please open a spot on the judge's docket. Please fill that opening with our case. We long to obey You, hallowed Father, by parenting the Fab Four. Those three brothers and their beautiful sister are already our children in our hearts. Please make them legally ours in mid-December. Please open doors that are now shut, as only You can. Please go before us. Please fight for us while we remain silent (Exodus 14:14). Jesus, for the sake of the glory of your name, we trust You for the impossible.

Lord, please prevent wasted time redoing adoption documents in January. Those precious weeks it would take could be used instead teaching our new kiddos English. Then we will be able to share the gospel with them. We long to teach them Jesus, and the sooner the better! Please, please, God, prevent further waiting. Nothing, nothing, nothing at all is impossible for You. I long to wrap my arms around my three new sons. This mama yearns to hold my newest "baby" girl who is already nearly too big for my lap. She was so scared and hesitant when we visited their orphanage early this fall. I long, in Your name, to become a safe haven for her.

God please grant us the impossible. We walk by faith, not by sight. We cry out to the God who hears. We confess our inability to make anything happen. You are all powerful. We are nothing. We are utterly dependant on You. Oh, Lord, please, please grant us a mid-December court date. All things are possible for You. Please Abba-Daddy, I come asking, seeking and knocking, just as Jesus instructed.

Oh, please, Great Sovereign Lord, work in this situation as we rest and hope in You (Matt. 11:28, Psalm 116:7). All of our hope is in You, and only You. You are the Creator of All. You created four children whom we met in their orphange two years ago, and You have ordained our family to be their family. They are our kiddos in our hearts already. Please, please, let the legal transfer take place in mid-December. We walk by faith, not by sight. Increase our faith, Great God! We believe. Help our unbelief! You are God. You are good. What You do is good. Slay any doubt and fill us with God-glorifying faith.

We deserve none of these requests. We rightly and justly deserve nothing but death, hell and eternal punishment. For we are sinners, and You, who are perfectly holy, cannot tolerate our sinfulness. And yet, You so loved the world that You sent Your only Song to be our substitute, to take our punishment. You adopted us through His sacrifice. And you tell Your adopted children that we may approach you as our Father. So we do. We repeatedly beseech You, like the widow who wouldn't leave the judge alone. We ask with great audacity that You might get great praise. Please arrange world history so that in our mini microcosm of eternity, we would be in a Russian court room in mid December, appearing before the very same judge who presided over our last adoption.

All that said, You are God and we are not. We bow before You. We fall on our faces before You ackowledging that You know best. So we say, not our will, but Your will be done.

Amen and very Amen, to the God who is worthy of all worship.

Pure Ambition

Mrs. Beaver:

"[Here are] Words that describe the disposition of the Christ we see in the Scripture: humble, thankful, righteous, a servant--His only ambition to submit to His Father's will. He was consumed with loving God and others."

(Anonymous, Embracing Obscurity, pg. 47)
 

Let's us prepare our hearts for the coming of this King!