Dreaming Again

Do you ever feel like you're dreaming with your eyes open? 

Numbers 12:6 - And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, [I] the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, [and] will speak unto him in a dream. 

Do I dare say, we are dreaming again! I will tell you! It was one evening when some of the kids (living at home; we have older kids that don't live with us) were in the same room with us, when out of the blue, Jim asked, "how would you feel about adopting another little angel?" Surprised is an understatement! He went on to explain that someone he knew at work (a new warehouse manager) heard we adopted a little girl from Ukraine and started asking Jim about it. Jim filled him in on our Hannah being born with Down syndrome and that we adopted our Lera from Ukraine, also born with Down syndrome. The coworker goes on to tell Jim that he was adopting an older child and that he knew of another child, a little 8 year old girl w/ DS that needed a home. That's how it all got started. We were curious but, Jim didn't know any more details than that.

 

So about a week goes by, when out of the blue, again, Jim hands me a slip of paper before work and says, "here's the information about that little girl if you're interested." Floored me again! Did he just encourage me to pursue this little girl? (If you know anything about me, or read my book Chasing A Dream Where The Sunflowers Grow, it was me God came to first when we were adopting Lera.) Because it was so different than before, I just had to know what God was thinking, so I asked Him, "I thought we were chasing a dream where the sunflowers grow?" God quickly reminded me, "There are sunflowers in Maryland." "Oh yes, God, there are sunflowers in Maryland!" True! I did see sunflowers in Maryland...our girls were photographed in them by our photographer, Michael Warrick Photograpy just two weeks before. (https://www.facebook.com/MWarrickPhotography?ref=br_tf) I was surprised then too. I never knew before that that we had sunflower fields in Maryland until our former neighbor, Michael Warrick asked me if she could do a photoshoot of our girls. They were beautiful! Here's one of Alice!

And Lera!

And Hannah! 

Before that, I never knew we had a sunfower fields in Maryland! Just Ukraine! 

Of course, hearing God's response, was all the encouragement I needed to pursue this new little angel! So I called about her but the voice message box was full. So I emailed about her, and waited. Then I got a call back! The lady was really nice! I found out a little about her background. She's 8 years old, comes from a big family, she's presently living in foster care, she's a real energizer bunny and her name is "Hannah"!

To be continued...

Precious Moments

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." - Luke 23:42 

How often do we forget things? That's why I decided to write this blog. Sometimes so many things happen and I forget to write them down. So this is an attempt to catch up on some things that happened in September. (I'm sharing this blog late...I started it but didn't publish it. Did I mention I started attending Libertyuonline? I've been so busy! Look for one more blog after this to find out! I don't want you to miss it!)

September, our daughter, Rachel came home! Not only that, she came HOME! She wants Jesus to be the Lord of her life and as her mother, I am so proud. To top things off, we were surprised by the generosity of Women of Faith to be nominated for the 2014 WOF Event in Philadelphia. My best buddy, Barbara Conlon that I go with every year was nominated too. We spent Friday night thru Saturday together on September 5-6. (I posted photos on Instagram) Attending WOF has been a highlight for me over the years and this was the first time we went to Philadelphia, instead of Washington DC. Plus, it was the first time EVER for Rachel. And we both got to meet Sheila Walsh together! Rachel posted something nice on Facebook! (I saved it on Instagram) 

Throwback: I met Sheila Walsh last year too! (Wash. DC) 

Throwback: This was Barbara and me last year too! WGTS 91.9 had a booth! (Wash. DC) 

Throwback: Not to mention, meeting all of Third Day last year too! (Here was the concert; more photos w/Third Day can be checked out on my Twitter @debanorsworthy. They sang my favorite; "Your Love Is Like A River" - Third Day 

Matthew West was at WOF this year! "Hello, My Name Is Child Of The One True King" - Matthew West 

One more throwback: Can't forget I got to sign my book; Chasing A Dream Where The Sunflowers Grow w/ WestBow Press @ WOF last year! 

Wow. ~ God is so good to me! :D

On September 11th this year, Jim and I celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary! I'm so happy to be married to the man of my dreams! Through the good times and the bad times, we have so much to celebrate! (Photo below is from one of our 1st Christmas' together!

We sure have come a long way! 

This September 15th, Caleb celebrated his 16th birthday! Wow. Sweet 16 already! 

Lera and Hannah were making silly faces with Caleb during cake and ice cream time! :) 

One more anniversary: Lera was officially ours on September 14, 2009!!!! Praise the Lord she's been our daughter for 5 years already! Wow! Thank you Jesus! 

Once upon a time...Lera! Now forever loved! This was one of my favorite photos of us at her former orphanage in Druzhkovka, Ukraine :) You can read all about it in my book; Chasing A Dream Where The Sunflowers Grow via WestBow Press: http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/AdvancedSearch/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=Chasing%20a%20dream%20where%20the%20sunflowers%20grow 

Let me leave you with this. We discovered a field of sunflowers in Maryland! (More photos of sunflowers are on my Facebook page if you want to see them @ Chasing A Dream Where The Sunflowers Grow: https://m.facebook.com/ChasingADreamWhereTheSunflowersGrow). Our photographer took lots more! I can't wait to see the ones she took of our girls when we visited the sunflower field on September 21st! She also has a page on Facebook @ Michael Warrick Photograpy: https://www.facebook.com/MWarrickPhotography?ref=br_tf. So stay tuned! Please remember to pray for orphans! #orphansneedfamilies #chasingadreamwherethesunflowersgrow

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. - John 14:27 

Blast off to a "new" school year!

It's a "new" school year! So here goes my first post for Hannah and Lera to tell what's up in school. We found out they have a "new" teacher named Ms. Folfolff! We're sad Ms. Tobin left us, but at least she didn't go too far. She will still be in the building as the "new" 'inclusion special educator' at Relay Elementary! Congratulations to her! I'm sure she will be very good at it and at the same time be greatly missed in the classroom.

This year they are already getting to know their teacher, Ms. Folkoff and she is already getting to know our girls! Below is picture collage I made from the photos of their science projects Ms. Folkoff sent me. I also included the note she sent me from their last Friday update as it describes so well their personalities and what they were working on in school. :) ~ Enjoy!!  

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!

Hannah and Lera had a good week this week.  They both worked on writing their names and including all of the letters, calculator skills and answer questions about a story.

Hannah also worked on blending words, focusing on words that end in double ll, ff, and ss  and that include the word chunk “all”. She also worked on counting money.

Lera worked on blending simple words together, keeping her hands to herself, counting blocks and following directions to a simple game.

In science we have been focusing on the moon, and made moon sand today! It got a little messy, but the students had a great time being scientists, following the recipe and getting to play with the interesting texture of the moon sand.

Hannah had fun making the moon sand, but refused to touch it, it was a little too messy for her!

Lera got very into it and really enjoyed playing with it.  She had an accident right after we finished and were cleaning up. I think she did not want to stop playing to use the bathroom.  Her shoes got very wet when she had her accident, so we placed them in a bag to go home and she was not allowed to go outside for recess, because she did not have any shoes to wear as a natural consequence for her actions.

Have a great weekend and let me know if there is anything I can do!

Beverly Folkoff

Relay Elementary school

Special Education

A mother's prayer for her daughter 💜

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD."  - Psalm 150:6

On the one hand, I am so grateful. We have our daughter back. On the other hand, I wonder if we ever did. She's been to so many dark places in her short life. And 18 years is a long time to not know your daughter! Oh how I wish I could have rescued her, scooped her up, and held her in my arms. Wiped away the tears of doubt and made her feel loved. But it wasn't so. When I tried, she pushed me away. To her, I was the enemy. And for that, I cry. Why? Now, I know it's useless and of no value to grieve what was lost when it was found. I should only have joy. But my daughter suffered so greatly. How I wish it were me instead. All the years that were wasted. Not one day was God not there. But as her mother, I wish I could have been there too. Thank you Father for giving her new life that is only found in You. If going to the darkest place meant her gaining You, then let me be happy too. Praise The Lord. Praise The Lord. Hallelujah. Praise The Lord. My soul doth magnify You. There is no One like You where men can be saved. Thank You for saving our daughter. Now save me from the void of not having her close all of those years. I pray for better days filled with laughter and I love you's that were missed. For the day she was born she was never mine but Yours and oh such a gift to see her now. She is Yours! She is Yours! Thank God! She is Yours! Amen. 

Rachel told her daddy, today is the day! I want you to baptize me right now! 

                     August 30, 2014. 

                     Before and After.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"  - 2 Corinthians 5:17 

Praise the LORD!  

I love you, Rachel! 💜💜💜

Celine Dion

A Mother's Prayer:

http://youtu.be/dfHnjBtT7wg 

I pray you'll be my eyes
And watch her where she goes
And help her to be wise
Help me to let go

Every mother's prayer
Every child knows
Lead her to a place
Guide her with your grace
To a place where she'll be safe

I pray she finds your light
And holds it in her heart
As darkness falls each night
Remind her where you are

Every mother's prayer
Every child knows
Need to find a place
Guide her with your grace
Give her faith so she'll be safe

Lead her to a place
Guide her with your grace
To a place where she'll be safe

💜💜💜