Our son got married on Mother's Day & We got a new daughter!

Thank you for the sweetest dance...

I couldn't be happier dancing with you on your wedding day which happened to be Mother's Day! 

[Photo courtesy of Jamie Weese]

Seems you were just a little boy, not that long ago, sitting in your highchair, eating peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches! Where has the time gone? You've always been adorable and sweet! I know you didn't always have a temper, but maybe it had something to do with all those times you let the other kids steal your toys! ;) Just remember, "Love...keeps no record of wrongs..." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) 

When the day finally came for you to be married, we were all honored to be there! Rachel did my hair and make up. She made me feel like queen! Alice did Hannah and Lera's hair. All the girls looked like princesses! The boys looked so handsome, just like your father! ~ My heart was spilling over with joy! :D

We were the first ones to get there! ~ 

Pictured: 3 of our 5 sons (L-R); Timothy, Micah, Caleb, beside Jim. 4 of our 5 daughters; Lera, Hannah, Alice, Rachel. Rachel's date; Bobby. Also, our nephew; Justin, Matthew's groomsman. 

Congratulations for taking this step, a mystery!  (Ephesians 5:31-32)

...Hannah and Lera, before the wedding. 

[Photo courtesy of Alice]

Counting down! ~ Jim and Matthew waiting...

[Photo courtesy of Sherry Creech]

Moments before, Jim adjusts Matthew's boutonnière. 

[Photo courtesy of Sherry Creech]

Here comes the wedding party! ~ The best man, James. Matthew's brother and our son w/ the maid of honor, Victoria. 

[Photo courtesy of Caleb]

Matthew's groomsman, Jamie Weese and bridesmaid, Michelle. Matthew's sister and our daughter.

[Photo courtesy of Caleb]

Matthew's groomsman, Tony Ash and our daughter-in-law, Amanda. James' wife and bridesmaid for Jessica. 

[Photo courtesy of Caleb]

The flower girls, Mikayla and Myah (Myah was behind Mikayla). Matthew's daughters and our granddaughters (Myah is Jessica's daughter too). The ring bearer, Christian. Amanda and James' son and our grandson. 

[Photo courtesy of Caleb]

Caleb took this Panoramic view! ~ The whole wedding party, including, Matthew's groomsman, Justin and Jessica's bridesmaid, Brianna (not pictured walking in). 

Here comes the bride! ~ Mike walking Jessica down the aisle to meet you! :) 

[Photo courtesy of Sherry Creech]

The wedding! ~ My favorite picture! :) xx 

[Photo courtesy of Caleb]

[Next photos courtesy of Sherry Creech] 

Myah watching from her seat! 

The rings and vows...

The kiss...

Happily married! ~ Mr. & Mrs. Matthew David and Jessica Lauren Norsworthy! 

~ Rachel sang you a song! :) 

Rachel: "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts.

[Photo courtesy of Caleb]

Walking out as husband and wife! ~ XO

[Photo courtesy of Caleb]

First Dance! ~ "a time to dance" (Ecclesiastes 3:4) 

[Photo courtesy of Jamie Weese]

The rest of these photos are of your guests dancing! 

That's all the dancing! I'm sure your wedding pictures will be even more beautiful and will have everything not seen here that your photographer, Samantha Lawson took. I can't wait to see them all! 

Congratulations and Best wishes for a long and happy life together! 

~ Matthew and Jessica about to leave for their honeymoon. :) 

~ Keep the faith and keep dancing! :) 

http://youtu.be/K0M3X3_pFD4

Unspoken - Good Fight (Lyric Video)

Did you know?

Dear bus lady, 

Did you know those flowers were for you? Yeah, I know Lera was already on the bus and you were waiting for Hannah to catch up. That's because Lera likes to be first! She was Happy to run. But did you know Hannah likes to take her time? Did you see she had flowers in her hand? Did you hear me say, give them to you? I know Hannah doesn't speak clearly. So did you see me ready to tell you those flowers were for you? No. I know you didn't. How could you? We were still feet away from Hannah climbing up on the bus. But did you see me? I wanted to tell you...you shut the door in my face. I am a sad mom. But I wanted to make you happy! Do you care that my little girl has a mom? Didn't you see me standing there? No. You didn't look at me. But did you look at Hannah? Did she make you smile? I hope so...but you didn't give me time to even take a picture of Hannah getting on the bus before you shut the door! Oh well. Maybe you will never know how much we try to make your day. You of course have a schedule to keep. Carry on. Maybe tomorrow? Have a blessed day any way. Please drive safe and remember you have my life on board. Hannah and Lera are opposite, like night and day, but they are my night and day.

Sincerely, 

Your passengers mom, 

Debbie xx 

Did you know Hannah and Lera met a friendly caterpillar while they waited for you to come? 

Did you know just moments before you pulled up, I was fetching these flowers for you? 

And you shut the door in my face? Before I could say a word (greet you) or see my little girl get on. 

Even though you crushed my heart. I pray God makes your day. Maybe it wasn't meant to be from Hannah or me. Maybe from something/someone else. God bless you! 

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)

Have a nice day! 

http://youtu.be/j_wb38KMXLs

Love Song for a Savior - Jars of Clay

Overwhelmed

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." Psalm 37:3-6

The song Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave http://youtu.be/F6oxXwRWFTo?list=PLOXBpRn_BRp9TI-u4OVe2xfsNmbouAgaz makes me think of Hannah every time I hear it. At first I didn't know what to think when God gifted us with our ninth child that happened to be born with Down syndrome. Was she beautiful? Yes! But all I could hear in the beginning was people say they were sorry. I thought I should be sorry too. How wrong I was! Through Hannah, God had my world spinning. Because we were entering new territory, not knowing anything about Down syndrome before she was born, we didn't know the path God had us on would lead us all the way to Ukraine! Another little girl named Lera who just happened to be born with Down syndrome would be our daughter too! Though we never met her birth parents, they are often thought of, and the orphans at her former orphanage; her caretakers; the Armenian man working there, who invited us to his church nearby, with the little babushkas who welcomed us in, and prayed their hearts out before God; the pastor and his family who fed us, took us in their homes, gave us tea and sang praises to our God; our translator(s), one in particular and his sweet family that kept us for 3 weeks while we waited to come home, and all the many different people we met in and around the place where we stayed in Kramatorsk; like the lady at the Internet cafe who served us hot tea each day we came to visit our kids back home, and I can't forget our facilitators mother and father, very kind and and helpful, even making our apartment a little fancier for our anniversary so we could celebrate, what a blessing! How could I ever forget them all? Please read more about Hannah and Lera in a book I wrote: Chasing a Dream Where the Sunflowers Grow http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/Products/SKU-000463730/Chasing-a-Dream-Where-the-Sunflowers-Grow.aspx to bring awareness for Down syndrome and orphans. While you're at it please pray for our dear friend, Teresa Fillmon who serves in Ukraine. If you read my book you will learn why she means so much to me! Here's recent news about Teresa and what is happening in Ukraine right now, published in the Kyiv Post http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/war-grinds-on-us-expatriate-digs-in-at-war-front-to-shore-up-dzerzhynsks-defenses-388605.html 

If you would like to help feed the hungry and displaced people of Ukraine please go to Teresa's GoFundMe: Ukrainian Aid Fund by Teresa Fillmon http://www.gofundme.com/ukrainianaidfund 

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God." 

Philippians 1:9-11 

Lera Was Here

"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."  (Mark 9:37)

When Rachel was in travel league softball, it was just easier and cheaper for me to stay at home with the rest of our kids when Jim and Rachel were often out of town and stayed in a hotel. I wasn't prepared to handle both of our girls with special needs alone. I'll never forget the first time I took Lera and Hannah to church without Jim. It was right after we got back from Ukraine with her. She ran right up on stage and jumped in our worship leader's arms while he was singing and playing the guitar! It's not that he didn't appreciate her doing that. He later told me how much it meant to him! Somehow her unannounced presence on stage in the middle of Sunday church made me feel uncomfortable and we mostly stayed at home after that.

This past Sunday Jim was on a fishing trip. Our grandchildren, Mikayla, Christian and Skylar had spent the night and I was feeling really brave! I decided when I woke up in the morning that we would all go to church! Rachel and Alice were already going because Rachel decided she needed more experience singing on stage in front of an audience. She started practicing with the praise team earlier in the week to prepare her for Shine where she will be performing with AMTC in December! Since Rachel's new, the praise team suggested she sit out a few times before coming up on stage and I wanted to sit with her! Ironically, this time Lera didn't run up on stage, and neither was Rachel up there! But this time, I couldn't keep Lera quiet...

Lera and Mikayla at the coloring table. 

Hannah and Christian at the coloring table.

Lera was clapping after every song when no one else was clapping and saying amen after every prayer and sometimes when no one was praying at all!

"This is the day that LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24)

Also, Lera wasn't sitting quietly during children's church and our granddaughter came to get me a little later. I know she wasn't trying to misbehave, she's just not able to keep quiet! Which reminds me, neither should I! 

I couldn't sleep last night...one of the little girls from Lera's former orphanage popped in my head and I know God was getting my attention. The radio was on so singing with the songs that aired became my worship and prayer. I know God has a plan and a purpose for each heartbeat. Thanks to adopting Lera, my eyes have been open to see many more in need of being rescued. 

This Mother's Day our son, Matthew will be getting married to his beautiful bride, Jessica (maybe another blog) but before that day comes, I want to remember those who don't have a mother. Would you like to help me remember them too? Maybe God's not calling you to adopt. Maybe he's calling you to become a sponsor so other families can bring their children home. If it wasn't for the help of several grants and our interest free loan from Lifesong, we wouldn't of been able to go get Lera and bring her home! Please consider giving a gift in Lera's name, so orphans around the world will not be forgotten this Mother's Day! 

From Lifesong For Orphans: 

"This Mother’s Day, please join us in giving the gift of Mom. Every little donation to adoption matching grants helps put families together."

"You can bridge the financial barriers to help make adoption possible through Lifesong’s Adoption Funding tools. Join us this month to raise $10,000 for Adoption Matching Grants, helping 4 adoptive families move one step closer to their forever child."

Casting Crowns-Life Song

http://youtu.be/393OSwfDTb4