From Jesus Calling
I am involved in each moment of your life. I have carefully mapped out every inch of your journey through this day, even though much of it may feel haphazard. Because the world is in a fallen condition, things always seem to be unraveling around the edges. Expect to find trouble in this day. At the same time, trust that My way is perfect, even in the midst of such messy imperfection.
Stay conscious of Me as you go through this day, remembering that I never leave your side. Let the Holy Spirit guide you step by step, protecting you from unnecessary trials and equipping you to get through whatever must be endured. As you trudge through the sludge of this fallen world, keep your mind in heavenly places with Me. Thus the Light of My Presence shines on you, giving you Peace and Joy that circumstances cannot touch.
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
—Psalm 18:30
“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
—Isaiah 41:13
Update from June 3:
It is with great, great sorrow that I write. Nora passed on into heaven in the very early hours of Tuesday morning, June 3rd. She was surrounded by family and friends who love her — most who were present at her birth, including her Labor & Delivery nurse. I laid next to her, her Daddy stood on her other side. We sang songs to her, whistled to her and stroked her soft hair as she was born into heaven. God has in fact answered our prayers for healing. She is completely restored, made new, and freed from all of the tubes, wires, tape, alarms and monitors. We are so grateful that God chose us to be her parents for the beautiful two years she was on loan to us. She defied all odds and statistics because so many people loved her and prayed for her. She touched thousands of lives in a way I never could hope to do if I lived to be 120. What an amazing Lady Baby, what a gift. Please pray for us as we seemingly grasp in vain at this new “normal”.
iwillcarryyou 
Prayers all over the world going up for Little Miss and the family! Keep strong and know that we are all praying for you!!!! God Bless!
Amen ❤
This is so Perfect, Aleisa! I am so glad you are finding Scripture that you can cling to. Feel all of the prayers and love coming to you and Nora Rose and the rest of your family. I love you!!
We are continuing to pray for Nora and you all!
Have you ever heard the song “Just be held” by Casting Crowns? Your posting today, and your continuous faith make me think of this song and you all.
Paula
Yusko Family, your strength and faith is strong and amazing. May your strength and faith wrap itself around you all and sweet Nora as we all continue to pray and bring the Glory of God to you all. XOXOXO
My prayers continue to go up for Nora and your family. John 14:27 was shared with me from one of my families Peace be with you
Praying for you and your sweet daughter!
Jesus Calling has recently touched my heart and life too. I am thankful that God is providing you each moment with the strength you need to get through this difficult time. Nora Rose is one loved little girl on this earth and is at this very moment loved in the arms of Jesus. Thank you so very much for sharing her with the world through her birth and life. Your strength, faith in God, courage and perserverence have been a blessing to me and so many others. God will be your sheild and protection now more than ever because of your obedience and faith in Him. You have brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world that will be lifting you and your precious family up in prayer. God bless you and keep you close to him.
Aleisa,
Please let me tell you the many ways YOU have inspired me. First off, I am, more or less, a pantheist. This means I don’t worship any deity but I do treat nature, the stars, the universe as a whole as means of meditation and “worship” I guess. I have followed you and your family since Nora’s birth and your faith has inspired me in my own challenging life. Very challenging. What I learn from you the most is that you are so human. You get mad, you question, you challenge, and you are humble and somehow you find a sort of peace, at least that’s what you convey. Your love of your children, from your first that you helped live a good life in another home, to your last, that you brought here and gave happiness to, shows the incredible humanity that you hold inside of you. We’ve never met and we never will, but you’ve truly become a part of my inspiration when things are hard, and when things are good.
There is no doubt that things will be so hard for you. I know all too well what grief can do after losing a child; but listen…we are here for you now. You are so much more than a Blog. You are one of the truest human beings I never met. When you breathe deep the air around you, when you feel the cool breeze along the creek, when you see the vibrant colors of the fall leaves, when the sun shines on your face and the calm waves of water dampens your braids, remember that you are loved.
Aleisa,
My heart is broken. I have no words, just sending you and your beautiful family a lot of love. Nora Rose, rest in peace you sweet sweet baby girl!
Aleisa Koester Yusko I am so sorry for your deep loss. You, your husband and your children have many months and years of healing to do. Be gentle to each other. remember to love like it is your last moment. “Weeping may endure for the night but JOY comes in the morning” Hold fast, God did not abandon you or Nora. I prayed for your journey as my own and only had 3 days with my son Jonathan Bryce Roland. Not nearly enough time and the journey through grief almost drove our family to part, BUT with God’s grace we made it and so will you. Will continue to pray for your dear one. Much love, Stacy Hazard Roland
Prayers all over the nation for your sweet girl. From a Mom in Cincinnati know that you are being lifted up! Gods will is perfect even when we don’t understand. He gives and takes away. God bless you always!
I am so very sorry for your loss. Your family and sweet Nora are such a source on inspiration. I am heartbroken for you.
There aren’t words. Thank you for sharing sweet Nora with us all. Her life touched me to my core.
❤
God shows his greatness in the smallest and the weakest. I know Nora Rose has done incredible good during her life on Earth. I am so grateful for her life, even though I never met her. God bless and keep you.
I’m not on FB but I just heard from a friend about Norah – my heart is breaking for you, Aleisa. Please know how loved and prayed for your family is at this time. xoxoxox
Words can’t tell you how sorry I am. Your words and Nora’s life have touched more people than you will ever know. You have been in my prayers for 2.5 years, and will continue to be as you continue on in this journey of life. Nora will always be your angel. Much love and peace to all of you.
Thank you so much for sharing Nora with me. It has touched me deep in my soul and strengthened my faith. Aleisa, you are a gifted writer and an incredible mom!!! Please know I offer my deepest sympathy to you, William, Gavin and Greta. My prayers have not stopped. Nora taught me to pray:)
I’ve been following your blog since sweet Nora was born, and your faith and courage always inspired me. I am so very sorry for your lost and pray that God will give you and your family the strength and peace to accept this. Thank you for sharing your story. God bless you.
i hope these words have been comfort for you and your family. i cannot imagine the depth of emotions that you are feeling. as i prayed for you this morning, i kept getting an image of your precious family being held in God’s righteous right hand. He will strengthen you, comfort you and uphold each of you in His strength and love. May you all feel that comfort of his embrace and may His peace that surpasses all understanding be upon each of you.
My heart and prayers for you all, no words will help, just holding you up with prayers xxxxxxxxx
Aleisa, I have enjoyed following your posts and getting to know your beautiful Nora! She was truly an angel, a gift from God! I’m so sorry for your loss but I know she will be smiling down on you from above and enjoying having her warm baths! I loved seeing how much she loved being in the water! Thank you for sharing her with us! I’ll be praying for you and your family as you go through this difficult time.
Aleisa: I remember the day I “happened” to find your blog; I was pregnant with our precious daughter, Faith Elouise. Your Nora Rose captured my heart and soul, and your gift with the written word and artistry with painting with light took me to places I hadn’t known prior. I spent hours poring over your posts from months past, catching up to the most recent page in the story of your lives with precious Nora.
Soon, we were expecting another baby, my fourth. In my heart I knew there was going to be something different about our fourth baby…and I began to catch a tiny glimpse into the “why” of God allowing my eyes to fall upon “iwillcarryyou” so many months earlier. Your story with Nora was the preparation for the surprise that was to come with Corwin James Samuel’s post-birth diagnosis of Trisomy 21. While not deemed “incompatible with life” medically, as your sweet Nora was, there was still much shock and upheaval following Corwin’s birth. NICU stays, open-heart surgery…a blur and a whirlwind of the unexpected and “control-less-ness”, as I like to call it. Yet, in the great Mercy of our heavenly Father, He had used you and Nora to prepare us. I still stand in awe of our God.
Lest this comment appear to be “all about me” – not my intent – I wish to say that I do not know what to say! I have no words to say that will bring your precious daughter back to life in your arms today. Oh, as a dreamer of dreams and idealist, how I wish I could barge into the funeral home filled with the power of God’s Spirit and speak life back into her tiny body…but it is not so. So, I will say this: I love you. We love you. Our family has such love in our hearts towards your family, whom we have never met face to face on this earth, but only by His Spirit in heavenly places. We pray for you and with you, and we will not stop. My little girls pray for you and your family. Few moments pass during the day that I’m not thinking of you and whispering a few words to our Father on your behalf.
The Lord bless you and keep you, Yusko family. The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and lift up His countenance unto, and be gracious unto you, and give you PEACE. Today and always.
In all the Love of Christ Jesus our Comforter,
The Cox Family
Tye, Robin, Chase, Grace, Faith and Corwin James
I am heartbroken for you and your family. Sweet Nora, you are loved by so many. Thank you for sharing her with all of us. OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX Rest little angel, little miracle, little fighter.
Ever since I met little Nora the day she was born, she and your family have been in my prayers. I am saddened with her passing but I know that
Jesus was standing at her bedside with you and your famiky holding her little hand until it was her time. I have been sad all day knowing it is a very hard day today for your family. Know that you all will be in my prayers for a long time. Know she is in heaven waiting for you when it is your time. She will be completely healed 🙂 Bless you and your family for shearing her life with all of us from around the world!
Aleisa, you have given us so much since this blog was created. Your honesty, fear, praises, doubts, ups, downs, and always your love. The person you are is so incredibly beautiful in every ounce of your soul. Sharing your Nora Rose with the world, giving her a voice, inviting us into your home and life to live and learn how God’s miracles are truly a blessing in disguise! Special, that describes you, Aleisa! You are one of a kind!
May all the love your family has shown and shared with your followers be returned tripled to you in the days that follow. My heart goes to you, William, Gavin, Greta, and Kelly.
Aleisa, William, Gavin and Greta-your sweet angel touched so many lives. God sure did know what He was doing when He gave her to your family. You guys showed everyone what the words Love, Faith and Hope mean. You showed us laughter and courage. Now you have Nora’s sweet smile shining down from Heaven. God Bless and keep you!
In times like these there are no words to say, no amount of tears to cry that can fill the void this loss has left in your life. I pray you continue to feel God’s presence in your life. I want to thank you for sharing your sweet Nora Rose with all of us. You have shown me what true faith is really all about.
Heartbroken. Father God, please hold this precious family in the days ahead.
I am praying for you and your family. Even though I have never met you, I did go to high school with your daughter Sophie. As I stumbled across a link to your blog on Facebook, I immediately scrolled all the way to the beginning of your blog to see what it was all about. I couldn’t believe my eyes; my heart sank. Trisomy 18, the same condition my older brother James had, whom I never had the pleasure of meeting. I can only imagine what you are going through right now because I know my mom and dad endured it as well, but it is by no mistake or coincidence that I “stumbled” across your blog. Whenever I have endured hardships throughout my life, I always ask my mom how she ever got through the loss of my brother James after only having three short weeks with him on this earth. With tears in her eyes, she assures me that it would never have been possible without the Lord. Thank you for sharing your story with me! It brought many smiles and tears, and definitely made me think about my brother. Oh how I cannot wait to meet him and Nora Rose one day soon!
As I was driving to work this morning, a song by Mercy Me came on the radio. One of the lines that really hit me was “Give me anything that brings You glory” I began to cry and immediately thought about you. Little Miss Nora brought God so much glory in her short time here on earth. What a privilege for all of us to witness it and for you and your family to be part of that! Thank you for sharing Nora with all of us through your blog. Much love to all of you. Our family will continue to pray for you.
I am so sorry for your loss, Yusko family. I have been watching your family from the edges, but today I will come closer to say I’m sorry. I hope that the love you have felt for the last 2 years keeps going for many, many more!
I am heartbroken for you and your family. I always looked forward to reading your blog and seeing the sweet pictures of Nora. Thank you for sharing your story.
I am SO sorry for your loss. I am heartbroken for you. I will miss you baby girl. You touched my life and so many others and it’s no coincidence. Thank you for sharing her sweet life with us!
I can not, with my words, say something that makes them feel better about your loss, I can only say that my heart is with yours not only now but forever! I’m so sorry for all of you.!i have no internet the last three days!
nora, as many others have said, was a baby that touch thousands of hearts, I never met her, because the distances are bigger, but your story touched us! she touch mine 6 months ago, with her “baffs” and sweet kisses!
she gave me a dream, a vision of a foundation that helps babies with t18 in my own country! nora is an inspiration! as others said, it changes the meaning of things! ‘ll never see a heart or three little birdies in the same way!
in my country, are too many restrictions and unfortunately I can not afford a trip to kentucky or can transfer money to a foreign account, impotence is when you have just written words and sentences are! but Im with yours in heart!
nora will live until the last of us will not in this world because her legacy remained imprinted on our hearts! rest in peace, our little sweet miss nora! acoumplished mission
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I have followed your story since Nora’s birth and was touched by your honesty and sweet baby girl. She will be remembered by many for her sweet smiles. My heart breaks for you, your husband, Greta, and Gavin. May you find peace in your memories and comfort in each other. There are no words to ease your pain but know Nora will be in the hearts of many, many people for a very long time to come.
Wrapping your family in hugs and prayers. Nora Rose and your sweet blog helped me so much. Your faith made me stronger. I cannot express how sad I am for all of you, my comfort is that Nora is well and has beautiful wings.
God bless your sweet patient heart Aleisa….You are truly an amazing mother! Nora Rose was very lucky to have been blessed with such amazing parents. You were her perfect match! You were for her. There is such beauty in knowing that. You will be together again..My heart just aches for you. {heart}
http://www.gofundme.com/9ua61w I found this link for anyone wishing to help the yusko. Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life for Nora will be smiling down on you.
Sincerely thinking of you and your whole family today and tomorrow. I never thought I could learn so much and love a family I had never met but I truly do and I have so loved reading your blog over the last two years and in so many ways it has helped strengthen my faith. You are all in my thoughts and prayers 💗💗
May you feel Gods arms wrapped so tightly around you. he is weeping along with you. So much love to you.
Bec (Sydney, Australia)