Wednesday, January 31, 2007

"It is well with my soul"




Joel's funeral service was very touching. We estimated about 400 people attended. It started with Brian Chatham and Aaron Latham our dear friends that we home church with sharing scripture and reading the obituary. We sang several congregational hymns that have been a great blessing to our family during this time. "Like a river glorious" and "All Hail the Power of Jesus Name." My Dad then shared some words followed by my Dad's Dad (Pop). We also showed a slideshow and video done by John-Clay Burnett. My Mom and I both agreed that the slideshow was the hardest part of the funeral. We are so glad that we have so many pictures that we can look back at and remember little Joel. Wayne Fagala did the message and after that Caleb, Daniel, Elijah and I played the song "It is well with my soul" Elijah on trumpet, Daniel piano, and Caleb and I on violin. The service was concluded with the doxology "Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow."

We then proceeded to a little country cemetery about 1/4 a mile from our house where we layed his body to rest. It is a comfort to be so close to the cemetery, that we can walk to his grave.

Thank you to everyone for the beautiful flowers that were sent. Does anyone know who sent the bunch that had a cowboy hat attached? It was so sweet.

I would also like to thank two nurses who were such a blessing to our family when Joel was in the hospital. First Kathy who did everything she could to arrange things for us when we were trying to get Joel home, and just really blessed us by her sweet spirit and willingness to help out however she could. And then Dara, who was Joel's nurse on several occations. Besides being an excellent nurse she really took an interest in Joel and in the rest of the family. She was also willing to help in any way she could even offering to help with home nursing. Thank you Dara, we would love to keep in touch with you. If you could send us a regular email to 13blessings@sbcglobal.net that way we will have your email address.

And then thanks to everybody for the encouraging words, and for lifting up our family in prayer during this difficult time. May God bless each one of you.

~Bethany

6 comments:

Teena said...

Thank you for sharing about the funeral for Joel. I love the pictures. May God wash His peace & comfort over all of you....

the words seem so trite, so inadequate.....

please know we are thinking of you and continuing to pray~

our love~
Billy, Teena, Michael, Mandi, Dakota, Alyssa, Wyatt & Wesley

Beckaboo said...

Thank you for continuing to share this journey... our prayer are with your family continually.

In Him,
the Ebling Family

Grana said...

Thank you Bethany for sharing about Joel's funeral. We appreciate the update. We continue to pray for your family.
Many Blessings,
Mike and Karen

Grana said...

Thank you Bethany for sharing about Joel's funeral. We appreciate the update. We continue to pray for your family.
Many Blessings,
Mike and Karen

Unknown said...

I have been so touched by your family's story of love, courage and faith. When the news came on your blog of Joel's passing, I posted it on our blog and the song that came to my mind and heart immediately in tribute to your family was the hymn "It is well with my soul". I actually included the words to the hymn in that post. I was so touched to see that it was sang at his funeral. I count it a tribute to your family's faith and trust in the sovereignty of our Lord. Thank you for sharing your hearts and for touching us so deeply but mostly, for inspiring us to trust the Lord with total abandonment.

Love,

Julie-Anne M. in Northern Canada

link to that post: http://mommyplace.blogspot.com/2007/01/when-sorrows-like-sea-billows-roll.html

Jenny said...

Thank you so much for sharing the funeral with us. It makes my heart cry with joy that you all are able to say "It is well with my soul"....only through the comfort and grace of our Lord are any of us able to do that! My prayers will be with your family at this time...we too have said goodbye to our son so we know that even though we are comforted that there still is pain...but praise God we have Him to take care of us! My husband and I have started a small ministry called Gus' Gang and one of the things we do is send out a "care package" to families like yours...I would love to send one your way. Jsut e-mail me with your address and I'll drop it in the mail. You can visit Gus'Gang at www.gusgang.blogspot.com. Again, please know you all are in our prayers...