Joel's Journey: winner for the fun game contest...

Saturday, August 8, 2009

winner for the fun game contest...

we have a winner

jeremiah drew the name out of the sack

here is the winner.....

Janice H.

and here was her fun thing this summer:

"Having my husband home for 2 weeks R&R (Rest and Relaxation) during his deployment to Iraq was the highlight of my summer!"

I think Janice deserves to win, don't you, maybe it'll be cheery to her heart!

thanks for playing everyone!!!

e-mail me Janice with your address and we'll be getting your box of goodies in the mail
13blessings@sbcglobal.net

9 comments:

Georgia said...: yes, I agree!; August 8, 2009 at 12:31 PM
-stephanie- said...: Yes! God knew who needed it most. Congrats Janice.; August 8, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Anonymous said...: Oh wow!! Thanks so much - I read the post aloud to my children and they were ALMOST as excited as I am! I'm looking forward to the box. I love your blog and count it a priviledge to get to "know" your family.

I pray for you as your heart continues to ache over Joel's Homegoing. I sometimes look at our little boy and think of you - can only imagine - and it makes me appreciate our daily blessings of life & health. And knowing you helps me have the living hope that "Even in the valley, God is good".
May God Bless you!
Janice; August 8, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Anonymous said...: I am so excited Janice won! She is a precious friend of mine and actually the one who introduced me to your blog! I called her as soon as I read it and she's invited me over to "the box opening!"; August 8, 2009 at 5:08 PM
j said...: Good job to Janice. I am so silly I thought you wanted a story for the entry and I babbled on forever then I saw everyone elses one answer lines.... Oh boy. Fun anyhow. How are you all? I hope well. I was wondering if you had time if you could drop me an email on how your homechurch works.... like the order of it, soul winning....etc...??? We really feel God is leading us that way and have a few families in the same boat..... so I thought you would have good info. Well bless you Cindy. We pray for you. We made prayer sticks and your family is on one. :) Blessings and Love
Jessica; August 8, 2009 at 5:58 PM
The Lockwood Family ♥ said...: Yea for Janice! I definately agree! May the Lord continue to use your dear family and Joel's life to bless others!; August 9, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Pollock Family said...: Congratulations Janice, I'm glad you won. You do deserve it:)

Mrs. P from Florida; August 10, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Anonymous said...: Congrats! It must have been great for you to be able to relax with your family^^; August 10, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Anonymous said...: Congrats! It must have been great for you to be able to relax with your family^^; August 10, 2009 at 4:13 PM

Post a Comment

Joel's Story

Joel, our 11th of 13 and a twin of Josiah, at age 3 was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer, on December 6th, 2006. Joel had three perfect years of health and he and Josiah celebrated their 3rd birthday Sept. 13th, 2006. The first of Oct. Joel started having unexplained fevers for a few days and would return to active play. After the fourth round of fevers we took him to our family Dr. which they said his iron was low, so we treated that for a few weeks and took him back only to have his hemo. showing lower than before. We were referred to a hematologists and saw him a few weeks with blood checks twice a week. At a visit on Dec. 4th we showed the Dr. the bumps, (which were tumors but we did not know at the time) on Joel's head and he was very concerned and we were told we needed to admit him immediately and start extensive tests the following day. Joel went through rigorous testing and then the dreaded results were given. Joel was at a stage IV the most extensive stage, but we were hopeful that the Lord would use the means of Chemotherapy treatments to restore Joel's body. Joel endured 8 1/2 days in the hospital, came home for Christmas, and returned for his second round of chemo Jan. 3, 2007. Joel had a seizure that night after midnight and went into a coma due to a tumor bleeding in his head area and causing his brain to swell. After tests the following days, the Dr. declared Joel "brain dead" and took us to court to force us to take Joel off life support, as we did not agree with the medical field's definition of death. Our family sought to stand with the scripture, "life is in the blood,"and until Joel's heart quit beating naturally, he was living. We were making arrangements to bring him home and on January 23, 2007 his little heart stopped beating and he went to be with the Lord Jesus in heaven. Our lives are changed forever. God is faithful in the midst of this trial and we look with great hope to be with him someday.