Joel's Journey: 27 people!!!!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

27 people!!!!

What do you do when 27 people get together???? Four parents and 23 children?? LOTS!!!

The Lockwoods are a family of 14, missionarys in Mexico, and are on furlough through Dec. I met Jaynee, the mom, through this blog. We have been "friends" via the internet since Joel's illness and his entrance to heaven in Jan. 07, and she has faithfully encouraged me in these 4 1/2 years. What fun to meet her yesterday and their family!! We read each others blogs and keep up with each other and we send each other e-mails when we want to do serious girl talk!! I have been blessed with her friendship!!! They continue on their journey today as they set out for Arkansas, then to places like N. Carolina, upstate NY, Michigan, and then back towards California and then in Dec, heading back to Mexico to serve there.

sooooooo, this is what 27 people do.......

play and sing......

try to learn a Spanish song......

but I did not get it!!!!

eat LOTS of food!!!

hamburgers, hotdogs, pumpkin cake,

sugar cookies, muffins and 30 scrambles eggs!!!

Wahoooooo!!!!!

and then we give them the best beds in the house.....

granite!!!!!!!

you know I am just kidding!!!! I think everyone had a good nights rest,

wherever they slept!!!!

Good times with people that love the Lord!! If you have a prayer list, add the Lockwood family to it!! Pray for travels, for safety, for provision, health, strength, for Daniel the father as he preaches the Word and for Jaynee energy as she organizes and keeps up with shoes and socks!!! ha! She is a super organized gal and does a great job with the running of this trip smoothly!!

I am thankful to finally meet them!!! I love you Jaynee and your family!!!! and Daniel, you forgot about
that workout with the guys!!! haha!!!

5 comments:

Vanderpolclan said...: I'm so excited for you that you could meet up with them. I'm sure it was a wonderful visit.

Cindy; September 29, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Malissa P. said...: How wonderful and blessed are you! Love the Lockwood family. I follow your blog and theirs...so this time I got a double the pleasure with only one read! :-); September 29, 2011 at 2:20 PM
j said...: love it!! Sounds like fun and I am sure Jaynee loves the pic of her sleeping on your granite!!! LOL!!!!! Hope she didnt fall off!!!!

Jessica; September 29, 2011 at 7:41 PM
Luke's Mom said...: What a blessing to get to meet this wonderful family of faith. Loved seeing the pictures and hearing about your time together.

It's weird at times to feel like you know the people who you follow so closely on their blog. I would love to meet your family one day too, you are an amazing example of God's goodness and faithfulness, thank you for spreading God's love to others.

Love in Christ,
Sue; September 30, 2011 at 3:54 AM
Daniel and Jaynee Lockwood and Family said...: We FINALLY have internet and I got to see this post! Hahahahahaha! What a wonderful "memory trip" it was with you all!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I love the counter sleeping pic! ha! :)
Thank you, thank you ,thank you, and muchisimas gracias for everything!
So thankful that the Lord has let us be friends. You have blessed and encouraged me so often, Cindy! May the Lord continue to keep your hearts soft and use you ALL greatly for His Kingdom!
We love and miss the Morris family soooo much!

Daniel, keep praying about comin' on down with us :); October 1, 2011 at 1:35 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.