Happy Birth Day Joel !!

(Joel's 3rd birthday, his last.)

Happy Birth Day Joel!!! I remember the day so clear. Calling the midwife, getting everyone over to the neighbors, laboring in our home with three midwives, your dad being strength to me when I felt I could not go on. Finally you arrived, safe and so perfect. The midwife placed you in my arms and I did not want to let you go but I had to prepare for your brother to join us. And then the moment you met your 10 brothers and sisters, even two babies were not enough to pass around to all the hearts that wanted to love on you! The Lord gave incredible grace that day! We praise Him for the journey of a twin pregnancy and the wonderful home birth. The days following were so joyous, taking care of you, bathing you, little outfits alike, yet you two were a lot of work. You were so loved that you wanted people to hold you all the time, like even in the night, but we had a crew to help! So many mornings after we got you dressed up, we would lay you side by side and snap the pictures! Looking at you both, I would marvel that the Lord allowed us to experience this again after 16 years! A weeks rolled into months, all the "firsts" were so fun! Two of everything again!! You filled our hearts and home with laughs, memories and joys that are unforgettable! Your 1st, 2nd and 3rd Birthdays went by so quickly. As I look back at family pictures and see that I am the one holding you in most of those pictures, I like to think that the Lord planned it that way, just to get an extra hug, an extra feel of your warm little body pressed against my heart, because it was not going to be that way for long. This will be the second birthday that Josiah has so bravely celebrated without your being by his side at the table. He talks about you still, he especially remembers how you always had to sit in the front of the bath where the water was to come out! I am glad he was willing to do that and let you have your way, I hope that will be a special little memory of his sacrificial love to you! There are so many memories with you, your pudgy cheeks, your little rough hands that always seemed like they needed lotion, your wispy hair, and that "Balley smile" that captured our hearts, they are treasures to my heart. I will keep them before my mind and heart until I see you again! I do not know how you celebrate birthday's in the City of the Great King, maybe you get balloons and get to walk down the beautiful streets, or have a picnic under the Tree of Life, or maybe little boys get to go fishing in the river that flows from the Throne of God, maybe you get to see all about your birth. However it is I am believing that its a perfect celebration and your having pleasures that far exceed what we will be doing here for your brother, "Siah." Words can not contain the pain or the ways that I miss you and how much I love you still. Have a Happy Birth Day!!

Always your mommy!!!

These scriptures in Ps. 102 express Joel's journey.......

This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; To declare the name of the LORD in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem; When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days. I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but though shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years have no end. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.