Joel's Journey: my tree!!

Friday, January 21, 2011

my tree!!

Friday again!!! My where does the week go? Well, for me it has been non stop! I have not been a very good "blogger" lately. Really I have found it hard this week to think of something worthy of writing. My thoughts have been all over the place. Joel, Hosanna's birthday, places the older children are going this weekend, life in general, and trying to have hope that the Ada job will soon be over. Two more weeks, says Terry!!

Well, anyway how do you like my Valentines Tree???? I got the white tree off craigslist for only $25 and have been accumulating decorations from Hobby Lobby ! I love to make our home festive with each season! Fun!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

4 comments:

Janet said...: Oh! It's beautiful! Such a fun idea!; January 22, 2011 at 3:27 AM
Mandy said...: Love it! It sent me on a search for a white tree, but I can't find one. I'll just have to plan to get one after next Christmas!; January 22, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Anonymous said...: I am crazy about your tree, Mrs. Morris! How fun!; January 22, 2011 at 3:47 PM
Teena said...: I love it! How cool. You are such a wonderful, creative wife/mom. I always say how you inspire me.

I have thought of you all week. Thinking of Joel.... thinking of you. Thinking of four years ago... thinking of how my heart ached for you.... I am so thankful for YOU. So thankful for Joel's life and I share it often.

You are a wonderful testimony of God's grace, Cindy. How He has carried you and is still carrying you.... How it's been HARD.. UNBEARABLE but how you have been REAL. YOU have allowed all of us... some strangers... to peek in... to cry out to God, to grow closer to HIM... to go to HIM on your behalf.

For His glory....

continuing to pray for you ... especially NOW and TOMORROW...

I know you will have HIS strength to make Hosie's birthday wonderful and the connection between her and Joel.

Can't wait to see pics.

so thankful we are friends.

I love you,
Teena; January 22, 2011 at 5:00 PM

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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.