Joel's Journey: Easter 2012 family photos!!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Easter 2012 family photos!!

I knew it was coming....taking a photo without everyone in it. It was hard!! I know this won't be the last one either and I am not complaining at all in the sense i would change something!! I wouldn't!!!!!!!! I am just saying from a momma's heart, it's just another bridge to cross of having older children! God is faithful to each season of life and I am sooooo thankful that He carries us through!! We missed Caleb and Kristen being here with us!!!! So thankful Daniel is back safe!!! (for a little while anyway!!)

Hope you all have a blessed day!!!!

6 comments:

Unknown said...: Beautiful pictures, beautiful family. We just took our first vacation without our oldest and it was hard. I do not look forward to the day we have to take pictures without one of them. But we both know that this is what we raise them for, to spread their wings, to go out on their own and impact their world in the way God shows them. I never liked when people told me, after Laynee died, that she is "just away." Laynee, like Joel, is gone, in heaven. But my Jamee, and your Caleb, they are truly "just away." Easter blessings to you and yours.; April 8, 2012 at 6:13 PM
Sarah said...: Awesome pictures! Kuddos to the photographer! Also, I see Mercy found an Easter dress! Woohoo! Actually, looks like everybody found something nice to wear! Even better!; April 8, 2012 at 8:04 PM
Anonymous said...: Great pictures!! =); April 9, 2012 at 11:27 AM
The Cole Family said...: Wow. Such different family pictures from what we remember. :)

The Cole's; April 9, 2012 at 8:30 PM
The Cole Family said...: Wow. Such different family pictures from what we remember. :)

The Cole's; April 9, 2012 at 8:31 PM
Teena said...: Love them... Understand completely though. Our Michael (and Amber) were not here. Our first Easter ever without him. It was hard. New seasons of life. Changes.... God gives us moms grace, strength and mercy.

Love you,
Teena; April 9, 2012 at 11:21 PM

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.