Joel's Journey: the rose!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

the rose!

I have talked and shared about this rose almost every year!! It's the rose bush some friends gave us in March of 07 after Joel went to heaven! The first year, 07 it bore ONE rose! The second year it had two roses. I thought that was neat, for twins!! In 2009, 2010 and 2011 it either had ONLY one or two roses!! This year it bore 9 roses. Like Kate pointed out, nine sons, but one of the buds fell early on I guess like Joel! But it has 8 roses in bloom on it right now! Big orange flowers! Just beautiful!! It has been encouraging to see God use His creation to bring comfort!!

......I wonder if one year He might allow 13 roses to be on it???

Hmmm.... I think God likes "bushes.... Remember the burning bush!!! Hehehehe!!!

He comforts the grieving and brings forth and multiplies his mercy's many a fold!! Praising Him today!!!

2 comments:

-stephanie- said...: Gorgeous! Only God can create something like that.; April 25, 2012 at 9:23 PM
The Ahlgren Family said...: And you had 9 sons and 1 left when he was just a bud...
It's so neat when God uses His creation to teach and show us things!; April 26, 2012 at 3:16 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.