Joel's Journey: it's here!!!

Friday, August 3, 2012

it's here!!!

*****special prayer**** could you all pray for great weather (no rain) for Thursday the 9th!! It's an outside wedding and reception!!!! Thank you soooo much!!!!

It's here!! It's time!! The long awaited departure!! Our first wedding in the family!!! I'm full of alot of emotions! But the emotion I want to supersede, is the one of pure joy! Just looking and reflecting at what God has done, is doing and will do in Caleb and Kristen's life is beyond anything I could have even begun to pray. The scripture is true, HE goes over and beyond what we could ever pray, imagine, hope for!!!

If you think or have a moment please pray for us as we travel!! 10 children, 2 parents, 3 vehicles, a billion suitcases, (like 10+) toys, and games and movies and food and whatever else we can jam in the vehicles!!! Pray for safety, for the vehicles to run well and the time there! Thank you sooo much! I know I can count on you all!!

Lord willing we'll have tons of beautiful photos to share with you when we get back!!

We are so blessed to have someone live at our home while we are gone and take care of ALL the animals!! I hope they can relax and swim and enjoy the a/c and not feel too over worked!! Lots of chores to do around here!!!

Thank you for loving our family in the good times, the hard times and the everyday times!!!

8 comments:

Janet said...: Travel safely - I can't WAIT to see the wedding photos! Have a safe journey and an extra special time!; August 3, 2012 at 12:53 PM
Liv said...: Route one looks like it runs right near my corner of OH. So excited to see wedding pictures! Enjoy it all. =); August 3, 2012 at 5:29 PM
Unknown said...: God bless you all as you set out for this WONDERFUL occasion! I am only one of 8 children, but I fully know what it takes to get a family of 10 all up on a trip!
Praying for the wedding too. What a wonderful time this is for you all!; August 3, 2012 at 6:38 PM
Unknown said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; August 3, 2012 at 6:44 PM
RK said...: Can't wait to see pictures. I've been quietly following your family's fun for a while... And if you take route 2 and come through StL, I'll be waving. Wish we could meet u! I find your perspective on life and family to be so encouraging. God really does use you to bless me quite often. To truly enjoy family so much is rare these days, it seems. I want that for my girls! :) Many travel and wedding blessings!; August 3, 2012 at 10:43 PM
Becca said...: We can't wait to meet you and celebrate with you all! I can't believe it's "here." Praying for a safe and uneventful drive!; August 4, 2012 at 4:46 AM
I'm Kristen said...: Woo-eee! Hurry hurry hurry! We are DYING to see you!; August 4, 2012 at 8:59 AM
Teena said...: so excited... praying you through!

SOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!

love you,
Teena; August 6, 2012 at 10:02 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.