Joel's Journey: advent!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

advent!

I have always thought an Advent Calendar would be fun but I have never done one with the family. I decided to this year since I thought of it before Dec 1!!! I really just came up with my own thing so to speak. I decided to get 25 red envelopes and write the numbers 1-25 on them plus i added a little twine for a decorative look and inside each one is a little paper that gives the evenings surprise in it. It could be an activity, a place to go, a craft, a small gift, and so on! I guess whoever is here in the evenings will get to participate!! Haha!! It's probably more for the 6 younger ones but the older ones will certainly enjoy most of the things listed in each envelope!!! (but most likely they won't be here in the evenings!) hopefully I can share our advent days with you!!

I think I have about everything as far as getting our home all cheer-eeeee done!!!! It is a merry place for us all to gather together! I love decorating and especially at Christmas!!

What are some of your Christmas traditions?

3 comments:

Vanderpolclan said...: I have done this the last few years and the kids love it. They already asked if I was ready for it yet.

We are also starting a new tradition of one envelope for helping others, or sending cheer to others. We'll see how that goes.

Cindy; November 30, 2012 at 7:25 AM
Zimms Zoo said...: We have done advent calendars several years. Some with chocolates or other kids of candies. But last year we started doing things for others each day. This year we are doing Light em up. It is an awesome idea. We brainstormed with the kids with her ideas and have it mostly ready to go. We are also using the names of God advent chain.
http://lillightomine.com/light-em-up-2012.php this is the link to the printables. you can read her story as well. pretty cool. But I really love her no-guilt mom pledge for doing the advent calendar. I always have big plans and then get side tracked. :); December 1, 2012 at 4:50 PM
Teena said...: I should of come here and read before asking you all over fb what you are doing! So sorry. Love your idea. We read an Advent story (Jotham's Journey series) during the day and do an Advent study (how they celebrate in other countries, craft etc. I like your ideas. I love the red envelops! Love your posts.

Much love; December 3, 2012 at 8:28 PM

Post a Comment

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.