Joel's Journey

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

a great week!

Have a great week "reflecting" Jesus!!!!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

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!!!!

He is Risen!!

Happy Easter!! May your day be blessed as we think about our Jesus!!
{Caleb, Daniel and Bethany}

Friday, April 6, 2012

Good Friday!!

Happy good Friday!!! Easter is my favorite happening!! It is the "hope" I have to see Joel again! Christ is alive!!! He is risen!!! Joel is alive!! Death does not hold him in the grave! So grateful that in the midst of still missing him, I have a hopeful anticipation of seeing him again!! In the meanwhile, life is good, a blessing and so thankful for my children and my husband!! I love this photo Anna took of Jeremiah and Josiah! Just simply, enjoying life!!! May we all live life like a child, full and free for His glory!! Have a wonderful Resurrection day!!!!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

friday fotos!!

Thought I would post s few photo even though it's only Thursday! Grocery day tomorrow so I wont have a moment to spare.... it's an all day affair!!!

So here goes....she has to spend her money, I guess she likes princess dolls, planting corn and green beans, ironing at a wedding venue, Sunday, sandals, sunny, goodnight moon, hurry back blue sunny skies, my breakfast, shoe shopping, working in the flower beds, rainbows and promises, late game night with a cowboy, a perfect rose, had to get "moving" to get donuts for a certain 14yo son, a garden salad, an Easter dress, and she is definitely a big "ham!!"

Have a blessed weekend!!

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.