December 25, 2017 will be here before we know it, and I know this year will unknowingly be a much harder Christmas for our family, as it will be the first without my sweet Joel.
In an effort to bring light to the darkened places of my heart, I came up with the idea of creating a memorial tree…all about my precious husband! You can read the full details here.
Many of you have asked about the list of categories I referenced in the original post, and I thought it would be easier to create a temporary page to help make it quicker to find…hence this new Joel’s Tree page. Each of the categories below are simply suggestions. They are all things that to relate to my love in one way, shape, or another. However, if you have an idea for an ornament you’d like to contribute and don’t find it on the list below…that’s okay too! Just allow God to guide you.
I have already started receiving precious ornament donations for the Joel’s tree in the mail. It’s never to soon to send them in. Actually, the earlier the better.
If you would like to participate in this special project with our family this year, simply email me at [email protected] and ask me for our mailing address, and I’ll be sure to reply right away. I can’t wait to see how God moves through His people!
Category suggestions:
- Kayaking
- Hiking
- Outdoorsman
- Grandpa with kids
- Dad with kids
- Coach
- Carolina Panthers
- Dallas Cowboys (his childhood favorite team)
- Carolina Tarheels
- High Point, NC
- Beach
- Bulgaria
- Woodworking
- J – initial ornaments
- Jesus – Cross
- Bible
- Hospital worker (scrubs)
- Radiation therapist
- Ping pong
- Pool table, cue sticks, etc.
- Horses
- Horseback riding
- Cows
- Cowboy
- Farmer
- Country boy
- Marines (Joel and his dad)
- Air Force (Joel’s son, Justin)
- The number 15 to represent his 9 children, 2 children-in-love, 2 grandbabies, Joel, and Leah!
- Family – names or initials of his wife and children (Leah, Amy, Wes, Noelle, Micah, Justin, Virginia, Caleb, Anna, Aaron, Josiah, Katerina, Benjamin, and Austyn)
- Skydiver
- Jesse – baby in Heaven
- Sports
- Bible verses
- Orphans
- Photo ornaments with his picture
- Personalized ornaments with his name
- AWANA (he was AWANA Commander and very active when his bio children were younger)