Wintersong - Sarah McLachlan (Acoustic)

Chris, Missing you this Christmas....

*REMEMBERING CHRIS TODAY AND ALWAYS*~JULY 29, 2009~

December 14, 2008

This stone was placed in the Walk of Faith at Pantego Bible Church. Our wonderful church family surprised us with this special gift to honor Chris just two days after his birthday. We were surrounded by our most cherished friends. As I looked around at the crowd, I remembered the special roles each of them played in "our story". Thank You Duff Community Group for missing Chris with us and for remembering him. We will never forget this day.

Love ~ Mandy, Cody, Justin and Allison

Update on The Joyce Family 7-29-08
It is so hard to believe that a year has gone by since Chris went to be with Jesus. In some ways, it feels like forever. Yet, the memories make it feel like yesterday. It has been a year of trusting God to get us through each day as we faced many “firsts” without Chris. .I am happy to report that our home is still filled with joy and laughter everyday. We also cry together at times when we miss him and wish he was here to share our experiences. The most important thing I would like to share with you is how God has provided EVERY need along the way. If I ever felt any concern about how we would cope, God always amazed me with His provision, in every area. The miracles along the way are countless, so I just continuously give Him the glory for all He has done for our family.
We have accomplished a lot this past year… Cody survived his first year of high school and has also started driving! He has become a very talented guitar player and even plays in the youth band at church this summer. He misses Chris and all of the plans they had together, but I have been so amazed watching him. He is so incredibly smart and I see him acting out the things Chris taught him everyday. He is a big help around the house. He knows how to fix most everything. He has really become a big role model to the little kids. He spends a lot of time with them and I love the influence he has in their lives.
Justin finished first grade and is also now a green belt in karate! Karate has been one of the best choices I have made. It has really boosted his self confidence and has helped him to focus on a goal. He breezed through 1st grade, making excellent grades and reading VERY well. He loves cars and guitars, like his brother. He is going to play flag football this fall. I know Chris will be cheering him on up there.
Allison finished Kindergarten. She had her first dance recital this year and was absolutely precious. She’s got moves! She loves to sing and dance… it’s mostly all she does! She also takes gymnastics and is quite a little artist too. She loves to make people happy with her drawings. She is planning to take piano lessons in the fall. She’s picked up a little at home already and I think she’s gonna have a knack for it. She probably misses Chris the most. She definitely shows the most emotion, but I love this about her.
The most wonderful news I have to share about the kids is that Justin and Allison both asked Jesus into their hearts! They have learned so much about God’s love and the importance of having a relationship with Him. This was the most important decision they will ever make and I am so proud of them.
I spent many months tying up loose end with business and legal stuff. This was exhausting, but I could’ve never made it through without a few particular people (you know who you are). In the beginning, I looked at the bills, taxes, etc. and thought I could never do this alone. As time has gone by, I have become quite a pro at it and have accomplished a lot and have a system that works well for me. My biggest accomplishment was getting my GED. I have wanted to do this for 15 years and finally did! It was everything I dreaded it would be, but I had amazing support from my mom and so many others. I am currently preparing to go to school in the fall, possibly for a degree in Social Work. This will be one of the biggest challenges of my life, but I’m gonna go for it! Please pray that God will open and close doors where needed. At the beginning of the summer, I went through a short season of fatigue and incredible sadness, but God renewed my strength and filled my heart with joy again. I still think about Chris all day long, everyday, but I find so much joy and peace in the memories I have and how I still feel him loving me through our children and the way he provided for us.
Please continue to pray for the whole Joyce family as we continue to move forward. How can I ever thank you all for your love and support this past year? I never felt alone. I will always love you and will never forget.
To Chris… we remember you today and always. We love you more than words can say.

Love,
Mandy

Remembering Chris on Father’s Day… Justin, Allison and their cousins,
Savanna and Reece wrote notes to Chris and put them in balloons to send off
to the sky. We watched them float away until they were so high, we could no
longer see them. Missing Chris on this father’s day and everyday.
~ Mandy,
Cody, Justin and Allison

DON"T CRY BECAUSE IT IS OVER...
SMILE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED.
Dr. Seuss

Remembering Chris

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below

with tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular; please wipe away that tear,

for I am spending Christmas with Jesus this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,

but the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,

for it's beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me. I see the pain inside your heart,

but I am not so far away. We really aren't apart.

So, be happy for me dear ones, for you know I'm spending Christmas with Jesus this year.

I send you each a special gift from my heavenly home above:

"My undying love!"

After all, "love" is the gift more precious than pure gold.

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other as my Father said to do,

for I can't count the many blessings or love He has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.

Remember, I'm spending Christmas with Jesus this year.

---

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been a couple of hard weeks for us and many of you have been so thoughtful with calls and e-mails. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers while we go through our first holiday season without Chris. I think that we had been doing pretty well, until Thanksgiving week. The holidays and cold weather seemed to bring loneliness and sadness that can only be filled by God’s love and the joy that my children bring me each day. There is almost always a pit in my stomach, as I wake up each day to face another day closer to Christmas without him. The events and activities of the season are so difficult to face without Chris close by. But, we are blessed and remember that he is in a beautiful place, spending Christmas with Jesus this year.

Please continue to pray for our family as we face all of these feelings that the holidays bring. As you can imagine, I have spent a lot of time trying to sort through our business matters and house projects, over the last few months. I have learned so much, thanks to the help of very special people that have walked me through each different obstacle. Please pray for me as I prepare for a court hearing Dec 11th to probate Chris’ will.

The last few weeks, our grieving has been increased, as we have experienced two deaths in the last week. Chris’ former boss, Ralph Luke, died of cancer on Thanksgiving Day. This happened very quickly and we were all so unprepared. Please pray for his wife, Beverly, and the staff of Accent Audio/ Video, during this time of loss. Ralph and Beverly were very important to Chris and a big part of our lives for a very long time. We took our favorite vacation with them several years ago, to Lake Tahoe. I cherish the memories we shared there.

We suffered another tremendous loss on Monday, Nov. 26^th. Chris’ brother, Jon and his wife Jennifer delivered a baby on Nov. 12^th. Caley Brianna was 2 1/2 months early and fought a hard fight and has gone to be with Jesus, due to complications caused by her premature birth. The family is overwhelmed and feel sadness unimaginable. Please pray for Jon and Jennifer and the whole Joyce family as we go through this difficult time. I am comforted by knowing that Ralph and Caley are both with Chris, spending eternity with Jesus. I am sure their Christmas will be more beautiful than any here on Earth.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto your own understanding.

Thank you for your prayers,

Mandy

Chris' Memorial Video