Hi All,

We awoke to birds singing, dew on the grass, and beautiful, wonderful SUNSHINE!! It’s been a bit cold and rainy the last few days, but promise of warmer temps today have me pumped!

Yesterday my baby turned THREE years old. Oh my gosh—as she says! She is turning into such a big girl—-fully potty trained now for a few months and FINALLY no more bottle nipples to suck on! God knew I couldn’t “lose” it for her, so He arranged for me to lose it for real. It only took one night of very little sadness and one morning asking Aunt Jeanie if it was at her house. That was the END of it!!!! I can’t believe it! She was more ready than I could imagine. PTL. Such a freedom for both of us.

God continues to show Himself mighty to me and my family. After much trauma and drama, I was finally successful in moving Amanda (12 yr old) out here with Anna and I. It is a blessing for all of us. She is a beautiful girl who needs a mother whether she wants one or not! We’re doing great and living each day in praise and thanksgiving to our God who is designing our lives. We are so blessed.

I pray all of you are living in the sunshine of his love and enjoying each day to the fullest. Love to all of you out there.

Sorry I missed your birthday my pal John!!! I thought of you all day and prayed for you.

Take care and see you at the wedding! Our lives are entangled with visions, dreams, plans, nerves, excitement as time rushes by! It will be the event of the year—at least if we have anything to say about it!!!

Good morning All,

What a beautiful, rainy, blessed day here in my hometown—Muscatine. Do I miss purple mountains majesty, you betcha. BUT GOD—I love that phrase—but God has planned for me to be in wonderful, buggy, humid, family-filled Iowa at this time in my life. I can only say, Praise the Lord for guidance, assurance, and most of all PEACE that passes my understanding.

How can I be more blessed??? Didn’t think it could happen, but I’m continuing to be reminded that every step is a new adventure. Oh my gosh! ALASKA!!!! How can this be happening? Only in the tapestry of my life designed by God Almighty. The scripture talks about blessings that we cannot even imagine—this is one of them. A sister who prayed to be able to share this cruise with ME—-and God answered even before we spoke. What a mighty God we serve.

This year of surprises, disappointments, shock, confusion, anger, etc. etc. is not a surprise to my Lord. I am so thankful for the years of trust in Him that has brought me to this time. His anchor is my stability and sanity. His anchor is lined with all of you—especially Jeanie and her family, Donna, and Doris. What love He has for His family.

Anna and I love you so much.

“Hello everyone. We had hoped and it even looked like the spot on Jackson’s lungs would not be cancer. But, after surgery to remove the spot we have now discovered that indeed it is a recurrence of the anaplastic wilms tumor. I just want to ask you all to continue praying for healing. We need a miracle more than ever now. The experimental drug had no effect on the cancer. So, now we will return to St. Jude Hospital on Monday to find out what the plan is for Jackson. Thanks.”

This is from a close family friend:

“I just wanted to also convey, that this was a real answer to prayer. The doctors originally told John that there was basically no chance (they said 2%) that the spot was anything other than cancer (hence, they started chemo right away). Also, the other real miracle is there are no other spots that showed up on the scan. As a result, the doctors have concluded that the spot was not cancer because typically when a Wilms tumor comes back, it spreads throughout the body. I have concluded that God is awesome, all-powerful, and answers prayers. While the doctors are not sure what the spot is yet, and will not be until after they remove it, I continue to have faith and believe that God has healed Jackson, and that there is no cancer in his body anymore (though the doctors are still being very cautious with their prognosis). I am still praying for Jackson, but they are prayers filled with thanksgiving and redoubled confidence. Thank you for your prayers, and for continuing to pray for Jackson. He still has a long way to go, but I know God’s hand is on him.”

Hey, I want to thank all you guys who have been keeping our little nephew Jackson in your prayers and provide you with a little update. After his last 10 day round of chemo, Jackson spent a week at home (with a short side trip to the hospital for a transfusion). Today Jackson went back to St. Jude’s for another scan. The scan revealed that the small spot that had caused the concern between Jackson’s heart and lungs was the same size as when they started the chemo. This leads the doctors to believe that the spot is not cancer. The doctors believe that if the spot were cancer it would have either shrunk in response to the chemo or would have grown as cancer cells do. The doctors plan to do a biopsy of the spot this week. The doctors’ analysis is very good news and God gets all the glory. The surgery planned for this week is dangerous as we are talking about a 4 year old and his little heart and lung. Jackson’s dad John asks that we all keep Jackson close in our prayers this week that he will have a safe surgery and the biopsy will show no cancer.

Thanks guys,
Andi

Joe & I are just back from a weekend in Memphis visiting Joe’s sister, her husband, our nephew Jacson & three other nieces & nephews who were staying at the Grizzly House on the campus of St. Jude’s Hospital. Some of you have been asking about Jackson, so I wanted to give you a brief update. He just finished up 10 rounds of chemo today and is heading home for two weeks. He is really doing pretty well and had fun playing with his siblings, going to the zoo, etc. while we were in town. While we were there, his dad John started up a website for Jackson. You can keep track of God’s good works at: www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacksonroberts.

Thanks for being faithful in your prayers.

Love, Andi

Joe & I have a little nephew named Jackson. He lives in Tennessee. He is 4 years old. His mom is Kim — Joe’s little sister (my age — very young!) and his dad is John. Jackson has a little brother Sean and two little sisters — Lilly Joy & Eden Olivia. Jackson is very sweet. Last Easter when he was visiting in Texas, doctors found a tumor on Jackson’s kidney. The kidney was removed and Jackson underwent Chemotherapy until September. Today we learned that doctors have found little spots behind Jackson’s lungs and heart. Jackson begins treatment again on Thursday. Jackson’s family needs your prayers and your belief for Jackson’s complete healing.

God’s promises are awesome. Here are just a few: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17). “[T]hey that seek the Lord shall not want (for) any good thing” (Psalms 34:10). “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). “By his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5). “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16). “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be[bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matt 18:18). “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (Luke 10:19). “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matt 7:7-8). “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:19). “[T]hrough Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). “For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and of sound-mind.” (2 Tim 1:7). “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:29).

Please take a minute to pray for Jackson and his family and believe that he is well.

Thanks,
Andi

Rob & Kristin are proud to announce the birth of their new little girl: Faith Robin Frieden.
Everyone is healthy & doing well.
Praise the Lord!! A happy day.

I ran across this poem in a newsletter I received. It touched my heart. I hope it touches yours!

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 Christ 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 is beyond description, to hear the angels sing. I know how much you miss me, I see pain in your heart, but I am not so far away, we really aren’t apart. So be happy for me dear ones, you know I hold you dear, and be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I send you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above. I send you each a memory of 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 blessings of love, he has for each of you.

So, have a Merry Christmas, and wipe away that tear. Remember, I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Sounds like everyone had a pretty good Thanksgiving. So glad to hear it. Hope everyone got a chance to do that all embarrassing circle around the table where everyone has to say what they are thankful for. Joe’s family made me do it. Hope somebody made you do it too. If you live in a world where someone doesn’t shame you into saying Thanks on Thanksgiving, I’m sorry. But here’s your chance. I gave my embarrassed head hung word of thanks in front of the whole in-laws family. It’s tradition, and my mom made lots of people do it over the years at our house, so it was my turn. But now that I’ve had a week to think about all the things I have to be thankful for this year, I figured I’d send it out into cyberspace, without everyone hungrily waiting for me to do it, ready to pounce on the Turkey and Cran, wondering if I’ll do the Huge No-No “skip me”. I really am very thankful this year. Maybe more than ever. Maybe because I’m older. Maybe because I now know better how important it is to remember how good life really is and how blessed we are to have it. I’m thankful for my parents. For loving me, for teaching me, for working together first, and for us second. I’m thankful God — and my parents — gave me built in best friends. For Michelle and her caring kind loving selfless bold sensitive tenacious protective loyal and giving way. For Jonathan my big little brother my roommate my friend my confidant and protector when times seemed too tough to go alone and someone who looks up to me and takes care of me at the very same time. For Robert and his good nature and hilarious dark humor his good taste in wives and his ability to act like he is doing nothing at all while silently carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. For Kristin who holds us all together without a complaint for loving us all like she’s known us forever and being one of us even when that is not a fun thing to be. For baby girl Frieden who I already love and who reminds me that we have so much good life ahead. For Liz. Sweet Liz. Heart of gold, spirit of fire, voice of an angel. My little Liz. My grown up friend. With a grown up life, helping me through grown up problems who is still just my sweet little Lizzie. For Benn, a rock, who would come over and wake up a brother and drive him where he needs to be and for loving Liz and letting her grow up into a beautiful independent woman… because I would keep her eight years old if I could. For Daniel. Dan the man, our baby boy with the ancient soul. genious. silent and strong. And for Isaac, our reminder that God does not make mistakes. I am thankful I get to work at the job I’ve wanted since I was 8, that I have been blessed to abundance, for so many friends and family, for the two spiral bound cookbooks in my cupboard holding the memories and reminders of my heritage (and keeping my family from starving to boot), for my puppies to love, for Joe’s family, for DVR (I can’t help it, DVR is fab). For my God and his sacrifice and the blessings of answered prayers every day in every thing I ask (whether I always know it right away or not, I know it always works). I’m so thankful for the promise that I don’t have to understand everything, because He does. And all things work together for good. For things so numerous I can barely count. And for my husband, my best friend, my enough.