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