I found this letter folded into the pages of a used book I bought at a garage sale on the weekend:
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December 17, 2003
The Andersons’ 2003 Christmas Praise Letter
Praises for our Precious Savior as we reflect on His birth!
Psalm 37:25 – “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”
I write our Christmas letter this year as we ride along in our van. Around me are God’s majestic mountains of Tennessee. The sun is shinning brightly, the sky is blue and the beautiful carols of the season make for a holy background. The children’s voices are happy and excited as we anticipate our arrival at home in Michigan later tonight.
What an exciting year we have had! From God’s call to career missions on February 23rd till now, The Lord has been blessing, encouraging, and working in us all to change us into His image and prepare us for service in Australia.
Bobby has completed his certification to be a car salesman and hopes to soon be selling for a company in Kalamazoo or Paw Paw. He enjoyed several months of work for a game reserve and quickly adjusted to sleeping at night and being awake during the day.
We knew Jeremiah would likely be involved in a conflict in Iraq or Korea this year. We eventually received a call from him saying he was on his way to Kuwait and then on to Iraq. On November 23rd, Jeremiah’s 20th birthday, he would no longer be able to send or receive mail and would soon be moving across the border into Iraq.
We pray for him every day and trust him to The Lord’s care.
Jesse is now 16 and looking forward to getting his driver’s license. He is improving every week on his guitar and enjoys reading USA Today, as we travel. He is out throwing the football with the boys at rest stops.
Lois is doing a nice job on both the piano and violin. She seems to carry her gift of hospitality on the road and helps me so much by making beds, loading people’s dishwashers and just helping keep things picked up.
Timothy is a quiet traveler. He enjoys taking violin lessons and learning guitar chords. He has set up tents in the back of the van, played lots of tic-tae-toe and hangman and is becoming a nice young man.
Andy is really doing a great job of learning geography both in America and around the globe. He loves to stop at roadside rests and be rowdy!
Andrea has adjusted nicely and seems to like the adventure of meeting new people. She loves to eat Pepperidge Farm Goldfish.
We can never say enough about our Savior and His goodness to us. We praise Him for reaching down and touching our hearts and leading us to salvation. We praise Him for the sacrifice of His only Son. We praise Him for His love and watch care over our lives. We praise Him for revealing Himself to us more and more through creation, fellowship, prayer and His Word. May our Wonderful Heavenly Father bless and encourage you and please send our Jeremiah home safely into our arms.
For His Glory,
The Anderson Family