Our Awesome Journey: Our Love Story

By Aimee Anderson and Albert Anderson

"Words do not seem adequate to describe my parents, Albert and Aimee Anderson.

You will love reading about my Dad and Mom's memories. I am so glad that Dad started writing before he became bedridden. You will be blessed beyond words as you read this book. (Debbie Chase)

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491870952

Aimee Anderson

Aimee Filan Anderson, daughter of Olaus and Minnie Filan, was born near Hay, Washington, in Whitman County and grew up on a wheat ranch. After high school graduation from Wa Hi in Walla Walla, Washington, she attended Northwest College in Kirkland, Washington. Albert Emmanuel Anderson, son of Albert and Hazel Anderson, was born near Crocker, South Dakota, in Clark County and graduated from Clark High School. In 1952, he graduated with a B.A. degree in Bible from Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. After graduation, he began evangelistic ministry. Albert married Aimee Filan, April 9, 1954, in Walla Walla, Washington. While on their honeymoon, he was ordained as an Assemblies of God (A/G) minister in his home church at Clark, South Dakota. With his wife, Aimee, they traveled together for almost three years, holding evangelistic meetings until taking their first church in February 1957 – shortly after their first child Deborah Dawn was born. Sectional District offices Albert has held: include Sunday School Representative, Youth Director, Camp Speaker, and Presbyter. On June 19, 1994, he resigned as pastor of the Ellensburg First Assembly of God, after a ten-year pastorate there.

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© 2014 Albert & Aimee Anderson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/21/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-7094-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-7095-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014904377

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Dedication

Special Thanks

Foreword

A Sacred Gift

Obituary

Extra Special Thanks

Peace

About The Authors

Some of Our Life Stories

MEMOIR

We pray that this book, OUR AWESOME JOURNEY, will be a blessing to you and inspire each one who reads it to a higher and nobler walk with the Lord!

Note: Stories in this book are real, but the quotes and words telling the stories are not always (word for word) the actual words that were spoken in the original conversations.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We express our profound appreciation and thanks to: Deborah Anderson Chase, for her gracious FOREWORD.

Most of all, with great thankfulness we acknowledge the profound and eternal truths from the Inspired Word of God, the Holy Bible and the Old Gospel Hymns. The main source of Scripture quotations used in this book is from the King James Version of the Bible.

DEDICATION

We dedicate this book,

OUR AWESOME JOURNEY

To: our wonderful Heavenly Father who has always been and is so faithful and gracious to us.

And, to all of our precious children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren!

This book,

OUR AWESOME JOURNEY,

Is

In memory of:

Albert Emmanuel Anderson, Junior

January 13, 1930 – March 9, 2013

Albert & Aimee married, April 9, 1954

18.jpg

Albert and Aimee Anderson

SPECIAL THANKS

To our wonderful Heavenly Father: for His faithful, loving, patient, and persistent dealings in our lives to make us more like Him. In addition, we give our Lord a special great big heart-felt thanks for the Holy Word of God, and the eternal and everlasting principles of faith, hope, and love contained therein that daily inspire and guide us in paths of righteousness.

To our parents: Olaus and Minnie Filan (Aimee’s deceased father and mother) and Albert and Hazel Anderson (Albert’s deceased father and mother). We are grateful to the Lord for the godly influence our parents exerted on us. We consider ourselves blessed and enriched. We are thankful for our heritage; knowing our parents are at home with the Lord.

To our dear precious children: daughter Deborah and her husband Larry, daughter Rebecca and her husband David, daughter Mary and her husband Joseph, daughter Eunice and her husband Mike, son Mark, and son Jonathan, who continue to give their love and encouragement to us. Our hearts are full to over-flowing with love for all of our precious children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

To our (25) twenty-five precious grandchildren: Larissa and her husband David, Matthew and his wife Jasmine, Charity and her husband Tyler, Starr and her husband Sean, Benjamin and his wife Katie, Tyler, John, Jordan, Joseph, Jameson, Kendrin, Emil and his wife Alicia, Kristina, Breanna, Ali, Zack, Jordan, Zackary, and Alexa who also continue to give us so much joy and love.

To our (12) twelve precious great grandchildren: Tristan, Heston, AimeLyn, Smantha, Tucker, Rena, Nora, Sophia, Amelia, Lucas, Hailey, and Ethan Emmanuel (Born, November, 2013). Larissa, our granddaughter and David, named his middle name, Emmanuel (God with us) after his great grandfather, my husband, Albert Emmanuel Anderson. I am so thrilled and delighted to receive this beautiful gift of love straight from Heaven, especially at this time, almost eight (8) months after my own darling husband has gone home to Heaven; God gives us back, another gift from Heaven, to remind me that God is still with us. All of my great grandchildren continue to thrill and delight me with their love and beauty. Now I have one more name to add to my daily prayer list. I love it! Thank you Lord God for my precious family; these gifts of love!

And, finally, as husband(deceased 3/9/13) and wife, we express extra special thanks and gratitude to each other for the constant inspiration, encouragement, earnest prayers, loyalty, faithfulness, and devoted love we received from each other as husband and wife for (almost 59 years awesome years) fifty eight years and eleven months.

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD; and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

(Psalm 127:3-5)

FOREWORD

Words do not seem adequate to describe my parents, Albert and Aimee Anderson. I grew up calling them Dad and Mom – if I were to do it all over again – I probably would have called them Daddy and Mommy – more endearing and tender. I feel blessed to have them as my parents, that God selected me! They taught me to love to work – because any work we did was always fun. I believe it was because they never complained about work. Dad LOVED providing for his family – he felt it was an honor. Mom loved her job – which I believe is the best job in the world – being Wife and Mother! I loved being a pastor’s daughter – even though there were times that were not as much fun – I still felt honored to be a pastor’s daughter!

Now that Dad is no longer with us here on earth – all we have is memories. His childhood, his love story, his ministry, being a father, being a husband – everything he did in life he gave 100%. More importantly – he loved his Lord more than anything!! It showed in everything he did and said. Mom is here to carry on the legacy that he left behind. They are and will be the most wonderful mother and father ever – kind, gentle, caring, loving, tender, forgiving – examples of Christ’s love; faithful to each other, and their family, Pastoral, special, outstanding parents, leaders, teachers, and I could use so many more adjectives to describe them. You will love reading about my Dad and Mom’s memories. I am so glad that Dad started writing before he became bedridden. You will be blessed beyond words as you read this book. Treasure your family – love your spouse – love your children – enjoy life – and most importantly – serve God each and every day he gives you!! I love you Mom and Dad – your eldest child: Deborah Dawn Anderson Chase.

* * * * * * * * * *

(2013) This is the first Father’s Day without my Daddy!! He is so missed. He taught me so much – most importantly my faith in Jesus Christ, to forgive, to say I am sorry, please, and, thank you, my work ethic, turn the other cheek, leading by example, his unconditional love for his Savior, and his undying love for Mom!!! What a wonderful man of God – I miss you SO much – but I am so thankful you Have a Heavenly body, and you are worshiping at the feet of Jesus!! I am so blessed that you were MY Dad!! I love you and miss you!! Your eldest child: Deborah Dawn Anderson Chase.

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.

(Psalm 139:1-6)

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand hold me.

(Psalm 139:9-10)

We now begin the exciting,

Mysterious, Romantic

Love Story

of:

Albert Emmanuel Anderson, Jr.

and

Aimee Filan Anderson

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

(Psalm 63:1-5)

HE WAS THERE

ALL THE TIME

IN OUR

AWESOME

MIRACULOUS

JOURNEY OF

FAITH

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. (Psalm 128:3-4)

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:4-5)

ALBERT

1930

THIS PRECIOUS BABY BOY

IS A BUNDLE

OF

LIFE and LOVE and ADVENTURE!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

AIMEE

1935

THIS PRECIOUS BABY GIRL

IS A BUNDLE

OF

LIFE and LOVE and CURIOSITY!

FEARFULLY

AND

WONDERFULLY

MADE

A SACRED GIFT

Human life is a sacred gift from God. Before birth, while yet in the womb, God is watching over that conceived life from the very beginning of conception. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 140:13-14)

The living God has an infinite longing that every eternal soul shall love and have fellowship with Him. The greatest proof of this is seen in God giving His only Son to be the sin bearer for whosoever will. Tragically, multitudes choose not to respond to the loving desire and plan of God for their lives and their children. Parents, extended family members, culture and local society make their claim on a new life in the womb and / or they make their claim on a newborn babe even before that child can understand and make a personal choice; the adults have already chosen to destroy or save, love and nurture that little life as a gift from God.

How wonderful then for a child to be born into a family that deeply loves and serves God. Where daily prayer and Bible reading is not reserved only for times of trouble and anguish, but is as regular as three meals each day.

Albert and Aimee were born into two different homes, several States between, and several years apart, but, both homes honored God with daily Bible reading, prayer, and regular weekly church attendance.

It is a mystery how God molds and shapes two different lives; preparing them for the beautiful Marriage relationship that was originally ordained by God, Himself. When these two lives meet, get acquainted, marry each other in Holy matrimony, and become one in the Lord, it truly is awesome and wonderful. It is very inspiring to others when they continue to daily honor the Lord; loving each other as husband and wife, as Christ loves the Church, and, by loving example, teaching their children to honor the Lord as well. Them that honor me, I will honor.

Albert Anderson and Aimee Filan were a perfect match, made and developed for each other by the perfect match maker, God in Heaven.

There was a beautiful little baby boy named, Albert Emmanuel Anderson Jr., a masculine name meaning bright through nobility. God ordained that Albert should be born (1930) into a family that sought to honor God every day in all things. God’s Word and prayer were as much a part of the day as three good meals. Only God could know how important prayer and daily commitment to His keeping would be in the life of this child.

Albert was not born in a hospital or doctor’s office. In fact, a snowstorm in the month of January almost prevented the doctor from arriving at the farm home to assist in the delivery. But God was present while another eternal soul entered this world.

An unmarried sister of my mother was giving assistance in our home for some time following my birth. The January days were cold, thus my baby bassinet had been placed near the coal-fired heater for warmth. Heat is wonderful in proper amount but too much can be painful even for a baby. My discomfort from too many blankets plus heat from the stove was soon expressed by loud wails. However – it was believed – a newborn baby must be taught not to cry merely to get attention. Apparently my Aunt so reasoned. But the crying continued and increased in volume, until my mother decided to act on her instincts. The frightening discovery informed everyone that I was burning up from the heat. How wonderful to have a loving, caring mother!

Another incident, of which I have only the faintest recollection, was an incredible miracle. At about six years of age (I had not yet started school), one cold winter day, my father and grandfather were pumping water into a wagon tank. Picture, if you will, a half circle seated not on the flat portion but on the oval. The wagon tank my grandfather had made was eight feet long and formed by solid 2 x 4’s attached together in tongue and groove, thus making it leak proof. This tank, which would hold hundreds of gallons of water, was placed on a steel-wheeled wagon. The four wheels were about six inches wide, at least three feet in diameter and formed part of the chassis pulled by a team of horses. Thus, the chassis and empty tank weighed hundreds of pounds. There was a hand pump placed on the flat top of the tank with a large hose placed in the water of the well. While operating the hand pump the water from the well was transferred from the well to the wagon tank above. Midway through the process, my grandfather, while looking into the open well, saw a garter snake swimming in the water below. He called for me to come and see the snake. I kneeled down beside my grandfather with my legs near the left rear wheel of the wagon. Without explanation and for no apparent reason, the horses suddenly pushed the wagon backwards causing the steel wheel to run over both my legs resting on the frozen ground. Before either my father or grandfather could stop the horses, they immediately proceeded to pull the wagon forward over my legs the second time. My father and grandfather cried out in anguish and both began crying and praying for God to touch and heal me. After picking me up in their arms and quickly pulling the hose out of the well, they immediately started for home, about a half mile away. They were praying all the way.

Upon arriving at our home I was placed on a chair in front of the open oven door of the kitchen range, while continued prayer was made in my behalf. No doctor was called, nor was I taken to a hospital. The eternal living God performed an incredible miracle as my legs were not crushed, nor broken. Only God could perform that which transpired that day. He alone is deserving of all the glory, thanks and praise!

One summer day, before I started grade school, I was with my father as he mowed hay with a horse drawn mower. For some reason we had a steel tined pitchfork with us in the field. While my father drove around the field mowing, I was having fun gathering hay into small piles. Upon becoming weary of this childish pleasure I decided to stick the pitch-fork into the ground, sit on a nearby rock, and wait for my father to return. In childish abandon and recklessness I drove the pitchfork into the ground. But there was one problem. My foot was between the fork tines and the ground. One of the steel tines went all the way through my foot and into the ground as well. I finally pulled the tines out of the ground as well as my foot. I then sat on the rock while painting it red with my blood. When my father returned he put me on his lap and drove home where my mother poured iodine into my wound and bandaged it up. After some days I was as good as new! No doubt due to the fact that, once again, prayer had been made in my behalf!

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

(Psalm 127:3)

A beautiful little baby girl, named Aimee Donalda Filan (name meaning beloved), was born (1935) at home, into a family that sought to honor God every day in all things. I (Aimee) was especially loved and appreciated because I brought a new song of joy and happiness to my Mother and Father. When my Mother was about five (5) months pregnant, while I was yet in my mother’s womb, my oldest brother, Donald, the eldest son and second child died.

The birth of baby Aimee, this beautiful gift of God, brought rejoicing and singing to Olaus and Minnie Filan, and helped to remove the sting and sorrow of death in the loss of their oldest son. My mother called me, Aimee, the bubbly one of their twelve children.

Minnie had already given birth to five sons and three daughters. The oldest son died when he was only ten (10) years old, about four (4) months before I was born. Thus, at this time of grief, the birth of a beautiful new baby daughter, named, Aimee, the ninth child, the fourth daughter, helped her parents’ (Olaus and Minnie) mourning and sorrow of death turn into the dawning of a beautiful new day. Olaus and Minnie, now had a perfect even number of children, four sons still living when Aimee was born and Aimee’s birth made four daughters.

Olaus and Minnie’s house was now full of eight lively children – including new-born baby Aimee. The oldest child was only eleven years old when Aimee was born. My parents loved their children, and between 1938 and 1941, my Mother gave birth to one more son, and two more daughters. Now our house was full of eleven (11) lively children: six (6) girls and five (5) boys. Throughout the years, I