Recipes for Living The Clay Andrew Family

Maeci didn't come to help write the story. She decided last night that she wanted to go home with her grandmother, Nancy Phillips, who lives in Truro. That is where Jodi grew up. She has a sister, Lori, five years older than she, and a younger brother, Ryan, who is six years younger.

Jodi was born in Osceola, delivered by Dr. Jim Kimball on December 9, 1975. Her parents are Nancy and Terry Phillips. Terry has always lived near Truro. Nancy was originally from Albert City, Iowa. They farmed and Nancy has been a nurse at Clarke County Hospital for over 30 years. Terry continues to farm and is also a custodian at Interstate 35 School.

Jodi remembers going to Sunshine Comer in the summers. It was on the corner of Park and Grace where a greenhouse used to be. She also remembers spending lots and lots of time with her dad at the farm year round. Other than that and breaking her arm when she fell off the side of a slide when she was three, Jodi doesn't recall anything of note that happened until she started to school in the fall of 1981.

Jodi does say, however, that for as long as she can remember, she always went to church. She began at the Truro United Methodist, where she attended Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, and youth group as well as worship services. "This is a very important part of my week. It is refreshing! I feel so much better for having gone. My grandpa died of a brain tumor a couple of years ago. During that time and even before then, I have believed that when tragedy strikes, you need to have something positive to fall back on, to help you cope. And when things are going very well, I can't think of a more positive, uplifting experience than attending a wonderful church with great people to help you through everyday events."

During her school years, Jodi was in the St. Charles school building from kindergarten through sixth grade, in the New Virginia building for seventh and eighth grades, and in Truro from ninth grade through the twelfth. Mrs. Lorenzen, who taught third grade, was her favorite teacher. She lived across the street from the Phillips and would often pick Jodi up and give her a ride to school instead of her riding the bus. She was a really good, patient teacher, but probably the primary reason Jodi remembers her was the personal relationship they had.

Jodi played volley ball beginning in junior high, and was cheerleader for the wrestling team. She was in chorus and played flute in the band. Jodi was active in 4-H with sewing, baking, and woodworking projects, along with showing cows. When she turned 16, she began working at Hy-Vee. She did this during high school and on weekends during college, first at the check-out counter, and then in Customer Service.

Jodi graduated in 1994 and went for 1 ½ years to AIB (American Institute of Business) for a General Business course. She and a good friend from Murray, Kim Lukazewski, lived in an apartment, and Jodi worked for an ophthalmologist whose office was near Mercy Hospital.

When she had completed her course as AIB, Jodi moved back home and began working at Benson Company who had a crop insurance business and travel agency on the square in Osceola. Crop insurance was her main job, which was very interesting. They insured some of the local crops - corn, soybeans, oats, and some wheat-but primarily she worked for Green Giant insuring specialty crops- sweet com and green peas grown in Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York and Idaho. The company preferred not having to deal with a number of different offices and determined that for overseeing and to simplify billing, it was best to put all their business in one agency. Brad Benson made the connection. Jodi was there for four years and never saw any of the 0een Giant insured. All transactions were done by mail and phone. In 1998 Brad sold the building to Brenda Hoffman and conducted business out of his home. In 2000 Brenda moved the business to Albia.

In August 1995, Kim introduced Jodi and Clay Andrew. Kim's boyfriend and Clay had attended Clarke Community High School and had become really good friends. Jodi pretty much knew right away that Clay was a good guy. They began dating, going to movies and out to eat. Both have families that are really close and they spent a lot of time with family events.

Clay is the son of Randall and Linda Andrew and he grew up with two brothers and one sister-Rick, Rod and Jeana. Rick married Nicki Hodges and they have two children, Taylor and Sara. Rod married Andrea Hanson. They also have two children, Haley and Sydney. Jeana married Dan DeRoos. They live in Iowa City where Jeana is a nurse at University Hospital. Dan is a news reporter for a TV station in Cedar Rapids.

In 1985 the Andrew family purchased Underwood Auto Supply, and Linda operates that business. Randall continues the company he inherited from his father, Ralph, with whom Randall worked while Ralph was living. Rick and Clay work with Randall in Andrew Construction Company. Rod and Andrea live in Ankeny. Rod works for UPS (United Parcel Service) and also does some contracting work. Andrea works at the Hallmark store in Ankeny.

The family events often include the two grandmothers, both widowed. Clay's grandmother, Rayola Andrew, is well known to the Osceola United Methodist congregation. Her story is in the 1998 (purple cover) Recipes for Living. She lives at B & B Guest Home on West Cass and his maternal grandmother, Mary Morris, lives at Harvest Apartments on South Fillmore.

Clay and Jodi were married by Rev. Louk on Oct. 11, 1997 at a 5:00 ceremony in the United Methodist Church in Osceola. Jodi had five bridesmaids, and Clay five groomsmen. Lori Henrichs was Matron of Honor; the other attendants were Becki Brommel from St. Charles, Kim Lukazewski, Lyndsay Burhans from St. Charles, and Jeana Andrew. Groomsmen were Travis Wright, Rick and Rod Andrew, Ryan Phillips, and Eric Lange. The flower girl was Sydney Andrew; and there were additionally two honorary flower girls -Kara Henrichs and Sara Andrew. The ring bearer was Taylor Andrew. The reception was held at the Osceola Country Club, and the honeymoon trip was to Mackinaw Island in Michigan.

Clay and Jodi actually began building their house months before they were married. They lived in Rayola's house for about seven months, and moved into their own home on the weekend of Memorial Day in 1998. "Clay pretty much built 1he house all by himself. We looked in books at different plans and he made the decision of which house to build. It is one-story on a finished basement, where Clay has his office. There are three bedrooms, a kitchen and living room, two bathrooms upstairs and one in the basement."

Between the time that Jodi quit working for Brad Benson and went to work at Seabury and Smith, Maeci was born. Maeci Rayann came into the world August 14, 2000. She made her entrance at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines at 12:19 p.m. She weighed in at five pounds, 15 ounces, 18 3/4 inches long. She is now almost two, very active, very bright, and is lots and lots of fun. She loves to be outside and go for walks. She loves the water so last summer (2001), she and Jodi spent a lot of time swimming at the Osceola pool.

Jodi was home with Maeci for three months, and from that time Vera Boggs has been her sitter. Jodi and Clay were delighted to find her. She is a little older than some sitters and has five other children for whom she sits. She has structure for the children, and not only does Jodi appreciate that, but she believes the children do also. Boundaries give them a sense of security.

At this time, Jodi feels that her life is complete. She realizes that she could be more neighborly with those who live around them, her correspondence could be improved upon, but she wants to spend every minute she can with her family. There will probably come a time when there will be other diversions for the different members, but right now is a precious opportunity and she realizes that it passes quickly and then is "so gone!"

Jodi's favorite activities are walking, swimming, and reading when she can find time... Clay hunts deer, and is very involved with the Osceola Volunteer Fire Department. He has limited participation because of surgery on each hip when he was about 16 years old. However, he is notified by his pager when he is needed. He enjoys watching NASCAR racing on TV, which Jodi has a delightful way of describing. Clay has gone to several races in Michigan. He played some golf in high school and may do more of that when he has more time. The State Fair offers a family opportunity. Each summer Linda and Randall camp there, and Clay and family usually spend the weekends with them.

Jodi is raising Maeci to attend church with her just as happened when she was little. Her hope is to raise Maeci with the values and morals that Jodi was raised with. Hopefully, she will live a Christian life, which has proven for Jodi to be the most rewarding.