So, I have been putting off writing this blog for an entire month. Don’t get me wrong, I have thought about what I want to say, which of my cache of witty remarks I want to include (because there are just so many to choose from), how to portray myself and the kind of first impression I want to make via my blog debut.
But every time I try to sit down and write this, I come to the same conclusions:
I long to love Jesus with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength, but I have a hard time keeping my eyes focused on Him.
I want to love my neighbor as myself, but a lot of times, I am really really selfish.
I don’t sign up for Starbucks rewards because I tell myself that if I don’t I wont go there as often (3 guesses as to where I am right now).
I sometimes wish people identified me as hipster, but truth be told, I love Taylor Swift and I eat processed food (and I like it!).
I desire clear communication and value honesty above almost anything else.
I want to live life deeply and squeeze every ounce of richness out of experiences but I often get caught up on surface level things that shouldn’t matter.
I struggle with legalism and I have control issues like you wouldn’t believe.
I am so practically minded that when I felt convicted to be more abstract for the sake of living a balanced life, I bought a book that would help me learn how to be abstract (which is fantastic, by the way. It’s called A Million Little Ways).
I want to live a life of meaning and adventure but I find myself paralyzed by fear more often than I would like to admit.
I’m just Bethany and the Lord is teaching me that that is enough.
Alright, alright. Enough of the mushy gushy stuff.
On a rainy Wednesday in mid-September, Frank and Teri Anderson welcomed into the world a 7lb 8oz, 21 inch long bundle of joy (that’s me!!). From that moment on, their lives would never be the same. A whole new dimension to the word/reality of ‘chaos’ was added as their third born took their world by storm. My older brother (Seth) and older sister (Hope) thought they had shown Frank the Tank and Teri Bear what it meant to be parents but I really think the addition of lil ol’ me really kicked things up a notch in the Anderson household.
Since the ‘rents are both employed by the school system, the opportunity for ruckus causing presented itself primarily in the summer months. Between 3 kids under the age of 16 having numerous consecutive days together at the house with nothing to do and (in)famous family vacations each summer, I have some of the weirdest/most awesome stories about family dynamic that the world might ever know. However, I also have one of the most solid foundations for my faith and possibly the best support network any person could ask for.
Today, my brother, Seth(Brudder!!) and sister-in-law, Sarah are living their happily ever after in Kansas City, MO.
My sister, Hope (Seeestar/sis!!), works at Mey Sen Academy in Sendai, Japan being her awesome professional adult self, traveling/conquering the world. In her time off from that she teaches English to the cutest 4 year olds EVER.
Ma and Pops live the dream in good ol’ Lubbock America (Texas) working and being Jesus to those they encounter on a regular basis.
So, that’s where I come from and what shaped ‘Bethany: The Early Years.’ I guess the best is still to come! If you want to know anything else, just ask!
