Who am I? Who
am I TODAY?
First, I took this photograph just NOW, rather than
filing through a library of one where I am the prettiest, or one where I want
to find one that represents me the best.
I am a silly child.
I am a daughter and a sister.
I am learning.
I don’t pretend to know everything. If I do, please
high-five my face.
I will never live in one place for the rest of my life.
I love expressing silliness and fun
dramatically without saying a word. Therefore, I CAN be dramatic but in serious situations, I have a level-head.
I have been told I can write, have a power with words,
and capture audiences while speaking from many trustworthy friends and family…
therefore I am going to trust God in my destiny, BE who I am, without fear and
step into the World Race with a fiery passion for speaking truth and communicating
Jesus’ love through my blog to people back home.
I also promise to pray passionately and as an intercessor. I have a heart for persecuted countries,
children, the hopeless, the lost and the broken. And sure, that could be
everyone. It’s true. I love people.
Maybe I trust them too much at times. Though sometimes, I
don’t trust them at all.
First, I must trust myself. It’s a process.
How did I arrive
where I am TODAY? Well, it is all a part of my story and the events I have
experienced. Here is a very, very small glimpse.
Quick life story…
I was born on June 26th, 1988 to Brenda and
Bob Anderson. I joined my 2 year old brother David as a part of the family.
Both my brother and I were baptized in the Lutheran church. I attended public school my whole life
and was confirmed into my faith just before beginning high school. I was
involved in youth group off and on, marching band, and valued academics and
friends. I chose to follow David to Texas Tech (even after being accepted to
Baylor University) and I love it here. My major is Exercise and Sports
Sciences; I love sports and team dynamics, but don’t want to be a coach. Ha. I
will graduate on December 19th, 2009 before stuffing my life into a
backpack and going on the world race.
Trials and Tribulations…
Life is not easy. Thank God.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face
trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance.”- James 1:2-3
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses,
in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak,
then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
8 years old and both remarried within a few years (I know divorce isn’t “God’s
plan” but I have NO DOUBT that I have blessed by my new family and would never
choose to take that trial of my life back). I now have MANY brothers and
sisters on both sides of the family… I have been blessed. On the other side of
divorce, is joy, just like any other trial we may face in life
I am definitely a Daddy’s girl.
My dad’s growth as a man has always impressed me. He has
always been there for me and always knows the joke that will make me laugh
(even if he doesn’t always know when to stop). He is the ultimate provider. I
love him.
I love my Step-mom Kathy, who is the most understanding and
kind person I’ve ever met.
I love her daughter Kathrin (13) who is on the road to
discovering life. Ah high school next year!
They are all great blessing to me.
-Rainbow Lake, Buena Vista, CO.
Brendon (11) and Patrick (8) are my half-brothers, born
of my mother, Brenda and my step-dad, Don. They are adorable, smart and in love with their big sister. Ha!
I also have two older step-sisters that are Don’s
daughters and three beautiful nieces. Love them.
This is Carl. The other love of my life. He was
adopted by my mom and Don after being in our foster care for the first couple years
of his life. He is a living testimony of God’s mercy and hand in our
lives. He is 5 years old.
blessed my life on the other side of it are beautiful, full of joy, and I thank
God for them every day.
That’s how I feel about it.
On December 1st, 2008,
the roller coaster of life really began. And it’s also when I was wrecked,
humbled, and had to learn to become very dependent on God. Praise the Lord.
David was always someone I tried
to mimick.
Always someone I followed
around.
I made his friends, my friends,
especially at youth group.
My brother was smart, yet still
cool. I wanted to be that.
My brother’s death rocked my
world as I knew it.
He loved the outdoors, climbing
things, acting silly, being creative, and so did I.
(only thing I didn’t like was
video games and “Magic” the card game).
He was a people-person and loved
by many.
all differently. I was sad, angry, and happy in cycles. At first, sadness were
the core of my being and I closed myself off from emotions. Then, I wanted to
be happy, yet would cry randomly while driving through Tech. Greif is
unpredictable.
Anger was pushed aside from
the start (I hate being angry and therefore didn’t let myself be that way). I
hid it, very deep in who I was. It wasn’t until training camp for the World
Race in fact that I discovered that I was still angry, or even angry at all. I
wanted to trust God and give him my everything but he knew I needed to release
that anger. (Read more here: Somewhere in Lake Lanier 2 )
We all face
trials and tribulations of many kinds. These are the “big ones” of mine. But
today, I walk away standing tall, embracing my story, telling it one person at
a time. If I can affect one person by my story, I have accomplished my goal in
life. However, God has called me to more… He has called me to affect the nations,
and provide a seed, a way for them to find hope of their own, despite life’s
hardships and battles. I love you Lord. You are my all.
