Our Story: Introductions

Our Story: Introductions
The Beginning of a Long Story

 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. -Psalm 77:11

 
Five years ago today, on a very beautiful Saturday, Benjamin asked me to marry him.  May 31, 2008.  It was the ending of the beginning of our story.

The beginning of the beginning was quite some time earlier.

I won't go all the way back to "before the foundations of the world."

For me, the story started on September 11, 1981, exactly a year and 163 days after it started for Ben, on April 1, 1980.  (Maybe the fact that we both have infamous birthdays should have tipped me off...)

I grew up in Cedar Rapids, IA, two doors down from the Swansons to the left and six doors down from the Schmidts to the right.  Our house had lilac bushes, a steep driveway, squeaky stairs (especially the second from the top), and a cool hideaway closet under the basement steps.

I was Anderson girl #3 of 4, a little bitter to always be one of the "younger ones."  I loved my bunny Oreo, our Miniature Schnauzer Ellie, and books of all sorts.  We only moved once in my childhood, to a quiet, semi-rural neighborhood a few miles outside of town.

I trusted in Jesus when I was 5, not long before I was diagnosed with Wilms Tumor, had my left kidney removed, and went through 10 months of chemo.



Never really hit a rebellious stage, just a passive, middle-child, people-pleaser involved in youth group, sports, and drama.

I decided to go to Northwestern College in St. Paul because that was where my oldest sister went, and got an English (Writing) major and a Business minor.

I started attending Bethlehem Baptist Church regularly at the start of my junior year (August 2002), began leading a small group during my senior year, and was hired as a part-time ministry assistant in Adult Ministries a few weeks after I graduated, in June 2004.


Meanwhile ...

Ben was born in Manassas, VA, and never lived anywhere longer than 3 years growing up.

Manassas, VA
Selena, CA
Colorado Springs, CO
Augsburg, Germany
Ridge, NH
Arlington, VA
Herzizliah Petuach, Israel
Columbia, MD
Abijan, Ivory Coast (West Africa)
Arlington, VA
Wellington, New Zealand
Chantilly, VA
Beijing, China
Cable, WI
Beijing, China
Langhorne, PA
Charlestown, NH
Ocala, FL
Woodstock, CT
And at last... Minneapolis, MN

He was boy #3 of 3.









Golden curls, mischievous grin, curious, adventuresome, and dramatic.










He accepted Christ as his Savior in New Hampshire with his mother when he was young and was baptized by his dad in Israel. 


He jumped on couches, explored the Christkindlesmarkt (Christmas market) in Germany, sold shrapnel from scud attacks in Israel, wore a kilt, ate Oreos by the package, played rugby, learned Chinese, and climbed to the base camp of Mt. Everest.

(I am pretty sure he had more hairstyles than I did.)

After high school, he went to the Wisconsin Wilderness Campus of Philadelphia Biblical University for a year and then took another year at their Pennsylvania campus.  Then he spent a few months as a machinist's apprentice, worked at Clemons Moving Company, and served with Air Tox, testing smoke stacks for toxic emissions.

Little did we know, our courses were set to collide...

Next Installment: Rescued

Memorial Day Weekend

Our Memorial Weekend started with a delightful, mild, sunny Friday at home.

Daddy got out from student teaching, and we piled in the van for a little roadtrip to Iowa.

We stopped to visit Gi-Gi (Grandma Anderson) on our way into town.

Saturday morning we had a fun coffee break at The Retreat.

Victor was infatuated with my mom's little sweeper.  

(What with his love for laundry and now sweeping, I see a good future in cleaning...)

A little musical interlude with Grammy

It was a quick weekend, but a relaxing break away and lovely time with family.

Letter to My Little Guy

Dear Victor,

Sometimes your daddy and I just look at you and shake our heads.  What a little man you are! 

It still strikes me as a bit unbelievable that I'm a momma, but you are more and more growing into a bright, cheerful, forceful boy full of ideas and personality.  I love it.

I love watching you examine things and experiment.  You put a ball in a Tupperware container and then carefully dump it into a bucket.  And then back in the Tupperware.  And then back in the bucket.  Almost delicately, inspecting your work each time.

You understand so much.  A few nights ago, I told you that Daddy was going to put water in your bathtub.  You looked around thoughtfully, and then, real excited, found your sippy cup on the floor and said, "Water!"  (Which, incidentally, does not at all sound like "water.")

You like swiping shirts out of my drawer when I try to pick out clothes in the morning, but if I ask very politely for you to please bring the shirt back and put it in the drawer ... you do!

You know the sound of the front door, and several times a day when someone upstairs is going in or out, you say, "Daddy?"  But when it really is Daddy, what a happy time it is!

We're working on a few things these days.  First, no digging dirt out of the tree in the corner.  Second, no swiping the spices off the top shelf of your Tupperware cupboard.  (This is a real test of character ... but you're doing so well!)  Third, when Mommy and Daddy are praying, you need to sit still and be quiet.  You're learning these lessons little by little.  It is such a delight to see you listen and obey, much of the time! 

Daddy and I are learning too.  When we are calm and clear and consistent, when we remind you of the boundaries before there are problems, when we give you good lessons and lots of encouragement, we see good fruit.

Being your mother is such a privilege, and such a delight.  You give wonderful snuggles.  Sometimes you'll run up and give me a hug-tackle and tuck your head into the crook of my neck so I can give you kisses all over your face, laughing, laughing. 

Before naps and bedtime, I hold you for a few minutes next to your crib, and you wrap your little arms around my neck and snuggle your head on my shoulder, and I just hold you close and thank the Lord for such a good, good gift He gave us in you.

How we love you, precious Victor.  And how we pray that God will take your little, learning heart and fill it with worship and love for Jesus from your very earliest awareness of who He is.

Love,
Momma

12 Things to Tell Your Daughter

I don't have a daughter yet.  But I think this is a good word nonetheless.

HT: Chatting at the Sky

Cashing Checks

As my husband is fond of quoting, Spurgeon says:

A promise from God may very instructively be compared to a check payable to order. It is given to the believer with the view of bestowing upon him some good thing. It is not meant that he should read it over comfortably, and then have done with it.

No, he is to treat the promise as a reality, as a man treats a check. He is to take the promise, and endorse it with his own name by personally receiving it as true. He is by faith to accept it as his own. ...

This done, he must believingly present the promise to the Lord, as a man presents a check at the counter of the Bank. He must plead it by prayer, expecting to have it fulfilled.

I was thinking tonight of all that I would wish for God to do in and for our family.  So much I want Him to guard us from.  So much for Him to enable us for.  So much for Him to provide.  So much for Him to teach and grow.

It's convicting, to realize how often I read lavish promises in the Bible and then more or less forget them.  So as a starting point, I pulled out some index cards to write some concrete prayer points from where I was reading today.  Not difficult, and a very big encouragement.  I hope to keep it up.

So tonight, I'm praying for our family...

- That we will not rely on our own abilities or resources, but trust in God's awesome resurrecting power. ...indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. --2 Corinthians 1:9

- That the Lord would give us peaceful, refreshing sleep, that we would give Him all our worries and cares, and that He would guard us and shelter us from all harm. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety. --Psalm 4:8

- That the Lord will give us a desire for communion with God and would enable us to pray fervently, without ceasing, and with great, eager faith. In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. --Psalm 5:3

- That the Lord will help us wisely hold back words that do not give grace and do not fit the moment's need. He who guards his mouth and tongue guards his soul from troubles. --Proverbs 21:23


May He do far more abundantly beyond all we could ask or think!

Favorite Recipe: What's For Breakfast With No Eggs or Cereal?

We go through a lot of eggs in this household.  Victor knocks off at least 2 and sometimes 3 per morning.  Ben could put away another 3-4 easily, though he often supplements with cereal.

So it's a grim day when Momma forgets we're out of eggs.

Here's our back-up plan (and, at least for one of the three of us, it's better than eggs OR cereal!)...

Category: Breakfast Without Eggs or Cereal
Winner: Applesauce Cake

Applesauce Cake

 1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 c. applesauce
2 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. cloves
1/2 c. raisins (optional)
1/2 c. walnuts (optional)

Cream butter with sugar.  Add applesauce; beat well. Stir in flour, soda, and spices. Add nuts and raisins.

Pour batter into greased 8-in square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 min or until done.

(But I always double the recipe and use a 9x13 pan.)

Quick, easy, tasty, and what with all that healthy applesauce... it's a nutritious and delicious alternative on those egg- and cereal-free mornings.

Birthday Party

Just catching up on last week...

Friday we got to go to the birthday party for cousins Corban and Gabe.  Victor had a great time playing with lots of children!

Why Does It Take Adults So Long to Get Ready?

 All ready to go.

Unfortunately, Daddy's still in the shower.

Waiting.  Waiting.  Waiting.

Even got my mittens on.  

(For some reason, this seems important, even on summer mornings.)

 

 I will go and find him!

 

Please, please, let's go for a walk, Daddy!

At last!

Chopped

This weekend Ben gave me my "Mother's Day."  Last night we all went to Ruby Tuesday for dinner, and this morning Ben made pancakes and sausage for breakfast.

And then, I got a haircut ... 10 inches.

Before

After

After the chop, I went to the library, found a comfy chair, and curled up with some good books.  Relaxing, thought-provoking (and prayer-provoking) reading and no time limit on when to be home...

Meanwhile, the guys stayed home and did cool things, like trying on tennis shoes, reading Richard Scarry books, and eating food.  In addition, Ben taught Victor how to say, "Dude!"

I am a mighty blessed momma and so thankful for God's many-colored mercies in our lives.