The Anderson Family

"Other things may change us,

but we start and end with the family."

-Anthony Brandt

Who would we be if not for our families?  I know that I have been blessed to have my wonderful family, extended and as far apart from nuclear as it may be.  Adding into that mix is my husband and his family, equally large in number and just as amazing.  It seems with each passing year I learn a little more about how fortunate I am to have them in my life.  Here, you will see the three of us that dwell within our own little home and the very core of our Anderson Family "Farm" Project.

Tina for a Farm Chick Chit Chat photo  (above)
Tina with Roo of Read to Roo (below)

Tina Anderson

Nickname:  Mom

Job:  Deputy Sheriff in Communications, 911 Dispatcher

Likes:  Animals, Reading, Writing, Chocolate, Photography

Dislikes:  Politics, Hypocrites (see previous dislike), Large Crowds, Grasshoppers, Drinking from Pop Cans

Bio:  Yes, I'm the writer of this blog and felt it might be best to introduce myself first.  In addition to my family, my job and my blog work here and on my other blog, I also greatly enjoy my volunteer work.  Alongside my collie Roo, we are a dual registered therapy team and I currently run a local subgroup of Reading Education Assistance Dogs that I call Read to Roo.  My life keeps me running in all directions and, despite the hectic nature it can sometimes bring, I love everything about it.  I think that I am very fortunate to be surrounded by the people and things I love most.  Please be sure to remind me of that on the days that I've been awake a few hours too long and find my caffeine supply dwindling.

Mike lets me take his picture with Fifi (above)
A sculpture Mike welded in Flordia (below)

Mike Anderson

Nickname:  Dad, Anderson

Job:  Welder/Fabricator

Likes:  Hunting, Fishing, Cars, Meatloaf (the food, not the musician),the Outdoor Channel

Dislikes:  Traffic, Washing Dishes, Technology, Saurkraut, Waking up with Alarm Clocks

Bio:  Husband, father, handyman extraordinaire.  Mike enjoys tinkering, fixing and building all sorts of things, coming by it naturally from his stepfather and grandfather.   Woodworking, mechanics, design, welding; you name it, he can do it.  He also enjoys archery and target shooting rifles and handguns.  Always willing to help out, Mike is first in line to assist family members in their projects and humors me quite well in all of mine.  Building our chicken coop from the ground up earned him major brownie points, but now it only makes me want him to build another great coop for more birds.  You win some, you lose some.  Sorry Mike!

Meredith smiles for a recent family photo (above)
Meredith and Tinkerbell read Chickens magazine (below)

Meredith Anderson

Nickname:  Mer, Child

Job:  Student

Likes:  Reading, School, Lego's, Pets, Gardening

Dislikes:  Trying on Clothes, Roller-Coasters, Seeing Blood, Wolf Spiders, Coleslaw

Bio:  Meredith is an exceptionally kind, bright, thoughtful child - and I'm not just saying that because I'm her mother.  A studious learner, she has always read at an advanced level and has also tested at an advanced level for mathematics.  She thinks of others before herself and always does her best to help family members out with even the littlest tasks.  She takes great joy in spending time with them, and with her animals.  Her dogs, cats and chickens always make her smile.  Mer also loves spending time with my friend's miniature horses and enjoys taking them to horse shows.  A true joy, she is one of a kind and I'm so grateful she's  in our lives.

What good is a person
who can't laugh at themselves
every now and again?

That wraps up our tiny slice of this great big family we are a part of.  Our time spent together is something we cherish and we try to find ways to respect and explore all of our interests.  One thing we never are lacking is fun!