I had been working on this post for a week…too long, not enough hours in the day to focus and write.  Before I was able to post my latest blog about Anya, Tanner Pemelton, Check out his blog!  He posted this blog about her about 4 or 5 days ago…

This is an amazing young man, and a true friend, one of my “sons”.  I will be posting a full blog about Tanner Pemelton very soon…

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Anya “Smanya” Harden

So, I decided that I’m going to start on occasion writing about certain prominent people in my life and how they have affected me. The first person I will be writing about is Anya Harden aka. Smanya.

I first met anya around I want to say 8 years ago? I probably am wrong and Im sure Anya will be the first to tell me I’m wrong. haha. All I know is I was young, and so was she. She was probably in first or second grade at the time. Her mom, my 2nd 2nd mom(confusing I know, but you got to understand how my mother system works. My first mom is my birthmother, Diana aka mommy. For my second mom I have a tie. It is shared between Mrs. Kim Graves (mommy number 2 aka Florida Mommy) and Mrs. Lorrie Harden( Mommy number 2 aka Tennessee mom who isnt my real mom. haha anyways I have gone way too far on this tangent.) Ok, back to where I was originally going, Anya’s mom met my mom through my moms class And God Made Woman. And they just hit it off and have been friends ever since. So needless to say I have been around Anya for quite sometime now.

I will say that we have most definitely grown much, much, closer over the past 2 or 3 years. My family started attending what we call our “Dysfunctional Small Group,” at the Hardens house every other weekend. So with all the time spent there and then all the time spent with youth group, we know each other quite well I’d say. haha. Actually thats an understatement.

I would really consider Anya just another one of my siblings. She hates it when I say that but its true. She really has become another member of my family. And I’d say we treat each other like siblings. The nickname “smanya” comes merely from me saying it and realizing she hated it, so… it stuck. haha. I say anything remotely sexist, she will full on punch me in the arm. And man… does that girl pack a punch. haha. But my relationship with Anya isn’t all about us just picking on each other. That’s what makes Anya a special friend.

I’ve watched Anya go through the some very tough situations. I watched her grow up before my eyes, and really its weird to look back and look at the friend I have now and realize its the same 2nd grader I knew 8 years ago. Ive watched her go through so much, Ive hurt for her so many times and I’ve been happy for her just as many times. It truly is amazing.

Anya has had the difficult spot of being a girl amongst guys. She’s grown up around a bunch of us stupid boys. It was always Anya and the boys. Anya, cooper, lane, tanner, and the rest of the boys. She’s always been one of the boys. But over the past few years I’ve watched her start to depart from the role of “one of the boys” or “Tomboy” and really start to transfer into a woman. Its even weird for me to say that now, but its true. The same girl who I remember just always been fascinated with the snakes, and karate is turning into a woman. Don’t get me wrong, she still loves both, but with a different finesse to it.

Even though Anya is the same age as cooper and I see her as a sister, she has done alot for me. One of the things I love most about anya is how blunt she is. She has always just been straight up with me and just says whatever is bothering her. There have been so many times where she has just called me out on something and it really has made me think, and or change things. But I of course probably wouldn’t tell her that, before now. haha. She has pushed me to do things, that I honestly was not comfortable with but I’m so glad she did.

One example of this that I will share happened in Wheelwright KY about 2 years ago. We were on a missions trip with our youth group, and a large number of volunteers from our church. I want to say there was at least 60 to 70 volunteers there. So on the last night of this amazing trip, Ryan Bult asked if me and anya would play a song to lead the whole group in worship. Anya immediately said yes, and I just kind of looked at them blank faced. haha. “sure.” In my head I was screaming, “NO!!!!” haha But good ole Anya just put us out there, so I wasn’t going to say no. So we started learning the song 20 minutes before we were going to play it. I was freaking out. I couldnt remember my parts rehearsing it, I had to keep playing it, over and over again. I was really shaky when it came time to play. We followed a really great song preformed by Ted “muscles” Moxley, which Ive got to say, is a REALLY hard act to follow. So I walked up to the front, set down my chair and looked at the audience. “what am I doing?” I then looked at Anya and she just gave me the look Ive seen a million times. She looks at me blankfaced and opens her eyes real big and raising her eyebrows. So, I knew that was my cue to start. So I started playing. And then a few seconds in I was locked in. Hearing all of those people, adults and kids, singing “From The Inside Out” was so moving. I couldve stayed in that moment for the rest of my life. It was just amazing, we were all in worship together at this amazing place. We finished the song and we sat down and I was so happy that Anya pushed me to do that. That was one of the best experiences of my life. Even thinking about it now gets me so excited. It was just such a moving moment. Another small thing that I am so happy she forced me to do, was watch the movie ONCE. It such an amazing movie, that she told me to see over and over again and then she forced me to watch it and I loved it.

Yeah, me and Anya may have our differences. Music is one thing. Actually it really isn’t we have a lot of music we have in common, we just like to pick on each others music. Ive had an agenda against Radiohead long before I knew Anya liked them. I think they make some great music, but their fans and the lead singer just make me so mad I can’t stand them. So I of course always pick on Anya for liking them. And she will pick on my music, well… actually i don’t know if she picks as much as makes fun of me singing along with them, when everyone in the world who has ever driven with me knows, Im pretty tone deaf. haha. So she calls me out on it. haha. So yea we bash heads on music sometimes, but thats part of the fun.

Through all of the times Ive had with her, I cherish those moments that Anya calls me out on me for being stupid. I am so blessed to have this wonderful person in my life. She truly is a woman who is seeking God first. She is definitely a unique girl, and I can not wait to see the guy who will come along and swipe her off her feet. But hey, if the you, the reader, are that guy, know that you’re going to have to go through all of anya’s brothers to qualify. haha. Not really. I can not wait to see what God has instore for her. She has done so much for me and has such a loving heart. I know He has huge plans for her. I thank God that He has brought her into my life. I know I don’t say it often, but love ya anya, and thank you for being my wonderful friend.

Media Associated With This Post:
Song: Falling Slowly
Artist: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Album: Once Soundtrack.