Tara Nicole Russell was born in Avon Park, FL on May
8, 1979. Upon arrival, she was welcomed home by her
parents and two older brothers Chad and Kurt. When she
was about two the family moved to Gary and Diane’s
home state of Michigan. When Tara was seven and living
in Traverse City, there was a new addition to the family,
Bret.
Tara was in third grade when the family
moved to Dowagiac, Michigan. She spent the next five
years of her education in the red two roomed elementary
school in the tiny town of Glenwood . During those years
she enjoyed studying, goofing off with her friends Katie,
Tina, and Lisa, writing numerous letters to all her
pen pals, participating in the local pathfinder group,
paper routes, summers at Camp Au Sable, and visits to
Grandpa and Grandma Rendel’s house.
When
Tara was 13 and just graduating from 8th grade the most
significant change in her life occurred. In June of
1993 she and her family moved from small town Michigan
to the heart of Southern California. The shock was overwhelming
and Tara vowed the second she was able, that she would
move back “Home.” She has yet to do that!
The next two years were spent at San Gabriel Academy
and an Adventist day camp during the summer. At the
end of her Sophomore year she and brother Kurt decided
to attend the local public high school. The decision
was a good one. They attended their first Homecoming
where Kurt was nominated Prince, and Prom where Tara
was crowned Princess. Tara has fond memories of Duarte
High. She always had the best time skipping classes
with Ray and chasing ambulances and other automobiles
with Wendy who remain her very dear friends.
After
graduating from high school in June of 1997, Tara headed
up to PUC with her Uncle John and Aunt Shirley. After
school started it wasn’t long before she was making
friends and finding various ways to fill up her social
calendar. Though not searching for a “significant
other” the unexpected happened one afternoon while
sitting in the cafeteria and chatting with a friend.
They were interrupted by Christian Anderson, who sat
down and introduced himself. Though intrigued, Tara
did not see Christian again until the following Sabbath
at church. He was accompanied by his friend Sushil.
Together, they approached Tara and friend Tamara after
church inquiring if the ladies would be interested in
seeing a movie that evening. Delightedly the girls said
“yes” and spent the afternoon primping and
pawing thru closets to find the perfect outfit. When
the time came, the four piled into Christian’s
1966 Mustang and headed to Napa. The movie was fun and
Tara decided that any guy who would buy her a $10 bag
of candy was worth a second chance. So when Christian
asked if he could take her out again, she said “yes!”
It wasn’t too long into the
school year when, after a late (all) night conversation,
Tara and Christian decided to make it official and became
boyfriend and girlfriend. During the next five years
they made many memories and took several trips to San
Francisco, Lodi/Galt, Florida, southern California,
Illinois, Michigan,
and Europe. Their relationship was tested when Tara
decided to spend a summer in Spain, again when Christian
decided to spend a quarter in London, and still again
when Tara left for a year in Spain and Christian another
quarter in London. However, time and love brought them
back together. After graduating from PUC with a B.A.
in Education in June 2002, Tara accepted a position
to teach Kindergarten at St. Helena Primary School.
She now has 21 students and is enjoying her job immensly.
She is still living in Angwin and eagerly awaiting August
3, 2003 when her father will pronounce her Mrs. Christian
Anderson.
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