Meet the Basket Wives: Anadia Darden

Today I am pleased to introduce you to Anadia Darden (or Nadia she says her friends refer to her as!) Nadia is another wife that I have never met in person, but has served to encourage me through social media networks as she supports her husband, cares for her children and loves Jesus fully. I hope you enjoy reading about her adventures as I did… and enjoy a few laughs along the way!

Nadia blogs at Desperately Real Housewife.  Her husband is in Spain this year, and I am sure she will have lots of fun adventures to share!

How did you and your husband meet?
Tremmell and I met after our senior years of college prior to his first professional year, outside of a nightclub in Las Vegas where he lived and I was celebrating my birthday. He did not come inside and was people watching as I desperately dragged my friend toward the nearest exit as I was completely over the evening. He watched me struggle, laughed and winked – as he tells the story, that wink sealed the deal as I was immediately mesmerized. In MY version, I laughed because winking is corny, lol. Either way, after quite a few pleasantries, we exchanged telephone numbers, something I NEVER did, and have probably communicated in some form or fashion every day since. (Worth mentioning: “The Wink” has since been banned. However, my son winks at pretty ladies everywhere he goes. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!)

Where was the first place you lived internationally? Can you tell a little more about the experience?
Our first international home was in Leuven, Belgium. It was his second year playing internationally and my first time abroad. Leuven is a “college town” so you found plenty of english-speaking establishments, which was amazing because i didn’t have a SHOT at Flemish! Our apartment was relatively small, though he says compared to his apartment rookie year in Turkey it was huge, on the top floor of a building with no elevator. Our bedroom and shower were up a very steep rounded flight of stairs, while the toilet was downstairs…near the front door. I went to Belgium on a week and a half visit and never left. I didn’t know how to cook or live with a man, but I knew he was the one. We were surrounded by WONDERFUL families, some of which acted a springboards for our intensity to live with, for and according to the Lord and His Word. It was very hard for me being away from family and friends, I cried a lot, but ultimately it strengthened the relationship that Tre and I treasure today. Our faith helped us through this season as I found out I was pregnant and we decided to change our lives then and there, making it one of the most important times of our lives.

How many years has/did your husband play(ed)?
This is Tremmell’s eighth season.

What cities have you lived in internationally?
Leuven, Belgium
Charleroi, Belgium
Melbourne, Australia
Strasbourg, France
Nancy, France
Malaga, Spain

If you had to pick a favorite international city, which one was it and why?
Just one? Not fair ! I’d have to go with Melbourne. Aside from the lack of language barrier, the people were overwhelmingly pleasant. I was able to make friends easily, there were SOOO many activities for my then two-year-old son, the team was amazing, including all of the staff, weather was phenomenal, we had a wonderful apartment… i can go on and on. And on. Melbourne was just like home, in a way. Our family was able to grow, healthily and happily. Most important, we found BaySide Church, we where we were able to worship regularly. That meant the world to us. One of the things we miss most while abroad is being able to fellowship.

Please share one funny moment in your life as a Basket Wife.
This past season in Nancy, the guys made it to (and won) the Championship. In one of the play-off games, the guys had been working hard and secured a significant lead over a worthy opponent. After months and months of sitting with an unsupportive crowd, I had had enough. Another wife and I decided to get out of our seats and encourage the “fans” to actually cheer for the team who had worked their butts off to get where they were. As I left my seat I didn’t notice she wasn’t behind me… I circled the gym getting fans on their feet to cheer and celebrate as they should. It took on a life of it’s own, I only intended to rally our section, but momentum kept me going. by the time i got to the next few sections I was overly embarrassed and couldn’t wait to sit. The team and crowd loved it, but I couldn’t believe myself and was mildly horrified. Within the next few weeks, there were newspaper articles, interview requests and applause whenever I entered any place there might be a game enthusiast – including the grocery store. They all felt I had done something that long since needed to be done. I remained mortified. I did not enjoy the celebrity. Not one bit.

What was the toughest struggle you encountered in your life as a Basket Wife?
I’d have to say the constant make-a-friend, leave-a-friend game. I have been blessed to encounter some WONDERFUL women in my years traveling with Tremmell. While I remain close friends with more of them than I’ve noticed until right now, saying good-bye and not knowing when you will be together again is tough. On of my closest friends haven’t seen for three years. We talk as often as we can, but our lives are so busy and so far apart. It’s hard for me because I am extremely emotional and treat my friends as the family they are. Leaving family is always hard.

What is the greatest lesson you have learned as a Basket Wife?
I’ve learned that my family and I have to live the lives that we were called to live as our Heavenly Father intended. That the criticism over the decisions we have made that most directly affect our family is not our problem. That no matter what this crazy world of basketball throws our way, we remember it is an occupation, work stays at the office and we find our strength from one place and one place only. We’ve learned to stay grounded in the Word of God because with that we know we’ve won. As Paul wrote in Philippians 4: 11-13, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”