In-Law Living Week 1

Over the past eight years, we have typically visited Ohio one to two times over the summer, usually at least for a week per visit. Hence, the first week living in the in-laws basement, on the farm, didn't seem different, except for one thing-we were living in Ohio! Obviously, moving to another state brings many changes and stresses. However, let me just share some of the ridiculous issues we faced that first week:

#1)Why is it so hard to get a new license in a new state? We had some experience with this in the past when we married and had to change our licenses in North Carolina, so we thought we had everything covered. We checked on-line for everything we needed and showed up. Of course, one facility didn't have all the technology for switching a license from another state, so we had to drive thirty minutes to a facility that could. Seriously, welcome to the 21st century. Well, once there we had to go next door to another building to do our vision testing and then go back to the other building to turn in all the paperwork and get the licenses. One problem, apparently Faith needed her marriage certificate because all our other documents "didn't" have her married name on them (a little sarcastic). Well, it took all day, but we made it.

#2)I thought getting a new license was ridiculous, but in Ohio changing your license plates might trump that. So we went to one building to get the car visually inspected, mileage written down, etc. We then went next door to get the title changed. Once the title was changed, we drove to a facility to have our "E-Check" down to verify the car was environmentally acceptable. Once the cars passed, we then took them back to building number two to finalize the title process and get the new license places. Can we not do this all in one stop?

#3)Here's one main difference between public and private institutions: When we accepted the part-time job, we knew either I would need to find some other source of income, or Faith would do something part-time. Well, once we arrived in Ohio, she had multiple people come to here, offering part-time jobs. One of the opportunities was for her to teach part-time at the Christian school where we were planning to send Isaiah for kindergarten, especially since he likely would receive a full-scholarship. Based on the atmosphere and timing of the job offer, Faith took it, as she used to be a teacher and it would be at the same time during which Isaiah would be at school, and Alexis would be at pre-school at the same place. Now, I know we all of our own opinions about public vs. private education, but from the managing standpoint, any time the government is not involved, things run much more smoothly. Even though it was much sooner than she preferred, Faith began work three days after we moved, with the principal having full confidence that her license would transfer. I, on the other hand, have yet to start work in the school. Once we moved, I went to turn in all my paperwork in order to be ready to start the first day of school, and I was told I needed my Ohio teaching license...remember, I'm "tutoring" part-time. Hence, after five hours of going back and forth with the "state" people on the phone, I submitted everything to have my license transferred from North Carolina. Keep in mind, I have taught for ten years, have my master's degree, and have already passed the finger-printing test. More will be explained in a later post, but here I am, two weeks later, still waiting to start. Score one for efficiency of private education.

Despite some of the challenges we faced the first week, we made it, and while my job is on hold, there's definitely "someone" watching over us when we look at how Faith "found" a job, how we have a place to live, and how Faith's mom retired earlier than expected last year, providing her the ability to help with the children as we both must work. More about week two will come in the next post, but a look to the future shows me, the one who did not grow up here, working for Faith's grandmother:) Farm Fact #1It typically takes 150,000-180,000 soy bean seeds to plant per acre and 30,000-40,000 corn seeds per acre as corn needs much more room to grow. Fact #2)There is one piece of silk at the end of the corn cob for every kernel of corn Fact #3)On the corn cob all rows of corn are an even number (ummmm...maybe things in life don't happen by chance)