Moving Lesson #1

Now that we've established North Carolina as the victor over Ohio, it's time to move on because here is the reality: I live in Ohio! I must embrace it. So, now it's time shift gears a little and look at some lessons learned through the whole moving process. Yes, I am going to be standing on my soap box, sharing my inner-most thoughts with you, in order to maybe give you some insight not only into lessons I have learned but maybe to help you learn some lessons yourself. If no one gets anything from the upcoming blogs, I will still feel like I have changed lives, so let me live in my fantasy world. As always, feel free to leave your thoughts and comments. Maybe through those, you could change my life!

Lesson #1 - When we live status quo lives, we get stuck in ruts and the daily grind of life. We don't reach our full potential of what we were created for.

                                                             

           Leaving North Carolina was not an easy decision. First, I'm still not convinced I was born for the cornfields. I respect and honor the rural/farm life, but tractors can only go so fast. I need more speed! And, manure smells! Therefore, during the past eight years, as my family in Colorado has pulled for us to move there, and as Faith's family has pleaded with us to move to Ohio, my desire for the latter move has been minimal, if not non-existent. Before you judge, picture a farmer moving to the beach, or someone from the tropical lands moving to Alaska. It's a culture shock!
           Furthermore, over the past ten years in North Carolina, eight of them being married to Faith, and six of them including children, our family roots were established. We attended a great church where we were very involved and were able to see God touch many lives before us. We had the opportunity to be part of multiple Bible study groups, and from that we have found our closest friends. On top of that, as I've mentioned before, we had great neighbors. We all helped one another when in need, and we spent more time in the cul-de-sac together than most people spend with their neighbors in a lifetime. 
          Now, I don't write all this to make you feel sorry for us for all we've left behind or to put ourselves on a pedestal to show how tough we are that we can leave all that behind (Although, I like both of those thoughts). I write it to say that sometimes what we want and what we are comfortable with are great for a period or time in our lives, but sometimes we need to be challenged to move to the uncomfortable in order to truly grow. I would not say that Faith and I necessarily lived status-quo lives, but I would argue that we at times were too "comfortable" with our lives. Just like in our jobs, when we stick with what is comfortable and stop challenging ourselves, we start losing focus and many times lack the sharp edge maybe we once had.

My challenge to you is, "What in your life could you do to prevent living the status quo life?" Here are some simple suggestions, but challenge yourself and don't be afraid to pray about it.

1)Talk to the neighbor you've never talked to but know you should talk to
2)Stop watching the TV show you know you should not watch but that you continue to watch
3)Apply for that job that you've been afraid to apply for
4)Ask the girl out (What's the worst she do--say 'no'?)
5)Take that risk you keep making excuses for to not take
6)Go on that diet and/or start that exercising you know you need...you will feel better
7)Try a new church if you continue to criticize and complain about where you attend
8)Volunteer where you know you're needed but where you have been avoiding

Those are just a few suggestions, but you already know what you need to do. Act on it!

Farm Fact:
Most corn stalks only have one ear of corn. If there are two or three ears, they will be small as they will lack the nutrients to grow.

North Carolina vs. Ohio: Round 5

Well, I started out thinking North Carolina would sweep the series, and I was thinking it would only last three rounds. However, now it's "Game On" as we're all tied 2-2. The gauntlet has been laid, and this will be the final round! Here we go with round 5!

                    North Carolina                                                    Ohio

0	Equitable teaching salaries across the state. All teachers receive the same state supplement, and counties add to it, so there is not much discrepancy in salaries (although, they are about the worst in the nation)	Levies must be passed and voters hold the power, and there is no equality in teacher’s pay. However, teachers don’t qualify for welfare like they do in NC.	1
1	My allergies were bad in North Carolina, and I quit shots early after three years. However, in retrospect we had a dog, which could have been a big part of the problem!	I was allergy tested, and it is confirmed: I literally am allergic to most farm things, including the mold in the manure! Well, I guess we’re not permanently moving to the farm any time soon.	0
0	City roads are all over the place and go in every ridiculous direction, including circles. I never figured where I was going.	Ummmm, it’s farm land. Roads are straight and everything is in squares.	1
1	There are many growing/active churches.	Yes, there are some I would compare to North Carolina, but the average rural church is a little lacking in life.	0
1	Usually, there is not a negative smell in the air, unless certain people are around.	Rural/farm life means the smell of manure and other grose things.	0
0	Wasted SUV’s. Moms drive around thinking they’re cool, but they’re spending tons of extra money on gas.	SUV’s can be great for the snow and bad weather.	1
0	Kids needed to be in fenced-in back yard, or had to be watched as they played in the street. Cars and people are dangerous!	Kids can run and play outside, all around the house.	1
1	On a personal note, we lived in a house, by ourselves, with not a lot of stress on our marriage.	We currently live in the basement, surrounded by others all the time, dealing with more stress in our marriage than ever before!	0
1	Full-time job, paid for health insurance, friends	Part-time job, expensive, horrible health insurance, stuck in the basement or at the Y Friday and Saturday night!	0

                                 
North Carolina - 5                Ohio - 4
Well, I couldn't pull any more strings. North Carolina comes up with the victory. I never thought it would go this far.
North Carolina wins the competition: 3-2!

Farm Fact:
Farmers and ranchers receive only 16 cents out of every dollar spent on food at home and away from home. The rest goes for costs beyond the farm gate: wages and materials for production, processing, marketing, transportation and distribution. In 1980, farmers and ranchers received 31 cents. (Farm Bureau)

North Carolina vs. Ohio: Round 4

Well, it's been a while. To be honest, it's because I saw no hope for Ohio ever getting another win, so I was figuring I'd just give the win to North Carolina. The depression started setting in of living in the in-laws basement, taking a major pay-cut, and leaving the old life behind (Feel any sympathy yet?). But then, new life arose, and out of the darkness and despair has come some hope. Hence, we move to round four with Ohio fighting desperately for another win to stay in the game. To be clear, an Ohio loss means North Carolina wins the championship!

                                                  North Carolina                                 Ohio                                                    

1	Car rust –This is not a major issue in North Carolina, unless people are by the beach.	Car rust – I’ve noticed many vehicles full of rust, which means one thing – long winters with a lot of salt on the ground	0
	Tractors – Farming is not done in the city…the only tractors around are in the form of toys.	Yes, I finally drove a tractor. It may be the smallest one on the farm, but it is still a tractor!	1
0	Blog readers – You people are far and few between, but I appreciate every one of you.	The blog reader edge goes to Ohio. Just when I was about to end this competition as I saw no hope for Ohio, a fan came out of the wood works at church and said she “loves the blog!”	2
1	No need for depression in North Carolina!	Where’s some Cymbalta or Prozac! There’s sun outside and I’m still depressed!	0
0	North Carolina State, Carolina, and Duke football---Carolina lost to ECU, Duke students study too much, and State is always on the outside looking in!	Ohio State! Hey, they may cheat, but they win!	1
1	Houses – There are a lot of great new houses and options to look at and buy.	Houses – A lot of houses are for sale, and they will continue to be for sale. There’s a reason people don’t want to buy most of them…mold and spindles everywhere!	0
3			4

This round might have been rigged, but it's all tied up: 2-2

Farm Fact:

This is a little different from the typical fact, but I must speak my mind. While not all people living in the country are farmers, many are. Many of those farmers, because they own their businesses, must pay for their own healthcare. Unfortunately, today, due to commercial farming and the media misconstruing information, many farmers struggle financially and can qualify for medical help. However, because some of them are responsible citizens, and more importantly, responsible parents and human beings, some of them carry health benefits while seeking financial help. Here's the kicker: those farmers, and any other citizens in their boat, do not qualify for federal medical help because they already have health insurance. However, many people sitting at home receiving a paycheck from the government because they won't be responsible and go find a job do receive the medical help. (I know there are people who need the help, and those are not the people I'm referring to.) Well, that's enough politics...no more for this blog.