Background

I'm sitting here in my bed reviewing the past three weeks of my life. Three weeks ago, my wife, Faith, and our three kids, Isaiah (almost 6), Alexis (4), and Audrey (2), were preparing to head to Ohio to visit Faith's family on their farm in Seville OH. We usually do this once or twice a summer as I have time off as a teacher. However, things as we knew it were soon to change. Through some crazy, ridiculous circumstances, I ended up taking a job in Ohio during our visit. However, what was intended to be a full-time teaching job turned into a part-time job. What was going to be a significant pay raise, as I was teaching in North Carolina where my family could qualify for welfare, we chose to move to Ohio for a part-time job that paid significantly less than I made in North Carolina....and we are living in my in-laws basement! This whole move has been about stepping out in faith. We both grew up in strong, supportive families, and we have never been without our needs being met, both physically and financially. We also are both simple people, so we have never asked for or needed a whole lot. We have three kids, and Faith has stayed home for the past six years with them while I taught and coached track. We attended a great church, Hope Community Church, had great friends, lead a Bible study with what has become some of our closest friends, and we lived in a house on a cul-da-sac where we had some of the best neighbors a family could ask for. While both our families have consistently tried to get us to move home, Colorado for me and Ohio for Faith, the longer we were in North Carolina the harder it was becoming to entertain the idea of moving. Plus, we never really felt God wanted us to move. To be honest, I actually was not sure I would be teaching after one more year. I thought I had at least a year to figure things out or to maybe consider moving. Ha, did our world get rocked. We didn't have a year; we had a week. Why the blog? Because our lives have been touched by so many people in North Carolina, I thought this would be a good way to keep people up-to-speed on our lives. The Christmas card thing ain't happening. A couple of years ago we actually typed a card, pictures and all, and had them printed...we never got around to sending them! I am also going to be in culture shock and want to share that with you. It's my coping mechanism! I grew of up Colorado. Yes, it snows and can be cold, but the wind doesn't blow all winter, and the sun actually shines between November and April. I lived in the "south" in North Carolina, so I know that very different culture. However, the farm culture is a whole different beast. Really, I just need people to read so I feel like someone is going through the pain with me, especially since I am in the basement of my in-laws. Haha, no offense to those who live in Ohio. Also, as this is a new experience to me, I will share little tidbits about farm life each time I write. Who knows, maybe one day I will be called "Farmer Matt." Well, maybe that's going a little too far. I hope you enjoy, and please feel free to send the link to your friends.