Post-Christmas update...

Thought I'd update y'all on the happenings in Amber and I's life so far...


Since the last post, my job had been very much in limbo, and Amber and I were preparing to move elsewhere to find a job between the two of us.  In fact, she had even verbally accepted an offer to teach in Tuscaloosa, and while I had let my principal know about this development, there didn't seem to be any indication that I could still possibly-kinda-maybe-sorta have my job back.  Well, God decided to reveal His plan for us with two days before school started, and Amber and I are thankfully staying in Madison at least through the summer.


I say "through the summer" because I am not tenured.  By the end of the school year, I will have only completed my second year of teaching.  I need to have completed a full 3 years plus be asked to come back to start my fourth in the same school district in order to receive tenure.  Does tenure guarantee that I have job each year at a school before I retire?  Absolutely not, but it does make it a bit easier to know that I will have some sort of a job each year.  That is, unless God has other plans, and He normally does.


I am also back in coaching track for the spring, but I am coaching the middle distance runners this season as opposed to the distance runners that I had last year.  I am willing to do whatever it takes, and if it means coaching an area that I had some but not a lot of experience in, I'll do it.


I say all of the above with this in mind - God will provide, but He provides in his own time, and in His own way.  That provision accomplishes several things: 1) It glorifies Him in some/way/shape/form; 2) Ultimately, it'll make me (and others) the happiest, which means God knows the best for me, not me; and 3) We must be patient.  The Bible says that we must be slow to speak and slow to anger, and we must also allow God to do whatever He does to make things happen (or not happen).  While it is so incredibly hard to not get ahead of ourselves and think what we need to have happen, I at least try to check myself from time to time to just be patient, do whatever God has placed in front of me, and let Him do His work.


That's the update, I'm hoping this will turn into more of a continual thought of where I stand in my relationship with Christ and other observations I feel the need to speak on that occur in my life.  Roll Tide, and God bless.

Starting out...

To the readers:

My name is Matt, and I've decided to start a blog.  I'm not really sure what direction the blog will go, but all journeys start somewhere.

A little bit about me...

I was born and raised in California.  I made my way to the University of Alabama, where my whole life basically changed in four short years.  I found Christ, I met my wife, and I developed what some call an unhealthy obsession with the Alabama Crimson Tide (I think my California family are the ones that feel this way...).  I have two degrees from the University of Alabama, one in history and another in social studies education.  I am a history nerd, and it is my goal to transfer some of my passion for history to my students.  Oh by the way, I am a teacher at an extremely large high school in north Alabama.  While I've only been a teacher for close to one-and-a-half years, I've enjoyed my job thus far.  Another one of my passions is running.  I ran from 7th grade through my senior year at Alabama, and I am currently coaching cross country and track & field at the same high school I teach.

I am extremely blessed to be married to an awesome woman, Amber.  You've probably read her blog, and she's amazing at everything she does.  God knew exactly what He was doing when he had me sit with her at lunch one day at the Ferg.  After introductions, she starts hating on my USC basketball shorts.  Even though it was not evident to us that we were talking as future spouses, I thank God everyday for pairing me an awesome awesome wife and friend that I get to spend the rest of my life with.

That'll be all for now.  Again, I don't know what direction this blog will take.  There are some possible major changes in store for Amber and I in the near future.  Regardless of what happens, God will provide a way for us to trust Him and His Will completely.  He has always provided thus far, and He will always provide in the future.