How We Became Texans:

	I grew up in Oregon and always loved the idea of moving to Texas one day, though I never really had a solid reason to make the leap. That all changed when I met my wife, Tabitha, and we started visiting every summer. The definitive turning point came when Tabitha was fired from her job as a music teacher in Junction City, Oregon, for refusing to get the COVID shot. That was our cue: we packed up everything, moved to the farm, and have been free and happy ever since.

Farm Lessons:

	There is something for everyone to learn out on the farm. Life here strips away the unnecessary and leaves you face-to-face with raw reality. Here are a few hard-earned lessons I've picked up along the way:

1) When your dog dies, bury it with the other dogs, and make sure it's rained recently. The ground can be unforgiving, and timing with the elements makes all the difference when you're laying a loyal companion to rest.

2) When facing down a 1,900-pound pregnant Angus, make sure and knock it out, or move... maybe just move. Livestock commands a healthy kind of respect, and physics is never on your side when an oversized mother cow decides to hold her ground.

3) Not everything will try to kill you; it just happens naturally, so pay attention. The country has its own rhythm, and staying alert keeps you alive amid the quiet hazards of daily land stewardship.

The Roots of Redemption:

	This new chapter isn't just about a change of geography or learning the ropes of farm life; it is the fruit of a profound spiritual turnaround. My journey with God began when I was barely five years old, praying to Him to take away my extreme anxieties about death. Though I walked through a heavy season of wandering—battling the bottle, hard drugs, and deep personal loss—God met me in my lowest valley.

	When my first marriage collapsed, leaving me with two lawn chairs and a 40-inch TV set, I broke down and asked for the strength never to let my children down. God answered that prayer by bringing Tabitha into my life—the mother my children needed, my best friend, and my ultimate path to Jesus Christ.

Reborn and Rewriting the Future:

	I was baptized at the Hamby Church of Christ in July of 2018 by Coy D. Roper, the grandfather of my wife and a blessed teacher of God's word. Though Coy lived to marry Tabitha and me, he wasn't well enough in January of 2023 to baptize my son. Instead, my son was baptized by Jon Schwiethale, the preacher at Hamby Church and a dear friend. When Coy passed away on June 17, 2023, he was dearly missed, and I remain deeply proud to be the last person he ever baptized.

	Today, the Christian life abides. Rewriting the future on a Texas farm with my family isn't just a lifestyle change—it is living proof that I am taken care of, that God provides what I need, and that I am truly one of His favorites.

	On June 8th 2026 Truitt Clifton Cherry was born. My second son! He spent 9 days in the NICU for underdeveloped lungs. Funny how history finds ways to repeat itself. I was also a NICU baby for my lungs. The time at the hospital was inwardly as painful as it gets, but outwardly I think my wife and I held it together pretty well. I am adding a few new pages here soon. If you want to know the whole story you will have to wait for it to be released. Just know that Truitt is home, healthy, and loved.