We’re Darin and Monica Strong …
Our story is one of passion, faith and a determination to never give up…
God’s plan brought us to the same high school where we became best friends and fell in love. We’ve been together 20 years now and in the last 10 years we’ve been blessed with 7 (+1 on the way!) amazing children. Our desire was whatever we did in life, when we had children, they would be right there with us. Doing life as a family was a deep conviction we had from the beginning.
We knew when we met that we were different, we always wanted more. We didn’t realize that one day in 2015 we would feel like we were given an ultimatum from Jesus we couldn’t refuse – “It’s now or never” – was a modern day call to come follow me. We were ALL IN. That was the start of a journey that changed our lives and family tree forever. We left our church, our community, our family and careers for an obscure pursuit of following that would last years.
This next season of life looks like pioneering a place called Homeland. A place God declared – “I will provide a homeland for my people, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past.”
We have chosen to take the road less travelled – not a road of personal ambition but one that our children and their children can walk with us. To be planted by God in a place we would have never personally chosen, but one that He chooses and watches over every day of the year. Choosing to pioneer a place where multiple generations converge, retreat, find peace and security.
While at times walking by faith feels like we can’t see where we’re going, we know it’s going to be what made all the difference.
Monica
Born and raised a Virginia girl I’ve lived in the city and the country and as you’ve heard me say – “I’m a little bit of both! Little bit city, little bit country!” I prefer the country, away from city lights and noise, where my neighbors are the trees and the sounds of nature are the music.
I worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse for 7 years before getting my Masters degree in Nursing Leadership. I then spent years in studying Midwifery due to my own birthing experiences with our 7 children. Having children changed my whole life, before I had children I was focused on being successful in my career of Nursing. Pregnancy and birth, health and healing are passions God has given me.
Whether it’s sitting in the morning with our coffee and Bibles, or an email we get, a song we hear, something our kids say, a whisper we hear while moving the animals, something we learn while gardening. We know everyday if our focus is chasing what God is saying to us today then everything else will fall into place. There is no greater joy than those moments we experience together.
Coffee + Devotion
First thing everyday
Sitting Outside
Favorite place
Our Children
most important
Cultural Foods
favorite food
Darin
Born in Racine, Wisconsin and raised in Nashville, Tennessee I was the youngest of my 4 brothers. I was raised by a single mother and my whole life I struggled in school. I was bored and never enjoyed it.
Ever since I was a little boy I wanted to be a police officer. The one thing Monica never wanted to be married to was a police officer! Well, I did become one but it didn’t last long because we were already married! I found my niche in real estate and since then I’ve done property management, sales, short term rentals and long term, investments and fix and flips. Monica and I really found our sweet spot accidentally in this together and we have grown to love it.
My passion though in life was when we found the obscure path that led me to where I’ve found myself today as a Husband and Father. Knowing that my legacy will flow through our lineage and nothing else will transcend the generations like the kind of husband or father I am. This has become my chief priority and source of constant desire to grow and change. To never settle for just good enough and to be the change from myself down that set the trajectory of our family on a path we could’ve never been on had we not made the tough decisions to prioritize legacy over selfish ambition.