Where Have We Been?

After a nearly two-month hiatus, the Married AF Podcast is back with updates on where hosts Matthew and Monica Powers have been and why they've been absent from their regular podcast schedule. Their return episode reveals the whirlwind of activities and unexpected events that temporarily pulled them away from their recording responsibilities.

Spring sports season hit the Powers family in full force beginning in February. Monica has been coaching high school softball in Alabama, with three games per week plus tournaments on weekends that weren't postponed due to weather. Their son Cash started baseball season in a new league where he's thriving and genuinely enjoying the sport again. The joy visible on his face during games shows how much this change has positively impacted him, making the time investment worthwhile despite the busy schedule.

The biggest disruption to their podcast schedule came from an intensive house hunting journey. The couple found a house in a neighborhood where they've always wanted to live – an area where many of their closest friends reside. After experiencing disappointment with their first choice and nearly settling for a second option that was suddenly pulled from the market, they found a seemingly perfect home that checked virtually all their boxes. The inspection process revealed serious issues with retaining walls and drainage that could potentially cost $50,000-60,000 to fix. Despite their initial excitement about the property, they made the difficult decision to walk away after the sellers refused to address these concerns or adjust the price accordingly.

In seeking guidance during this challenging decision, they consulted with their pastor who reminded them of their initial prayer: for God to make the process smooth and easy if it was meant to be. The complications and frustrations served as clear indicators that this wasn't the right path forward. While they've looked at several other properties since, nothing has felt right, leaving them in their current home for the time being while trusting in God's timing.

Adding to their packed schedule, a tornado struck their community just two and a half miles from their home, causing significant damage to a trailer park near their daughter's school. Rather than recording podcast episodes as planned that weekend, the family joined community cleanup efforts. Matthew proudly noted how their children eagerly participated in the relief work, jumping in to help strangers without hesitation – a powerful example of "being the church" rather than just attending it.

Despite their absence from creating new content, the podcast has continued to reach listeners in record numbers, with downloads ranging from 3,000 to over 7,000 per week. This growth has affirmed their commitment to returning to regular episodes starting April 8th. The Powers have also been dedicating significant time to leading a marriage-focused small group through their church, witnessing relationships being rebuilt and new friendships forming among participating couples.

The Married AF Podcast will return with regular weekly episodes on April 8th, and Matthew and Monica invite listeners to submit questions or topic suggestions through their website, themarriedafpodcast.com, or reach out via social media.