My story is far over due.

Grew up in Iowa on the usual Iowa farm. A Catholic upbringing...let me change that, a VERY Catholic upbringing. The area is/was about 95% Catholic. Attended Catholic school right through 8th grade.

You get the point.

As I grew up and matured I had a growing feeling of unease and distrust in the religion that had been thrust so heavily upon me. Call it the feeling that something just wasn't right.

Forward into my 20's when I shed the whole idea of religion. With Christianity and more specifically Catholicism simply not something I could be a true believer in it was my only choice given my surroundings in small town America. Did my lack of faith and religion cause issues. When I look back on a failed marriage in my 20's I say "yes", that a strong faith would have helped me through tough times but one cannot dwell on that.

Fast forward to my 30's and moving out of small town America. I met my now very loving wife and we have a combined (she was also previously married) six children whom are my pride and joy. I slowly was introduced to Islam. I guess you could say that I was slowly "drawn" to Islam. It fell within my belief strusture, simply put, it all made sense to me in a way that Christianity never did in two decades.

My family back in small town America were not thrilled....at all. I had some difficult times, lack of acceptance, etc. It was very difficult for me. I found strength after some time in someone I call my "mentor" who I met at our masjid.

When going back home I get the strange looks, people wondering what is up with the local looking guy but who is sporting a pseudo-beard and the, as someone said, "one of those Muslim lookin' hats". "For the record it is called a skull cap or kufi" was my reply. Some people ask, being intrigued. Anything I can do to educate people I do, but it isn't always accepted.

So that is my much abbreviated story.

Assalamu Alaikum to you all and thank you for reading