In August of 2002 I moved into the Norton’s house because I was having problems with my dad. I was 18 and didn’t have a job, which probably added to the problem. The Norton’s took me in and treated me like their own. They just didn’t provide shelter from a dysfunctional family life; they also gave me responsibility (e.g. chores, and got me job).

My dad tried to get me to do those things but he was never good at following through with the consequences; good or bad; and he wasn’t a very good example around the house either. It was nice to live with the Norton’s for the year and half that I did.

John is a very good model for what kind of responsibility is required of a man in a family. He follows through with what he says he’s going to do as well. Which is a VERY big deal. Val is a very supportive mother of anybody who needs it. They are both Godly people that have hearts for the hurting. Anyone would be blessed to be under their care.

I met my wife while living there and since then have been married for almost 5 years now with three children of my own. There’s no doubt in my mind that if it wasn’t for them and the virtues they instilled in me, I probably would have been divorced within the first couple years. My parents weren’t the best example of a marriage. John and Val Norton were a great blessing in so many ways.
-Matt Recher, age 25