Live a Meaningful Life

Johnny and I often survey our lives--processing past choices, thinking about the future...wondering if we are doing this life thing at least decent (parenting, Christianity, honoring parents, work life). We all know there are plenty of "experts" out there that can help guide us along these journeys--but still--who is right? What is best? What is the wisest thing to do? During our conversations there have been some things that we wish we would have known earlier or had sought other opinions about... Here are some of those things for me... 1. Debt....I wish someone had ingrained in me that debt was a last option--you know--when someone was facing life/death or when there were absolutely no other alternatives! If we had handled our finances the first eight years the way we have the last eight years of our marriage....folks, you can rationalize your need for things that you borrow money to get (or put on the credit card) all day long. But the truth is this: debt is bondage--the

I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago how I am always amazed at all there is to learn.  If you look at my past history in education from first grade (kindergarten was only for folks who paid to go in my day) until that terminal degree-you would have a tendency to suggest that I am a good learner.  Well, most of those grades were able to be attained because I have the ability to read information and in a matter of a few minutes regurgitate it regardless if I really understand it or not.  My educational grades and attainment were widely due to a good mix of memorization, writing, and verbal skills.  And to be honest, there are still things today that I "know" but don't understand.  Case in point--a couple of weeks ago one of our friends in the PEAK Homeschool group organized a science presentation at ICC by Stoming Bob Swanson (http://www.storminswanson.com).  He performed demonstrations that helped the kiddos understand the concepts of weather. Did I know what air pressu

Last night we were in Amory and we passed by this huge Factory Connection store. Back in the day, the store was on Main Street and we (my mom and I) were frequent customers.  As we passed this new and improved edition, I reminisced with Johnny about the days of putting clothes in Lay-a-Way every season.  "Why did you put them in lay-a-way?"  he asked.  "That's funny. I really don't know.  As a teenager I always had enough money to just buy them outright. I guess that is just what we always did."  I said. Have you ever thought about your behavior--I mean every little action?  Behavior theory and many counseling theories state that all of our behavior is goal directed.  Interpretation--we do what we do for a reason.  In other words, all of our outward behaviors are motivated by an internal desire or motivation.   Some behaviors are learned from one's environment and simply repeated, others are spurred by that internal motivation or goal.  I think it&