Being married is an adventure. Anyone that tells you differently has either never been married or are delusional. I have known my husband for 2/3 of my life and there are still times that I learn something from him, about him or from the simple act of marriage.

1. Men and women are different. I came from a house full of men and was shocked how little I actually understood about them. Men and women process information differently, look at things differently and even value things at a different level.

2. Flirting is healthy for the relationship but keep it in the marriage relationship. Sit across the room from each other and flirt with each other like you did when you were courting.

3. There is no way I can ever change my spouse. Accept it, embrace it and just move on from there.

4. People are different....

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I am not happy with . . .

I know that I am not alone in my complaints or concerns about the world, this life, or my own actions and attitudes. That does not mean others are complaining about me, but that we are all complaining about things that we want to see changed. There are days when my not happy list could fill up a full page and some days a full notebook.
It takes very little energy to find something to complain about around me especially on those days when my hair has its own opinions or I find a rip in my favorite pants. Once I get the ball rolling, it is easy to pile it on.

The challenge lies not in finding the problems but in choosing solutions. I must discover the steps that will allow me to overcome or manage the circumstances, problems or troubles until I find my way to the life that will be filled with the joy and peace so many of us recognize as happy.

Making a Change

1. Write down a list of things that bother you about your own life or y...

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You will be what you think you can be and nothing more. The limits for your life are in your mind because what you thinks grows in your heart and then comes forth to direct your path.

Two years ago, Michael Phelps was poised to win more gold medals than any person in Olympic history. I read an interview with one of his competitors. “I am NOT swimming for gold. I am swimming for silver.” His name did not stick in my memory, but his words did. It had already settled in his heart that he could not beat Phelps and he was right. That competitor did NOT get gold.

Phelps was an incredible competitor, but not invincible. The swimmer was defeated by his thoughts. He was swimming for second place.

Twenty years before, again in the summer Olympics, America had no hope for a medal in diving. The great Greg Louganis had retired so what hope could we have? Mark Lenzi was an unknown in the diving community. He had only been diving for a few years after switching from wrestling –...

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There was another show on today about de-cluttering your life. I was taking a break, and flipping through the gazillion channels when I landed on it. I THOUGHT it might make a good choice for relaxing and letting my mind recharge. Seeing others motivated is a great motivator for me.

I was enjoying the show quite a bit and even making a few comments to the TV. My mind was on its way to recharging and my list of how to make the experiences of the show a reality in my life was growing. From the other room my husband starts yelling his own Amens.

Violence is not normally my first response to these situations, but I admit I wanted to throw a shoe at his head. Our home is not perfect, but it is a far cry from some of these homes that are featured on the shows.

It was time for me to defend myself. I was about to start listing all the wonderful accomplishments I had made over the last few years - anything to justify my feelings for my husband’s attitude. Before the words...

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The answer lies in one simple word – choice. Everything that you are dealing with right now and everything that you accomplish (or miss) come back to a choice that you made. It is so simple that we often miss it completely. Or maybe it is just that choosing is not as easy as it sounds.

I finished writing my first novel two years ago. I had a friend read it and it inspired him to start yet another novel. He chose to finish this novel, Stars of Kanri, with a little encouragement from me. One day at karate class he met a man that was involved in a publishing company.

A few weeks later and S.P. Dorning from Blountsville, Alabama had his first book published. It happened because he chose to complete his book. My first novel is still in the editing stage because I have chosen not to make a priority. That might change if I join a karate class though.

Our flower garden was part of the Regional Iris Tour for this area in 2005. That same month we discovered we were expectin...

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The Richest Man in Town was not the mayor, or the factory owner or the internet mogul. Some people might have even said he was not all that special. He was only Marty – grandfather, husband, vet - that worked at the local Walmart only because he wanted to be sure he had sufficient insurance for medical troubles he had faced and conquered in the past.

My dad introduced me to Marty through the book, “The Richest Man in Town,” by V.J. Smith. It is relatively short and a very easy read but it has already made a huge impression on my heart that I hope will carry over to life changing actions – and continue to spread on to you.

Lessons Learned from the Richest Man in Town

Happiness is a choice. Most people are looking for circumstances or people to create happiness but the real key is to find it in self. Waking up each morning not only looking for the good, the positive and the uplifting, but EXPECTING it will create a life of peace and happiness.

A genuine smile i...

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  Children have wild imaginations. My sons are airplane pilots, explorers and knights – all from the back of the car. That imagination does not go away by itself. It is usually killed by something as small as a comment. Words are the little pistol that kills the big buck.

  It is impossible to imagine that something so small could do any real damage. There are very few (if any) hunters that carry around a pistol. It takes more fire power to take down the buck that you will brag about down the road. But the imagination does not dwell in the land of reality.

  Words are small in reality but in the realm of the imagination they are as powerful as giants. They stomp around the countryside, crushing down the gardens of dreams. Words are extremely powerful.

“You can’t do that.”

“Just let me do it myself. It will take less time.”

“What were you thinking?”

  These short phrases have the ability to destroy the hopes of the people who ...

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Society teaches self-sufficiency. It is all about taking care of things on your own. Self-sufficiency shows strength and competence. It launches success. The world would have you believe that self-sufficiency trumps everything else.

Our society has lost its sense of community. We no longer look to one another in times of need. Showing need reveals vulnerability and that could lead to downfall. Reaching out a hand to the government is better than revealing a weakness to the people around you.

There was a time when people were more concerned about the kind of neighbors around the property than the depth of the water when it came to choosing a new home. Location was centered around community and not the view.

A strong community meant that kids would be watched out for, troubles would be dealt with as a group and not individually, outsiders would be noticed and you would know that you were never truly alone.

Today in church we were called to community once again...

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There are a lot of theories about how to be a good wife. Some are distorted interpretations of one religions doctrine or another. Some are traditions handed down for generations without any rhyme or reason (or for reasons that have long been forgotten). The best way to be a good wife is to be a good you.

1. Stop right now trying to change him. A good wife does not nag (in the end it is just a waste of breath anyway).

2. Focus on you – when it comes to change. Being a good wife means you have to work hard to correct negative patterns and habits in YOUR life.

3. Focus on him – when it comes to needs and wants. If you will put others first (but not to the detriment of your health) with a joyful heart then you will see a drastic change in the world around you.

4. Support his dreams. He needs your support to be truly successful. Be willing to take the time to listen to his dreams and make a plan which supports that vision.

5. Speak positive things over his ...

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Discouragement lurks around every mistake, misstep or missed opportunity. It does not hide in the bushes and only comes out of cover when there is some digging and prodding and hard work. Discouragement seems more like a predator that is waiting to pounce on its next victim.

Encouragement prances around like a deer. It can be elusive or skittish and often does hide in the bushes only appearing at the dawn or dusk of a moment. Capturing a glimpse of encouragement takes patience, persistence and plenty of effort but that one moment of encouragement can serve to carry you through many moments of struggle or tests that may lie in the future.

Bringing encouragement to the same open place where discouragement attempts to reside does not require special talents. There are not unique tools that must be purchased for the sake of finding encouragement. Some simple tips combined with a strong determination will help you to spot encouragement even when it is hiding in the edge of yo...

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