financial peace...
"two words that don't usually go together" as dave ramsey quips, as he talks about the standard americans' financial situation. i listened to the 2 lessons i've missed of our financial peace university today so i'd be on the same page going into our class tonight. this 13 week course has the potentially to literally change one's life forever. i am amazed at his stories and his successes. everytime i leave class or finished a cd i felt like i wanted to get out my pompoms and/or cry. what a sensitive subject finances is, and i wish so badly that more people would be proactive with their money, myself included. when we were in south dakota, staying with my grandma in her spacious 3 bedroom apartment, there were brief financial-related comments that made me proud. she said that some of her friends ask why she pays for a 3 bedroom apartment. her response to them is, "i can afford it and i like the space." she's been there close to 9 years now, since my grandpa died, and loves it. she also made the comment, "i could travel a lot now, i have the money, but i'm content at home." these comments are made matter-of-factly, humbly. the more i think about it, the more proud i become of my grandparents' planning ahead for a great, high quality of life future. i'm sure my grandpa is looking down, smiling on his cute little wife enjoying these latter years of life without the worry of money. i also am proud of my other set of grandparents, who lived financially free in their later years, and still had plenty to divide between 6 kids when they passed away. what great rolemodels to me and to others!! i pray that conrad and i will have the same wisdom and that God will give us discipline to follow through with what needs to be done...there has already been a lot of "lightbulb" moments since our class started 7 weeks ago, and there will definitely be more to come. it is something i am passionate about and feel like God's given us an excellent tool. can't wait for more!!