The most valuable things we offer our children cost nothing. But there are many other things we give them that cost money.  The most expensive is often the opportunity for them to attend college or university. Without financial assistance, our children may have to forego post-secondary education or graduate with loads of student debts.  We want...... >Read More

Tags: budget, challenges & conflict, children, communication, education, Family, finances, healthy marriage, improving your marriage, parenting, priorities, resolving conflict

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First comes love…or sex? “First comes love, then comes marriage, then here they come with a baby carriage.” You may recognize this little rhythm my generation used to sing to embarrass each other.  Based on today’s culture the rhythm could go: “First comes sex, then comes living together, and the baby carriage could happen anytime or...... >Read More

Tags: communication, don't want sex, FamilyLife Favs, improving your marriage, intimacy, marriage, Most Popular, resolving conflict, Romance & Sex, sex, sex resources, sexual intimacy, sexual problems, Women

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Many families suffer “hole-in-a-pocket” syndrome, meaning the money they earn seems to slip away leaving no trace. As a result, plans we have for our family, home, church or charity giving and future are set aside.  We say “we can’t afford it” even when the family income suggests that the plans are – or should be – affordable. This...... >Read More

Tags: budget, challenges & conflicts, communication, FaithLife Financial, families, family budget, finances, financial decisions, healthy marriage, income, Money, pay check, priorities, resolving conflict, values

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One of the most difficult parts of marriage is agreeing how to discipline. When one parent is more lenient, and one is more harsh, often parents fail to back each other up, and instead form emotional bonds with the kids. Here's a situation that happened in our family recently: One of our daughters, who had been very compliant, hit puberty,... >Read More

Tags: better parenting, communication, different discipline styles, discipline, Family, FamilyLife, parenting, parenting essentials, resolving conflict, sheila wray gregoire, spouse, teens, values

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He stood at my kitchen counter drinking a cup of coffee. Our overnight guest casually spoke about summer plans he made with his wife. It sounded nice  –  a few picnics, a couple of quick weekend trips, kids sports events to take in, maybe a holiday that they had talked about for a long time.  Then he paused and... >Read More

Tags: 30 day challenge, affection, appreciation, approval, attention, communication, Family, gail rodgers, healthy marriage, improving your marriage, intimacy, LIFE, love, marriage, men and women, priorities, protecting your marriage, relationships, resolving conflict, sex and love, straight A's

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Have you ever sat in a group of people and listened to someone describe a family member whose own agenda takes over from the rest of the family?  We have family members like that.  One family member has driven past our home numerous times a year and stopped in only once in eight years.  (We live five minutes from... >Read More

Tags: challenges & conflicts, Christmas, Family, family issues, in laws, love, relationships, resolving conflict, siblings

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"Alcoholism has an effect on everybody around the person suffering from it. This is especially true for a family." says William Belle in the Ole! Times. In his article, which recounts his own struggle with alcoholism and (for the moment) sobriety, he provides statistics about how pervasive the problem is: According to a 2002 survey conducted by...... >Read More

Tags: alchole abuse, alcholism, better parenting, challenges & conflicts, child, faith, Family, healing, LIFE, mike woodard, parenting, resolving conflict, world culture

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