April 12th, 2009 forced a change in my life. I remember making my way across the darkened parking lot and slipping in behind the wheel of my car in silence. Rain slipped down the windshield and I opened the window ever so slightly, hoping that the chilled air would remind me to breathe.  For 10 days I had sat... >Read More

Tags: adult children, better parenting, challenges & conflicts, change, character development, communication, death, divorce, family issues, hardship & suffering, healthy marriage, improving your marriage, job los, Joyce Simmons, new career, out of your control, parenting essentials, priorities, protecting your marriage, relationships, resolving conflict, Self, teens, values

2 Comments »

Christian marriages should be different. Why? The answer is because we have Jesus Christ. He enables us to have all the tools we need to make a marriage work. Three of those tools are: love, prayer, and forgiveness. You may be thinking, “Hey wait, these aren’t unique to Christians.” But because of Jesus they are different in our lives....... >Read More

Tags: commitment, communication, FamilyLife Canada, forgiveness, healthy marriage, improving your marriage, marriage, prayer, priorities, protecting your marriage, relationships, resolving conflict, spouse, values

3 Comments »

One clear September morning my son packed up his car and headed off to college.   Oh, I knew in my head that he was ready for the next stage of his journey.   Such a clear demonstration of maturity and wisdom is evident in almost any eighteen year old – what could possibly go wrong?!   I repeated like a mantra,... >Read More

Tags: adult children, better parenting, college, depending on God, faith, fear and anxiety, parenting essentials, Self, spiritual growth, teenagers, teens, trust, values

No Comments »

When my children were first born, I did something radical. I didn't really decorate their room. Part of it was a money issue; we had so little cash, and we were trying to save for a down payment for a house. I thought putting our money into an apartment sized washing machine would be a far better use of our... >Read More

Tags: bedroom, better parenting, castle, character development, child, child's room, children, Family, kids, parenting, parenting essentials, Shelia Wray Gregoire, values

1 Comment »

Apparently it took God until the 21st Century to release an updated version of the seventh commandment.  According to one pastor, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” should now read, “Thou shalt not Facebook.”  After counseling roughly 20 couples with Facebook-related marriage issues, Reverend Cedric Miller has had enough.  Rev. Miller issued...... >Read More

Tags: challenges & conflict, commitment, communication, Facebook, family issues, healthy marriage, improving your marriage, internet, marriage, online affairs, priorities, protecting your marriage, relationships, resolving conflict, sex and love, values

9 Comments »

I can still remember where I was standing and the way my daughter Aubri looked at me that fateful December day.  She came to me and said, “Dad, Dan really wants to talk to you to ask if he can be allowed to date me.”  I knew this day would come. I answered honestly, “Do you know how difficult this... >Read More

Tags: adult children, better parenting, dating, daughters, engaged couples, Family, family values, father daughter, parenting, parenting essentials, relationships, values

No Comments »

The story is told of a couple that grew to find little to appreciate in one another. The daily tally of things one did that annoyed and aggravated the other was a growing list. More and more they did less and less together. In desperation the woman visited a counselor and took along her journal of all the attitudes... >Read More

Tags: annoyed, commitment, communication, couples, Family, FamilyLife Favs, fight, focus, healthy marriage, improving your marriage, irrations, marriage, priorities, protecting your marriage, record of rights, relationships, resolvingn conflict, spiritual growth, values

2 Comments »