About Shelly and Rich Howard

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So far Shelly and Rich Howard has created 457 blog entries.
8 11, 2026

A Simple Tradition That Transformed Our Family Conversations

By |2026-11-04T11:12:33-07:00November 8th, 2026|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting|

When our boys were about six and four years old, we started a new family tradition that completely changed the way we connected as a family. Little did we know that this simple idea would spark countless meaningful conversations, create cherished memories, and strengthen our relationships with our kids in ways we never imagined! One of Rich’s favorite memories growing up was visiting his grandparents. On their kitchen table sat a small yellow box filled [...]

25 10, 2026

When Children Comprehend the Preciousness of Others

By |2026-10-24T12:10:03-06:00October 25th, 2026|Family Culture, Letters, Parenting|

A Quick Preface: We recognize that families have different views about Halloween and trick-or-treating, and we appreciate those differences. This letter isn’t about debating those perspectives, but about sharing a memorable “light bulb” moment with our boys and offering a little encouragement for your own parenting journey. As much as we enjoyed Halloween, we were always a little relieved when it was behind us! We loved many parts of trick-or-treating, including the time a four-year-old [...]

18 10, 2026

How Household Chores Help Kids Thrive

By |2026-10-12T11:02:53-06:00October 18th, 2026|Family Culture, Letters, Parenting|

We remember when our kids had chores to complete. They weren’t always excited about it, but we understood how important it was for them to learn about contributing to the family. We made a parenting transition during their younger years by giving them age-appropriate responsibilities, which significantly improved their attitude and behavior. In fact, we discovered that the benefits went beyond just creating a tidier home and fostering family harmony. Chores help children reach their [...]

11 10, 2026

The Impact of Loving Intentionally

By |2026-10-06T14:11:19-06:00October 11th, 2026|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting|

Loving intentionally is one of the most influential things we do as human beings. The love we give today carries into the future through our family. It can be expressed in many ways, yet it remains the greatest gift we can offer our spouse and children. With that in mind, we want to share a few practical ideas to help you express love within your family that are meaningful and lasting. Here are three specific [...]

27 09, 2026

Are You Playing to Win or Trying Not to Lose?

By |2026-09-22T12:04:17-06:00September 27th, 2026|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting|

We are HUGE football fans! In fact, our family has held Denver Broncos season tickets since 1968. Rich was even Buffalo Chip – The mascot at the University of Colorado (second only to Ralphie of course!)  With the college and professional football seasons underway, we’re reminded of a coaching philosophy that applies far beyond the football field: Are you playing to win—or playing not to lose? In football, there’s a strategy called the “Prevent Defense.” [...]

13 09, 2026

Pursuing Excellence, Not Perfection

By |2026-09-01T17:58:21-06:00September 13th, 2026|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting|

This week, OneFamily will have a space (#25 – visit us!) at MOMCON in Denver, Colorado—the annual moms’ convention hosted by MomCo (formerly MOPS International). It is a wonderful event designed to support, encourage, and rejuvenate the hearts, souls, and minds of moms from across the country and around the world! Whenever we attend events like this, we encounter moms and dads who are completely exhausted and worn out. Too often, they strive for an [...]

30 08, 2026

Teaching Emotional Maturity

By |2026-08-27T10:38:19-06:00August 30th, 2026|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting|

Emotional control or self-discipline, is the ability to recognize our emotions and choose an appropriate way to express them. Learning to manage our emotional responses is a lifelong skill that can shape our character and influence our relationships. Anger, frustration, and disappointment are a part of life as a child and as an adult.  There will always be times when these difficult emotions happen, but how we respond and express ourselves is the key to [...]

16 08, 2026

Helping Your Child Choose Friends Who Bring Out Their Best

By |2026-08-07T12:38:45-06:00August 16th, 2026|Family Culture, Letters, Parenting|

As a new school year begins, there are seemingly countless things to do to prepare our kids for the year ahead—school supplies to buy, schedules to organize, activities to plan, and routines to reestablish. But there are also important conversations that need to take place. One of the most important may be a conversation about friendships. Are you comfortable with your child’s current friends? Is your child choosing friends who are a positive influence—or being [...]

2 08, 2026

Back to School and a Family Reset

By |2026-08-01T11:59:33-06:00August 2nd, 2026|Family Culture, Letters, Parenting|

There’s something about the start of a new school year that feels a lot like a new year. New schedules. New routines. New expectations. New opportunities. And while most of our attention naturally goes toward getting the kids ready—school supplies, clothes, activities, schedules, and homework—the beginning of a school year can be an important reset for the entire family. For our boys, it was an opportunity to refocus, take on new responsibilities, and build on [...]

26 07, 2026

From Kindergarten to College: Learning to Bless and Release Our Children

By |2026-07-23T08:17:13-06:00July 26th, 2026|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting|

There is something meaningful about the beginning of every school year. Whether you're walking your five-year-old into kindergarten for the first time, watching your middle-schooler confidently disappear into a crowd of classmates, sending your teenager off to high school, or hugging your son or daughter goodbye at a college dorm, every new season asks parents to do the same difficult thing: Release a little more. Each year our children take another step toward the adults [...]

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