Last week, in The Purposeful Father-Part One, we covered the first four things dads can do to build and strengthen the bonds of trust with his children based upon The Father’s Mandate teaching that has wonderfully impacted our family and marriage. A father must cultivate a sense of Family Identity A father must regularly demonstrate love to his wife A father must respect his child’s private world A father must give his children the freedom [...]
Father’s Day is almost here, so we thought it would be great to re-examine a teaching that focuses on eight specific duties dads can intentionally implement that cultivate and strengthen the bonds of trust with his children. The Father’s Mandate lesson from Growing Kids God’s Way, by Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo, was an important catalyst for our marriage and for our kids. It gave Rich some practical ways to be more purposeful with the boys [...]
What we are seeing transpire in our country is heartbreaking and humbling at every level. The heart of the issues we are seeing are heart issues! Doing what is right and being better people begins at home. The job of every parent is to daily teach their children God’s commandments to love Him and love one another as we love ourselves. It is teaching them the How, the Why and the Way of God from [...]
Summer 2020 is here and it’s definitely very different than most summers. The last few months of distance learning are behind us and many of us are thinking, “what can I do to keep the kids entertained?” Traditionally, we may have had big vacations, a series of camps, summer sports leagues, pool days, amusement parks and other excitement to make it a memorable, meaningful, or magical summer. While those things are great, this summer how [...]
It's graduation season... albeit celebrated much differently this year! Yet, in spite of current circumstances, there are preschoolers graduating to Kindergarten, Kindergartners to Elementary School, Elementary to Middle School, Middle Schoolers to High School and so on. All graduations, to varying degrees, have commencement addresses. These speeches are designed to impart wisdom and encourage students as they move to the next chapter in life. There is one commencement address that has really resonated with our [...]
I have been a mom for 22 years and the baby boy that made me a mom is graduating from college this week! For 22 years motherhood has been a lot of heart-wrenching, heart-warming, soul-searching and blessed work. As we celebrate all moms this weekend, I wanted to share some thoughts I had from my own journey in motherhood that may cause you to reflect as well. Heart-wrenching: We will spend a third to three [...]
During this unprecedented season when families are required to stay home and maintain social distancing, we want to be an encouraging and sustaining resource that will equip you with practical insights and tools to help you take hold of the opportunities for a productive and fruitful family time. Parents everywhere are discovering more of the blessings and joy that this extended time at home is providing. Here are last weeks tips in case you missed [...]
Let your love be stronger than your hate or anger. Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break. Believe the best rather than the worst. People have a way of living up or down to your opinion of them. Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship. The person you choose to marry is deserving of the courtesies and kindnesses you bestow on your friends. [...]
During this unprecedented season when families are required to stay home and maintain social distancing, we want to be an encouraging and sustaining resource that will equip you with practical insights and tools to help you take hold of the opportunities for a productive and fruitful family time. Parents everywhere are discovering more of the blessings and joy that this extended time at home is providing. Here are last weeks tips in case you [...]
During this unprecedented season when families are required to stay home and maintain social distancing, we want to be an encouraging and sustaining resource that will equip you with practical insights and tools to help you take hold of the opportunities for a productive and fruitful family time. Parents everywhere are discovering more of the blessings and joy that this extended time at home is providing. Here are last weeks tips in case you missed [...]