Marriage

27 12, 2021

Creating a Thriving Family

By Shelly and Rich Howard|2021-12-27T09:55:03-07:00December 27th, 2021|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting, Personal|

What does a thriving family look like? Certainly, there are many answers to this question, but we believe at the heart of a thriving family is a healthy marriage and effective parenting. It is an encouraging home environment where children are flourishing with everyone feeling emotionally and spiritually fulfilled in each other’s company. This holiday season, we’ve shared many wonderful success stories from parents that received equipping and encouragement from OneFamily; stories from a single [...]

7 10, 2021

Pursuing Excellence – The Difference Between Good and Great

By Shelly and Rich Howard|2021-10-02T07:19:16-06:00October 7th, 2021|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting|

Perfection is an impossible standard. Yet, in our results driven society, its amazing how the pursuit of perfection continues to be coveted in almost every aspect of life even though it derails us in our pursuits. The pursuit of perfection often leads to disappointment, shame, frustration, and feelings of failure. However, the pursuit of excellence leads to accomplishment, confidence, contentment, and feelings of fulfillment. This distinction was not only something we passed along in parenting [...]

20 09, 2021

Meaningful Family Conversations

By Shelly and Rich Howard|2022-12-10T11:57:23-07:00September 20th, 2021|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting, Relationship|

When our boys were about 6 and 4 years old we began a new family tradition that helped us engage in meaningful conversations with them. Little did we know when we started how this tool would create many wonderful memories, help us communicate more effectively with our kids and take our parenting efforts and relationships with each of them to a higher level! One of Rich’s favorite memories growing up was visiting his grandparents and [...]

7 08, 2021

Finding Balance

By Shelly and Rich Howard|2021-08-08T13:55:10-06:00August 7th, 2021|Marriage, Parenting, Personal, Relationship|

When our boys were younger, we overloaded and overwhelmed our lives by trying to take advantage of every opportunity life presented – School activities, Sports, Etc... We naively thought balance and getting less busy in our lives would somehow occur on its own; thinking we had plenty of time and life would get less overwhelming in the near future. Fortunately, we discovered that life’s balance doesn’t just happen on its own. So we came up [...]

18 07, 2021

What’s Missing?

By Lis and Dave Marr|2021-07-21T09:17:59-06:00July 18th, 2021|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting, Relationship|

The 3rd and 4th Generation This is the last in a 4 part series about creating new patterns in your family that will bless the 3rd & 4th generation. 1) Stake in the Ground 2) Guard your Tongue and Tone 3) Can Do or Must Do 4) What’s Missing “The Lord…who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of [...]

11 07, 2021

Can Do or Must Do

By Lis and Dave Marr|2021-07-13T09:31:08-06:00July 11th, 2021|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting, Relationship, Uncategorized|

The 3rd and 4th Generation This is the third in a 4 part series about creating new patterns in your family that will bless the 3rd & 4th generation. 1) Stake in the Ground 2) Guard your Tongue and Tone 3) Can Do or Must Do 4) What’s Missing “The Lord…who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of [...]

4 07, 2021

Guard your Tongue and Tone

By Lis and Dave Marr|2021-07-06T07:29:37-06:00July 4th, 2021|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting, Relationship|

The 3rd and 4th Generation This is the second in a 4 part series about creating new patterns in your family that will bless the 3rd & 4th generation. 1) Stake in the Ground 2) Guard your Tongue and Tone 3) Can Do or Must Do 4) What’s Missing “The Lord…who keeps loving kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity [...]

19 06, 2021

5 Elements of a Good Dad

By Lis and Dave Marr|2021-06-19T10:04:55-06:00June 19th, 2021|Letters, Marriage, Parenting, Relationship|

As Dave was driving with his young family through a mostly empty parking lot after attending parenting class, he slammed on the brakes, “OOOHHH!!!”. Lis and the kids were alarmed. “WHAT?!! What’s wrong?!” “OH! MY! GOSH!!!” Dave exclaimed. “What daddy, what is it?!” the kids in the back seat were tense. “I LOVE YOUR MOM AND YOU GUYS SOOOO MUCH!!!” The tension in the air popped. Dad was just goofin’ again. “Daaaadyyyy!” Lis just shook [...]

21 05, 2021

Let your Yeses be Yes

By Lis and Dave Marr|2021-05-22T06:47:42-06:00May 21st, 2021|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting, Relationship|

“Can I ride my bike to the park with Ryan?” “No, not today sweetie!” Starting during the toddler years and continuing all through the adolescent years, there is a parenting tendency that seeps into a child’s psyche and deeply influences their motivations, efforts, and even their very personality. As parents we brought our own upbringing into the marriage and needed to get on the same page when providing answers to our children’s request. Lis grew [...]

16 05, 2021

The Transitioning Parent

By Shelly and Rich Howard|2021-05-16T14:34:55-06:00May 16th, 2021|Family Culture, Health, Letters, Marriage, Parenting, Relationship, Uncategorized|

If we’ve learned anything in the years we’ve lead parenting classes, it is this: The parenting process is a series of relational transitions. In our Parenting Phases letter, we described four stages and the relational phases: Birth to Toddlerhood – Discipline Phase Toddlerhood to Childhood – Training Phase Childhood to Teenagers – Coaching Phase Late Teens though Adulthood – Mentoring/Friendship Phase It’s often difficult for parents to transition through each of these phases and make [...]

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