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 [...]

1 11, 2026

You Gotta Try Before You Cry

By |2026-11-01T11:34:06-07:00November 1st, 2026|Family Culture, Letters, Parenting|

Adventure. Doesn’t that sound exotic? Since Lis is from Sweden, travel has always been a part of our family DNA. Adventure brings new sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and experiences. We traveled to visit Lis’ parents every other year and, when our kids were old enough (5+), we took the opportunity to explore other countries as well. The stresses of travel can be pretty taxing on young and old alike. We remember spending Kevin’s entire birthday [...]

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 [...]

4 10, 2026

Fantasy Fights v. Words of Life

By |2026-09-30T12:38:49-06:00October 4th, 2026|Family Culture, Letters, Marriage, Parenting|

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” —Proverbs 18:21 KJV Dave has had his share of business stresses, and mowing the lawn was prime territory for what our pastor, Gary Thomas, calls a “Fantasy Fight.” You know the kind: an internal monologue where you grind through a situation, slaying your opponent with irrefutable logic and perfect wording. They respond. You counter brilliantly. Eventually, they yield to your obviously superior position. Ahem. Dave [...]

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 [...]

6 09, 2026

From Rules to Rhythm

By |2026-08-31T11:32:30-06:00September 6th, 2026|Family Culture, Letters, Parenting|

Children benefit from structure more than they appreciate structure. As the Howards wrote and podcasted a few weeks ago - “Back to School and a Family Reset” - summer days of relaxed rules must eventually give way to the structure of a new school year. We have a few more ideas to share on the subject. To start, getting up on time and going to bed earlier can be a parental challenge to enforce. Curtailing [...]

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 [...]

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