The kids are long gone, living their own busy lives. The grandkids are getting older, not so cuddly and openly loving as they used to be. Medicare and retirement loom, and with them, big questions and concerns you never had to think much about before. You begin to face sobering and heart-heavy questions together when your marriage hits and passes the three-decade mark, like:

The early years of marriage are about discovering one another. From years fourteen through twenty-one, something beautiful begins to emerge: stability. These are the years when the foundation you have been laying—often quietly, often imperfectly—starts to show its strength. 

You begin to realize that your marriage has a story. You have weathered changes, adjusted careers, endured stress, celebrated milestones, and learned how to keep choosing one another. This season is less about survival and more about stewardship. You are building on what you have already established. 
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And that is a gift.  

The early years of marriage are often marked by discovery and formation. As we discussed in the newlywed season, couples are learning how to build rhythms, navigate differences, and practice love in everyday life. As marriage moves into years seven through fourteen, the focus often shifts—but the work remains just as important. 

These are busy years. Full years. Often beautiful and exhausting at the same time. 

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Yet these years hold enormous promise. 

The newlywed years are often filled with joy, hope, and a deep sense of possibility. You’ve said “I do,” begun building a shared life, and stepped into something sacred. Yet for many couples, these early years also bring unexpected challenges. Marriage doesn’t remove pressure—it often reveals it. And that revelation is not a failure; it’s part of formation. 
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If dating and engagement are about discernment and preparation, the newlywed years are about practice. This is the season where love begins to take shape in everyday rhythms—how you communicate, handle stress, manage expectations, and choose one another when life feels ordinary or overwhelming. 

The holidays have a way of lighting up both the beauty and the rough edges of our relationships. We anticipate the traditions, the good food, the laughter, and the moments with people we love. But we also carry the awareness that the season can stir up tension—old frustrations, unrealistic expectations, or the simple weight of an overloaded schedule.

Probably the greatest danger of taking people or things for granted is that we lose our gratitude for them. Thankfulness is a theme that runs cover to cover through the Bible and is a cornerstone of nearly every moral belief system. Yet gratitude is an attitude that seems to be increasingly losing latitude in our culture. 

It’s the small things that make a marriage feel alive. A touch on the shoulder, a shared laugh over morning coffee, a quick check-in before bed — these moments may seem ordinary, but they’re what hold couples together over time.

Parenting is hard. Full stop! As a mom of five, I’ve done a lot of things well over the years—and made plenty of mistakes too. One of the hardest areas to navigate is parenting during conflict. Anger, frustration, exhaustion, and a dozen other emotions can bring out the worst in any of us. Let’s look at three common mistakes parents make in conflict—and some practical ways to fix them.​

We are living in what experts are calling an epidemic of disconnection. 

Why relationship skills are the new mental health crisis response.

A secure marriage doesn’t just make life better for two people; it creates stability, confidence, and hope for the next generation. ​

“When not recognized and broken, generational curses can destroy marriages and families.”

That statement got my attention—and it has kept my attention ever since.

When we talk about strengthening families and communities, one concept consistently rises to the top: Responsible Fatherhood. But what does that really mean—and why is it so vital?

While it's not the only path to a fulfilling life, there’s something unique about marriage that other types of relationships can’t quite match. If you're wondering whether marriage is worth it or if it's just an old tradition, here’s why you should get married—and stay married. 

Between 2010 and 2015 the number of teens reporting feelings of uselessness and lack of joy increased 33 percent in large national surveys. Teen suicide attempts increased 23 percent while actual suicides between 13 to 18-year-olds increased 31 percent. A significant trend. What could account for such dramatic increases?

Anger. Fear. Sadness. Joy. Excitement. You've felt these emotions. All people do. But not all people know what to do with them. Want to know a master skill in understanding yourself and others?

If you've ever been in the presence of a masterful listener you feel quite different than when someone is preoccupied with talking about themselves. Is there anything we can do to listen better?

When things are going sideways in a relationship it is easy to focus on negatives, with what's going wrong. Much like gravity, such a focus pulls us downward and decreases our hope for improvement or restoration. Is there a better way to approach relationship challenges?