Sometimes marriage sounds like a symphony. Every note working together, the dynamics, the ebb and flow of rest and movement, everything working in complete harmony. And sometimes marriages sound like a piano thrown down the stairs of a 30-story building.  Regardless of effort and time, there is no harmony. I have been a musician since […]

→ read more

At the end of 2018 Scott and I will have been married 27 years. This is longer than some of the young men and women in the couples we mentor have even been alive. It’s longer than either of our parents’ marriages lasted. There have been seasons when 27 years is longer than we would […]

→ read more

Q: This grace-based, grace-filled relationships concept sounds good and well if you are gentle-tempered (like you, Tim), but how do you have a good argument in the grace-based model if you are prone to discuss your point or position in a fairly loud manner i.e. yelling and raising your voice? A: There is nothing in […]

→ read more

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” […]

→ read more

I wish we were sitting down right now—just you and me—with a cup of coffee. I’d love to hear about your past year and get caught up on where you are in your journey. Wouldn’t it be great if we could spend the bulk of our time smiling and laughing? But life—even a life lived […]

→ read more

“It’s been more than four decades since my wife, Darcy, and I recited the classic wedding vows. Since that time, we’ve often found ourselves as part of an audience listening to some other couple repeating those same words. It’s amazing how differently those words hit us now than they did back then. Decades of marital […]

→ read more

We were naïve and idealistic. It goes with being young. Our world was far more about promises than problems. What lay over the horizon was of greater concern to us than what we could see in our rear view mirror. Although we spent most of our days checking requirements off of our educational dance card, […]

→ read more

Everyone wants to raise successful kids, but we often forget that it starts with our marriages. Having a healthy marriage is one of the most potent tools for raising successful kids. That’s why Family Matters provides teaching and resources for couples to strengthen and invest in their marriages. Ways to help: Find out more about […]

→ read more

Many years ago, we had a consultant come to help us do some strategic planning at Family Matters. As he walked us through some next steps and big picture tactics, he also taught us a great lesson on keeping our priorities straight. In fact, he drove his point home with a great illustration.   He […]

→ read more

Do you ever look  at your spouse and feel like you’re miles apart? You love them dearly, obviously, but just feel you need to re-connect? Here’s a Top Ten list of ways that I have learned and used to re-connect with my husband and wanted to share them with you!   Take time to laugh […]

→ read more