The “stay-at-home” orders are slowly starting to shift as we move from “red” to “yellow” to “green.” Still, it remains challenging to eat out or go someplace for a date night. Even before the current crisis you may have felt the challenge of going out for a date night due to financial constraints. But, no...

May 23, 2020

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Graduating Quiet as a Mouse? No Way!

by John Salmon

My youngest daughter is one of the many young men and women graduating from college this year. Like so many others during the covid-19 pandemic, she transitions quietly from one phase of life to another. No pomp and circumstance. No announcing of her name before a crowd of people. No walking across a stage to...

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Celebration Honor

achievement development effort success

May 18, 2020

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Teach Your Children Hardiness

by John Salmon

Times are tough, no doubt. But you can use these tough times to teach your children an important skill: hardiness. Hardiness is a psychological term describing a pattern of managing stress (aka-tough times) in a way that leads to greater success and joy. People who develop hardiness tend to manage stress better, take better care...

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Family Shepherds

commitment impulse control influence learning parenting stress management

May 16, 2020

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3 Elements of a Healthy Marriage

by John Salmon

Healthy marriages face challenges. Any time two different people from two different backgrounds with two unique sets of values and communication nuances work to become one unit (a marriage), you are bond to have some conflict. Fortunately, challenges and conflict do not cancel out a healthy marriage. In fact, challenges and conflict present wonderful opportunities...

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Grace Honor

arguments conflict marriage resolving conflict

May 11, 2020

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The Digital Bedtime Story?

by John Salmon

I love to read. When my daughters were young, I loved reading to them at bedtime. I also loved lying in the bed with my wife and children listening to my wife read Little House on the Prairie or The Chronicles of Narnia to our children. We read physical books to our children…you know, books...

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Celebration Family Shepherds

bedtime father mother parent child relationship parenting routine

May 9, 2020

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Gratitude Will Help Your Family Survive

by John Salmon

I am not suggesting we ignore struggles or gloss over pain, BUT gratitude will help your family and my family survive hard times. Let me explain a couple of ways in which gratitude will help your family through the tough times. A study published in 2007 involving 236 undergraduate students showed that students who report...

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Celebration Honor

emotional health gratitude patience problem-solve

May 4, 2020

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The #1 Goal of Marital Arguments

by John Salmon

Have you ever thought about the #1 goal of marital arguments? At first glance, you may think the goal is “to win. To make my spouse understand or see it my way.” But that is NOT the most important goal, the one we desire most. Let me ask the question differently. Do you want to...

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Grace Honor

acceptance arguments communication listen marriage perspective taking

May 2, 2020

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A Powerful Way to Learn About Your Teen

by John Salmon

Turns out that one of the best ways to learn about teens is to ask them questions about themselves. But ask with caution because questions are powerful. Using them improperly can result in a backfire that drives your teen into silence. In order to avoid the backfire, keep these safety precautions in mind. Do not...

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Family Shepherds

adolescence attention communication quality time teen

Family by God's Design

Family by God's Design

Family by God's Design

A Stay-at-Home Date Night for Every Room

Everything I Needed to Know I Learned At Dinner

Graduating Quiet as a Mouse? No Way!

Teach Your Children Hardiness

3 Elements of a Healthy Marriage

The Digital Bedtime Story?

Gratitude Will Help Your Family Survive

The #1 Goal of Marital Arguments

A Powerful Way to Learn About Your Teen