Family by God&#039;s Design

Words to Build Love

Words are powerful. They create the relationship we share. Words can destroy or build our marriages. So, if you want to enjoy a happy, healthy marriage that lasts a lifetime, use your words wisely. Here are several words that spouses hear often in a marriage that lasts a lifetime. You can modify these words to...

Celebration Honor

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August 11, 2025

Nature, a Chat, & Family

I read the summaries of two studies, and I’d like to share the results with you and your family. The first study involved over 220 participants in a program of weekly “nature-based activities” for either 1 to 4 weeks, 5 to 8 weeks, or 9 to 12 weeks. The “nature-based activities” included one of three...

Celebration Family Shepherds Honor

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July 26, 2025

5 Ways to Keep Your Marriage Precious

Marriage is precious. In fact, our marriages thrive when we elevate them and honor them as precious. When we commit to our marriages above all other relationships, including relationships with other people as well as relationships with substances or material desires, we set them apart as precious. A study completed by Christian Hem and Caroline...

Celebration Honor

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July 1, 2025

We Need a Recess!!

If you’re old enough, you might remember having recess at school. It was a break from the classroom as well as a chance to run around, socialize, and engage in unstructured play. After WWII, 60-90 minute of recess became the norm for elementary school students. And research supported it, suggesting that children benefit academically, socially,...

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May 17, 2025

An Amplifier Your Family Needs

Gratitude doesn’t come easily. We have a built-in “danger alert system” that keeps us keenly aware of the threats and dangers around us. This negative bias captures our attention, screaming warnings about safety and caution, keeping us ever vigilante of potential dangers. Of course, this does play an important role in our lives. The danger...

Celebration

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May 12, 2025

Growing Neighborhoods by Growing Children

Who wants to improve their neighborhood and the well-being of our youth? We all do. We desire safer, more well-connected neighborhoods; and we know that safe, well-connected neighborhoods will enhance the well-being of our families and our children. But how can we accomplish this? At least one person offered an idea that I believe holds...

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April 28, 2025

Reading, Language, Empathy, the Brain

We all know how important reading is for our children. A study published in Neuroimage showed that this benefit reaches all the way down to the very structure of our children’s brains. That’s right. A study involving over 1,000 participants suggests that reading strengthens at least two regions of the left hemisphere. One region is...

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April 21, 2025

Sedentary Activities Good for the Family Brain

Sometimes we just need to relax, kick up our feet and rest. But not all sedentary activities are equal when it comes to the brain. A study conducted by researchers at the University of South Australia looked at 397 adults over 60-years-old and found that some sedentary activity had a more positive impact on the...

Celebration

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April 19, 2025

What Parents Learn from Driving Rats

In a previous blog, we learned What Laughing Rats Teach Us About Family. Well, now I found a study in which rats that drive teach us an important lesson about children and family. Yes, you read that right. Rats learned to drive in this study. The researchers constructed little cars made of plastic, complete with...