Family by God&#039;s Design

Family, Music, and Connection

I don’t know about you, but I love music. So, when I find a study about the impact of music on relationships, I feel compelled to check it out. The study I discovered was conducted by Yale researchers and suggested that the “right type of music” can help us feel more connected to the person...

Celebration Honor

connection family intimacy music relationships

August 3, 2026

The Subtle Attack of Materialism

We live in a very materialistic world. You may have seen a bumper sticker stating that “The one with the most toys wins.” If we can’t have the “most toys,” we at least try to “keep up with the Joneses.” But the materialism promoted in these sayings harms marriages in both obvious and subtle ways....

Celebration Honor

family intimacy finance intimacy marriage materialism

July 20, 2026

Get Connected

Many forces in our society pull families apart. Each family member becomes involved in their own activities, pursuing their individual interests and individual growth. Unfortunately, this can easily result in a disconnected family. Even together, we find each person pursuing their own experience as they sit together in the same location: one listens to their...

Family Shepherds Honor

connection family identity family intimacy healthy development play

July 5, 2026

The Foundational Building Blocks of Family

What makes for a happy, healthy marriage and family? Some would say communication skills. I agree, but I think communication skills flow from more foundational building blocks. Others might say secure finances or commitment make for a happy, healthy family. Both are important however, I think a truly happy, healthy marriage and family flow from...

Celebration Grace Honor

family family intimacy family relationship intimacy marital satisfaction marriage parent child relationship relationship

June 29, 2026

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Against the Tide of Disconnect

Do you ever feel like your family members are “ships that pass in the night”? I know I have. The tides of our society push us toward disconnection. They pull each person in different directions, different activities, different friends…disconnecting us from one another. Even when we sit in the same room, we find ourselves engulfed...

Celebration

connection family intimacy family meals intimacy rituals

June 13, 2026

Just Imagine

Imagination is a powerful and often underutilized tool for emotional and relational health, at least that’s what I concluded after reading a study led by cognitive neuroscientists at the University of Colorado Boulder and the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Germany. In this study, participants were asked to categorize 30...

Family Shepherds

emotional management family intimacy imagination relationships

May 18, 2026

3 Ingredients of a Well-Fed Brain…and How to Get Them

We are designed for relationships. In fact, John Bowlby, who is credited with founding attachment theory, went so far as to say loving, secure relationships with our primary caregiver are as essential to life as water and food. And research suggests that “Loneliness Is More Dangerous Than Smoking 15 Cigarettes A Day.” At least one...

Celebration Honor

emotional health family intimacy family relationships health marriage parent child relationship

April 27, 2026

Growing Old with Family & Music

Music is a wonderful gift. Listening to music, playing music, or making music together…it all enhances our emotional, cognitive, & relational health. In fact, a recent longitudinal study of over 10,800 participants suggests that music actually decreases the risk of dementia. Specifically, those over 70-years-old who “always listen” to music showed a 39% decrease in...

Celebration

cognitive health emotional health family intimacy family relationships music

February 14, 2026

“You’re Such a 5-Year-Old”

My daughter is fond of telling me, “You are such a 5-year-old,” when I do something silly to tease her. I know she’s playing; and really, I take it as a compliment. So, I just smile and do something else to confirm her accusation, even if it’s telling a “dad joke.” It’s a short example...