Date Night With The Dolphins

So many times in this middle-of-life season, what makes it difficult is navigating big life changes. It almost seems like as soon as you get things figured out, something happens that changes the rules. In this episode, we share three specific times where we had to process some pretty big changes and the things we learned throughout it all. Your support means the world to us. If you like this podc...

People say that having a baby is one of the best experiences—and it is true—but that can be hard to believe when you're sleep deprived and your schedule is completely upside-down. Although we are closer to having grandchildren than when we first had our own kids, some advice is timeless. In this episode, we share the advice we received that was helpful (and what wasn't helpful) for those early day...

When conflict rears its ugly head in a relationship, it can be difficult to work through if you're unprepared to deal with it. In this episode, we share the things we've learned to bring resolution in our marriage and how to effectively communicate with one another so that conflict can actually bring growth between you and your spouse. Your support means the world to us. If you like this podcast,...

Vacations are supposed to be restful and relaxing, but for many couples they can be a source of a lot of stress. From choosing destinations when your preferences differ to not having a lot of money to spend and traveling with little children, in this episode we talk about how we plan our time away as a family so that we don't need a vacation from our vacation. Your support means the world to us. I...

When we first started out in our journeys of adulthood, it seemed like you had to have your life all figured out right at the start. It's easy to be anxious about what happens as you get older, as your kids turn into teenagers. Will I make mistakes that I'll regret for the rest of my life? Can I accomplish everything I want to do before we're too old to do anything else. In this episode, we want t...

The moment you have kids, it doesn't take long before you literally become a soccer mom, even if you swore you'd never let yourself be the stereotype. However, here we are managing the chaos of driving to baseball or ballet or piano lessons three times a week. The activities our kids are involved in can consume your schedule before you realize it. In this episode, we share our experience of managi...

When your work-life balance is off, it doesn't just affect you. It affects everyone in your family. In this episode we talk about how are jobs throughout the years have impacted our family both positively and negatively, including struggling to not be married to your career and what to do when your job sucks the life out of you. Your support means the world to us. If you like this podcast, please...

Chances are you've heard of the idea of "love languages." You might have even taken the test. But thirty years later, it almost seems like it's become a meme. Can it really help your marriage or is it just another trivial personality test? In this episode, we share what we like (and don't like) about the five love languages concept and how we incorporate it into our own relationships. Find out you...

As parents it easy to not look forward to the teenager years, because there isn't a lack of horror stories. However, if you intentionally invest in your kids while they're young, there's a better chance of enjoying the time with your teens as you enter into that season of life. In this episode, we share some of the things we did with our kids in the younger years with the perspective of hindsight...

In this bonus episode, we talk about our family Thanksgiving traditions including our favorite foods, favorite memories and favorite after-meal activities. See if our picks match yours. We also share advice about in-laws and family relationships to hopefully reduce the stress as you're around your extended family this holiday season. Your support means the world to us. If you like this podcast, pl...

What do you do when it seems impossible to break away as a couple and go on a date? Sometimes it's because money's tight or maybe because you have young kids that require your constant attention. In this episode, we share several creative ways to date your spouse when it seems impossible and why it's so important to carve out time for each other. Your support means the world to us. If you like thi...

Some stories are hard to tell but still can be encouraging and important to tell. One of those stories happened over sixteen years ago. In the episode we share the story of how our youngest daughter was born and how she and Misty almost didn't make it. Your support means the world to us. If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a five star review. We also love to hear from you. Email us a...

They say opposites attract. At first it can be really exciting to be with someone that's different from you, to be with someone that's adventurous when you're a rule follower or be with someone that's organized when your life seems chaotic. However, it doesn't take long for the things that we find attractive in our partner to become the very thing that drives us crazy. In this episode, we talk abo...

Our middle daughter is heading to college next year, and that has brought with it a host of emotions for us as parents. As much as you want your kids to become their own independent members of society, it doesn't minimize the struggles we as parents go through as their leave the nest. In this episode, we process in real-time what we're feeling as we tour colleges for our daughter and prepare for h...

It takes a lot for a household to run, and every couple needs to figure out who does what. Who does the cleaning, who wears the chef's hat, and who's in charge of paying the bills? In this episode, we share how we've tried to strike a good balance in our relationship and some candid moments that reveal that we still don't have it completely figured out. Your support means the world to us. If you l...

When we look back on our own childhoods, many of the long-lasting memories seem to center around traditions and celebrations. And that can certainly carry over into your own marriage and parenting, and then eventually into the season of your kids becoming adults and having kids of their own. In the episode, we talk about some of the most memorable traditions and celebrations in our families and ev...

No one sets out to have a broken marriage, but far too often couple find themselves over the years drifting apart and their relationship strained. In this episode we explore insightful communication techniques, creative ways to nurture intimacy, and effective methods to navigate challenges together. Your support means the world to us. If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a five star r...

In this day and age, every parent has to answer the question about what age is appropriate for their child to have a smart phone. Being on the tail end of the teenager years with our kids, this is something we've had to wrestle with ourselves. In this episode we discuss how we handle cell phones with our kids and why we even make them sign a cell phone contract. Your support means the world to us....

The day we got married, we told a church full of people that we would stay together for better and for worse, for richer and poorer and in sickness and health. That last one was put to the test in 2020 when Dave was diagnosed with testicular cancer. This episode is the story of how we walked through this season of life together. Your support means the world to us. If you like this podcast, please...

It's easy for the pressures of marriage and parenthood to leave you feeling overwhelmed and out of balance. In this episode we talk about the struggles we've faced as a married couple and parents in the moments we felt like we were losing control in our lives and what it looks like to balance the demands that everyone seems to place on us. Your support means the world to us. If you like this podca...

Sometimes it can seem we're caught in a cycle of constant conflict and misunderstandings with our spouse. In this episode, we talk about the ways we've learned to communicate in our relationship, both when we find ourselves in conflict and possibly preventing it before it even begins. Your support means the world to us. If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a five star review. We also...

Parenting can be a constant balancing act, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and unsure if we're doing it right. In this episode, we dive into the transformative power of consistency in parenting, exploring the challenges we face when it comes to discipline, routines, and nurturing our children's growth. Your support means the world to us. If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a five star...

Life shaping seasons are the big events in our lives that forever affect us. They can be overwhelmingly positive or they can be overwhelmingly negative, but the lessons you gain from them last for the rest of your life. In this episode, we talk about a specific season in 2010 that was dark and difficult but also allowed us to grow and learn in the midst of it. Your support means the world to us. I...

Over the past 30 years, we have had to learn how to work together as a team. That means understanding how to love your spouse (and the way you instinctively want to love them isn't always the best option). It also means learning how to work through conflict when your personalities are different. From love languages to waffles and spaghetti, here's the things we've learned that keeps us focused in...

If the first episode was our opportunity to introduce you to us, this time we share about our three kids and what we've learned about parenting throughout all the various seasons. From babies and kids to teenagers and adults, just when we thought we had it all figured out, the rules of the game changed. Your support means the world to us. If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a five st...