IMbetween Podcast on Marriage, Parenting, Faith, and Everything In Between

Anxiety is something that most of us have experienced in our life, especially during these uncertain times. This 5 step exercise can be very helpful during periods of anxiety or panic by helping to ground you in the present when your mind is bouncing between various “what ifs.” The Grounding Exercise: 0:31 What anticipatory grief is and why it matters.  1:33 The importance of deep breathing versus...

What does stress do to a marriage? Does it make it or break it? We are seeing stats come out of China - the first country to be quarantined from the Coronavirus - that divorce rates have skyrocketed once the quarantine was lifted.  While feelings of fear, anxiety, and stress come with the territory of unexpected times, it does not have to break your relationship. Here are 4 keys to help you and yo...

There are two words that we need to erase from our vocabulary during this difficult time. People assume these two words help themselves and others get through a funk. Instead, they stunt the process of grief that we all need to walk through. Do you know what these two words are? Are you saying them? Tune in to find out.  The Two Words To Avoid: 2:30 What happens when we speak these two words to ou...

Does everything need to be perfect in order for us to have a reason to celebrate? Can we experience joy even when we are suffering? On Episode 94, Daniel and Christina interview author and advocate, Katherine Wolf. At the age of 26, Katherine experienced a near-fatal stroke when her son was only 6 months old. Katherine shares her inspiring story of recovery and how she learned to celebrate everyth...

If you find yourself being bossed around by your feelings of fear or anxiety, try this centering prayer.  Centering Prayer:  2:32 - Why should I do a centering prayer?  3:37 - What is a centering prayer? 5:40 - Daniel walks us through a centering prayer.   Resources Mentioned During This Episode: Great Are You Lord  song by All Sons and Daughters  "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who su...

Can a movie about divorce really teach us important lessons about marriage? Most certainly! We recently watched the Netflix movie, Marriage Story. While it is a heartbreaking to watch a marriage literally crumble, the movie highlights some very important relationship lessons that can make or break a marriage. On Episode 93, Daniel and Christina continue their discussion about the 6 crucial relatio...

We are currently living in unprecedented times. And, while we don't have the ability to "fix" the current state of our world, there are some things we can all do. Got 15 minutes? Tune in every Friday to hear practical ways of how you can continue to build strong, connected, and joy-filled marriages and families. Make sure to subscribe, so you don't miss any episodes NOW dropping on Tuesdays and Fr...

On Episode 92, Daniel and Christina interview author Jamie Sumner about the joys and challenges of raising a special needs child with Cerebral Palsy. According to the CDC, 1 in 6 children ages 3 to 17 have a developmental disability (​ Source ​). Parents raising kids with special needs live exhausting, often unseen and challenging lives. Jamie reminds them that they are not alone. Because of God’s...

With the Coronavirus pandemic, we all seem to be glued to our news media channels or social media to see what our friends and family are posting. We, too, feel like we want to stay up-to-date with everything that is going on. But, is there a point where it becomes an unhealthy obsession? If the gain of more knowledge is driving you to become anxious, fearful, and losing sleep, perhaps this can be...

For centuries, people have been using stories and narrative to teach important lessons. Stories have the power to teach us to love, to forgive others, to be empathetic, just, and to strive for better than we have.  On Episode 90, Daniel and Christina interview children's author Sarah Parker Rubio about teaching our kids empathy and compassion through the use of story. Sarah opens the refugee discu...

100% of married couples have conflict. But, not 100% of married couples know how to resolve their conflict. We recently watched the Netflix movie, Marriage Story. While it is a heartbreaking to watch a marriage literally fall apart, the movie points out some very important relationship lessons that can make or break a marriage. On Episode 89, Daniel and Christina discuss 6 crucial relationship les...

In an age where we measure success, influence, Youtube subscribers, and Instagram likes, how do you measure motherhood? What makes a Perfect Mom? And is being a good Mom just not good enough? On Episode 88, Daniel and Christina interview New York Times best selling author, Melanie Shankle. Melanie shares her wisdom and humor about the realities of motherhood and helps speak truth into the facade o...

Do you know what story you are living according to? That’s influencing the way you parent? Do you know what story your children are living? Every day, we are exposed to over 5000 ads a day! At the grocery store, on Instagram, onYoutube, on Tik Tok, and on the bus ride to and from school.  Every day, it is estimated that we make around 35,000 decisions! The stories that we believe and let drive our...

Imagine what would happen if you stopped expecting your spouse to make you happy? What if you no longer believed that a good marriage is something you find, but rather it is something you work for? How would your relationship change if you embraced difficult times as a season of your marriage instead of an excuse to leave it? On Episode 86, Daniel and Christina interview best selling author, Gary...

To the mom that’s rediscovering herself as her children are growing older. To the dad that’s wrestling through the tension of being present for his children, while also trying to make ends meet and provide for his family. To the student who is not convinced that a traditional nine to five job is right for them. To the individual who wants clarity around their purpose and identity, since there’s su...

On the surface, believing the lie that you are who you raise doesn’t seem too bad, since involvement in your child’s life is better than neglect. However, underneath the surface, this lie frauds us into believing that our children’s success is our success. And their failure is our failure. Are we the ones that are ultimately in control over the destiny of our children? Can we shape and mould them...

On the surface, while the Internet, smartphones, and the rise of the gig economy appear to be connecting us with one another, they’re actually doing the very opposite. They’re exacerbating the problems of disconnection, isolation, and loneliness. We are more disconnected than ever before, which is leading to a decline in trust. And the more disconnected and untrusting we become, the more we are go...

We live in a day and age of fake news where half-truths are everywhere. At first glance, these partial truths don't seem so hard to swallow. We desire peace in our hearts, in our minds, and in our bodies. So, we become less busy or busier. We set goals of numbers that we want to see on the scale by January 31st. We get a new planner to fill with all the things we want to do. We buy into the lie th...

Happy 2020! Can you believe another year has passed?! We have also entered a brand new decade! With the start of the New Year, have you set some resolutions for yourself? For your family? For your business? According to a recent article in Forbes Magazine, less than 25% of people actually stay committed to their resolutions after just 30 days, and only 8% actually accomplish them. But, guess what?...

What separates happy marriages from miserable ones? What if we told you that you could have a stronger, healthier, more joy-filled marriage in just 15 minutes a day? Sound too good to be true? Authors Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey have studied relationships (and neuroscience) and discovered the joy gap - a length of time between moments of shared joy. When the joy gap gets bigger, problems are m...

Whether we realize it or not, we all have a relationship with money. Some have a wonderful, healthy, and bountiful relationship with money. Others feel drained, owned, or overwhelmed by money. Every person has a unique way of thinking about and dealing with money. This is called a Money Personality. Not everyone has the same money personality. Perhaps you can see it in your own children. Some kids...

How do you forgive someone that has wounded you deeply? How do you forgive someone when your wounds are still open? We are about to enter what therapists and counsellors call the most stressful time of the year – the holidays! We are surrounded by people and family that we try to avoid because the relationship is awkward. It is difficult to come face to face with people who have hurt us or be remi...

Interruptions: They are the worst! Whether it is finding out your plane is delayed, getting stuck in unexpected traffic, or waking up to a sick child, interruptions mess up our perfectly planned plans. Perhaps you are in a season where interruptions are more heartbreaking than getting stuck bumper to bumper on the highway. Maybe you thought you would be married by now. Maybe you assumed you would...

Let’s be honest. Marriage is difficult. There are seasons in marriage when there seems to be more fighting than kissing and more tears than laughter. On Episode 76 of the IMbetween Podcast, Daniel and Christina share about their hardest year of marriage and the 4 things they learned while journeying through this rough season. A Guide to Better Relationships with The Enneagram: We can't wait for yo...

Are there certain things stepparents should know about their stepchildren? Are there particular do's and don'ts a blended family should know about? In part 2 of our interview, Ron Deal (the leading national expert and the most widely read and viewed author on blended families in the country) shares common pitfalls blended families may experience and how to overcome them. If you have not listened t...