Rock Solid Families

We've all been injured at some point in our lives.  Broken bones, stitches, or just a heavy bruise.  Injuries are a sign that we are out there living our life in the elements.  No one particularly seeks to get injured, but when we are injured we want to recover as quickly as possible.   So is the case with emotional,  relational, and spiritual wounds. Physical wounds are often the easiest to...

Storms seem to be everywhere these days.  Whether it's the latest snowstorm, flooding, tornados, or storms such as earthquakes, fires, temperature extremes, whatever it is, we seem to be having our fair share.  But this show is not just about the natural storms and disasters we face, it is about all the storms we face whether natural or manmade.  Storms are the events that happen in our lives...

When was the last time you had a good belly laugh?  Often times when someone has experienced such a laugh,  you will hear them say, "that felt really good!"   We have known for years that laughter is a great medicine, but why don't we use it more than we do?  Being more intentional about adding laughter and a variety of other ideas, can help you change your darker days and add more...

Over half of all families in the US will deal directly with divorce. But once the divorce is settled, people want to move on with their lives.  This means forming new relationships, marriages, and families.  However, now the work is how do we blend the pre-existing families?  This is a real concern as we see a higher rate of divorce in second marriages than first marriages.  Telling us that round...

Kelli Calabrese shares her story of believing she had it all. Married for 24 years, incredible career, two amazing children, the house, cars, and clothes to make her the envy of her peers.  Then one day her husband comes home and tells her he was finished with the marriage.  Immediately dropped to her knees with shock, anxiety, confusion, sadness, and desperation.  What happened? What's next?...

Secrets versus Transparency. During this show, Linda and Merrill tackle the subject of secrets in relationships.  Is it important that you know everything about your partner?  Should you tell your partner everything that has ever happened in your life or even in your mind?  How transparent should you be?  This topic is among the most impactful matter you will ever manage in your relationship.  Thi...

It's not an exaggeration to say that anxiety and depression are having a devastating impact on our children.  Researchers say that there has been a significant increase in these conditions in children since 2016.  While Covid was fuel for the fire, the trend was already well underway.  In our schools and homes, we are seeing more kids than ever demonstrating the symptoms of anxiety and depres...

"You're dead to me", sounds like a pretty harsh phrase to use against someone else.  But, in our current culture it seems to be accepted as a very practical way to deal with people you disagree with or you simply do not like.  We have seen it in our politics, families, neighborhoods, and even marriages.  We have come to recognize the common phrase of "cancel culture", that...

It may be safe to say that most people that are engaged to be married believe their marriage will last a lifetime.  But, we no from simple observation that not to be the case.  With nearly 50% of marriages breaking in divorce we have to ask the question: What went wrong?  Obviously, none of us can be absolute certain of what will drive apart all marriages.  But one thing we do know from working wi...

The recent tragic event of Damar Hamlin suffering cardiac arrest after tackling Tee Higgins during a Monday Night Football Game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals has grabbed many people's attention. Among those whose interest has been sparked are parents of kids that play sports, especially sports with higher rates and risks of injury.  One day after the event there were al...

These days everyone seems to be looking for a quick fix to lift their mood or give them more energy.  The sad thing is that way too often people search out quick fixes that can not be sustained or are even dangerous. I.E. Drugs.  In this episode, Merrill and Linda go on location in their gym at Rock Solid Families to show and discuss one of the best antidepressants available to nearly all of us -...

It's that time of year.  Closing out 2022 and looking forward to 2023.  What are you going to do to better yourself?   We have a challenge for you.  Would you be willing to intentionally make your life more Christ-Centered?  Maybe to answer that you have to realize how your life is currently centered.  Is it Child-Centered, Self-Centered, Work-Centered, Money-Centered?  Consider all of these...

Can you say that your Christmas is Christ-Centered?  This may be more difficult than you think.  The secular world bombards us with all the material things of this world. It's a busy time, but also a distracting time.  Mainly, distracting us from what the true intention of the day was meant to be.   Make no mistake about it, many businesses survive because of the sales they make during the ho...

Forgiveness is hard!  It seems that the deeper the wound the harder it is to forgive.  We have all been wounded and we have all wounded.  But, forgiveness is the way forward for true healing.  The healing that allows us to rid ourselves of the heavy burden and toxicity that builds in our hearts.  Whether you like it or not, this lack of forgiveness will keep you from your greatest life.  In today&...

If you could do one thing to divorce proof your marriage, what would it be?  At Rock Solid Families we have worked with couples for over 35 years.  We have seen couples thrive in marriage and those that don't.  Today's show is a great take-away for what truly has proved to work.  It really doesn't have to be that difficult! As you hear the simple strategies discussed in this show, r...

As Americans we have a more comfortable living standard than almost anyone in the world.  This doesn't mean that everyone in American is always comfortable in their living. It simply means that we have a greater opportunity and likelihood to live in comfort than most people around the globe.  While this is in many ways a great thing, we must also realize how it can quickly go bad.   When in t...

Ready or not, the holidays are among us!  Many people love them and many people, not so much.  The holidays can bring on stress and over commitment like no other season.  So, what can you do to make the best of this season.  How about starting with a little bit of gratitude?   Linda and Merrill give you the keys you need to make the best of this season.   Don't wait for the stress to build an...

Your teenager may have the physical ability to be sexually active, but is that all it takes? The easy answer is, yes, but the real answer is quite a bit more complicated.  In our work we have seen numerous teenage pregnancies.  We have yet to see one in which the father and mother were prepared for what lies ahead.  Due to their immaturity and lack of understanding, they often are emotionally deva...

Life is full of opportunities for failure, regrets, and setbacks.  There is no getting out of this journey without the bruises of daily living.  But, are our bruises turning into debilitating handicaps?  Are we walking through life with a perpetual limp?  This is what happens when we are consumed by a life of regrets.  What if we could prevent these regrets?  What if we could heal from our past re...

The last of our 3 part series - The God Shaped Hole.  In this episode we speak with Josh Barth, the director of Celebrate Recovery, Trinity Christian Church.  Josh shares his own story of working to fill the emptiness in his life.  He choose drugs, alcohol, work, even his wife, and all felt empty.  It wasn't until he had a complete surrender to the Way of Christ, that he was able to fill the...

In episode 206 we discussed our God-Shaped Hole.  This week we get a little more specific to identify the areas that help us define what makes us this God-Shaped Hole.  Learning about these specific needs and understanding how God intends us to fill them is an absolute life changing gift that He desires for all of us.  Control, Love, Respect, Trust, Affection, Security, Purpose, and Faith make up...

Often we get to a point in their lives in which they feel like they are chasing the wind.  They are in pursuit of things they believe will complete them or at least bring some level of contentment. The journey seems to be never ending.  The result is frustration, depression, and even a loss of hope.  Listen in this week to get a better understanding of what you may be chasing and how you can stop...

If your family is anything like the majority of families, you frequently find yourself overly committed.  Your calendar is booked with well-intentioned activities from kids sporting events, church activities, and extracurriculars that drain your very last second of the day.  In this episode we discuss the cost versus the benefits of being so overly committed to so many activities. Activities requi...

Are you tough?  Are you tough enough?  Toughness or resilience is the ability to get back up once you have been knocked down.  The ability to endure a hardship without breaking you.  Whether you are 5 years old or 85 years old, we all need to have a level of resilience in us if we are going to live in this world.  The question we might as ourselves is - How can I be more resilient? #Rocksolidfamil...

We all have our perspective on various things. But, does our perspective keep us from seeing and understanding someone else's perspective?  If so, this can be a major source of conflict in a relationship.  In this show, Merrill and Linda tackle the challenges of being locked in on your own perspective.  #Rocksolidfamilies #familytherapy  #marriagecounseling  #parenting  #faithbasedcounseling...