❤️ OUR FAMILY PARENTING STORY
A Deeper Look at the Heart Behind Family Life Parenting with Purpose
☀️ A New Beginning Far From Home —How Our Family Parenting Story Began...
Our family parenting story began far from everything familiar. We had moved overseas—new culture, new routines, new surroundings — and suddenly found ourselves parenting without the comfort of extended family or the traditions we grew up with.
In the quiet of those early days, I felt a deep longing rise within me:
I wanted our children to feel connected, rooted and joyful at home, even when everything around us felt new.
With no relatives nearby, we realised something important:
If we wanted the warmth of a tight-knit family,
we had to create it intentionally.
So we began building a home where connection grew from the inside out—
through prayer, joy, simple traditions and small moments of togetherness.
Our family parenting story is rooted in a simple longing: to build a loving, connected, faith-filled home — one where our children feel safe, seen, and deeply cherished. Parenting has stretched us in ways we could never have imagined. It has taught us patience, humility, and grace, and has revealed our own hearts as much as it has shaped theirs.
Some days are joyful. Some are messy. Many are both. Parenting is laughter and tears, deep conversations and exhausted prayers, tiny victories and big emotions. It’s sacred and ordinary all at once — and we’re learning to embrace every part of it.
❤️ Growing Together Through Everyday Moments
We didn’t build connection overnight.
It happened quietly, almost unnoticed—one small moment at a time.
- Dinners filled with devotions, storytelling, silly jokes and meaningful conversations
- Birthday celebrations made special with intention rather than perfection
- Bedtime routines of stories, songs, and prayers
- Little traditions that slowly became the heartbeat of our home
It wasn’t fancy.
It wasn’t perfect.
But it was us.
And in those simple rhythms, God was teaching us something profound:
✨ Family grows through ordinary moments touched with grace.
Looking back through our family parenting story, we can see beautiful collections of small moments — some loud and joyful, others quiet and sacred — but all have been connected together by God’s grace.
I can remember one of those beautiful moments when we experienced some of those scorching summer days. We were visiting friends, and despite wearing white pants and not having a change of clothes, I jumped right into the water with the kids. We splashed, laughed and forgot about everything else.
Sometimes the best memories happen when you stop worrying about the mess… and simply enjoy the moment.
It was one of those scorching summer days. We were visiting friends, and despite my white pants and lack of a change of clothes, we jumped right in. We splashed, laughed, and forgot about everything else. Sometimes, the best memories come when you stop worrying about the mess and just have fun together.🙏 A Moment of Surrender
Of course, not every day felt peaceful. Parenting stretched us in ways we didn’t expect. It brought out our weaknesses and brought us to our knees.
I remember one evening—quiet house, tired heart—whispering a prayer I had said many times before:
“Lord, please help me not to mess up… not with these little hearts You’ve entrusted to me.”
Parenting has been a daily lesson in surrender—
letting go of my expectations,
releasing my fears,
and remembering the truth:
These precious ones are His before they are mine.
In many ways, our family parenting story is a story of surrender — a journey of trusting God with the hearts He has placed into our care. After all, they are each His, entrusted to me for a short season.
I am simply called to love them, guide them and release them back to Him.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6
👣 Little Feet, Big Lessons 👣
Our son Marko adores his daddy — he’s always trying to walk in his shoes. Watching him reminds me of something profound:
Our children see more than we say.
They learn by walking where we walk.
Every step we take shapes theirs.
Marko loves his daddy so much — he’s always trying to walk in his shoes. Watching him reminds me that our children see more than we say; they learn by walking where we walk.❤️ Parenting from the Heart
One of my dear prayer partners, sweet Stephanie — a mentor and treasured friend — once shared something with me that shaped the way I parent:
“Shepherding begins with the heart — first yours, then your child’s.
The way you guide your child flows out of the condition of your own heart."
She taught me that real transformation doesn’t come from controlling behavior, but from nurturing the heart.
This kind of growth can’t be forced.
It’s nurtured with prayer, love, connection, and grace.
She reminded me that real transformation begins inside, not outside.
Parenting from the heart means:
- guiding motives, not just behavior
- nurturing connection, not controlling outcomes
- letting love and grace lead the way
- allowing God to do the deeper work only He can do
This truth changed everything for us.
🎠 The Joy of Firsts
I’ll never forget my second youngest’s first carousel ride. His smile said everything. Even after five children, their “firsts” still feel like my own. The wonder never fades.
A snapshot moment from our family parenting story: This was my second youngest’s first ride — his smile says it all. I still love experiencing their “firsts” like they’re mine… even on our fifth child, the joy never fades.❤️ Purposeful Parenting: What Our Journey Taught Us
Our family parenting story has taught us parenting with purpose isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention.
It’s choosing connection when we feel tired.
It’s choosing prayer when we feel uncertain.
It’s choosing grace when we stumble.
It’s choosing love again… and again… and again.
Over the past 25 years as educators and coaches, we’ve taught hundreds of children—
but our greatest classroom has been our own home and growing alongside our six children.
We’ve learned:
Parenting grows you as much as it grows your children.
And in every season, God has met us with wisdom, patience, and love.
🏡 Building a Home With Heart
A meaningful home doesn’t happen accidentally.
It’s crafted slowly, gently, faithfully — little by little… through:
- gentle conversations after big feelings
- messy baking sessions
- bedtime giggles
- whispered prayers
- simple routines
- small celebrations
These tiny moments—ordinary as they seem—are the heartbeats of home.
When we learn to parent from the heart, guided by God's love, we discover something beautiful:
The home we long for isn’t something we chase.
It’s something we can create — one prayer, one choice, one day at a time.
The years pass quickly, but each stage has its own beauty. These moments — baking messes, birthday candles, bedtime giggles — are the heartbeats of home.❤️ Why We Share Our Family Parenting Story
As our own home grew in connection and purpose, something blossomed in our hearts:
If God could build something beautiful in our imperfect family,
He could do it in any family.
And that’s why Family Life Parenting with Purpose exists.
We want to encourage parents who feel stretched, overwhelmed, unsure, or alone.
We want to offer hope to families longing for connection, peace, and joy.
We want to share the moments, the lessons, the laughter, and the grace that shaped us.
When we learn to parent from the heart, guided by God's love, we discover something beautiful:
The home we long for isn’t something we have to chase.
It’s something we can create — one prayer, one choice, one day at a time.
👣 Let’s Walk This Journey Together 👣
Family Life Parenting with Purpose is here to encourage you
As our family parenting story continues to unfold, we hope it encourages you and your own family story — reminding you that God is present in every stage, every season, and every step.
👣 Let’s walk together 👣
Are you ready to grow a loving home, one step at a time?
Forget perfect parenting.
It doesn’t exist.
Instead, choose purposeful parenting—
anchored in faith,
rooted in love,
and shaped by God’s gentle grace.
We hope this space reminds you that you’re not alone.
We’re walking this path with you.
We can keep growing our homes to be filled with laughter, rooted in faith and enriched with memories that make our children want to come back… not just for the holidays, but because they love being home.
✨ Explore More Topics That Encourage & Inspire ✨
💌 We're Preparing Something Special... 💌
We're creating simple, faith-filled resources to support your family life.
If you’d like gentle weekly encouragement, we’d love to share it with you.
Keep Encouraged,
Stay Inspired,
Grow alongside other families walking this journey of faith.
