❤️ OUR FAMILY PARENTING STORY
A Deeper Look at the Heart Behind Family Life Parenting with Purpose
From Canada to Germany — a journey of faith, family, and building a connected home together.This is the journey of our family parenting story that shaped our family—and the heart behind everything we share.
☀️ About Us — How Our Family Parenting Story Began...
Our family parenting story began with the 2 of us a grew into 8.
We’re Blair and Robin — parents of six, educators, and leaders who have spent over 20 years working with children, teenagers, and families in classrooms, sports, churches, camps, and community programs.
We’ve worked with thousands of children across different cultures, ages, stages of life and environments, while also raising six of our own.
Through all of it, one truth has remained clear:
Strong
families are not built by accident.
They are built intentionally — over time, in the everyday moments of life.
If you’ve ever felt unsure, stretched thin, or like you’re figuring parenting out as you go—you’re not alone.
We’ve been there too.
If you’re longing for that same sense of connection and peace in your home, prayer is something you might not have considered. You can begin with our free 31-day family prayer calendar — a simple way to pray intentionally over your family each day.
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 all of your scheduled plans, embrace spontaneity and just jump in and take the time to enjoy having fun together.What We Help Families Do
We help families:
- Build stronger, more connected relationships
- Create simple rhythms that bring peace and stability
- Parent with clarity and confidence
- Grow in faith through everyday life
- Build a culture of prayer that shapes the home
This isn’t about doing everything right.
It’s about building a home that is steady, connected, and grounded in what matters most.
Why Families Trust Us — Our Experience
Our approach is built on real life — not theory alone.
- 20+ years working with children and families
- Experience in education, coaching, and leadership
- Involvement in children’s ministry (Awana, VBS, church leadership)
- Supporting and teaching over 4,000 children and families
- Raising six children through every stage of life
Living Internationally has also shown us something powerful:
No matter the culture — children thrive on the same foundations.
Children thrive in homes that are intentional, connected, and rooted in faith.
The years pass quickly, but each stage has its own beauty. These moments — baking messes, birthday candles, bedtime giggles — are the heartbeats of home.Our Story
Our family parenting story really began in a small apartment in Ottawa.
We had a map of Germany taped to the door, with red pins marking cities we had never been to — each one representing possibility, risk, and a step into the unknown.
We moved with big goals: to teach internationally, pursue football in Europe, and to embrace the adventure of experiencing Europe's history, walking through it and truly living it.
But not long after, we stepped into something far more meaningful — parenthood.
I Thought I Was Doing Everything Right...So Why Did Parenting Feel So Hard?
Raising a family internationally — far from extended family, without a built-in support system — stretched us in ways we never expected.
There were seasons of:
- exhaustion
- doubt
- depression
- comparison,
- sickness and hospital stays, and
- feeling completely overwhelmed
Parenting stretches us beyond what we think we can handle. There have been quiet prayers in the night:
"Lord, help me not to mess up… not with these little hearts You’ve entrusted to me."
We’ve learned that children don’t need perfect parents—they need parents who depend on God, model humility, and live with grace. Even our mistakes become opportunities to teach forgiveness, trust, and love.
Looking back, I realize I was desperate to do everything “right.”
From the outside, it may have looked like we had everything in place—parenting classes, books, and support groups.
But inside, there was doubt. Comparison. Exhaustion.
I found myself quietly comparing—wondering why my child didn’t seem to be at the same place as others. I questioned myself more than I’d like to admit.
Was I doing something wrong?
Why did this feel harder than I expected?
I felt tired.
I felt alone.
I felt frustrated.
Some days just felt long, messy, and nothing like what I thought parenting would look like.
It was in that messy, exhausting, overwhelming space that I realized something had to change.
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.A Turning Point
Eventually, I stepped back from everything—completely.
I had to create space to hear my own voice again.
To step away from the constant noise of opinions, comparisons, and expectations.
Somewhere along the way, I had started comparing my child to everyone else—
and I realised I wasn’t truly seeing her anymore.
And I started asking:
✨ What kind of a family are we trying to build?
We began to:
- slow down
- listen more
- focus on connection over control
- build rhythms that actually worked for our family
And slowly, our home began to change.
Not
because everything became easier —
but because our direction became clearer.
🙏 Our Faith
For us, faith is not separate from parenting — it shapes everything.
It’s lived out in the everyday:
- in conversations
- in routines
- in how we respond when life feels hard
And at the center of that faith is prayer.
Not
as a routine to check off —
but as a relationship that anchors the home.
We hold closely to this Truth:
“These
commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and
when you walk along the road..."
“...These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and
when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up...”
Not as something formal or forced,
but as a way of living.
Some of our most meaningful conversations about faith haven’t been planned—
they’ve happened in the middle of everyday life.
In the ordinary moments—
sitting at home, walking through the day, ending and beginning again—
We’ve tried to walk alongside our children,
talking, guiding, and pointing them toward God in natural, everyday ways.
Not perfectly.
But consistently.
Because faith isn’t just something we teach.
It’s something we live.
Marko loves his daddy in that tender, wholehearted way children do - always reaching for his shoes, always wanting to follow where he goes. A Remindier that little eyes are always watching, little hearts always learning. Our children don't simply listen to our words: they trace the paths we walk, step by step, letting our lives teach them what matters most.Our Mission
Family Life Parenting with Purpose exists to support and encourage families who want to:
- Build Stronger Relationships,
- Create Meaningful Family Routines,
- Grow in Faith and Character,
- Parent with Greater Clarity and Confidence, and
- Develop Steadfast trust in God through every season with the power of Prayer
If you’d like to bring more intentional prayer into your own daily family life, and you'd like to know how to pray for your family, you can download our 31 prayers for your family monthly calendar to guide, encourage and give you an anchor each day.
We’re here to offer parenting encouragement, practical guidance, and support for families who want something deeper than just getting through the day.
Because parenting is not just about today—
it’s about building a strong and lasting family for future generations.
🏡 Start Where You Are
You don’t need to have everything figured out.
You just need a place to begin.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure, we’ve created a simple first step.
Our free 31-day family prayer calendar is designed to help you to know: 'What to Pray for Your Family' to build intentional, faith-filled rhythms in your home—one day at a time.
✨ 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.
