Kiss to Connect

By Francine & Byron Pirola | January 12, 2024

Many couples find the excitement of sex somewhat diminished within a few years of marriage. Their physical intimacy seems somehow perfunctory, unimaginative, even boring. Soon…

R E A D   M O R E →

Resolutions to Have and to Hold

By Francine & Byron Pirola | December 29, 2023

It’s a new year, a new decade and a new beginning. Among all the goal setting, consider what you can do to transform your marriage.…

R E A D   M O R E →

The Light of Bethlehem Heals

By Francine & Byron Pirola | December 22, 2023

More than any other time of year, Christmas connects us with powerful childhood memories. For some, these are joyful: for many however, the memories are…

R E A D   M O R E →

#20 The Good the Bad and the Ugly of Holiday Traditions

By Isabella Garcia | December 21, 2023

Whether it’s Christmas, Easter, Mothers/Fathers day, birthdays or Thanksgiving… holiday traditions can be a source of blessing or of grief. With our guest we unpack…

R E A D   M O R E →

For Better is Important too

By Francine & Byron Pirola | December 15, 2023

We all understand how important it is to know that your spouse will be there to support you during the hard times. Having someone to…

R E A D   M O R E →

Confessions of an Advent failure

By Francine & Byron Pirola | December 8, 2023

Advent is supposed to be a season for spiritual growth and reflection. Too often we arrive at Christmas eve frazzled and in a spiritual desert.…

R E A D   M O R E →

#19 Transition to Parenthood

By Francine & Byron Pirola | December 1, 2023

The transition to parenthood is a challenge for all couples but for a couple that experienced almost a decade of infertility the change from being…

R E A D   M O R E →
Night sky over sand dunes

The Bethlehem Prayer

By Francine & Byron Pirola | December 1, 2023

Through an imaginative encounter with the Holy Family at Bethlehem, God offers consolation and healing for our Family of Origin wounds. It’s very normal when…

R E A D   M O R E →

Waiting … with joyful hope

By Francine & Byron Pirola | November 30, 2023

Advent is the season of waiting. And there sure is lots of waiting in marriage and family life. Advent, from the Latin adventus, means ‘coming’. …

R E A D   M O R E →

Displacing Contempt with Respect

By Francine & Byron Pirola | November 24, 2023

Want to give your marriage heart burn? Try treating each other with contempt. Contempt has been identified as a corrosive relationship pattern among couples headed…

R E A D   M O R E →

Making a change for the better

By Francine & Byron Pirola | November 17, 2023

Change is difficult. It can also be complicated. Despite our best intentions, sustained change often eludes us. We’ve had many spouses tell us that their…

R E A D   M O R E →

Wedding Stress Tamed!

By Francine & Byron Pirola | November 10, 2023

Planning a wedding is busy and stressful. There’s lots to think about and lots of factors to consider in every decision: the budget, the aesthetic, and the cost-benefit.   The practical reality of…

R E A D   M O R E →

Perfectly Imperfect Marriages

By Francine & Byron Pirola | November 3, 2023

Despite the promises of Hollywood and fairytales, the perfect marriage is the one that helps us grow the most. And that’s not likely to be…

R E A D   M O R E →

Marital Conflict Gone Global

By Francine & Byron Pirola | October 27, 2023

When conflict arises in a marriage, it’s not uncommon for us to seek validation for being upset. So we look for ways to strengthen our…

R E A D   M O R E →

#18 Anchored

By Francine & Byron Pirola | October 19, 2023

In the summer of 2021, Tony Manfredonia, a songwriter, found himself on the brink of destroying his marriage. Lost in the relentless pursuit of career…

R E A D   M O R E →