Welcome to AFTER Thoughts: Faith & Family

Welcome to AFTER Thoughts: Faith & Family.

Our Journey Begins

Children don’t come with instruction manuals. So, as a young mother I adopted many of the traditions of my family of origin. Sure, I made some modifications. My parents weren’t overtly affectionate. You were getting a hug or kiss on your birthday, graduation or some other big event. That was it, so my husband and I modified that A LOT when we had our own family. (See recent image of us with our two oldest daughters and youngest son from his December 2024 wedding). But on faith and holidays, I thought we were doing all right. Go to church, do the ‘church’ things. Holidays – celebrate the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus – A LOT.

When Two Worlds Collided

It wasn’t until those two worlds collided that I had my ‘aha” moment. When my son asked if I was lying about Santa after his friends told him the truth, I wanted the ground to open and swallow me. What did he mean “I lied”? Later when I wrestled with the ‘truth’, I recognized my Sunday faith had not crossed over into my Monday life. Celebrating Santa over my faith hadn’t sacrificed the religious aspect, it had compromised his forming a relationship with Jesus.

Getting Intentional

That’s when we got intentional (which is one of our Core Values at AFTER the King) with our holiday celebrations. Easter is about the Resurrection and Christmas is about the birth of Jesus.

At this season in life, I can look back and see it ALL matters. How we love our kids, what we teach our kids and how we live our life – everyday, it ALL matters.

The Real Instruction Manual

And I was wrong; there is an instruction manual. Not just on raising children, but on how to live your life. The Bible is our compass. No matter where life takes your family, God’s wisdom will navigate you through the twists and turns.

That journey from accidental compromise to intentional faith is exactly why we created AFTER Thoughts: Faith & Family.

What You'll Find Here

Our blog will be rooted in Biblical wisdom, which is the heart of our Core Value of K=Knowledge. The posts will be crafted to deepen your understanding of the Gospel and guide your family to grow in faith together.

• We will offer practical faith-based parenting tips for real life situations, so you can feel better equipped to respond in the moment

• We will share some of our behind-the-scenes family stories of where we learned and grew and continue to grow.

• We will offer ways to integrate faith into daily routines because that’s where the foundation is laid – in our everyday life and celebrations. In ordinary moments, repeated over time, in relationship with the people you love most.

• We will have honest conversations about real challenges, because we need Biblical wisdom, not just worldly advice, for life's everyday moments.

• We will feature Community spotlights and testimonies to help teach, encourage and inspire us all in life’s journeys because we need each other.

Start Your Journey Here

In a world that is increasingly designed to distract, disrupt and destroy the family structure, we want to help your family find it's way back to presence, purpose and peace through faith practiced at home every day. Because we envision families living the Better AFTER — where faith practiced in everyday moments reshapes distraction into presence, disconnection into purpose, and uncertainty into peace, and the next generation inherits a home where faith was always the foundation.

Start here. Download our free Bedtime Blessings guide and give your family one simple rhythm to begin with tonight.

Download the Free Guide

As always, we pray you Experience His Love and Live the Better AFTER.

The Valdes Family