Ten years ago, I thought a childhood prayer was about welcoming people into my home. Today, I'm realizing it might be about something much more meaningful: making room for people in my life, being fully present, and allowing myself to be seen, too.

There are words we use without thinking and others that get stuck somewhere between our hearts and our mouths. For Sarah, one particular F word was harder to say than she ever expected. A personal reflection on the stories we tell ourselves, the things we're afraid to admit, and what happens when we finally find the courage to say them out loud.

Quinn’s old room is my new office. The walls are fresh, but the carpet still holds the evidence of the kid who grew up there. As I find my footing with adult children, a new role at work, and running again, I’m learning that I can welcome what’s next and still miss what came before.

I thought I was giving our kids an unforgettable lesson in letterpress at Hatch Show Print. A few hours later, they were trapped in an elevator discussing which sibling they would eat first. Years later, the story is a funny reminder that the memories we carefully plan are rarely the ones our kids remember most.

Inspired by a Running Ahrens conversation with Scott Spiezio, One Stick at a Time explores his journey from World Series champion through addiction, faith, and recovery, and how rebuilding a life often begins with one small step.

This conversation became less about success and more about what it actually looks like to build a life with another person while everything around you keeps changing.

We’re not starting over. We’re starting from where life has brought us. Season 2 of Running Ahrens is about marriage, parenting, loss, joy, and everything in between. Join us in April as we keep the conversation real.

This is one of those moments when staying quiet is a choice. When things don’t sit right and our response matters. Not how we feel. What we stand up for. This is a reflection on voice, conscience, and the courage to stay human when truth asks more of us.

What started as a way for Sarah and me to stay connected in a new season grew into something we didn’t expect. Through honest conversations and shared stories, people felt seen, more aware, and less alone. Season 1 reminded us that story is how we connect, make meaning, and remember we’re not running alone.

Inspired by JJ and Jamey’s story, this piece explores what happens when your life no longer fits who you’re becoming. Justin reflects on identity, faith, honesty, and the quiet courage it takes to name the truth. A human, relatable look at change for anyone trying to build a life that feels real and aligned.

Speaking together at Chipp Con SC reminded us how much of our life overlaps. We work in different worlds, but we build side by side. With three of our four kids back home, we’re documenting this season for us and for them. Watch the highlight videos and explore the Running Ahrens AI Hub.

Our daughter came out, and the world shifted in front of us. A few friends faded away. But our family grew tighter, kinder, and more honest. What felt scary at first became one of the clearest gifts in our parenting.

Some people impress you with what they’ve done, but the Vande Velde’s impress you with how they treat you. Christian and Leah welcome you with a kindness and strength that stays with you.

The Enneagram helps us understand who we are. The Running Ahrens AI Hub helps us live it out. In this post, we connect awareness and action, how reflection, empathy, and curiosity can reshape how we love, lead, and grow.

Some years it was sweltering, some years snowing, but every year was magic. For us, Halloween was never about spooky stuff or a faith violation. It was about imagination, laughter, and connection. From wagons full of toddlers to late-night pumpkin carving with grown kids, it’s been a good chapter. And for anyone in that stage now, don’t wish it away. Dress up. Be a kid. Make the memory. And save me some Reese’s.

The Enneagram isn’t just a personality test, it’s a mirror that helps you see why you do what you do. From marriage and parenting to leadership and personal growth, it offers a clearer way to understand yourself and others. Read this blog for fresh insight and a few tools to help you start.

Sometimes enough is right. Sometimes enough is fear. Parenting Jackson has taught us to tell the difference, to recognize when to support, when to push, and when to simply sit beside him in the process. “Just Enough Jack” isn’t about effort or laziness. It’s about learning what’s needed in each moment and showing up with curiosity, respect, and love as he figures out what enough means for him.

Friendship can open your eyes to what you never saw before. In this blog, Justin reflects on his friendship with Uncle Deon, what it’s taught him about race, privilege, and belonging, and why the people who are different from us often shape us the most.

Time doesn’t just pass, it’s spent. In this blog, we share lessons from the road about making time to be, time to connect, asking better questions, and finding joy in the detours. Because life isn’t about speed, it’s about who’s in the car with you.

For nearly 20 years, Jenn and Ken Visocky-O’Grady have been part of what we call “Both Sides of the Family.” Together we’ve raised kids, swapped recipes, cheered at games, and carried each other through life’s mess and beauty. Friendship like this doesn’t happen by accident, it’s built with intention, vulnerability, and love that shows up again and again.