Empty Nesters: The Next Chapter

Sigrid and Edwin Millare have been married 32 years. They raised two sons in the faith and made sure they knew God, knew right from wrong, and knew how to build a life worth living. And when those sons finally left to do exactly that, the house got quiet. Really quiet. Studies show that 40% of couples divorce when they become empty nesters. The kids leave, the shared purpose disappears, and suddenly two people who built a life together are looking at each other wondering what’s next. But Sigrid and Edwin had something most couples don’t, a marriage built on God’s words. And that foundation gave them new reasons to choose each other again. This is a conversation about the grief nobody warns you about, the marriage nobody thinks to protect during this season, and what it really means to let go and embrace the next stage God has for you. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Empty Nesters: When the House Gets Quiet 02:01 32 Years of Marriage: Meet Sigrid and Edwin 08:13 Sitting in Joshua’s Room: The Grief That Catches You Off Guard 12:45 What Do You Wish Someone Had Told You? 15:19 What to Tell a New Parent 16:08 The Reset: Getting to Know Each Other All Over Again 18:27 32 Years Later: What Did You Not Know About Each Other? 20:41 The 40% Statistic: What Keeps Faith-Based Marriages Together? 24:36 God’s Role in Their Marriage 25:23 Why Hard Times Are Necessary 28:35 Advice for Young Couples 33:36 Why Self-Awareness Saves a Marriage 37:49 Making Sure the Kids Stay Grounded After They Leave 48:03 What Would You Want Your Boys to Say About You? 52:59 Gentle Parenting vs. Strictness: The Bible’s Take 57:49 Pointing Your Kids Back to God in Everyday Moments 1:03:00 Rapid Fire: The Wedding Photo That Said Everything 1:05:33 Dream Vacations and What’s Next 1:07:03 32 Years of Wisdom 1:11:33 Change Is… Sigrid and Edwin weren’t prepared for how quiet the house would get. How a whole year could go by and the sadness just… stayed. Lingering. But somewhere between the sunsets on the patio, the Italian restaurants and their new hobbies… something shifted Not because they stopped missing their sons. They still do… But because they chose to look at what the change gave them… an opportunity to finally see what God had been building all along..in their sons, in their marriage, and in themselves. Sigrid and Edwin didn’t just survive this season. As empty nesters, they found the next version of themselves in it. If you’re in the middle of a change that you feel uncertain about…maybe even a little nervous, this is your reminder that bittersweet is still sweet. And that sometimes the life waiting for you on the other side of letting go is more beautiful than you can imagine right now. For more Making Changes, visit incmedia.org, the INC Media app, or find us anywhere you listen to podcasts. I’m Aliw Garcia Pablo and may your change uplift you. Connect with Aliw Garcia Pablo, the Making Changes Host instagram.com/aliwgarciapablo Faith & Family Instagram https://www.instagram.com/faithandfamily.inc/ A Good Relationship Between Adult Children And Parents https://incmedia.org/a-good-relationship-between-adult-children-and-parents/ Listen to Dads with Autistic Kids: https://incmedia.org/dads-with-autistic-kids/ Interested in attending a Bible study in the Church Of Christ? Set a time to speak. Connect with the Making Changes Host http://instagram.com/aliwgarciapablo Rate & Review: Spotify and Apple Podcasts Follow the show: Instagram http://instagram.com/makingchangespodcast Visit our website: incmedia.org/making-changes