Renee:
Every year around this time, I feel two parts of my world pulling in opposite directions.
On one hand, the kids have just one week left before winter break, two and a half weeks of late mornings, family time, movies, adventures, and all the moments I know I’ll miss someday. I love this season. I look forward to it.
And on the other hand... This is the most intense planning window for the Soulful Leadership Retreat.
December through early February is when my brain shifts into full production mode. It’s run-of-show. Room assignments. Menus. Signage. Team coordination. Logistics. Speakers. A thousand little decisions nobody sees but everyone feels.
This is my zone. I love it. It lights me up. And also… my brain doesn’t exactly “turn off” just because the kids want to watch a Christmas movie or go look at lights.
Trying to be fully present while my mind is running an event behind the scenes is one of my biggest personal growth challenges.
Mark:
Every December, I watch Renee navigate this season with a quiet brilliance that still amazes me. While the world around us settles into holiday mode, she starts holding an entire retreat in her mind. She maps the flow of an experience that transforms people while also remembering groceries, rides, and family plans.
And the beautiful part is that she pours the same heart into Christmas. When the kids were little, she created nightly elf adventures that felt like mini productions. She starts decorating and gift shopping in September because creating magic for our family is simply who she is.
I create space for her wherever I can. I wash dishes. I clean up after dinner. I take the snack runs and the late pickups. This season has shown me the power of partnership. When one of us is building, the other becomes the anchor and the warmth.
My intention is simple. I want her to feel supported, not stretched. And I want our kids to feel us fully, even during our busiest months.
Renee:
This time of year asks something different from me. It asks me to put things down even when it feels like there’s no time to put anything down.
It asks me to be here. In this room. With these two teenagers who will not be teenagers much longer. With the messy living room. With the laughter and the eye rolls and the “Mom, can we go out?” requests.
It asks me to lift my focus from the computer screen and remember: this season matters as much as the retreat.
Because our kids won’t remember whether the signage was perfectly aligned. But they will remember whether I was present. Whether I put my laptop down. Whether I made space for us to simply be together during these short holiday breaks.
Mark:
December has become our biggest teamwork month. We cannot move through it on autopilot. We talk, adjust, support, and realign as we go. Some nights are for the retreat. Some nights are for hot chocolate. Some moments call for stepping in. Others call for stepping back.
We are both passionate about meaningful work and our family. So we choose to let these two loves support each other rather than compete. Our kids get to see us lead and create, but they also get to see us rest, listen, and show up for each other.
For me, that is the real heart of this season. Not perfection. Not polished logistics. But choosing each other, our family, and the purpose behind everything we build.
Mark and Renee:
What we’re learning year after year is this:
Family season and event season don’t have to compete with each other. But they do require intention.
Presence doesn’t mean the to-do list disappears. It means we learn when to put it down.
Leadership doesn’t mean never feeling stretched. It means noticing when something needs more heart, more space, or more support.
And the beautiful part? Every year, we get a little better at this dance.
So as winter break begins next week, our plan is simple: More movies. More family adventures. More rest. More presence. And when it’s time to build, build with clarity, not pressure.
The Soulful Leadership Retreat will be here soon enough. But right now? We have a week left of school, two teens we adore, and a holiday season worth slowing down for.