truth-tellers, adventure lovers, safe space makers
Adventure consists of more than transcendent mountaintop experiences, although we’ve had our fair share of those over the past three decades!
Adventure also includes unexpected challenges, surprising detours, and deep valleys. Since we said “I do” 32 years ago, we have learned to embrace adventure, both the highs and the lows. Little did we know that
our adventures were preparing us to guide others, including you.
We're Mark and Michelle
32+
years married
100+
clients served
3
grandkids...so far
At A Glance
We'll meet you at the table...
In 2015, everything we believed to be true about marriage was put to the test when we found ourselves walking through healing from infidelity. We rebuilt our relationship and came out of the fire stronger than ever before. While navigating our darkest and most painful season, we experienced new levels of clarity, hope, and freedom individually and in our relationship. In that season we began imagining what is now The Soul Reserve.
While our healing journey was propelled by infidelity, we aren't unfamiliar with grief and hardship. Our life has been full of highs, lows, and everything in between. This is the human experience, isn't it? Life asks us time and again if we want to remain comfortable or move toward more clarity, deeper hope, and greater freedom. And we’ve answered with an enthusiastic “yes!” for the more. Now it's our turn to ask you.
Will you say yes to the invitation for “more” and allow us to guide you?
"We are so very grateful to both of you for warring for us on our behalf, especially when we were too tired to keep fighting! We needed someone on our side to fight for us and with us."
- Morris + Luna M.
How We Got Here
The Timeline
1990
Our first date! We immediately knew we would end up together.
1991
Our first invitation to freedom or shame: we got married when Michelle was five months pregnant with our first child, Marissa. On our wedding invitation, we asked people to come only if they could genuinely celebrate with us. Yes, this did ruffle some feathers, but we refused to play the shame game.
1993
We had our second baby, our son, Marshall. This season of life was marked by supportive community, raising our babies and doing life closely with forever friends.
1994
Our early years held many transitions, so during this year we went to counseling together for the first time in order to address numerous changes and get out of survival mode. As a result, we established a core value of ours: take care of our marriage by doing regular check-ins with a counselor, especially during big life transitions.
1997
We had our third baby, our daughter, Mia
1998
We unexpectedly got pregnant with our fourth baby, a girl, and then
experienced a miscarriage at fifteen weeks—a monumental invitation to grieve.
2003
We plugged into the marriage ministry at our church, and years later we stepped into leadership roles. Our passion for thriving marriages grew.
2009
Mark's sister unexpectedly died, and it shook us to our core in many ways.
This loss was yet another invitation to walk through intense grief.
2012
Michelle had her first exposure to integrated healing, which addresses the mind, body, spirit, and emotions. This experience shattered the messages of her traditional upbringing: "Never trust your heart or your body. They're deceitful!”
2015-2016
We experienced our biggest invitation to hold the highs and lows of life simultaneously: Marshall was drafted to play soccer in the MLS; our
youngest daughter started her college career; and our oldest daughter got married! All of these transitions happened while we were healing from infidelity, without much community or support.
2017-2020
We pursued narrative-focused trauma care training at The Allender Center in Seattle, Washington, earning certificates of completion for level 1 and level 2. Along the way, we knew that our path was leading us to help others in their own journeys toward healing, hope, clarity, and freedom.
2020
The Soul Reserve was born!
"Mark and Michelle candidly shared from their own stories and always spoke the truth in love in their passionate pursuit of leading others into the freedom they’ve experienced."
- Andy L.
When we aren't working with our wonderful clients, you can find us enjoying our back patio at our Tennessee home, skiing the slopes in Colorado, or spending time with our family.
You can find us...
This is us
When we aren't working with our wonderful clients, you can find us enjoying our back patio at our Tennessee home, skiing the slopes in Colorado, or spending time with our family.
YOU CAN FIND US...
This is us
OUR MARRIAGE ADVICE...
This is us
Adventure and fun are two of the most underrated medicines to a healthy marriage. We've said one reason our marriage has stayed strong is because we have always prioritized traveling, sharing adventure, and playing together over the years.
Adventure and fun are two of the most underrated medicines to a healthy marriage. We've said one reason our marriage has stayed strong is because we have always prioritized traveling, sharing adventure, and playing together over the years.
SOME OF OUR BEST MARRIAGE ADVICE...
This is us
Certifications and Affiliations
