As D.J. Tanner on family sitcom Full House, Candace Cameron Bure was an ’80s icon. But the child star put acting on the back-burner when it became clear that faith and family needed to become her priority.
“I really felt at that time, that it wasn't just a coincidence that doors were shutting in the entertainment industry and really felt that it was God’s way of telling me, ‘You need to take a break and focus on the children that I have blessed you with’,” she shared with Just Mommies in 2014.
A Christian since she was 12, Candace was introduced to her husband Valeri Bure (a former professional ice hockey player) by Full House co-star Dave Coulier. Her choice to step back from her career in the ’90s allowed them to cultivate a deep faith in their children, Maksim (16), Lev (18) and Natasha (19), and the couple have celebrated more than 22 years together.
“The reality is that the glue for us is Jesus,” she said to PEOPLE. “It’s the Bible. You know, when there are arguments or we’re compromising and in ways, it’s always like, ‘Well, let’s just go back to the Bible.’ It’s the foundation for us. So it’s not about winning or losing. But doing this journey together.”
Any mother will tell you that parenting is a full-time job—but somehow Candace has found a way to balance it all. Stepping back into the spotlight when her husband retired, her name has become synonymous with her faith and family values.
After becoming a mainstay on Hallmark Channel, she returned to TV with the drama Make It or Break It and appeared on America’s Dancing with the Stars. After a stint on talk show The View and the return of spin-off series Fuller House on Netflix, it’s fair to say that Candace’s career is nearly as big as D.J. Tanner’s infamous hair.
Between her best-selling books (her latest book Kind is the New Classy came out in April), regular acting gigs, notable workout regime and role as a spokesperson for Compassion International, it would be easy for motherhood to go by the wayside for Candace. But even with teenage kids, it still remains her priority.
“I hope my kids would say that I’m a loving mum. They would also describe me as strict,” she said to LA Parent. “We set firm boundaries, but there is always love and grace… My goal as a parent is not to make my kids happy, but to guide them to be respectful, curious, responsible, resilient, kind, giving and thoughtful adults.”
That being said, no-one is perfect. And even though Candace always looks flawless on screen, she is the first to say she doesn’t have it all together. That is why as a Christian and a mother, she embraces God’s grace every day—just like we can.
“It is possible to do it all, but doing it all does not mean we’ll be perfect in all aspects of our lives,” she told Working Moms Against Guilt.
“We need to give ourselves a break. It is okay to let the balls drop. Within life, some things need to take precedence over others. Allow yourself the freedom to be who you are.”
Candace Cameron Bure balances it all