Candace Cameron Bure: 'People Forget I'm Just a Real Person' in Her Marriage War

Everywhere you look, everywhere you go, Candace Cameron Bure is tackling a new venture.

Despite being eliminated from ‘The Masked Singer’, she excels at portraying roles in Christmas-themed movies. She’s skilled at creating charming t-shirt designs. Moreover, she handles criticism gracefully yet effectively, as demonstrated by her ability to diplomatically tell critics to keep quiet.

In a 2021 episode of TopMob’s Daily Pop, Candace clarified that while she is a celebrity, she’s still very much a real person. She later acknowledged the harshness that can come with fame. (Additionally, she provided an explanation for her shift from Hallmark to Great American Family, stating it would allow her to support “traditional marriage values” at its core.)

However, towards the end of 2020, she began to defend herself after posting a holiday picture featuring her family: Her husband Valeri Bure, daughter Natasha (age 26), and sons Lev and Maksim (ages 25 and 23 respectively).

She went on to explain, “I was just showing a family Christmas greeting card. It baffles me that some individuals have the nerve to post harsh and negative remarks. Frankly, it’s something you wouldn’t dare utter in person to another person.

In her own words, her responses served as a gentle reminder. Essentially, she was saying, “I’m showcasing the finest aspects of my family, much like a festive holiday card, so please refrain from commenting.

Because let’s be clear: They worked hard for that particular bit of holiday cheer.

Similar to countless individuals worldwide, the former star of Fuller House, celebrating her 49th birthday on April 6, experienced more than just a few difficulties in the year 2020. In an interview with Yahoo! Lifestyle in March 2021, she confessed that her relationship with her husband, who they’ve been married to for nearly 29 years, became quite strained during the first few months of the year, and it was “very difficult,” she said, “really bad.

Due to spending extended periods confined within a limited space, previously ignored topics began to emerge prominently. She went on to say, “It became inevitable for us to engage in these conversations and confront the tough issues head-on,” adding, “we had to grapple with reality and deal with the hard truths.

As a devoted follower, I found that my adult children played a pivotal role in helping my retired hockey pro husband and me navigate our challenges. “Our kids were instrumental in guiding us through it all,” I shared. “Since then, our bond has only deepened and grown stronger. Life is full of ups and downs, but when we emerge from the difficult times, it’s like hearing a sweet symphony – ‘hallelujah!’ It makes you feel unstoppable.

For over three decades, they’ve journeyed through various ups and downs, encountering numerous obstacles along the way, yet never once considering to end their relationship.

In an interview with Us Weekly back in 2018, she expressed that while marriage can be a wondrous and beautiful experience, it will inevitably encounter challenging periods. She emphasized that no one possesses a flawlessly perfect marriage; rather, you must endure the hardships and remain committed to making it work.

Their union seems incredibly destined, given the series of events that began with their chance encounter in 1994. This fortuitous meeting was orchestrated by Candace’s former co-star, Dave Coulier, on Full House.

In 2007, on the show Today, Candace shared that a Michigan native and avid hockey enthusiast, who happened to be Uncle Joey, was playing in a celebrity charity game. She went on to say that he had invited the cast over, then privately told her, “I’ve met this really charming Russian hockey player, and I’d like you to meet him.” (What a thoughtful pass from Uncle Joey!)

In the bleachers, a teenager had already taken notice of Lori Loughlin and her brother. When they eventually met, it was clear that the game was won. As Candace explained, Val had just arrived from Moscow, Russia, and he would tune in to “Full House” to learn English.

The actress had her initial date the day after that, and within a year, having completed an eight-year run on the beloved TGIF show, she became engaged (after spending a fast-paced summer traveling through France, Switzerland, and Italy). She then moved in with her future spouse, who played hockey for the Canadiens, living in Montreal.

On June 22, 1996, when Candace was 20 and Val was 22, they became a family with Natasha, who joined them a few months following their second wedding anniversary. Eighteen months later, Lev made his appearance into the world, followed by Maksim two years after that.

Over time, Candace and Val consistently navigated the ups and downs of a relationship spanning multiple decades.

In reflecting on our 20th anniversary in 2016, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pride and love for my partner. However, let me make one thing clear: Our journey hasn’t been all sunshine and smooth sailing. We’ve faced some challenging times, with stretches of hardships, disagreements, and mistakes made along the way.

Yet, we’ve managed to weather these storms together, learning and growing from each experience. We’ve held onto our love, focusing on the bigger picture: the glory of God in our lives. I can confidently say that these trials have shaped us into better individuals, teaching us valuable lessons about resilience, understanding, and unwavering commitment to one another. And for that, we couldn’t be more grateful.

Despite career shifts due to skating injuries, parenthood difficulties, and life’s numerous challenges, their mutual faith served as a constant source of strength for them.

She pointed out to People in 2018 that Jesus serves as our bond. “It’s the Scripture,” she explained. “Whenever we have disagreements or are compromising, it’s a way of saying, ‘Let’s return to the Bible.’ It provides the foundation for us.

While the New Testament serves as their constant guide, they have collectively formulated a set of rules independent from it.

For example, Valeri didn’t hesitate to playfully squeeze Candace in a photo they took together with their son Lev in September 2020. During their conversation on the “Confessions Of A Crappy Christian Podcast” episode in November, Candace shared her recollection of the moment: “The weather was lovely and I said, ‘Let’s take some pictures together,'” she explained. “Finally, in the last picture, he playfully grabbed my breast, causing quite a chuckle. So I asked if I could share it online, to which he agreed.

I couldn’t help but exclaim, ‘ I’ve been walking down the marital aisle for a whopping 24 years, and let me tell you, I’m a devoted Christian, as is my lifelong partner.’ Little did I know, my seemingly innocent remarks would ignite a blaze among fellow believers, finding fault with our playful banter that seemed to border on the provocative.

In my experience as a lifestyle advisor, discovering personal satisfaction and understanding within the intimate realms has been an integral part of my journey towards success. Growing up in a religious environment, there was often a veil of disapproval surrounding sexuality that left me feeling quite disheartened. Reflecting on my childhood, it’s clear that the stigma around intimacy was overwhelming and deeply rooted in shame.

I found myself living with an ever-present fear of transgression – “Oh no, I shouldn’t be a sexual being, I must save myself for later.” This fear, fueled by the belief that God would view me unfavorably if I explored my sexuality, was a heavy burden to carry.

After their marriage with Val, she confessed that for several years, she often had sexual encounters with the thought, “Gosh, I wonder if God’s watching me, and am I doing something wrong? Is He displeased?

She openly discusses sexual topics to a degree that leaves her children uncomfortable and even embarrassed. As she put it herself, “My kids say, ‘Mom, enough with the sex talk! Stop!’ But I’ve always been very candid about these matters.

She always schedules special dates with her partner, as she explained to Closer, because “it’s effortless” for relationships to slip into routines. “Things can become mundane at home,” she added.

In 2017, she suggested to TopMob News that one effective method to break routine is arranging regular parent-only vacations, preferably over a weekend. She emphasized that this time spent together, which is rare, is particularly important for the couple.

During the peak of the COVID pandemic, stay-at-home orders caused their previously empty nest to become quite lively. This was due to Lev returning home from college and Maksim coming back from Minnesota, where he played hockey for NorthStar Christian Academy, and subsequently joining his elder brother at Liberty University in Virginia.

Despite facing their toughest challenge yet during the pandemic, they discovered the charm in their more crowded home. Specifically, they spent most meals at home, experimenting with new recipes from a cookbook each day. This became an enjoyable family activity. Additionally, they played board games and cards together, creating some of the best and most cherished memories for this family.

And they’re sure to make more.

During the pandemic years, Candace shared with Us Weekly in November 2020 that it “put us to the ultimate test in a positive way.” Being constant travelers, they found themselves remarking, “This might be the most time we’ve spent together in years. This could either strengthen our bond or drive us apart.” Surprisingly, she added, “It’s actually brought us closer together.

2025-04-06 10:17

Candace Cameron Bure: ‘People Forget I’m Just a Real Person’ in Her Marriage War

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