FamilyLife Blended® Podcast

Krista Smith-Larson is a blended family mom who produces games that help draw out matters of loss and stepfamily transition in order to bring about hope and healing. Listen to her dialogue with Ron Deal and learn about games that can benefit your stepfamily. Show Notes and Resources Krista's games with purpose. Get yours here. Check out Life in a Blender for your kids Get your copy of The Smart Stepfamily Call with a topic or a review, you might hear your message on a show! 407-826-2606 Learn more about Summit on Stepfamily Ministry Thank you for supporting this podcast See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

God loves the work of refining our character, particularly as we engage in family relationships. We become more and more like Christ as we learn how to love, forgive, show kindness, and be family to one another. In this episode, Ron Deal talks with Summer Butler and Gayla Grace about the value of God's refining fire for stepmoms. Show Notes and Resources Gayla Grace Summer Butler and her book Please call and leave us a message! 407-826-2606 The Smart Stepmom Summit on Stepfamily Ministry Searchable map See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Relationships between biological moms and stepmoms can be malicious, competitive, and wounding. But they don't have to be! Listen to Ron Deal's discussion with two women who found healing for their toxic relationship through God's grace, forgiveness, and acceptance that led to a long-term, loving friendship and benefited not only themselves, but also their son and stepson. Show Notes and Resources Stepfamily Network The Smart Stepmom Send us a topic you want us to cover, a question you want to ask, or a comment you want to share Women and Blended Families Livestream – May 3 Send support to the Blended podcast See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Would you like your kids to hear helpful advice from several experts about their blended family struggles? This podcast is for you! Listen for yourself first, then with your child—young or old—to encourage dialogue about their feelings that can help build a bridge for long-term relationship building. Show Notes and Resources Learn more about Lauren Reitsema. Get Lauren's book, In Their Shoes. Learn more about Gayla Grace. Get Gayla's book, Step Parenting with Grace. Stepfamily Therapy Providers Leave us a voicemail review; you might hear it on a show! 407-826-2606 Get the Blended and Blessed Digital All-Access Pass See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Kids in stepfamilies often lose control over many aspects of their lives after their parents remarry. In this episode, Ron Deal talks with two stepsiblings about their own experiences, their hard adjustments to stepfamily life, and how parents can give children a voice and open lines of communication to aid relationship building in their home. Show Notes and Resources Learn more about Blended and Blessed live event and livestream Say “Thank you” with a donation Learn more about Blendistry. Send us your questions for a future podcast. Call us at 407-826-2606 or send an email to blendedquestions@familylife.com Learn more about FamilyLife Blended. See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Blended and Blessed is a marriage event specifically designed for couples in a blended family. This podcast episode features a dynamic speaker from Blended and Blessed 2021, author and stepmom Laurie Short, with nuggets of wisdom and real-life stories from her stepfamily journey. Show Notes and Resources Blended and Blessed All Access Pass Email us / Call us: 407-826-2606 Laurie Short FamilyLife Blended Donate to FamilyLife Blended See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Life has a way of moving us into roommates in marriage when we want to be soulmates. Ron Deal talks with Dr. Greg Smalley about how to stay deeply connected with one another, even during seasons of exhaustion or busyness, with intentional behavior that includes protecting sacred moments, guarding against distractions, working through conflict, and connecting in small ways every day. Show Notes and Resources Learn more about Greg Smalley Get Greg's book, Reconnected Learn more about Blended and Blessed live event and livestream Give us a review of this show or ask us a question. We may answer it on an upcoming the podcast. Contact us at blendedquestsions@familylife.com or 407-826-2606 Learn more about FamilyLife Blended Support FamilyLife Blended See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

The subject of sexuality and sexual desire in marriage brings up lots of questions. In this episode, Ron Deal interviews Dr. Michael Sytsma, a pastor and sex therapist, who talks about how to pursue the heart of intimacy with one another. You'll hear teaching on how to manage differences in sexual desire in marriage, how we can reflect who Christ is in our sexual lives, and how to form deep intimate connections in the process. Show Notes and Resources The (Nearly) Complete Guide to Better Married Sex online course Listing of Certified Christian Sex Therapists Give us a review of this show or ask us a question. We may answer it on an upcoming podcast. Call (407) 826-2606 or email BlendedQuestions@familylife.com Learn more about Blended and Blessed Live Event and Livestream Listen to previous podcasts #30 and #66 for more insight into this topic. Learn more about The Smart Stepfamily Marriage book Building Intimate Marriages Sexual Desire in Marriage course See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Do you have stepfamily questions? We have answers! Listen to Ron Deal's discussion with Gayla Grace on important topics like finding your place as a stepparent, being a childless stepmom, reasonable parenting standards, adding a new baby to a stepfamily, coping with a narcissistic bio parent in the other home, and more. Show Notes and Resources Send us your questions for a future podcast: blendedquestions@familylife.com or 407-826-2606 Learn more about Blended and Blessed live event and livestream Listen to Sandi Patty and Ron, episode 27 Stepfamily Therapy Providers The Smart Stepfamily (from RightNow Media) Well-blended and the Certificate in Blended Family Ministry See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Are you good at waiting? What about waiting to be wanted by someone you care about in your blended family? That's a hard reality for many in the early years of stepfamily life. In this episode, listen to Ron Deal's conversation with stepmom Cheryl Shumake on how to persevere through the waiting during the wilderness years. Show Notes and Resources Cheryl Shumake and Stepmom Sanity Free Ministry Map Blended and Blessed Online courses Your generous support of FamilyLife helps create podcasts like the FamilyLife Blended® Podcast. See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy