FamilyLife Blended® Podcast

If death or divorce is part of your stepfamily journey, then you know the pain and obstacles that can come when blending a family. In this episode, Ron Deal talks with Brian and Diane Fromme. They have been married 25 years-a second marriage for both of them. Diane was divorced with no children, and Brian, with two children, lost his first wife to cancer. They share stories and wisdom from their e...

Whether by choice or chance, the stepmom who hasn't birthed children of her own can find loneliness in her role with her stepchildren and her relationship with her husband. Ron Deal talks with Laura Petherbridge, The Smart Stepmom, has over twenty years of experience, as a childless stepmom who has helped countless women redefine what it means to mother and love children who don't share their DNA....

One of the unfortunate and sometimes ugly results of a divorce is a custody battle. How do you sift through the murky waters of lawyers, legalities and loss while parenting your children? Throw in sustaining a healthy marriage will cause even more challenges. Ron Deal talks with Willie and Rachel Scott about their perspective and how God walked them through their individual stories of custody matt...

Have you ever wondered what's really going on inside a child of divorce? Or what their experience of your blended family is? Lauren Reitsema, is a wife and mother, and grew up a child of divorce and living between two stepfamilies. On this episode Ron Deal and Lauren address common questions parents and stepparents ask about kids-and share insights that will help you love and lead them well. Show...

Does your childhood, or previous relationships, ever creep into your current ones? If you've ever noticed that certain themes tend to repeat in our relationships you are not alone. And you'll want to listen if you've ever had an angry kid in your home and you've wondered what to do about it. Ron Deal is talking about that and much more with USA-Today Best-selling author Tricia Goyer. Show Notes an...

Betrayal in marriage can be devastating. Kyle and Sheri Keffer have both experienced betrayal in previous marriages and have seen how the effects can carry over into a new marriage. They join Ron to discuss what betrayal can do to a person, the shame that sexual betrayal can produce, and how they're finding healing. Kyle and Sheri are both marriage and life therapists as well as sex addiction ther...

Michele Cushatt has experienced divorce, blended family life, adoption, and is a three time cancer survivor. In this episode Michele and Ron discuss the unexpected journey of her life and the hard work of parenting hurting kids. Show Notes and Resources Learn more about Michele Cushatt. https://michelecushatt.com/ Read Michele Cushatt's story in her book Undone . https://www.christianbook.com/undo...

What would you do if the night before your wedding one of your children comes to you and says, "Please don't get married tomorrow?" On this episode, Mike and Kim Anderson discuss how they handled that as well as how they dealt with losing their daughter to her biological father's control. Show Notes and Resources Learn about Mike and Kim's ministry. https://www.mikeandkimcoaching.com/ To learn mor...

How do you give grace to a teenager? To a stepteenager, at that? And, how do you give each other grace as parents, when it comes to how they react to your teenager? Ron discusses these questions and more with Randy and Gayla Grace. Show Notes and Resources Learn more about Gayla and her ministry at http://stepparentingwithgrace.com/ To learn more and register for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry...

All parenting is difficult, but when you add in divorce, the challenge multiplies. Staying connected is harder than ever, and fragile and shifting co-parenting structures and relationships put pressure on everyone. Navigating even the most routine parental responsibilities can become difficult. This episode brings help and hope to those parents who may be struggling. Show Notes and Resources Are c...

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be." What about now? Pastor and theologian John Ortberg provides a fresh perspective on the nature of eternity and our own connection to an eternal creator. Show Notes and Resources As believers, we're waiting for eternal life. But what is it? John Ortberg dispells the myths in his new book Eternity Is Now In Session . To learn more and...

Stepcouples hope and pray they can have peaceful relations with their former spouses, and it is possible. But for some couples, no matter how much they try, the venom and vitriol of the former spouse drowns out all reason and compromise. Rodney and Lisa Webb, and counselor and therapist Helen Wheeler share their difficult blended journey. Show Notes and Resources Whether married or soon-to-be marr...

Stepmoms bear a unique burden, and they often neglect their own care. Melanie Anthony offers hope for balance in the midst of the burden. Show Notes and Resources Learn more about Melanie Anthony's ministry StepMoms Alive . A one day faith-based event designed to equip stepmoms to be strong and steadfast for the journey. Learn more and register for the 2019 Blended and Blessed® live event and live...

She may have been in love with Lamar, but as a strong self-confident woman, Ronnie wasn't that interested in Lamar's help raising her two children from a previous relationship. Exploring the complex nuances of blended relationships. Show Notes and Resources Ronnie and Lamar Tyler are the founders of blackandmarriedwithkids.com , the largest African American marriage and parenting site on the web....

Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, right? WRONG. In this encouraging exploration of the real state of marriage, researcher and author Shaunti Feldhahn teams up with Ron Deal for a deep look at the facts behind the statistics. Show Notes and Resources What if these “facts” are actually myths? In The Good News About Marriage , best-selling author Shaunti Feldhahn, presents groundbreaking res...

Understanding the long-term effects of divorce and remarriage on kids is difficult. A good way to start is to ask an adult who experienced life in a blended family. Ron talks with "FamilyLife Today" host Dave Wilson about his childhood blended family experience. Show Notes and Resources To learn more about Dave and Ann Wilson, their ministry, and their new book Vertical Marriage check out their we...

When Dave was growing up his father told him over and over, "You're a Bondeson and a Christian." That helped shape his identity. But as a father himself, Dave finds it challenging to translate that into a blended family situation with a step-daughter whose last name is not Bondeson. Show Notes and Resources The Parent's Summit is a one day livestream experience for all parents. It is built on the...