FamilyLife Blended® Podcast

• 172: Beautifully Blended: Devotions and Resources for Every Kind of Blended Family

  Ron Deal speaks with Gayla Grace about her new book, Beautifully Blended: 101 Devotions to Encourage Couples in Blended Families. This book offers support and advice with relatable anecdotes, along with a devotion, prayer, and Bible reading for each day. Every day dynamics in blended families are addressed with answers to common situations that often create struggle, such as stepparenting, co-parenting, marital conflict, and challenges in relationship-building. Grace offers practical tips that provide hope for blended families by encouraging them to trust God, seek His wisdom, persevere through challenges, offer grace freely and often, count their blessings, and recognize God’s redeeming power in relationships. Show Notes and Resources Learn about Gayla Get your copy of Beautifully Blended! Make plans to join us in Nashville at the Summit! Send a tax-deductible gift to FamilyLife Blended. See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

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• 171: How To Navigate In-Law Relationships: Building Bridges, Not Battlegrounds

  In-law relationships can be delicate and challenging, especially when they involve a former spouse. Ron Deal speaks with Dave and Ashley Willis about how to prevent feelings of powerlessness and frustration as we build bridges, not battlegrounds, in difficult relationships. Establishing healthy boundaries can safeguard our mental health and encourage healing from past wounds. Honest conversations convey respect—even when relationships are full of tension. Grace-filled discussions that reflect our ability to see the best in others and extend forgiveness when we’ve been wronged allow God’s love to reach hardened hearts.God wants to redeem relationships, and as we do our part with difficult in-law relationships, God will honor our efforts. Show Notes and Resources Listen to the podcast Grandparenting and the Blended Family. Learn about Dave and Ashley and get their Married Into The Family book. Join us in Nashville for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry Email [email protected] for small group coaching or check out The Smart Stepfamily free series to get started. Our small group searchable map Ron's list of certified counselors Clinical Training See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

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• 170: 2025 Blended and Blessed: Answering Your Blended Family Dilemmas

  Ron Deal and Gayla Grace answer questions from Blended & Blessed, such as: how do I manage tug of war feelings between my spouse and my children; how do I talk to my teenager who doesn't want me to remarry after his dad died; what are common ghosts of marriage past and how do we cope with them, how do we effectively place limits on screen time and hold the boundaries in our home when the other home has no limits; how do I calm my heart as a stepmom when my adult stepchild is rejecting me and what steps can I take to help, and many more. Show Notes and Resources Learn about Blended & Blessed Get the Complete Blended & Blessed Digital All-Access Pass Join us at the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry Get a copy of The Mindful Marriage wherever you get books. See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

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• 169: Growing up Blended: The Hidden Grief Kids Carry

  Blake Hudspeth grew up in multiple stepfamilies as a result of death & divorce and described his family to Ron Deal as pieced together. As a result, he struggled with complicated emotions and unresolved wounds well into adulthood. Now, Hudspeth wants to help others who’ve grown up in complex blended family dynamics learn how to reconcile a difficult upbringing with hope for the future. He understands how to grieve a family he wanted but didn't have and the importance of forgiving his parents for their part in the instability of his upbringing, which created distrust and uncertainty for him. He advises parents that one of the most important pieces in helping their kids who are growing up blended is simply acknowledging the pain they are carrying. Show Notes and Resources Make plans to join us at the Summit on Stepfamily ministry in October Send a donation to FamilyLife Blended Get a copy of The Smart Stepfamily Access for leaders to the tip sheet on ministering to students See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

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• 168: Learning from Stepfamilies of the Bible

  Guidance and hope for blending families can be found in stories from scripture. Ron Deal talks with Laura Petherbridge about her latest book, Stepfamilies of the Bible: Timeless Wisdom for Blended Families. Through true stories of God's heroes from stepfamilies of biblical times, Petherbridge offers practical tools to build unity, overcome complexity, foster love, and create lasting relationships for today's blended families. Through families such as David's, a man after God's own heart, and Joseph's, the favored son of Jacob, we learn how God can use sin done to us and sin done by us for His glory, and redeem relationships, regardless of how messy and broken they are. Show Notes and Resources Summit on Stepfamily Ministry Information Learn about Laura Petherbridge and Stepfamilies of The Bible Send a gift to help the FamilyLife Blended team Get a copy of The Smart Stepmom See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

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