It's the most wonderful time of year! Wait ... is it really? We want Christmas to be a season that feels magical. But too often, we feel disappointment, stress, sadness, and loneliness. Listen to Ron Deal's conversation with author and former co-host of FamilyLife Today Bob Lepine on how to find lasting joy this holiday season.
Show Notes and Resources
 	Empowered to Love Registration
 	Watch Women and Blended Families
 	The FamilyLife Blended team appreciates your gift of support this season.
 	Blended Family Events and Resources
 	Please email blendedquestions@familylife.com or call with a question for a future podcast at 407-826-2606.

101: Christmas: Recovering Joy

FamilyLife Blended® Podcast with host Ron Deal, provides timeless wisdom and practical help and hope for blended families and those who love them.

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God understands broken people. He sent His son to die for us. Even when we feel beyond help, He meets us where we are, He loves us, and He redeems us. He sent the Holy Spirit to be our counselor and our guide. In our messiness, God wants to use our stories and our brokenness to minister to others.
Show Notes and Resources
 	Get The Smart Stepfamily as your free gift when you donate to FamilyLife Blended.
 	Get the Blended and Blessed All-Acess Digital Pass
 	Learn more about resources for blended families.
 	More info for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry in October.
 	Email us your podcast show suggestions!

137: Broken: Help for Family Problems

Help for your finances! Money matters can be a hot topic for blended families, creating strife and inequity if not handled well. Listen in as Ron Deal speaks with Gayla Grace and financial expert Greg Pettys about how couples can make wise decisions on financial issues that benefit all members of their blended family.
Gain insight from listener questions such as: Should my spouse and I carry separate bank accounts? How do we spend our money equitably with “his and her” kids? Why do blended families need to do estate planning? What budgeting tools do you recommend? How do we share our resources? And more great topics applicable to every blended family.
Show Notes and Resources
 	Learn more about resources for blended families.
 	You can watch the podcast on YouTube.
 	You can still join the Blended and Blessed Livestream!
 	Look for a small group in your area.
 	Get your copy of The Smart Stepfamily Guide to Financial Planning
 	Make a donation to FamilyLife Blended.

136: Help Me with My Finances

Singer/songwriter Kim Walker-Smith grew up in a blended family with multiple stepparents, instability, abuse, and isolation. She shares her story with Ron Deal in this podcast episode, beginning with her mom’s first divorce when she was a young child. It didn’t take long for her mom to marry again, divorce, and marry again.
Eventually, her mom married a stable, loving man who wanted to be a father to Smith when she was a young teenager. Hungry for his love but scared it wasn’t real, Smith rejected him over and over again. But this stepdad kept coming back, faithful and steadfast in every way and, eventually, a stabilizing force for Smith.
Although Smith experienced hardship and adversity as a child, as an adult, she came to know a loving, redeeming God, who she now sings about all over the world, testifying of His love.
Show Notes and Resources
 	Register for Blended and Blessed!
 	Learn more about Kim.
 	Hear Kim's song, "On My Side".
 	You can watch the podcast on the FamilyLife Blended YouTube channel.
 	Leave us a voicemail! – 407-826-2606
 	Support the podcast.

135: Growing Up Blended: Kim Walker Smith’s Story

Are there blessings in blended family life? Yes! But they might not show up in ways we expect or as quickly as we’d like. In this 2023 Blended and Blessed presentation, Cheryl Shumake talks about the many bonus blessings she has experienced and the strength God gave her during seasons of weariness to keep going when she wanted to quit.
Cheryl says, “God meets us in the waiting to strengthen us for the walking.” God wants to guide our steps when we face challenges. He knows that our convictions of creating long-term relationships can waver when weariness sets in. But our biggest blessings are waiting for us in the later years if we persevere.
Show Notes and Resources
 	Get the Blended and Blessed All-Access Pass
 	Learn more about Cheryl and her ministry.
 	Host Blended and Blessed in your church or at home!
 	Give a tax deductible donation
 	You can watch podcast episodes on our YouTube channel.
 	Call us and leave a message about the show! 407-826-2606

134: Being a Stepparent: Is it a Blessing?

Remarriage after widowhood carries unique challenges and unwanted transitions. Expectations that aren’t realistic often show up, creating even more grief and heartache. But hard dynamics in the beginning can move toward bonded relationships and family unity with time and effort. In this podcast episode, Ron Deal talks with Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown about their blended family challenges after Rachel was widowed twice, had two children with her second husband, and then married Rod with two young children in tow.
Show Notes and Resources
 	Blended and Blessed Info
 	Learn about Rachel
 	Rachel's widow ministry
 	Learn more about Rod
 	Ron's speaking schedule
 	Thank you for sending a tax-deductible donation!

101: Christmas: Recovering Joy

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