Blended, Blessed & Always A Mess

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If you’ve been gripping too tight lately, save this and send it to someone who needs the reminder.This week looked like a storm we couldn’t stop:

• a hurricane headed toward a house we love
• hard things with our kids we can’t fix
• plans that didn’t line up the way we wanted

And honestly? The shift happened when I stopped asking, “How do I control this?”
I started asking, “What can I actually do here?” Usually, the answer is smaller than my fear. 

Care deeply.
Show up.
Pray.

Then let God handle the part I was never meant to carry.That’s the hard part - and the freeing part.What are you trying to control that was never yours to hold? 

#BlendedBlessedAndAlwaysAMess #LetGoAndLetGod #FaithOverFear #ChristianEncouragement #TrustGod #podcast #family #parenting 

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A three-mile walk turns into a breakthrough about grief, purpose, and what it really means to be a family. Angie and Aric share how one simple birthday decision opened the door to the deepest conversations they have had with their kids since Hallie died.What starts as a chaotic week - a missed food order, a tired running joke, and a need for a reset - becomes something far bigger: a powerful reminder that presence can be purpose. As the family walks side by side at sunset, they uncover conversations that would never happen at a dinner table, including Chase’s speech about loss, what is happening beneath the surface in their home, and why their blended family’s strongest moments often arrive when nobody is rushing anywhere.

You’ll hear:

• Why a walk-and-talk can unlock honesty with your kids, spouse, or partner
• How Angie and Aric use simple routines to build connection in a blended family
• The emotional weight of revisiting places tied to Hallie, and the unexpected comfort of signs that seem to show up at exactly the right time
• How a message from a stranger, four years later, proves that telling one story can keep rippling outward
• Why purpose does not always arrive as a giant revelation - sometimes it looks like being physically present, one step at a time

Angie shares the raw side of grief, including the way joy and heaviness keep trading places, while Aric reflects on how to be still, listen, and make space for tears instead of trying to fix the moment. Together, they connect that experience back to the larger question so many people are asking right now: what am I actually here to do?If you’ve been craving clarity, dealing with grief, or trying to build deeper connection in your family, this conversation offers a grounded, faith-filled reminder that you do not need a neon sign to move forward. Sometimes the next right thing is just taking the walk.

Perfect for anyone looking for hope, practical family connection, or a fresh way to think about purpose.

#takethewalk #walkandtalk #birthdaywish #grief #podcast #podcastclip

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Two good things, one hard choice. That was our week. And honestly, this is life a lot of the time. Drop a ❤️ if you’ve been there—choosing between two things you both deeply love. One moment I was celebrating the little joys: a peaceful beach day, family time, and being present in the moment. The next, I was facing a real choice:

• Be there for my daughter
• Or attend an event I had poured my heart into all year

I didn’t love the decision. But I knew my values had already answered it for me. Not every hard choice is between right and wrong. Sometimes it’s between two good things, and you have to ask: What am I really called to protect in this season?

Maybe that’s the real work of growth—making choices that match your values, even when it hurts.What would you choose?

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#Choices #Balance #MomLife #Parenting #BlendedFamily #HardChoices #CoreValues #IntentionalLiving #FaithAndFamily #DecisionMaking

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Angie and Aric expose the real meaning of intimacy—and why grief, marriage, and a horse named Phoenix are all part of the same conversation.

What if the intimacy you think you’re missing is already there—you’re just measuring it wrong? 

Angie and Aric unpack a raw, honest conversation about marriage, vulnerability, and the gap between how men and women often define closeness, then connect it to the deeper work of sitting with each other instead of fixing each other.

They share the TikTok that stopped Angie in her tracks, the words that made her feel seen, and the hard truth behind why this topic can spark tension fast. You’ll hear how intimacy can look like asking “What do you need right now?”, staying present in someone’s breakdown, remembering the small things, and creating safety without trying to solve everything.

Then the episode shifts into one of their most moving updates yet: Phoenix, the horse tied to Hallie’s legacy, and the young girl who’s now carrying that dream forward. 

Angie and Aric talk about the pain and beauty of watching another child ride the horse Hallie loved, the signs they keep seeing everywhere, and what it means to honor grief while still making room for joy.They also take you to a memorial barrel race filled with emotional firsts, unexpected signs, and a rainbow that felt impossible to ignore. Along the way, they get real about travel quirks, hotel-bed compromises, bad driving habits, and the funny ways marriage reveals both your strengths and your mess.

Angie and Aric are speaking directly to anyone navigating marriage, loss, or the strange beauty of learning to hold joy and grief at the same time. If you need a reminder that intimacy is deeper than touch, that healing is messy, and that love can still move forward after loss, this one will stay with you.Perfect for couples, grieving hearts, and anyone who needs a little honesty, comfort, and connection today.

https://linktr.ee/blendedblessedalwaysamess

#MarriageTalk #IntimacyInMarriage #BlendedBlessedAndAlwaysAMess #CoupleConversations #RelationshipGrowth

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When one spouse needs space while the other needs closeness, marriage can quickly become a painful cycle. 

Angie and Aric have an honest conversation about intimacy, rejection, grief, and the difference between not wanting sex and not wanting your partner. 

They explore how couples can rebuild connection through compassion, communication, and small acts of intimacy—even during difficult seasons of marriage.

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#MarriageTalk #IntimacyInMarriage #RelationshipGrowth #CouplesConversation #BlendedBlessed #MarriageAdvice #HealthyCommunication #EmotionalIntimacy #RelationshipHealing #CouplesSupport #MarriageJourney #LoveAndConnection #GriefAndHealing #RealMarriage #ChristianMarriage

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In this episode of Blended Blessed and Always a Mess, Angie and Eric are recording on location at the Lake of the Ozarks and getting real about one of the biggest things that can show up in marriage: triggers.

What starts as a conversation about family, finances, and everyday habits turns into an honest discussion about scarcity mentality, feeling limited, responsibility, and how past experiences shape the way we respond to stress. 

They also talk about how loss, parenting, and different perspectives can create tension — even in a strong relationship — and why learning to listen with understanding matters so much.This episode is full of real-life marriage moments, raw honesty, and a reminder that healthy relationships aren’t built by never triggering each other, but by learning how to become safe places for one another.

If you’ve ever felt misunderstood in marriage or struggled to navigate different perspectives with your spouse, this conversation will feel very real.

#BlendedBlessedAndAlwaysAMess #MarriagePodcast #BlendedFamily #MarriageConversation #RelationshipTalk #PodcastEpisode

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A brutally honest, funny, and unexpectedly emotional conversation about the things that keep a family going - from the TV show that has everyone glued to the couch to the real-life moments that still hit hard long after the microphone is off.Angie and Aric start with their latest binge obsession, Shrinking on Apple TV, and why it lands so perfectly: it’s hilarious, smart, full of grief and friendship, and the rare show that actually makes them laugh out loud. They also share a handful of other favorites for your next watchlist, including Ted Lasso, The Madison, Landman, and Virgin River.

Then the episode turns into a classic house-and-heart update: Carter’s move into his first apartment, his growing confidence at Mizzou, the radio debut he’s worked toward, and the very relatable chaos of parents “upgrading” bedrooms the minute a kid leaves home. What starts as a simple room refresh turns into a hilarious discovery under a bed - and a reminder that teenage boys are always hiding something.The deeper center of the episode is Angie and Aric’s recap of speaking at True North’s Men as Allies event. 

They open up about revising their message, standing in front of 350 men, and why the response meant so much. Angie shares a powerful story about how speaking candidly about red flags and unhealthy relationships helped one young woman leave a harmful relationship, while Aric reflects on trying to build a relationship with Hallie fast enough after so much time had already been lost.

You’ll also hear about the emotional whiplash that follows those moments, the meaningful coincidence of the event date, and a surprising story about Carter’s “Hallie’s messing with me” sign from the apartment where she once lived. It’s the kind of episode that moves from laughter to tears to goosebumps without warning.

Angie and Aric are the voices behind Blended, Blessed and Always a Mess, a couple navigating marriage, parenting, grief, and everyday life with humor and honesty. 

Their story is especially resonant for parents, blended families, and anyone trying to make sense of loss while still finding reasons to laugh.Perfect for anyone who wants a real conversation that is equal parts funny, heartfelt, and deeply human - with a great TV recommendation thrown in for good measure.

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What does a father owe the women in his life before the warning signs become heartbreak? Angie and Aric turn a live speaking invitation into one of the most important conversations they’ve ever prepared: how vulnerability, honesty, and uncomfortable conversations can protect daughters, wives, sisters, and friends before it’s too late.

Angie opens with a deeply personal story about Hallie, the relationship red flags that were hard to name in real time, and the painful truth that many unhealthy relationships begin with isolation, manipulation, and silence long before they turn violent. Aric then adds his own perspective as a man learning that real strength is not staying quiet - it’s showing up, admitting failure, and being willing to have the conversations men are taught to avoid.

You’ll discover:
- Why “healthy love” should never require secrecy, distance from family, or walking on eggshells
- The subtle warning signs parents and loved ones can watch for when a relationship starts going wrong
- How to ask better questions without pushing someone away
- Why daughters often need to hear hard truths from their fathers
- What it looks like for men to lead with vulnerability instead of silence

Angie shares practical red flags to listen for, from sudden withdrawal and constant excuses to shrinking confidence and fear of a partner’s reaction. Aric expands the message to sons, husbands, friends, and mentors, making the case that one honest conversation can change the trajectory of a life.

This episode is for any parent, man, or loved one who wants to show up better and learn how to recognize danger before it becomes devastation. If you care about protecting the people you love, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends.
#redflags #vulnerability #toughconvos #questions #grief 

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Certainty is overrated - the real strength comes from trusting God when you do not know what happens next. Angie and Aric share a deeply honest conversation about faith, surrender, and how to keep moving when the future feels unclear. They unpack the difference between chasing control and building trust, and why the most powerful prayer is sometimes the simplest: "I don't know, God, but you know." 

If you have ever felt weighed down by unanswered questions, this episode offers a grounding reminder that you do not have to have every answer to keep going. Angie and Aric talk through how to hold goals without clinging to outcomes, how to carry what you are given with strength, and why uncertainty does not have to cancel peace. 

Their conversation makes room for real life, real struggle, and a faith that does not depend on having tomorrow figured out.You'll hear a practical, heartfelt reflection on trusting God in seasons where the path is unclear and the problems are different for everyone. It is a conversation about resilience, perspective, and the kind of prayer that helps you release what you cannot control.Perfect for anyone navigating uncertainty, needing encouragement, or looking for a faith-centered reset, this episode is a reminder that not knowing is not the same as being alone.

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#faithoverfear #trustGod #christianencouragement #faithjourney #prayer

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In this episode of Blended, Blessed & Always a Mess, we sit down with our friend Tara Cory to talk about grief, loss, and the unexpected ways pain can lead to purpose. After losing her mom, nephew, and brother-in-law, Tara discovered a deeper calling through photography—capturing precious moments for families walking through unimaginable loss.

We talk about the messy reality of grief, why the ordinary moments become the most treasured memories, and why sometimes the greatest purpose can grow from our deepest pain.

Take the picture. Say “I love you.” Show up. Don’t wait for tomorrow. ❤️

Angie & Aric

#love #loss #grief #purpose #pain #podcast #photography

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