What if your marriage pivoted on three humble questions? Dr. Gary Chapman—yes, the Five Love Languages guy—gets real about early struggles, foot-washing humility, and how servant-hearted love transformed his 64-year marriage. Blended families, take heart: Far from fluff, these are faith-fueled, grit-tested keys to a successful marriage--as well as messy love, lasting connection, and conflict that doesn’t destroy. Find real talk, deep grace, and hope you can hold onto.

Show Notes and Resources

• Order a copy of Gary and Ron's book, Building Love Together 
• Access blended resources and sign up for our free newsletter 
• Meet Ron and Nan in person at a speaking event! RonDeal.org
• Discover your love language, learn more about Dr. Chapman, or get a copy of his new book, A Simple Guide for A Better Marriage 5lovelanguages.com
• Make a tax deductible donation 

See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Divorce…hurts. But for kids caught in the middle, it can feel like the world has split in two. How can you help kids cope with divorce and remarriage? Summer Butler, creator of Blended: Navigating Life Between Two Homes, cracks open a healing workbook for kids juggling two homes, big feelings, and confusing rules. Hear her raw story, then discover how drawing, writing, and boundary-setting can bring clarity, comfort—and even joy.

Show Notes and Resources

• Learn about Summer, and get her workbook, BLENDED, Navigating Life Between Two Homes www.blendedbookco.com
• Search for virtual groups 
• Get the 2025 Summit All-access digital pass 
• Order a copy of The Mindful Marriage 
• Make donation to FamilyLife Blended 
• The next Smart Stepfamily Therapy training 

See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

What do red sweaters, a ski trip “familymoon,” and a Christmas sleepover have to do with healing after loss? A lot, actually. Join pastor and author Rob Bugh, pediatrician Rhonda Williams Bugh, and their adult kids Kyle and Nate as they revisit the rocky, grace-filled early years of blending two grieving families—and navigating those first blended holidays. It's raw, real, and rich with hope and hard-won wisdom.

Show Notes and Resources

• Summit on Stepfamily Ministry details 
• Find a virtual group for blended family couples 
• Order a copy of When the Bottom Drops Out 
• The next Smart Stepfamily Therapy training 
• International Therapy provider list 
• FamilyLife Resources and Events 

See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

When a child loses a parent, grief doesn't end for them. And when they join a stepfamily, we need to come alongside them with love and support as parents and stepparents as we honor their pain and memories. Ron Deal talks with Diane Fromme about what helps and what hinders, especially as stepparents with grieving stepchildren.

 Fromme explains how a stepparent can never replace a biological parent and functions as an "and," not an "instead." Stepparents will likely face rejection, insecurity, and feelings of being an outsider; however, with humility and ongoing love and support, they can, over time, develop meaningful and significant relationships with stepchildren following loss.

Show Notes and Resources

• Learn about Diane and get a copy of, Stepparenting the Grieving Child
• You can still register for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry 
• Find a small group on the searchable map and browse Ron's speaking schedule 
• Send a gift to help with FamilyLife Blended's work 

See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

A neurodivergent marriage is when at least one partner has a neurodevelopmental condition like autism or ADHD. In this episode, Ron Deal speaks with Dr. Stephanie Holmes and her husband, Dan, who struggled to face that their young child was on the autism spectrum. Many years later, Dan discovered his own autism diagnosis.

Neurodiverse couples face unique challenges with communication, emotional expression, and sensory sensitivities that can include physical touch and intimacy, along with a lack of understanding between both partners. Stephanie & Dan offer support and guidance on how to recognize neurodiversity and strategies to cope with it.

Show Notes and Resources

• Register for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry 
• Learn more about Dr. Stephanie and Dan Holmes and their book Uniquely Us 
• Read Ron and Dr. Stephanie Holmes article: Autism and the blended family 
• Learn more about Embracing The Autism Spectrum 
• Listen to podcast 46: Autism and the Blended Family 
• Give a tax-deductible gift 

See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

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

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

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

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

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