Little things can create big changes in blended family homes. In this episode, Jed and Jenny Jurchenko share with Ron Deal how they created positive change in their home by taking small, positive steps to grow their most important relationships and give examples in their book, 131 Conversations for Stepfamily Success.

Show Notes and Resources

Get your copy of Jed and Jenny's book. https://www.amazon.com/131-Conversations-Stepfamily-Success-Intimacy/dp/1543236731.
Learn more about FamilyLife Blended. https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/.
Your generous support of FamilyLife helps create podcasts like the FamilyLife Blended® Podcast. https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDGandcru_medium=DesktopHeaderNavandcru_campaign=Blended.
Get Ron's book, Daily Encouragement for the Smart Stepfamily. https://shop.familylife.com/p-5224-daily-encouragement-for-the-smart-stepfamily.aspx.
Learn more about FamilyLife Blended's annual Summit on Stepfamily Ministry. https://www.summitonstepfamilies.com/.

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We could spend 1/3 of our lives without a paycheck since it's expected we can live into our mid-80's and beyond. How do we know if we're preparing adequately for retirement? Ron Deal talks with financial planner Greg Pettys on this topic and how to account for blended family variables.

Show Notes and Resources

Get your copy of The Smart Stepdad https://shop.familylife.com/p-5664-the-smart-stepfamily-guide-to-financial-planning.aspx.
Listen to Ron and Greg's other podcast: "Financing Togetherness in Blended Families" https://www.familylife.com/podcast/familylife-blended-podcast/19-financing-togetherness-in-blended-families/
Get the free download, 10 Tips to Avoid Money Drama and Plan Your Blended Family Future. http://www.blendedfamilyfinances.com
Learn more about FamilyLife Blended's annual Summit on Stepfamily Ministry https://www.summitonstepfamilies.com/
Learn more about FamilyLife Blended. https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/
Your generous support of FamilyLife helps create podcasts like the FamilyLife Blended® Podcast. https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDGandcru_medium=DesktopHeaderNavandcru_campaign=Blended
.

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How do you know if you're ready to be a stepdad? Ron Deal gives insight into the stepdad role as he talks with Bob Lepine and Dennis Rainey about this important position that can be daunting, but rewarding. Listen to his encouragement about the realities of being a stepdad and the value of stepping out in faith and relying on God's wisdom when ready to take the risk.

Show Notes and Resources

Get your copy of the Smart Stepdad. https://shop.familylife.com/p-5666-the-smart-stepdad.aspx.
Learn more about FamilyLife Blended. https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/.
Your generous support of FamilyLife helps create podcasts like the FamilyLife Blended® Podcast. https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDGandcru_medium=DesktopHeaderNavandcru_campaign=Blended.
Learn more about FamilyLife Blended's annual Summit on Stepfamily Ministry. https://www.summitonstepfamilies.com/.

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Blended families that form when children are in their late teens or adult years are adult stepfamilies. We often mistakenly think these families have few adjustments to make. Listen to Ron Deal's conversation with Terry and Carol Moss, Brandon Moss, and Nina Thomas on how they've navigated multiple transitions in their adult stepfamily.
Show Notes and Resources

Learn more about blended family resources. https://shop.familylife.com/product-category/marriage/blended-family/.
Learn more about FamilyLife Blended's annual Summit on Stepfamily Ministry. https://www.summitonstepfamilies.com/.
Learn more about Terry and Carol and their ministry, One Flesh Ministries. https://www.onefleshministries.info/.
Your generous support of FamilyLife helps create podcasts like the FamilyLife Blended® Podcast. https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDGandcru_medium=DesktopHeaderNavandcru_campaign=Blended.
Check out the stepfamily ministry map. http://www.familylife.com/blendedmap.

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What does it mean to be a smart stepmom? Laura Petherbridge answers that question as she speaks with Dennis Rainey, Bob Lepine, and Ron Deal on how to navigate a role that can be confusing, lonely, and frustrating. She offers principles to help stepmoms feel encouraged and empowered in the important role they play.
Show Notes and Resources

Get The Smart Stepmom book. https://shop.familylife.com/product/the-smart-stepmom-updated/.
Subscribe to the FamilyLife Blended newsletter. http://familylife.com/blendedsubscribe.
Learn more about Laura Petherbridge and her ministry. http://thesmartstepmom.com/.
Learn more about FamilyLife Blended. https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/.
Your generous support of FamilyLife helps create podcasts like the FamilyLife Blended® Podcast. https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDGandcru_medium=DesktopHeaderNavandcru_campaign=Blended.

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Marriage, while typically a two-person dance, gets complicated when couples try to manage a stepfamily maze with multiple lives around them. Ron Deal talks with Dave and Ann Wilson about how to navigate stepfamily struggles that create marital stress by sharing life with other stepfamilies and holding onto God's hand, relying on Him for answers and help to persevere.
Show Notes and Resources

Learn more about our Blended and Blessed Livestream Event. https://www.blendedandblessed.com/.
Get Ron's Smart Stepfamily Video series for FREE. https://www.familylife.com/the-smart-stepfamily
Buy The Smart Stepfamily Participant's Guide and book. https://shop.familylife.com/p-3640-smart-stepfamily-couples-set.aspx
Learn more about FamilyLife Blended. https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families
Your generous support of FamilyLife helps create podcasts like the FamilyLife Blended® Podcast. https://donate.familylife.com/blended/

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If self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, how do we allow the Spirit to cultivate that fruit in our lives? Pastor Rob Bugh answers that question and speaks with Ron Deal on the value of self-control, particularly in blended family relationships, and how his lack of it contributed to much heartache in the early years of his blended family.

Show Notes and Resources

Get Rob's book: When the Bottom Drops Out: Finding Grace in the Depths of Disappointment. https://www.amazon.com/When-Bottom-Drops-Out-Disappointment/dp/1414363494.
Learn more about our Blended and Blessed Livestream Event. https://www.blendedandblessed.com
Your generous support of FamilyLife helps create podcasts like the FamilyLife Blended® Podcast. https://donate.familylife.com/blended
Learn more about FamilyLife Blended. https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families

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Blended and Blessed® is a one-of-a-kind annual event for stepfamily couples, single parents, dating couples with kids, and those who care about blended families, with valuable teaching by trusted and respected experts. Get a glimpse of the upcoming event as you listen to fun and informative interviews from previous speakers including Ron Deal and Shaunti Feldhahn.
Show Notes and Resources

Learn more about our Blended and Blessed Livestream Event. https://www.blendedandblessed.com/.
Get Rob and Rhonda Bugh's book. https://www.amazon.com/When-Bottom-Drops-Out-Disappointment/dp/1414363494
Get Lauren Reitsema's book. https://shop.familylife.com/p-5706-in-their-shoes.aspx
Learn about Joneen Mackenzie. https://www.myrelationshipcenter.org/services/speakers/joneen-mackenzie
Learn more about Shaunti and her resources. https://shaunti.com/
Listen to the Battle of the Moms podcast episode. https://www.familylife.com/podcast/familylife-blended-podcast/40-battle-of-the-moms
Learn about FamilyLife Blended. https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/

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Blended and Blessed® is a one-of-a-kind annual event for stepfamily couples, single parents, dating couples with kids, and those who care about blended families, with valuable teaching by trusted and respected experts. Get a glimpse of the upcoming event as you listen to fun and informative interviews from previous speakers including Ron Deal and Shaunti Feldhahn.

Learn more about our Blended & Blessed Livestream Event. https://www.blendedandblessed.com/.

When blended family variables create tough dynamics to parent through, we might consider giving up on those relationships. But Jim Ramos, raised in a blended family, speaks with Ron Deal about he was impacted by his parents and stepparents and the value of playing the long game in our stepfamilies.

Show Notes and Resources

Learn more about Jim Ramos and Men in the Arena. https://meninthearena.org/
Read Ron's Article: What Do We Do Now? When Step-siblings Have Sex. https://smartstepfamilies.com/smart-help/learn/parenting-stepparenting/what-do-we-do-now-when-stepsiblings-have-sex
Get your copy of Building Love Together. https://shop.familylife.com/product/building-love-together-in-blended-families/
Learn more about our Blended and Blessed Livestream Event. https://www.blendedandblessed.com/
Get The Smart StepMom. https://shop.familylife.com/product/the-smart-stepmom-updated/
Get Daily Encouragement for the Smart Stepfamily. https://shop.familylife.com/product/daily-encouragement-for-the-smart-stepfamily/

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