134: Being a Stepparent: Is it a Blessing?

FamilyLife

134: Being a Stepparent: Is it a Blessing?

March 25, 2024 • Host: Ron Deal, Cheryl Shumake

Are there blessings in blended family life? Yes! But perhaps not in the early years. In this 2023 Blended & Blessed presentation, Cheryl Shumake talks about how God gave her strength during seasons of weariness and rewarded her efforts with blessings.

144 Hope Is What the Dr. Ordered

August 12, 2024 • Dr. Lee Warren

The dynamics of blended family life can bring hopelessness, and we lose the ability to see a future where God can make our situation better. But there’s always hope for a brighter tomorrow. In this episode, Ron Deal speaks with Dr. Lee Warren, a neurosurgeon who has experienced personal trauma and loss, and explains the difference between our mind and our brain and how to use our mind to face hard things in a constructive manner. As we transform our thoughts and consider our feelings against the Truth of what God’s Word says, we find hope again for healing, for purpose, for change.

143 Ghosts of Marriage Past—Dealing with Relationship Baggage

July 29, 2024 • Gayla Grace

Ghosts of marriage past—triggers from past hurt that we carry into a new relationship—are common for blended family couples. But emotional ghosts don’t just appear from relationship baggage. We can be triggered by childhood wounds, grief, or other hurts that leave a residue on our heart and create hypersensitivity to getting hurt again. As a result, we guard our heart and resist vulnerability in our relationships. In this episode, Ron Deal speaks with Gayla Grace about how to recognize our ghosts and take responsibility to move past our fears. Ron and Gayla both share ghosts they’ve wrestled with and how to have conversations with your partner that build trust in your relationship.

142 Troubled Teens & Addiction Help

July 15, 2024 • Adrian Hickmon

How do we help kids who are struggling with addictive behaviors such as pornography, drinking, drugging, video game addiction, or others? In this episode, Ron Deal speaks with Dr Adrian Hickmon, founder of Capstone Treatment Center, about the best approach, particularly for blended families. Hickmon says it starts by understanding the pain and void in the child's life and using your influence as a parent and stepparent to impact their behavior. He explains the value of creating deeper attachments and practicing healthy boundaries in a way that provides the connection and motivation a child needs to make changes in their life.