Introduction

Ron Introduces Daniel & Brittany Brooker

 Messy Redemption and Eternal Hope

Developmental Grief

Be Present in Pain

Mentors and Practical Wisdom

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/pdf/FLBp2026-05-04.pdf

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/docs/FLBp20260504_S08_E189.docx

Loss shattered you; remarriage after widowhood humbles you amid trauma, blending families, and recurring developmental grief. If comparison, unmet expectations, or past pain threaten your marriage and home, listen in. Daniel and Brittany Brooker (Refuge Widowers) share Scripture-soaked wisdom, practical strategies, and hope to redeem brokenness for God’s glory.

Show Notes and Resources
Our events, small groups, and ministry map 
Learn about Daniel's ministry 
Learn about Brittany's ministry 
FamilyLife Blended resources 
Give a gift to FamilyLife Blended ministry 

Loss shattered you; remarriage after widowhood humbles you amid trauma, blending families, and recurring developmental grief. If comparison, unmet expectations, or past pain threaten your marriage and home, listen in. Daniel and Brittany Brooker (Refuge Widowers) share Scripture-soaked wisdom, practical strategies, and hope to redeem brokenness for God&rsquo;s glory.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/find-an-event/">Our events, small groups, and ministry map</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.refugewidowers.com/about">Learn about Daniel's ministry</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.brittanypricebrooker.com/">Learn about Brittany's ministry</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://linktr.ee/familylifeblended">FamilyLife Blended resources</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Give a gift to FamilyLife Blended ministry</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

FamilyLife Blended® provides timeless wisdom and practical help and hope for blended families and those who love them. Join Ron L. Deal, LMFT, LPC as he and his guests discuss a wide variety of marriage, family, and relationship topics related to blended families.

Timeless wisdom and practical help and hope for blended families with Ron Deal, LMFT, LPC.

FamilyLife Blended® Podcast

Loss shattered you; remarriage after widowhood humbles you amid trauma, blending families, and recurring developmental grief. If comparison, unmet expectations, or past pain threaten your marriage and home, listen in. Daniel and Brittany Brooker (Refuge Widowers) share Scripture-soaked wisdom, practical strategies, and hope to redeem brokenness for God’s glory.

189: Widowhood to Remarriage: Blending Families with Ongoing Grief - Daniel and Brittany Brooker

Welcome to the FamilyLife Blended Podcast

Ron Introduces Brian and Debbie Doyle

Widowhood Stories and Grief Support

 Rebuilding Family Roles and Support Teams

Remarriage With Adult Kids

 Grief Pace And Holidays

Mens Ministry And Mentoring

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/pdf/FLBp2026-06-01.pdf

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/docs/FLBp20260601_S08_E191.docx

Father’s Day feels weird, or even stings, when the chair at the table is empty—or when your stepkids pull back because they’re still hurting. Ron Deal talks with the widowed and remarried Brian and Debbie Doyle--about grief, holidays, and blending families with adult children. If you’ve ever worried about stepping in or stepping too hard, this conversation gives you permission to move with patience, empathy, and faith.

Show Notes and Resources
Free blended resources 
Look for a live or virtual small group to join 
Iron Sharpens Iron 
Get the Smart Stepdad or The Smart Stepmom 
Give a donation to help strengthen blended families 
List of Smart Stepfamily Therapist Providers 

 

Father&rsquo;s Day feels weird, or even stings, when the chair at the table is empty&mdash;or when your stepkids pull back because they&rsquo;re still hurting. Ron Deal talks with the widowed and remarried Brian and Debbie Doyle--about grief, holidays, and blending families with adult children. If you&rsquo;ve ever worried about stepping in or stepping too hard, this conversation gives you permission to move with patience, empathy, and faith.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/">Free blended resources&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/find-an-event/">Look for a live or virtual small group to join&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ironsharpensiron.net/aboutironsharpnsiron.html">Iron Sharpens Iron&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://shop.familylife.com/product-category/blended/">Get the Smart Stepdad or The Smart Stepmom&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Give a donation to help strengthen blended families&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://smartstepfamilies.com/smart-help/therapy-providers">List of Smart Stepfamily Therapist Providers&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

Father’s Day hits differently when chairs are empty and stepkids keep their distance. Ron Deal talks with Brian and Debbie Doyle about grief, blended families, and moving with patience, not pressure.

191: Father’s Day Feels Weird: Blended Family Grief and Hope

Ron Introduces Carol Kent

Carol’s Family Story

Breaking the Regret Loop

Carrying Sorrow & Calendar Triggers

Hope and Gratitude in a Life Sentence

Impossible Relationships & Purposeful Pain

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/pdf/FLBp2026-05-18.pdf

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/docs/FLBp20260518_S08_E190.docx

Mother’s Day can sting when your story didn’t turn out like you planned. Maybe that looks like wayward kids. Courtrooms. Even prison sentences. And silence where relationship used to be. Ron Deal talks with author Carol Kent about loving a son serving life in prison—and finding faith when the worst actually happens. If you’re carrying shame, regret, or heartbreak as a mom or stepmom, this conversation sits with you in it—and refuses to let despair win.

Show Notes and Resources
Use blended resources for free! 
Watch Carol and Gayla talk about how to cultivate a thankful heart in dark seasons on Women & Blended Families 
Learn about Carol and her ministry 
Donate $5.00 or more to help Jason's ministry to other inmates 
Support the work at FamilyLife Blended 
Enroll in the certificate program in Blended Family Ministry 

Mother&rsquo;s Day can sting when your story didn&rsquo;t turn out like you planned. Maybe that looks like wayward kids. Courtrooms. Even prison sentences. And silence where relationship used to be. Ron Deal talks with author Carol Kent about loving a son serving life in prison&mdash;and finding faith when the worst actually happens. If you&rsquo;re carrying shame, regret, or heartbreak as a mom or stepmom, this conversation sits with you in it&mdash;and refuses to let despair win.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/">Use blended resources for free!</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmMXsEmCfhQ&amp;list=PLoZ3uqAYX8EE5-rlD9PMy1DFnEHBR8Wt7&amp;index=5">Watch Carol and Gayla talk about how to cultivate a thankful heart</a> in dark seasons on Women &amp; Blended Families&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://speakupforhope.org/">Learn about Carol and her ministry</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://speakupforhope.org/donate/">Donate $5.00 or more to help Jason's ministry to other inmates</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Support the work at FamilyLife Blended</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/learn/certificate-in-blended-family-ministry/">Enroll in the certificate program in Blended Family Ministry</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Mother’s Day can sting when life goes sideways—wayward kids, courtrooms, even prison. Ron Deal talks with Carol Kent about loving a son behind bars and finding faith while living the impossible.

190:  The Mother's Day You Never Wanted: Hope for Hurting Moms and Stepmoms

Ron Introduces Micah Scharchburg

Micah’s Story Growing Up Blended

Caught in the Middle

Church as Stabilizer

Breaking Generational Cycles

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/pdf/FLBp2026-04-20.pdf

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/docs/FLBp20260420_S08_E188.docx

If you were growing up in a blended family, you knew the drill—new houses, new rules, new “normal” every few years. And now you’re the parent, wondering what stuck and what still stings. Ron Deal talks with Barna's Micah Scharchburg about growing up in family chaos—and why your story doesn’t have to define your kids’ future. If you’ve ever asked, “Did that mess me up?” or "Am I messing up my kids?" this conversation meets you right there—and points you forward.

Show Notes and Resources
Get a Blended & Blessed All Access Pass blendedandblessed.com
Blended resources for you 
Learn about Barna 
Ron's speaking schedule RonDeal.org

If you were growing up in a blended family, you knew the drill&mdash;new houses, new rules, new &ldquo;normal&rdquo; every few years. And now you&rsquo;re the parent, wondering what stuck and what still stings. Ron Deal talks with Barna's Micah Scharchburg about growing up in family chaos&mdash;and why your story doesn&rsquo;t have to define your kids&rsquo; future. If you&rsquo;ve ever asked, &ldquo;Did that mess me up?&rdquo; or "Am I messing up my kids?" this conversation meets you right there&mdash;and points you forward.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li>Get a Blended &amp; Blessed All Access Pass <a href="https://www.blendedandblessed.com/">blendedandblessed.com</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/">Blended resources for you</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.barna.com/about/">Learn about Barna</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li>Ron's speaking schedule <a href="https://rondeal.org/">RonDeal.org</a></li>
</ul>

Grew up in a blended family? New houses, new rules, new “normal” every few years. Ron Deal talks with Barna's Micah Scharchburg about growing up in chaos—and how to parent without passing the past onto your kids.

189: Widowhood to Remarriage: Blending Families with Ongoing Grief - Daniel and Brittany Brooker

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