Blended Family Getaway in Colorado!

36 Hours Left to Register ----  THIS WEEKEND! 
ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT!  Renew Your Marriage and Family.
Blended Family Getaway - Workshop and Retreat for Couples
Colorado Weekend Offers Renewal, Rest and Rediscovering Purpose

Mention the word 'Colorado' and 9 out of 10 people will get a big smile, rise to attention and enthusiastically say they 'love Colorado' using descriptive words like majestic, fun, peaceful, special and foremost relaxing and renewing to their hearts.

That's why THIS WEEKEND April 1st through the 3rd we are bringing blended family couples to HORN CREEK CAMP in Colorado for a special couples weekend called 'BLENDED FAMILY GETAWAY - a Workshop, Retreat and Renewal time for couples seeking to better 'bond' their blended family (stepfamily).

More information quickly at: www.thebondedfamily.com/horncreek

The Horn Creek facility is nestled in the Rocky Mountains about 80 minutes southwest of Colorado Springs.  The Meadows cabins, the part of the camp we will be at, is the newest part of the complex and holds a special mountain lodge feel that will allow for relaxing and learning at the same time.  We purposefully built in lots of husband and wife getaway time into the weekend. 

You can arrive early on Friday morning at the camp to take advantage of the recreation center with a full basketball, bowling, rock climbing, internet cafe, volleyball and other amenities. Our formal workshop sessions together begin Friday evening 6:30 to 9:30, then Saturday AM from 9:00 to 11:30, then Saturday evening 6:30 to 10:00 with a campfire after that.  Sunday morning service at 9:30 AM allows still for time before leaving camp later in the day.  So adding up time you can just 'take in the mountains' could be up to 24 hours apart from the group alone if you choose.  There will be group activities, fun games, tournament competition if you choose to participate.

IMPORTANTLY...the SUPER RATE we've partnered with Horn Creek to offer you.  For $269 a couple (yes that's not per person, but per couple) you will get three (3) great days and two (2) nights at the cabins, ALL your meals, coffee and snacks during the workshops, use of the camp facilities, couples pictures in the mountains taken by TBF staff members for your memories, PLUS 8+ hours of blended family fun and informative workshops from some of the leading authorities in the nation on stepfamily dynamics. Where else can you get a hotel, all your food, training and a 'view' like that for $269 per couple.  We say 'Thank You Horn Creek' for delivering a great weekend getaway partnership.



If you are a Grandparent, Family member, Co-Worker or Friend of a Couple you know could use a boost in their blended family situation, consider SPONSORING a couple to this special weekend.

 http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/wyoming/rocky-mountains
Special Thanks toDestination360 for this pic.

                                                                                                                

BLENDED FAMILY SHOWER POWER?

Blended Families...
Feeling a Little 'Stinky'...
From a Stepfamily Fight.

Get Washed Clean.
Renewed. Redeemed.
'Live Under the Spout'...
 Of God's Showering Love.


Often times in our work surrounding stepfamily dynamics we see a need for getting 'refreshed' in the sometimes 'stinky' areas of emotions, feelings and foremost in a persons 'spirit'. Are you living in an blended family household where you feel the 'stinky' consequences of...TOXIC WORDS? OLD WOUNDS? STEPCHILD HURTS? A FORMER SPOUSE (EX)? SIBLING RIVALRY?PRIDE? STUBBORNNESS? EMOTIONAL OUTBURSTS? CHILD EQUALITY? JEALOUSY? SPOUSAL UNITY ON ISSUES?

We've found that 80+% of these issues stem from the marriage couple being unprepared for stepfamily dynamics, unmet expectations, emotions running undisciplined and a true lack of an foundational commitment to something bigger than themselves.  We know that faith in God can be and is the best 'foundation' that any stepfamily can stand on.  That's why God said "go share your 'tests' as a 'testimony'".

If you've experienced divorce, remarriage, bringing together children while sharing them with another household, at some point you'll probably walk through many of those above scenarios.  It's part of the reason why the Bible says 'God hates divorce'. (Malachi 2:16)  He doesn't want you to walk through that kind of 'stinky' stuff in life.   Yes... divorce stuff really stinks up a life.  'I know it, you know it and the American people know it.' (famous Bob Dole quote) 

God does hate divorce perhaps for the reasons of the effects of the pain and suffering that the children, parents, grandparents, even the workplace, community and schools go through it.  Yet He doesn't hate YOU.  He loves you.  We want to repeat that so you 'get it'.  You may have walked through divorce, however it is NOT the 'unpardonable' sin. God loves you. He wants joy and peace and a great life for you. Trust in Him.  

GOD IS A GOD OF SECOND CHANCES.  Ask God to renew your life, your spirit and your commitment to Him and he will give you 'the desires of your heart'. (Psalm 37:4)   We serve a loving God who does want you to recognize that if one follows His commands and precepts, life will be more joyful and you'll 'see' and 'feel' His love and goodness in a more special way.  And have a 'family' life that shines bright!

Picture God's Grace Pouring on your Family

A longtime friend of mine Dan Madasz once shared an example of thinking of 'God's Grace' being like a shower head.  That people don't 'get under the spigot' of God's goodness to shower us with His love.  Importantly, we don't show our honor and love of God enough and take the action (prayer, trust, honor, praise, etc) that He asks from us, so that we might be blessed by the 'shower' of His love If America prayed, and praised, God as often as we 'showered', we'd have stronger marriages and families and be a much happier nation.

"If America prayed to, and praised, God as often as we 'showered', we'd have much stronger marriages and families... and be a much happier nation."

 In blended families, and at The Bonded Family we share the message, that God CAN take a stepfamily 'from Broken to Blended to BONDED.'  Picture your family if you all were 'stinky' and dirty, and then holding hands, jumped under a giant shower head.  It would be a 'bonding' event and remove the stinky, sticky feeling that sometimes dampens the joy of children and parents and all around.  God does want your family to feel 'fresh', 'renewed' and 'smelling and feeling good'... just like after a shower.

Blended Family 'Shower Power' of God

If you're in a blended family, and working on bonding, consider making THIS 'SHOWER POWER' IMAGE a family discussion during a "BLENDED FAMILY HUDDLE".  Make 'we need some 'shower power' phrase a way of realizing that 'stinky' stuff is going on in your family.  Acknowledge it.  Nothing more powerful then when a 8 yr old blurts out 'we need some shower power here'.  It may just be God using a child to break up the struggle and help your family 'win the moment'.  God Bless You in your 'Shower Power'!

Scripture speaks of God encouraging us to 'wash ourselves' clean in Isaiah 1:16-18

"Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. 'Come now, let us settle the matter,' says the LORD.

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..."                                

Isaiah 1:16-18

For practical tips, fun and laughter and biblical insight on a daily basis, follow us on TWITTER. www.twitter.com/blendedfamilies  Or on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/blendedfamilies
Visit our website and learn about upcoming conferences in Colorado, Nebraska, Washington DC, Gulf Shores AL, Dallas and more at: www.thebondedfamily.com
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Blended Family Dominoes

BLENDED FAMILY DOMINOES?
We Can ALL Help God Stop the Tumbling.

Often times the challenges of stepfamily dynamics creates a 'domino' effect.  We all stumble and tumble at times.  I know I have, I do and I will.  Just ask my bride or children. One slip up or lack of seeking to live via the 'fruit of the spirit' (love, patience, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and the big one in stepfamilies - self control).  What it can look like is the first domino starts to tip and tumble and then a series of mistakes - can be by parents or children or grandparents or whomever - starts to create 'noise', uncertainty, falling spirits and fear of somehow going to be 'crushed' in some way.  Like the couple in the image above.

NOW COMES THE GOOD NEWS!  See that giant hand stopping the dominoes before they flatten the couple?  The Hand of God is THE HAND THAT CAN stop the dominoes.  The same God that we cry out to when there is a disaster, emergency, sudden crisis or real life danger, is also there to handle for you and your marriage and your family the day to day dominoes.  Just as this image shows.  BOOM...God's hand can STOP THE TUMBLING DOMINOES.  We do have to ask Him for the help.  And do so daily...BEFORE the first domino falls, DURING the tumbles and then giving thanks AFTER the tumbling has been stopped.  We encourage a quick morning and evening prayer - together as husband and wife - and praying for your marriage and each and every child by name.  It works.

Scripture shares with us great 'Hand of God' wisdom.

'Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.'
                                                                      1 Peter 5:6-7

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Join us in the ROCKY MOUNTAINS - April 1-3 for the BLENDED FAMILY GETAWAY.
http://www.thebondedfamily.com/horncreek
Or if near Kansas City, hear Zig Ziglar's daughter Julie Ziglar Norman live and in person for a great evening.
http://www.thebondedfamily.com/ziglar