Hey friend, this is Julie Slattery, and you're listening to Java with Julie.

This podcast is a production of authentic intimacy, a ministry dedicated to reclaiming God's

design for sexuality.

The conversation I want to share with you today is with two friends of mine, Kathy Lipp

and Sarah Colberg.

Kathy and Sarah have a wealth of wisdom and experience to share about what I think must be one of the most challenging and influential roles a woman can take on, being a stepmom.

You're going to hear them share very candidly and practically about how they navigated what started out as a very rocky relationship with their

stepkids.

There's a lot of laughter, honesty, and encouragement in our conversation today.

But before you jump in, I want to let you know that Kathy wrote a book called But I'm Not a Wicked

Stepmother.

I highly recommend it for stepmoms.

And we'll link to that and other ways you can connect with Kathy and our show notes at authentic intimacy.com.

Now let's head to the coffee shop.

Well, family is messy. Marriage is messy, intimacy is messy, but I don't think anything's as messy

as when you try to blend things. Blended families, I don't even like that term, but both of you

are part of blended families. Talk about that. I want to get into the good, the bad, and the

ugly of what it looks like to establish a strong marriage

in a blended family situation?

Well, first thing I'll say is thank you for acknowledging it.

You know, I just think so often step families are counted as half families.

And I don't think there's anything that's further from the

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