Emily's life and words are a gift. She's taken all that's been broken inside of her and offered it up to us. She's a traveling companion and a guide through the complex landscape of body image, beauty and motherhood. If you've ever wondered about your hips, (you know I have if you've read She's Got Issues), if you've hated any part of the body you've been given, then you need Emily. You need her words and her truth and her beauty in your life. Get to know her here, and then pick up Mom in the Mirror or Chasing Silhouettes. You have a chance to win Mom in the Mirror today, but you'll want to buy it regardless. You'll be so glad you did.Love, NicoleCelebrating Our Bodies As WomenBy Emily Wierenga I’m used to apologizing for them.“I’m sorry about my wide Dow hips,” I say as my friend slides into the sled beside me, both of us with babies on our knees and toddle ...

The first Psalm I ever memorized was Psalm 16.Correction, the only full psalm I ever memorized was Psalm 16. I was in my second half of seminary and the first few months of becoming a mom. Those are days I look back at with fondness, days that I ran with the jogging stroller, read during naps, and watched my baby watch baby Einstein with glee.So since then, Psalm 16 are my go-to verses, when I need to enter into God's presence but I haven't had that perfect quiet time. It's for when we all sleep in and I forget to make a lunch and now I'm late for preschool carpool. It's for when I stand over the kitchen sink or I drive down the road or I'm putting on mascara. I repeat Psalm 16, letting the truth of God's words sink into my heart. And on this line I pause,Oh Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup, you have made my way securethe boundary ...

So. I started working full time on January 1.  I kicked off my new life with three weeks worth of travel, starting with the Passion conference and 100 amazing students & staff. I spent most of that taking care of sick kids, jetting around in my white Nissan Versa rental between two hotels, with a 102 fever myself. It wasn't what I expected. But it was good. God isn't always so interested in how I think things should go, and he still lets me be a part of his work anyway. That is good.Then I went on a cruise with Dave. What can I say about that? If it is January and you are wearing a bathing suit, and it doesn't involve you trying to lose weight at the Y, there is no complaining to be had.cruising.cruise life.Then I traveled, up and down and all around. I spoke with ladies in North Carolina and made a trip to Colorado. I saw my high school best friend and laughed with her and rocked h ...

My view. No bags in site and the guy next to me smells like a brewery.I have been helter-skelter all over the place this week, doing what I love to do. I miss my family and I'm tired and I wish my bag was not taking forever to get off the baggage claim, but more than anything, I am exceedingly grateful for the chance to serve Hope, and to serve women all over, and to tell of God's mighty work in all of our lives. Psalm 107 says "let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story." God has given us each a story worth telling. And I am so glad for that.Earlier this week I was over at one of my new friend's blog home, Always Alleluia. Kris had me over for a little chat about raising kids and time and how God shapes us in the ordinary crazy of our lives. Go check it out. I think you'll find her honesty and grace refreshing! Here's a bit of my post, you can find the rest by clicking through to Kri ...

 Original Post: 12/8/2010 *Update: This has to be my favorite post I've ever written, and not just because an extraordinary amount of people are searching "shoe lifts" on the internet and landing here. Welcome, vertically-challenged friends! Nothing like a trip to Disney to bring out your best and worst parenting moments. Take, for instance, the use of shoe lifts. We have three kids. We are two adults. There is only 2/3 of each of us for each child, and although I can multitask like a superhero, I cannot actually be in two places at one time. (Neither could Jesus. Just sayin.)Zone parenting is not much fun when one child is under forty inches (40 inches is required to have any actual FUN at Disney.) The problem is we parents actually LIKE having fun and neither one of us is selfless ENOUGH to do little-kiddie stuff even though ONE parent went through a week's worth ...

As kids, we dream. We imagine that we can do big things. My preschooler told me today that he's going to be a basketball player, or if that doesn't work out, a dentist. And if that doesn't work out, a singer.Remember when you used to believe that life was an adventure ready to be found?  I once read that writing down and claiming the things you really want to do makes it much more likely that you will actually do them. A few years ago I wrote a life list, a long dream-list of big and little things that I hoped I might do one day.Since that time, I've done at least ten things on that list, including preaching a sermon, writing a book, making a teaching video and taking an awesome trip with my family (California here we come!) I thought today about what remains on my life list, and I added a few more:read lots of books always hold babies like a pro hold babies like a pro on another cont ...

This blog has been, like my life, a bit scattered lately. But although I haven't written much about it, the impact of Jen Hatmaker's book Seven is still rocking my world. Today I'm sharing the stage with a new friend I met when I was teaching a retreat this Spring. When I meet a woman who's honest, passionate and willing to be a work in progress, I'm always excited to share her with my friends. So, here's Jenny...on life, budgets, and discipline. You'll love her. :)Clotheslines, Budgets and God's Influence....by Jenny SchermerhornI’ve often felt like an impotent evangelizer.  I’ve been walking with Jesus for twenty four years, and when I talk with non-believers, I feel like I have everything and nothing to offer.  I know, for certain, that Jesus offers eternal and abundant life, but - I’ve got zero street cred.  “Hey, I know your life is a Jerry Springer episo ...

There are some things that are simply a love/hate proposition.Dancing.Camping.Road Trips.Running.(I happen to be on the LOVE side of all of those.)Yesterday I was so pumped to be back at Thrive, the women's ministry at Hope that meets each Thursday. I LOVE women, or as my friend said last night, I love to be back in that sorority feel. (some of you hate sororities, if that's you, just ignore the last sentence.) So we made a HUGE love/hate list yesterday, including:Licorice.Shopping.Coffee.Beer.Crowds.Reading.Being Pregnant.Wind. So, it's your turn! What things do you LOVE or HATE on this list? And what do YOU think people usually LOVE or HATE? ...

Remember when you helped me shape my teaching on idolatry a few weeks ago? You were awesome.The insights and thoughts you shared provoked my own thinking and have shaped me since. That's one of my favorite things about blogging and writing--the way that we form this little community of seekers who sharpen one another with our own questions of faith.And I need your help again.I wrote about Skechers Shape-Ups and the messages they send to our girls and then continued the conversation over on Gifted for Leadership. Can I be honest? I've got some ambivalence toward teaching about body image in the church, yet I'm feeling drawn to this very topic. On the one hand, I'd love to engage in healthy discussion with mothers and daughters about this topic. But on the other, I worry that what will be conveyed is "change your behavior" rather than "change your heart." I worry that girls will think it's ...

It's more than a little ironic. The same week I joined with many of you to live on rice and beans and raise awareness about the 983,000,000 people around the world who go to bed hungry every night, I also got the opportunity to post with the Christianity Today women's blog, Her.Menuetics, on the ever-present discussion of women, girls and body image. I'd love your thoughts on how you talk about "sexiness" with your daughters or younger women in your life! Here's an excerpt. Click through for the whole story!A new ad campaign by Skechers takes its popular Shape-Up sneaker and markets it to girls. Skechers' line of “Shape-Up” sneakers was originally targeted solely to women but now includes men’s and girls' versions. It promises to burn calories, improve posture, and tone your legs and butt - ”all without stepping foot in a gym!” Conspicuously missing from the lineup are boys' Sh ...