We’ve spent the past nine weeks talking about all of the ways we can pursue God’s design for us as women, but here’s what it really boils down to: mom, do you know how loved, how cherished, how valued you are by your Creator? Do you believe you’re made for more than eating PB&J leftovers at the sink and skipping a shower for days on end? (Ask us how we know!) In this final episode of the Whole mini-series, Emily and Laura remind us that we have dignity and value—not because we claim it...

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room when it comes to the Christian life: forgiveness. It’s hard, right?! But as we see with every command God gives us, the act of forgiveness is for our own good and flourishing. Many of us have seen how unforgiveness doesn’t stay contained; it seeps out until it permeates a lot of areas of our lives, including motherhood. That’s why Emily and Laura spend this show taking a hard look at forgiveness: what it is, what it isn’t, and why it matters. In this...

Mom, when’s the last time you had FUN? For so many good reasons, our tendency as moms can be to stay behind the scenes and keep the trains running on time. We know this is a big responsibility, and we go all-in on taking it seriously. But what if we let our hair down a bit, and experienced the joy of a motherhood rooted in Christ? In this show, Emily and Laura remind us that as whole women of God, we can experience joy, laughter, thrills, and fun—knowing that in Christ, we’re not as fragile...

We know that meaningful friendships require time and investment… so what do we do as moms when we have so little of these things to spare?! Or what if we have a great mom-to-mom friendship, but our kids struggle to get along or our lives are starting to look totally different from one another? In this episode, Emily and Laura go DEEP on the joy and hardship of maintaining solid friendships throughout various seasons of motherhood. From how to handle it when a friendship falters to what to...

It doesn’t take long for our heads to start spinning when we think about how creative God is: a sea of textures and colors, a sunset bursting in shades of light, a cool night sky speckled with stars… we could go on and on. As image-bearers, we too are wired with an ability to create—even if it feels we lack the time, talent, or desire to do so. In this episode, Emily and Laura look at the many ways creativity can come to life in motherhood, as well as a few practical ways we can make space to...

That to-do list is already overwhelming, so are we *really* about to suggest you read more books… on a motherhood podcast?! Yes, and no. Here’s the thing: we serve a God who communicates to us through story in his Word. We were MADE to feel the beat of creation-fall-redemption-consummation in every narrative we become immersed in, and as we pursue quality literature and fill our minds with redemptive stories, we may just learn more about ourselves and how to love others along the way. In this...

Have you ever closed the back cover of a children’s book and found yourself impacted by its message… even if your kids seem unfazed? It’s the power of story at play, and we can learn a lot from it as we seek to teach our kids complex concepts that play out in so many little moments of life. In this special bonus episode, Emily chats with Laura on the ways we can use narrative to teach our children more about God’s design, and how this came to life in Laura’s latest children’s book, A World...

Can you imagine if we had a tally of all the things we’ve learned since becoming moms?! The trending baby gear, feeding strategies, discipline tactics, and so on—we’ve likely all absorbed more info than we ever planned in motherhood. So when it comes to learning and growing—to pursuing the Lord with all of our mind—how do we make room for it? In this episode, Emily and Laura help us navigate an info-at-our-fingertips world by giving us guideposts and questions to consider as we pursue...

You know the moments. They may not feel like they come often in the mundane moments of mom life, but many of us have been there: when the sight before you takes your breath away; when God’s creation makes your heart swell; when a song brings tears to your eyes. Down to the way he made our neurons to fire and our hearts to beat faster when captivated by pure beauty, we see that God designed us to experience awe. In this episode, Emily and Laura dive into how awe grows us as women of God, along...

Was there a moment you realized motherhood had changed you? Or did it happen steadily, gradually, until one day you realized: I’m not who I was. For many of us, we can agree that motherhood rightfully requires much of us—but as the seasons of motherhood change, how do we hold our role as ‘mom’ alongside the whole woman God designed us to be? In this episode, Emily and Laura kick off a new mini-series with a look at Scripture to see how we lay down our lives for Christ and flourish as whole...

So we’ve spent several weeks now dialing in on different areas of weakness and how Christ meets us in it all—as we set our eyes on him, what does it really look like in the day-to-day as moms to trust his design for us and accept our God-given limits? In this final show of the Abundance mini-series, Emily and Laura take to the mic to discuss limitations they’ve felt in their own lives, and practical questions to help us draw near to Christ in the everyday strains of weakness in motherhood....

Here’s something you won’t hear too often around social media, but we’ll say it because we love you: mom, you are NOT enough. And that’s a good thing! As moms, we feel the tug-and-pull of wading through mundane moments alongside the high calling and immense privilege of raising children God has given us. If you’ve ever wondered how you’re supposed to “do it all” in motherhood, this show is for you. In it, Emily chats with writer and Bible teacher, Amy Gannett, on what Scripture says about...

In so many moments throughout the day, little hands and hearts demand our time and attention, but we can’t meet everyone’s needs. With the flutter of noise, we grow impatient, our fuse is cut short. But it’s not just these moments that try our long-suffering. Maybe it looks like wading through deep sorrow as you walk through suffering that won’t let up. Maybe you’re growing tired, because you expected your season of life to look different by now, but God still has you in the same place. If...

Each day is filled with decisions and we’re anxious to make the right ones. We live in a world where information is right at our fingertips—but as moms, we need something deeper and never-changing. Even when knowledge is helpful, no amount of Internet searching will ultimately give us God’s direction for our family. For that, we need godly wisdom—so where do we find it? In this episode, Emily chats with author and mom, Glenna Marshall, on how we can seek wisdom from the Lord through...

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could keep all of the plates spinning? Never missing a school activity, always having the kitchen clean and ready, and even having time to sprinkle in a little self-care . . . and yet, many of us feel our to-do list getting longer by the minute. But what if God actually gives us limits for our good? In this episode, Emily chats with author and mom, Gretchen Saffles, about her own postpartum journey where she experienced discouragement as she saw limitations on her...

We love a good mom hack, but we’ve yet to find one that makes motherhood feel like a breeze. Whether it’s that first all-nighter with a newborn or the tough conversations that come as our kiddos get older, motherhood brings *all* the opportunities to feel our limits. In this episode, Emily and Laura share some of the areas they’ve felt weak in motherhood and a few principles to keep in mind as we look to Christ’s strength in our weakness. Emily also gives an exclusive look at her new book, He...

When we experience deep sorrow, many of us long for heaven more than ever. The desire for a joy-filled eternity with God is a good one, wired in us by our Creator. But have you ever wondered what makes heaven such a source of hope for believers today? In this episode, Emily and Laura sit down with author and Bible teacher Courtney Doctor to look at what Scripture says about heaven. Throughout the Grief series, we’ve heard stories of suffering and pain, but the thread of hope woven throughout...

Motherhood holds challenges, even with a loving husband and father by our side. So when the painful sting of death ends our marriage, how can we shepherd our children and find healing when grief is this deep? In this episode, Emily and Laura chat with author and widow, Lisa Appelo, on her experience raising seven children after the sudden death of her husband. The heartbreak of losing a father and husband is painfully real, but as we navigate the seas of grief, we can be reminded that God is...

There’s no way to soften the tragedy of losing a child. As moms, we love, protect, and care for our children with fierce depth and intensity, but we don’t have ultimate control. When the unimaginable loss of a child occurs, how do we carry our grief as we walk forward in the life and family God has kept earthside? In this episode, Emily and Laura hear from author and Bible teacher Nancy Guthrie on what she learned in the process of losing two children after birth. While grief this deep may...

When God allows adoption to be a part of our family’s story, there can be hopeful anticipation alongside waiting and sorrow. How can we hold the beauty and hardship of it with grace? In this episode, Emily and Laura chat with author and adoptive mom Jen Oshman on her own experience with adoption, and the tension that parents hold when bringing a child out of his or her birth family and into their own. Jen also shares a word of encouragement to adoptive moms, as well as what to consider before...

Have you ever felt desperate to find something steady in the midst of grief? Someone you can turn to that can hear, see, and truly understand your pain? While our needs in seasons of grief are many and real, from getting proper sleep to eating well and spending time in community, there is only one place we can go that will never fail us or prove untrue: God’s Word. In this episode, Emily reads verses from Scripture that we hope meet and uplift you in sorrow. As you listen to the words of...

As moms, the grief of miscarriage is a deeply intimate one. After the joy of a positive pregnancy test, the loss of that life in the womb brings deep devastation. In this episode, Emily and Laura sit down with Abbey Wedgeworth, author of Held: 31 Biblical Reflections of God’s Comfort and Care in the Sorrow of Miscarriage, to learn about how miscarriage impacts women, the ways a mom can remember the life of her child, and how the gospel meets us in the sting of death and sorrow. Even when our...

Motherhood has a way of revealing our limits, be it physical, mental, or emotional. When we find ourselves at the end of our abilities, it can be easy to wonder if God has equipped us with everything we need to be a good and faithful mom. In this episode, Emily and Laura sit down with Vaneetha Risner to discuss the topic of chronic pain in motherhood. Whether you suffer from chronic pain or disability, or simply find yourself wondering if you have what it takes to make it through another day...

Have you ever wondered if your feelings are “normal” when navigating a hard season? Maybe we’re more easily irritated, shed tears more often, or even find ourselves apathetic or emotionless to what’s happening around us. In this episode, Emily and Laura chat with counselor and theologian Matthew LaPine on the science behind how our bodies process grief. Matt also shares a few trends to help a mom identify when it might be time to seek professional help. As we look at the ways God designed our...