The grave was impossibly small: a flattened bit of earth and grass that covered the infant-sized casket beneath. I was twenty-two years old and burying my baby. There was no preparation for something like this — no guideline for how grief should look and feel. I felt alone and overwhelmed by the intensity of my grief: What was normal? What was okay? What did the Bible say about loss?
I needed to feel the weight of shared pain and knowledge, a sacred story of motherhood that had been held by more than just me.
I needed to know that this grief was more than just pain, it was love.
I needed to find the voices of those who had walked this road before me: to weep and remember within a community.
These are some of the books I found throughout my grief journey. They’ve encouraged and challenged me, reminded me to keep my eyes fixed on Christ, and allowed me to see the beauty within every story. I hope they will do the same for you. Read more
https://i0.wp.com/www.mommymannegren.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/miscarried.-2-1.jpg?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1315560Liz Mannegrenhttps://www.mommymannegren.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mommymannegren-Logo-NEW.pngLiz Mannegren2020-06-08 17:13:082020-08-31 04:36:3010 Books for the Mama Who Miscarried
When it comes to the church, we all have stories. Some stories are of ones where we feel welcomed and included, comfortable and free to worship; while others are stories of pain and confusion, uncertainty or discomfort.
I remember my first few months away at college, hopping from church to church in a small prairie town, trying to find the one that felt most like home. One Sunday evening, while out for a walk with a friend, we encountered two elderly ladies on their way to an evening service in the school gym. I’ll never forget how excited they were when we agreed to join them, how overjoyed they were to show us off to the other attendees during after-gathering cookies and coffee. The love of Christ radiated off our new, white-haired friends. That church wasn’t the one for me, but I’ll never forget that feeling of being welcomed so warmly. That was what I was looking for in a church family: community, a warm and open invitation, and most of all, Jesus.
In Traci Rhoades new book, “Not All Who Wander (Spiritually) Are Lost,” readers are invited to look past the denominational differences that separate us and instead find Jesus amidst the differing worship styles. As she says, “We don’t all practice our faith the exact same way, but our God is big enough to embrace all the ways we encounter Jesus. And Jesus sits at the head of the table. Always.”
https://i0.wp.com/www.mommymannegren.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/untitled-design-6-1.jpg?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1315560Liz Mannegrenhttps://www.mommymannegren.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mommymannegren-Logo-NEW.pngLiz Mannegren2020-05-12 09:02:152020-08-31 04:36:31Book Review: Not All Who Wander (Spiritually) Are Lost
“God is calling His warrior women to invest their lives in something that is bigger than themselves: the kingdom of God. These kinds of women give their lives to relentless prayer.” – Sheila Walsh, “Praying Women”
If we’re honest, we’ve all had times in our lives where prayer has been a struggle. We may find ourselves in seemingly impossible situations, wondering if God actually hears us. Can He truly fix this? Why hasn’t He answered? Or perhaps, we enter into prayer time with the best intentions but immediately find ourselves daydreaming or drifting off to sleep. We equate prayer time with a chore, a box to check.
When it comes to prayer, we all come to the table with baggage and history. With wounds and scars. Thankfully, prayer isn’t about perfect people. It’s not about knowing the right words or being doubt-free.
It’s about our hearts. It’s about step-by-step transformation. It’s about trust, even in the silence. It’s about coming and laying it all before Him.
52 books in 52 weeks and our annual challenge is once again drawing to a close. This year was a fun one with categories like, “an ugly cover,” “a book about time travel,” and, “a beach read.”
In just a few days, we will launch the 2020 Challenge! This challenge will look the same as the previous two years: 52 different categories to check off and read throughout 2020. With brand new categories and a thriving Facebook group for ideas, suggestions, and accountability — this is the book challenge to participate in this year!
And in case you’re still not convinced, here are a few more reasons why YOU should join next year’s challenge:
It’ll help you read MORE! I recently posted an article on 12 Ways to Read More — one of which is “reading challenges.” If you’re looking for motivation, tracking your reads and setting an attainable goal is always a good first step.
It might be time to mix up your reading. Let’s be honest, we all fall into reading ruts from time to time. We all get comfortable with our favourite authors and genres. But maybe this year, it’s time to try something new. With 52 different categories, this challenge invites participants to expand their regular reading and pick up books they might not otherwise read. Who knows, you might just find a new favourite or two?
It’s a TON of fun! One of my favourite parts of this challenge is lining up which books fit which categories. I love researching books and looking beyond my usual line up. I also love the community of readers who participate in this challenge every year — with bookworms from around the globe, your “to be read” pile will only grow!
So, what do you think? You in?
While I let you decide, here’s a look at my final reads for 2019:
We’re in the home stretch. There is now officially one month left in our 2019 Reading Challenge! And, I don’t know about you, but there is something very satisfying about getting these last few categories checked off.
With the release of the 2020 Challenge earlier this month, many of us are already eagerly planning out potential reads for the new year. (If you want to participate, be sure to join our Facebook group! It’s the perfect place for book suggestions, encouragement, and all-round “bookiness.”)
Until then, I have a few more categories left for 2019. Here are my November reads:
Many of you have been eagerly anticipating the release of this year’s challenge, and the good news is — it’s finally here!
This is my third year creating and hosting this annual reading challenge and I am so excited by the amazing group of readers we’ve collected along the way. (If you’d like to meet the best group of bookworms on the internet, join our challenge Facebook page!)
The format for this year’s challenge is the same as in the past: 52 different categories to be met over the course of the year. These are fresh categories that can each be interpreted in a variety of ways, so pick a book that you think fits and start reading!
This 2020 challenge will officially begin January 1, 2020!(The challenge is released in November, in order to give you plenty of time to start planning and preparing!)
“You have two kids! How do you manage to read so many books every year?”
If I had a book for every time someone asked me this, I’d need a new bookshelf. (I mean… I do need a new bookshelf, but that’s beside the point…) I often share my love of books. I host a popular, annual reading challenge and regularly post book reviews. On average, I read 130 – 150 books per year.
And that often leads to the question: “How do you do it?”
Truthfully, I’d like to be reading more too. But as we all know, life is busy. This season is full of diapers and laundry, packed lunches and school runs, errands and grocery stores and crying babies that stretch bedtime out far beyond what’s necessary. So I get it. We all want to read more. But finding time for it? Well, that’s a different story…
BUT, despite the pressures of daily life, there are a few tricks and tips we can use to maximize the time we spend reading.
So today, I’m excited to share with you twelve of my favorite ways to read more: Read more
If you’re following along here or on social media, you’ve likely seen numerous posts about my new book, Embrace (available now, where ever books are sold!) So many of you have already purchased books and I am incredibly grateful for your support. Writing has been a dream since I was a little girl in pigtails and it’s surreal to see a book of mine nestled in the living room shelf. In fact, I’m still pinching myself — I’m an author? Really?
So to celebrate, I may have included my own book in this month’s reads. (It makes this whole book thing feel even MORE official.) 😉
And, EXTRA exciting news, the new 2020 Reading Challenge will be released NEXT month. Check back here mid-November to plan ahead for 52 brand new categories!
“This is my story. It’s full of cracks and imperfections, and heartache after heartache. But as you read through the next few pages, I hope you see the echo of Christ’s deep, redeeming love throughout our darkest days. I pray that our story and the stories of women throughout this book will allow you to begin reflecting on God’s faithfulness throughout your own loss. I pray that you will find comfort in shared grief and in the knowledge that you are not alone in your pain.” Embrace, Pg. 5
If you’ve been following along with me on social media, you’ll know that I’ve been talking a lot about pregnancy loss over the past month. Sharing our stories doesn’t always come easily. It’s difficult to enter into the conversation with vulnerability, to purposefully share the messy and the imperfect. But,in the sharing of what looks to be weakness, we find strength.
Grief isn’t something to be afraid of. It hurts. It’s messy. Sometimes, it’s scary. But as we walk through those fears, we find that we are brought closer to the God who promises a comfort that only He can provide. As we learn to cling to Christ, we find the freedom to grieve wholly and fully; not with empty desperation, but with deep-rooted hope.
So come. Bring it all to Him, and together, let’s learn to Embrace.
You can grab your copy at any of the below places, or anywhere else that Christian books are sold! (Clicking the below links will take you directly to that site’s page for Embrace.)
Last, but not least, I want to INVITE you to a BOOK LAUNCH PARTY that will be taking place on Saturday, October 26th on the MommyMannegren Facebook page. There will be giveaways, a LIVE chat with me, as well as discussion around grief and pregnancy loss. I hope that you will join us as we celebrate the arrival of this new resource.
https://i0.wp.com/www.mommymannegren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/embrace-book-cover-1.jpg?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1315560Liz Mannegrenhttps://www.mommymannegren.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mommymannegren-Logo-NEW.pngLiz Mannegren2019-10-24 08:22:332020-08-31 04:37:37It’s Here! Embrace is Available Now!
Embrace: Clinging to Christ Through the Pain of Pregnancy Loss is available NOW!
Embrace is available for purchase on sites like Amazon and Chapters. BUT, for all my lovely readers who have been following along with this journey, I am offering you the opportunity toorderdirectly from me.
When you order from me, two things happen:
1.You’re directly supporting me (the author), and I can’t say thank you enough for that.
2. You receive a SPECIAL copy of the book with gold foil lettering on the cover. (This version is only available with direct purchase through me or my publisher.)
Books are $20 + shipping. Upon placing your order with the form below, you will receive an invoice through PayPal. (You don’t need a PayPal account to complete the purchase.) Your copy will be shipped shortly after.
https://i0.wp.com/www.mommymannegren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/img_20191005_114800-1-1-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1920&ssl=119202560Liz Mannegrenhttps://www.mommymannegren.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mommymannegren-Logo-NEW.pngLiz Mannegren2019-10-09 08:09:002020-08-31 04:37:37Embrace Book Order
Can I just take a moment and say how thankful I am for you?
You have followed along with me throughout multiple losses. You’ve watched this blog and my writing evolve and (hopefully) grow. You have prayed and encouraged. You have reached out and shared your own stories of both heartaches and triumphs. You have turned this little group into a small but mighty community. And now, I am so excited to share with you some of the fruit of this four-year journey.
Embrace: Clinging to Christ Through the Pain of Pregnancy Loss will be released on OCTOBER 24, 2019!!!
I don’t know about you but autumn is one of my favourite times to read. There’s nothing like the sound of rain hitting the windowpanes as you curl up with a good book and a knit blanket. And this September, “Raincouver” has lived up to its name.
So, without further ado, here are my rainy-day reads for the month!
We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
Essential Website Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
Other external services
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
Privacy Policy
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
