No Higher Calling

Hear what books I've been reading in the first quarter of 2024!   Books Reviewed: 1. Until the Streelights Come On by Ginny Yurich 2. The Watchmaker's Daughter by Larry Loftis 3. Raising a Modern-Day Knight by Robert Lewis 4. The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart 5. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis 6. Help for the Hungry Soul by Kristen Wetherell 7. Educating the Wholehearted Child...

January of 2023, our family set out on our biggest adventure ever. With four kids in tow (ages 6, 4, 2, and 8 months), we boarded a plane in Knoxville, TN and set out of Sydney, Australia. It was a LONG 28+ hours of travel, but things went so smoothly. Most of that I attest to the hundreds of people who were praying for us, but there were also several things we did that wound up being very helpful...

“A budget doesn’t limit your freedom – a budget gives you freedom! It’s an intentional spending plan that grants you permission to spend.” -George Kamel, Breaking Free From Broke   Rich, middle class, or poor, everyone is called to wise stewardship of their finances. Simeon shares from the Bible why it is important for couples to honor God with their money and budget their income with purpose and...

My Eden is an avid reader! She joins me on this episode to share several of her favorite book series. These are great recommendations for elementary age girls!   Resources: NHC Blog: Favorite Book Series from Elementary Age Girls https://nohighercalling.org/favorite-book-series-for-elementary-age-girls/   Gather Round Homeschool https://gatherroundhomeschool.com/     My Side of the Mountain by Jea...

"It is a mercy that our lives are not left for us to plan, but that our Father chooses for us; else might we sometimes turn away from our best blessings, and put from us the choicest and loveliest gifts of His providence." -Susannah Spurgeon Most of us have a chapter of our story that brought us deep grief. We live in a broken world where trials and sorrow abound. What does one do when grief chang...

When we hear the name Jacob, we often think Rachel, but that was not his first wife. It is easy to get swept up in the romantic love story of Jacob and Rachel, but God has things to teach us from the loveless marriage of Jacob and Leah. Lessons we learn from this couple: -Keeping your affection and attention united in marriage -Finding fufillment, identity, and contentment in Christ  -Encouragemen...

Pastor Clarence Sexton said, "Choosing the high road is not choosing between the good and the bad, but the good and the best." Throughout our sanctification journey, we are to be growing in spiritual discernment and choosing things for our lives that are excellent. We dig into Philippians 1:10, defining the words of Scripture to get a deeper understanding of what it means to approve excellent thin...

Now that we live in Australia, we follow thier school model and launch a new year with a new calendar year. We are about a month into a brand new homeschool year! In this episode, I share our curriculum line-up for the year.   Resources: NHC Podcast: Homeschooling with Toddlers & Babies https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/homeschooling-with-toddlers-babies/id1547126864?i=1000624731570   NHC...

You asked, we answered! Enjoy listening to this Q & A with us. Some of the questions we answer are as follows.   *When do we have our devotional time with so many littles? *What are the 3 best things we've done for our marriage? *Ways to keep your marriage a priority with young children? *Did our marriage change when we had our first child? *Advice for a couple facing an unexpected pregnancy *...

Motherhood is a sanctifying journey, and often, the season of pospartum takes mothers on a sprint down that path! First-time mama, Morgan Young, joins me to share her postpartum experience- the beautiful and the ugly. Going from no children to adding a new human into your family can bring it's set of unique challenges. Throw raging hormones, lack of sleep, and new responsiblities to the mix, it ca...

Flora Quinn's arrival did not go at all like we expected, but God was in every detail! Listen in as I share her story and all that God taught us as we humbly surrendered our will and rested in Him.   Resources: Willow's Birth Story https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-86-willow-noelles-birth-story/id1547126864?i=1000565755697   Brazzell Babies Birth Stories https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcas...

There are many lessons we can learn from the biblical account of Lot and Mrs. Lot. While there is very little said in Scripture about their marriage relationship, we can draw truths from what is recorded. Simeon joins me on this NHC Family episode to share all that God taught us as we studyed through this couple and the Scripture passages listed below. Some lessons learned from Lot and Mrs. Lot in...

I once heard birth described as a labyrinth. There is an end goal to which you are pressing towards, and you often have a plan of how to get there, but as you wander the twisting paths, you sometimes walk paths you did not expect. The end reward is the same no matter what course you take- a precious baby in your arms. My precious friend Tobianne McCown joins me to share the birth stories of her th...

What can I do now to make life easier later? That is the magic question! As we wrap up a month of focusing on simplifying life, this episode is to help you make all we've chatted about super practical. I walk through several everyday life pain points (laundry, dinner, groceries, etc), ask, the magic question, and seek to simplify the daily rhythms of home.   Resources: The Lazy Genius Way by Kendr...

We've been emphasizing the word simplify on the podcast in January. Simeon joins me in the NHC Family episode to talk about areas in which couples might desire to simplify their lives. There is such a temptation in our culture to say "yes" to everything. Then we wonder why we are exhausted, burning the candle at all ends. As we come together as a couple and look at our life, there are four steps w...

Sarah Boots from Altogether Lovely Collective joins me to discuss a great way to help simplify and systematize meal planning! Investing a bit of forethought and planning (even just twice a year!) can lead you to delicious meals with very little thought required through the rest of the year. This idea of meal rotation can be a huge blessing to busy homemakers.   Resources: Faithful and Flourishing:...

Are mornings your pain point? I'll be honest, since having children, mornings are a struggle for me. In this episode, I share some things that have helped me establish a do-able, simple morning routine that helps get our days off to a good start! Start with asking yourself, what are a few things that fill my heart and give me something to draw from as I minister to others throughout the rest of my...

We are so excited to launch our first Bible study episode for 2024! Simeon will be joining me for NHC Family episodes digging into what God's Word says about couples of the Bible that we might deem as "undesirable."  In this episode, we look at Elimelech and Naomi. They were followers of Jehovah who were prominent people in their city of Bethlehem. When God's judgement came by way of famine, inste...

"The task of building our homes into places of beauty & life that will feed the hears, souls, and minds of our children is the most comprehensive task to which God has called us as mothers." -Sally Clarkson   As we kick off a new year, we are going to focus on the word simplify for a few episodes on the podcast. Most of us are recovering from a busy holiday season and seeking to establish new...

I share the books I have been reading in quarter 4 of 2023.   UPDATE: Since the recording of this episode, I did finish my 2023 book challenge!! I will include the final books read this year in the quarter 1 review next year.   Books Reviewed: -Raising Amazing by Monica Swanson -Parenting by Paul David Tripp -Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery -Serving Well by Johnathan & Elizabeth Trotte...

"A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,"   There are many things in this life that make us weary. Yet we, as Christians, have the hope of the Lord Jesus Christ! In the midst of our weariness, we delight in the hope that He gives. This is a hope that passes all understanding. It brings a deep peace, contentment, and joy unlike anything else in this world. Isreal was weary of waiting for the hop...

This year, we accepted the 1000 hours outside challenge, and it has been so good for our family! It has stretched us. 1000 hours is quite the loftly goal! But we are nearing the end of the year with only a few more hours to go. I have seen my children's mobility, endurance, and strength soar. I have seen their imagination and creativity ignite. We have made wonderful memories outside in nature tog...

A new year is quickly dawning upon us! Many people are thinking about goals and resolutions they desire to set in 2024. Simeon joins me to discuss setting goals as a couple.  Some of the highglights include. . .  -Choosing a Scripture to focus on in the new year -Having a big picture vision and breaking it down to live it out this year -How to proritize goals for your family -Connecting as a coupl...

We come to the final episode in our Psalm 23 Bible study series, and what a study this has been! From the field to the house, we have seen the Shepherd tenderly, lovingly guiding His sheep through all the highs and lows the path brings. He has promised that at the end of our journey, we can look forward to dwelling in His house forever. What is the highlight of this dwelling place? It is not the d...

Christmastime brings on all the fun traditions and sweet memories! One of the most enjoyable things for me as a mother is making holidays extra special for my family. This year looks a bit different than previous years because it is our first Christmas in Australia. In this episode, I share some of our traditions that have stood the test of time and several new ones we will start this year. I'd lo...