No Higher Calling

2023 has been an incredible year for our family! God brought us from east Tennessee all the way to Sydney, Australia. Our faith has been strengthened as we've watched God do things that only He can do! Hear what we've been up to in our family and ministry this year. In the second half of the episode, we give sneak peeks of some exciting things coming to NHC in 2024 as well as several products that...

I will soon be entering my 5th postpartum season. I have learned many things that have helped me have a smooth, wonderful experience. First time postpartum mama Brettnay would not recognize fifth time postpartum mama Brettnay (and I'm glad! I've come a long way!) With my first pregnancy, I thought that in order to be super mom, I needed to jump back into "normal" asap. Now as a mom of almost 5, I...

...To love and to cherish til death do us part... Simeon and I recently read the book Cherish by Gary Thomas. It was so good for our marriage, and it prompted great conversations between us. On this episode, we share our takeaways from the book. A few topics we discuss. . . -Making your spouse your one and only -Not comparing your spouse with other people -Building your spouse up to others -Infatu...

Psalm 23:6 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:"   This verse begins with a word of certainty- surely. God promises that without any doubt or question, goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. His goodness provides for every need, and His mercy covers every failure. Goodness and mercy keep us hedged in, walking the path of life, pressing towards t...

Vibrant: full of energy, life, and passion; pulsating (throbbing sensation, excitement)   One of the beautiful things about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, is that while I am so thankful for my soul's salvation, that is just the beginning, not the end. Jesus desires to save you, but also to walk through every moment of every day WITH you! He has come not only that we have life, b...

Simeon and I have a lot of littles, and it can be difficult to find ways to connect with each of them individually. I recently saw a mom share about the "stay up late" nights they do with their children. It was a way for Dad and Mama to get quality time with each individual child without having to leave the house or pay for childcare for the other children. This caught my eye, and we have since be...

"Everybody has a family culture whether you intend to or not. It is important to be intentional about the culture your family has." -Simeon Simeon joins me in this episode to talk about crafting a family culture. We start with the foundation of answering the question- what is family culture? This is your family's values, visions, and interests. What do your children think about when they think of...

As we prepare for our 5th baby and 3rd home birth, we are excited to include our children in all the details of the process. One of the beautiful things of giving birth in the comfort of home is that you can have the siblings be a part of the experience. We loved having Eden present for Willow's birth, and we are preparing the others to be a part of this baby's arrival.  Birth is beautiful and mir...

Psalm 23:5 "thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." In this Psalm, the anointing of oil symbolizes the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This is a continual work. We continually need a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. For the shepherd to know the sheep's need for the application of the oil, he must be among his sheep paying close attention to their nee...

As a homemaker, it is important to me to steward my family's health well. Planning, cooking, and serving meals are such a huge part of life. Busy lives can make microwave dinners and takeout pizza look quite appealing, and while we do enjoy those from time to time, I know that's not what I want for our everyday. I'm also realizing that I have a very important ministry to my family through the fami...

As moms, one of the things we most dread to hear from our children are the words, "I'm bored!" We live in a culture that is so overstimulized. We have lost the ability to wait, to be still or to be bored.  Ainsley Arment from Wild + Free said, "If only we could be content with ourselves long enough to make it through the desert of boredom into the oasis of imagination and creativity." Boredom is n...

I'm often asked, "How do you juggle the first trimester of pregnancy while parenting other little ones?" I do not have the perfect answer, and some days are better than others! Growing a new life brings so many changes and challenges to the mama, but those things compound when you are trying to chase a toddler, manage your older children's education, keep up with the home, etc.  This pregnancy was...

"If you can light a passion in a child to love to learn and to learn for themselves, you will set them on a trajectory of pursuing beauty and excellence." Accoring to Greek and Latin origins, the word "genius" means "giving birth to one's joy." To help give birth to a child's genius, we have the privilege of introducing to them the joy of learning. How can we cultivate this? Wonder is the gateway...

There is so much pressure to craft homes that could be photographed for Better Homes & Gardens. Maybe you have that kind of home, and if so, that's wonderful! But I think the majority of us don't for a multitude of reasons- practicality, buget limitations, children, etc.   What is the purpose of our homes? What do you want to emphasize in your space? As homemakers, we have the opportunity to c...

This episode is specifically for those who have been called to let go- to let go of those that they love who are serving Christ around the world. It was (and still often is) difficult for me to be so far from our parents, other family, and friends. But it is also difficult for those who remain behind and have to watch their loved ones board a plane. I've received messages from others asking what i...

Another quarter finished, another reading challenge update! Hear about the books I've been reading over the past few months.   Resources: NHC Blog: My 2023 Reading Challenge (Quarter 3) https://nohighercalling.org/my-2023-reading-challenge-quarter-3/     Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram , YouTube , and www.nohighercalling.org

There are time when the need for hospitality calls for us to minister from our homes instead of in our homes.  What is a "meal train"? It is simply when someone is in charge of organizing multiple meals for a person/family in need. In this episode, I share practical tips on how to make this go smoothly (especially for the one hosting/organizing the meals) and to be the greatest blessing to the rec...

Proverbs 23:5 "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:" Before we are in the presence of our enemies, desperate for the nourishment that the Shepherd provides, He has already prepared a table for us. Loving care is required when laying a table, and no one prepares a table like Jesus!  "What a tragedy when Christ prepares a table for me, yet I don't stop and grumble about...

As a mom of a lot of littles, I get asked often about how I manage the clutter and keep our home organized and tidy. My personality is to have everything decent and in order. I cannot funtion or find joy in a home that is drowning in stuff, messes, and dirt. On the other hand, having many little children means that messes are a part of our everyday life. So, how does one find balance? How do you j...

Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”   Motherhood is a sanctification journey. As I am trying to correct, instruct, and nurture the little hearts God's blessed me w...

The topic of pregnancy after miscarriage is one that is rarely addressed. Maybe because it is often interwoven with deep grief and conflicting emotions. The Lord blessed Simeon and I with 3 babies, then we lost a baby in 2021. Since that loss, God has blessed us with 2 more babies. We are so grateful for every life He's entrusted to our care, whether it was for days or years.  Pregnancy after misc...

Psalm 23:4 "thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Psalm 23 is all about our present Shepherd. He is with us! Praise God for His faithful, constant presence in our lives. In this episode, we discuss the Shepherd, our protector, and how He uses the rod and staff as tools of His protection. Just as as shepherd uses the rod and staff for the care of his sheep, our great Shepherd uses the rod (God's...

Prayer is one of the most powerful tools God has given us for every aspect of life, but especially when it comes to parenting. The most important prayer request we can intercede for on the behalf of our children is for their salvation and relationship with the Lord. The next most important, I believe, is praying for your child's future spouse. So much of what their future will look like will be di...

Motherhood is sanctifying work, and mothering a strong-willed child is extra sanctifying! The challenges parenting this personality type brings can lead a mother to feeling isolated, frustrated, and exhausted. What are we to do when everything we try doesn't work? How can we find hope in the midst of tantrums and attitudes? Sarah Boots from Altogether Lovely Collective joins me to share how God is...

Homeschooling with toddlers and babies is no joke! Yet there will be endless opportunities for laughter and fun! A question I get often is, "How do you manage homeschooling your older children while juggling having a toddler and baby under foot?"  In this episode, I share practical advice on how we've structured our school days to best fit the season of life our family is in right now. I also shar...