No Higher Calling

For many, a new school year has begun. I have heard from mamas who are launching out into homeschooling their little ones, and they have so many concerns and fears. We all want to put our child on a path of success, but what does that really look like? Do we need to get it all right from day 1? Do we need to have rigourous curriculum and push to be above average in every area? Or can we take a dee...

Rachel Woodward is a homeschooling mama to four boys. She has been homeschooling for 17 years, and has graduated two of her sons. Rachel has a wealth of wisdom to share to younger moms who are pursuing this path for their children's education.  This episode is done Q & A style. Hear Rachel answer these questions and more! -Where to start -How to choose curriculum -What should homeschooling loo...

We desperately need a revival of the family alter! God designed the family to be the place where children are introduced to Christ and are instructed in righteousness. Unfortunately, in our busy world today, family worship of often neglected. Simeon joins me to discuss the importance God places on parents spending time teaching their children God's Word. We address: -Why it is important to have a...

Suzy Crocket joins me to share her family's stories of adoption. This path gave her family two beautiful children, but it also taught them many spiritual things. She shares insight into the truth that God the Father has adopted us. He makes us "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ". This truth gives us identity and security. She also shares some thoughts on the adoption process, and how Chris...

Simeon and I recently celebrated our tenth anniversay. It's had me reflecting on my wedding day. So much preparation went into me preparing myself to be Simeon Brazzell's wife. I delighted in each detail as I prepared to present myself to him. Christ promises that one day, He- the Heavenly Bridegroom, will return for His bride. Will He find you ready?    Scriptures Referenced: Matthew 24:42, 44; 2...

David and Michal's marriage is one that lacked spiritual unity. Scripture gives us different glimpses into their relationship, and it reveals that they did not share the same faith and trust in Jehovah. This would ultimately lead their marriage to a very sad and lonely place. Join Simeon and I as we glean truth for our own marriage's from this couple.   Scriptures Referenced: I Samuel 19:10-17 II...

A fun update on our homeschool year! I share what we're up to, what we're loving, and what we're learning.   Resources: NHC Podcast: Homeschooling with Toddlers and Babies Gather Round Homeschool NHC YouTube: The Good and The Beautiful Math Geography from A to Z: A Picture Dictionary by Jack Knowlton Fix It! Grammar from IEW Amy Carmichael by Janet & Geoff Benge NHC YouTube: Gather Round Homes...

A question I get often is, "How do you know what to read?" In a world where there are millions of books, how does one sift through it all? There are so many books and so little time!  In Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson, they give a list of qualities to look for in a good book. I share this list and talk you though it. I hope this will help us all find the best literatur...

Simeon and I just celebrated our 10th anniversary! We have had the sweetest time reflecting on the past decade and all that God has done in our lives together.  On this episode, Sim joins me to share some memories of our early days, as well as things we've learned about marriage.  We share... -Things We've Done Well -Things We Want To Do Better In -Thoughts on Marriage Growth -Best Marriage Advice...

Kara Rodgers joins me to share her family's story with trusting their children to God. Jordan and Kara have five children, and their oldest has non-verbal autism. In recent days, God has opened amazing doors for their son that has allowed him to communicate and share what God is doing in his mind and life. You WILL be encouraged as you listen to their story! Maybe this will speak to your heart as...

Join me for a deep dive into research surrounding the debate between whether manuscript or cursive should be a child's first handwriting instruction.   We discuss... -Is handwriting instruction important? -Progressive education's introduction of the print "ball and stick" method -Development of early motor skills -Contrasting the differences between cursive and manuscript   Resources Referenced: T...

Scripture only records two sentences that Job's wife says. They are words of condemnation towards her husband and bitterness towards God. What a legacy to leave behind! While we can feel deep empathy for Job and his wife at all they lost, they handle their trial in very different ways. We can glean wisdom from their example that will strengthen our marriages as we walk through grief and loss.   Sc...

"Is there an ideal 'house' for homeschooling? Yes! It's yours- the one you have right now. The key to a great homeschooling house is to use the house you have to its fullest." -Julie Bogart, The Brave Learner   For the homeschool mom, there can be pressure to cultivate a "perfect homeschool environment." What does that look like? Is it recreating what we see on social media? What happens when we d...

Hear what books I've been reading this quarter!   1. Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef  2. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis 3. When Your Child is 6 to 12 by John M. Drescher 4. Really Very Crunchy by Emily Morrow 5. How Can I Feel Productive as a Mom? by Esther Engelsma 6. Be Your Child's Pediatrician by Rachel Weaver 7. A Lifelong Love by Gary Thomas 8. Mind the Gap by Terrie Chapp...

1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. That statistic is staggering, even more so when you become the one. When we believe that life begins at the moment of conception, the loss of a baby at any week gestation is a deep grief. A person has died. A person that a mother and a father have fallen in love with. More and more, we are hearing from the mothers. They are opening up on what has previously b...

"God's call to you is not to get things done but to use time well. God's will for you is not to get things dome but to grow in sanctification. God's purpose in creating you is not to get things done but to glorify Him." -Esther Engelsma I recently read the booklet, How Can I Feel Productive as a Mom? by Esther Engelsma. My heart was so challenged! She looks at productivity and motherhood through t...

"Salvation is more than a past experience. It is a present possession." -Clarence Sexton   John writes that we can KNOW that we have eternal life, yet for many of us, we doubt our eternal security. Doubt is a real part of my story. For many years, I struggled with placing my full faith and trust in Christ for my soul's salvation. Fear clouded my understanding of Scripture. Praise the Lord for the...

Scripture records many people that we can look up to and desire to model our lives after. But it also records thel lives of people who we want to be nothing like! Ahab and Jezebel are a couple that we can learn from as we see their negative example. What can we learn from this wicked couple? -You reap what you sow, and you reap more than you sow -Spouses enabling wickness instead of encouraging in...

One of the challenging parts of parenting is discipline. This has gotten a negative rap in modern parenting, but God's Word has a lot to say about discpline. This even goes beyond the parent/child relationship, and has impact on our entire lives. Discipline is simply learning to obey God and walking in the way we should go according to His Word. There are three aspects to discipline- preventative,...

How can you encourage your pastor? Evangelist Scott Pauley gives great, biblical advice on how church members can support their pastor through prayer. This advice has impacted my life, and in this episode, I share how. We discuss... -Why your pastor needs you to pray for him and his family -How praying for your pastor will open your heart to receive more from preaching -Specific things to pray for...

In 2015, The Wall Street Journal did a survey recording that while 82% of people parenting today did chores growing up, only 28% of those parents were requiring their children to do chores today. Why the significant decrease? Is it important for our children to do chores? Simeon joins me as we discuss how chores help children learn life skills, how to work together as a team, and how to grow in re...

Women wear many hats. We need energy and health to steward our many responsibilities well. Yet we live in a society where people are struggling with mental and physical health issues more than ever.  Sarah Boots from Faithful and Flourishing joins me to share her health journey and how circadian rhythm has had an astounding impact on her quality of life. She's been chatting quite a bit about this...

I have been baking bread for years, but this year I challenged myself to make all of our bread products from scratch. There are many reasons for this such as taste, cost, and health. Bread is a staple of most homes and kitchens.  We chat about. . .  -How to weave bread making into the rhythm of your day -The cost and health benefit of eating homemade bread products -Grinding your own grains   Reso...

Isaac and Rebekah begin their marriage relationship with so much potential. Sadly, as we walk through their story, things fall far from God's design for marriage. God blesses their marriage with children, but instead of children stregthening their marriage, they allowed them to divide it. Some lessons we learn from this couple: -How a couple should handle sorrow -The importance of being one in dec...

Let's rewind the clock about 2 decades and get a snapshot of little girl Brettnay. I'll never forget the day I got a brochure in the mail saying that the Junior Miss American pageant wanted me. ME! I knew from that moment, I wanted to be a model.  Fast foward, God did not answer my little girl prayers. And I am so thankful! Yet in some ways, He did. I am not modeling fashion, but I am modeling Chr...