No Higher Calling

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...

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...