No Higher Calling

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...

The Australian school year begins in January, so we are right in the middle of a fantastic homeschool year. But, I know all my friends in the US are back-to-school! I thought it'd be fun to share a glimpse into our homeschool days and the curriculum line-up we have for the next semester. Researching curriculum is a geeky hobby of mine; it's been so fun to come up with these resources, unit studies...

For the next three episodes of the podcast, we'll be chatting about homeschooling! This is a huge part of our lives, and it is something and Simeon and I are very passionate about. The goal of education is so much more than academic success. Our goal for the education of our children is to introduce them to God, allowing them to know God better. As they learn of Him, we learn about the world He cr...

I can hardly believe we are at the halfway point of my pregnancy with baby #5! We could not be more delighted about this new addition to our family. In this episode, I answer listeners questions about the baby & pregnancy. -When's the due date? -Will we find out baby's gender? -Will baby be an Australian citizen? -What is my birth plan? And more!!   This podcast was recorded live for the NHC Y...

One of my favorite aspects of making hospitality a big part of our home and ministry is getting my children involved. They have become wonderful hosptiality helpers! Through intentional training, they have learned how to greet others with kindess and welcome, how to do a quick tidy and clean of the home, how to prep dinner, how to remember manners through meal time, how to engage in conversation w...

"I truly believe that a successful day begins the night before. Setting yourself up for success before bed is an amazing way to not only have more peace in your day, but it's a way to feel calmer and happier- and to have time for those things that matter most to you." -Crystal Paine   I am a busy wife and mama. With 4 kids under 6, a baby on the way, homeschooling responsibilities, homemaking task...

Psalm 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;" Deep trials are a reality of life because we live in a broken, sin-cursed world. Yet, our gentle Shepherd reminds us that in the midst of the darkest valleys, we need not fear! How can that be so? Because of the Shepherd's presence. We can weather the storms of life victorious beca...

Family-integrated worship is becoming more common in churches today. Whether that is your choice or because your church doesn't have separate nursuries and classes, many parents find themselves wondering- how do we teach our littles to sit in church?  I'll say upfront, I am not the authority on this topic! We are in the process of training our children in this, but I have learned some things that...

Everyone seems to love when I do an Instgram day-in-the-life! It's fun to bring you in and show you a glimpse into our life and the rhythms of our home. It's been requested that I do a podcast sharing a more detailed look into what our life looks like. So, here's the episode! Listen in as I share how we tackle homemaking tasks, homeschooling, schedules, and more. Not all days are normal, and life...

Crystal Paine from Money Saving Mom joins me to talk about her new book, Time Saving Mom. This book is all about how to juggle a lot, enjoy your life, and accomplish what matters most. Crystal writes about a four step plan to put this to action in your life, and it all begins with starting your day with the Lord. In this interview, she shares why it is so important for busy women to begin their da...

A recap of the books that I read in Quarter 2 of 2023!   Resources: NHC Blog: 2023 Reading Challenge~ Quarter 2 https://nohighercalling.org/quarter-2-books/   Bible Studies for Teens by Rand Hummel: https://wilds.org/store/products/resources/bible-studies/ Brambley Hedge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=brambley+hedge     Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. Y...

When Mary needed spritual encouragement and fellowship, the Bible says she made haste to go to one person- Elizabeth. The friendship between Mary and Elizabeth is beautiful, and there is much we can learn from their example. We are challenged to seek to be a Christlike friend, seeking to point those we love to the Lord.  "We are hungry for the sustenance of sturdy, deep friendships, but we are fed...

We are living in a day where children are coming in adulthood with little to no character. Being known as a man of your word or a woman of discretion is almost unheard-of. As Christian parents, it should not only be our desire, but it is our responsibility to instruct our children in righteousness and godly character! God put it on our hearts to create a resource full of Scripture and biblical wis...

Many of our families are facing the struggle of rising food costs and limited budgets, yet while having a desire to feed our families wholesome meals. Jami Balmet from Finding Joy in Your Home joins me to share how cooking from scratch has blessed their family in these areas. She also gives great advice on how to make cooking from scratch a very practical part of your homemaking- it doesn't have t...

We enjoyed 3 wonderful weeks of having my mother-in-law in Australia with us. The time went way too fast, and we are already trying to plan her next visit! While Roxanne was here, we recorded this Q & A episode together. It was a treat for me to get to share her with my podcast audience.  Roxanne shares. . . -Her salvation testimony, her favorite Bible verse, and her hobbies -A mother's heart behi...

"But the path of the just is as the shining light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18 The Christian life is a path, a journey that leads us down the road of sanctification. How do we know what path to follow? We follow the Shepherd who guides us! In this episode, we discuss the path that God desires for us to walk, how to guide your children in the path of righteousnes...

Simeon joins me to discuss the difference between convictions, standards, and preferences. This conversation can often be difficult, but God's Word gives a sure foundation of truth. We seek to define the difference of these three areas, and how we can best obey, glorify, and grow in Christlikeness in the decisions we make as families.  In the age of social media, I often am asked questions about o...

We are entering birthday season in our home! As we seek to celebrate life and create fun family traditions, we have tried to make birthdays extra special. In this episode, you hear how the Brazzells celebrate birthdays. I also share some of my favorite gifts for children age 1- early elementary.    Resources: NHC Blog: Links for Gifts Mentioned in Episode: https://www.nohighercalling.org/blog/the-...