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 so…

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 rea…

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 coup…

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 &…

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 h…

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 -T…

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 th…

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 …

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…

"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 wha…

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…

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 mot…

"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! …

"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 unde…

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 -S…

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. Th…

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 receiv…

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…

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 …

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…

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…

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.…

Grocery prices are outrageous these days! How can we provide delicious, nutritious meals for our family while staying within a budget? This is a struggle that almost all homemakers are battling right now. I know I am! In this episode, I share ways that I am trying to be a wise steward of our grocery budget. Resources: NHC Family~ Why Should You Bud…

From the beginning of the earth, God designed a perfect order for the family. And ever since, Satan has sought to corrupt God's design with a counterfeit. His attack on marriage and family prove just how important these are to God and to society as a whole. What is God's purpose for the family? What is God's view of children? How can followers of C…

There are many different ways to extend hospitality. Sometimes, you might find yourself hosting a guest for weeks on end. Now that we are living abroad, we rarely get overnight guests, but when we do, they stay for an extended amount of time. I love hosting family and friends, but when having long-term company, it is very helpful to have thought th…

Watching a child's wonder and imagination ignite is incredible and nothing accomplishes that quite like a rich story. In this episode, we chat about. . . -The importance of imagination -Where to draw the line with fantastical literature -Protecting the freedom and enjoyment of childhood -Benefits of reading aloud and imaginative play Resources: NHC…

Simeon and I have walked through five postpartum seasons together. Each one has look different. Our experience with our later babies was vastly different from our experience with our first two. Some of that came out of necessity, some of it came out of growth in our understanding of the postpartum season and each other. It has been beautiful for us…

Rachel Sengmany joins me to discuss ways to minister to today's teenage girl. Rachel has years of experience working with teenagers and she desires to see their lives transformed by Christ. The things that teenagers face these days are very different from what people faced even just a generation ago. But the gospel is the same, and it has power! Ra…

A podcast listener asked me to address the question "how to encourage a missionary." I loved that question and the heart behind it! I polled a large group of missionary women and came up with a highlight list of things one can do to be an encouragement to a missionary familly. I share these on this episode as well as somethings people have done for…

This episode brings us to a couple, who though joined in marriage, are nothing alike. Abigail is a women of strong character and a meek spirit. Nabal is a fool. In spite of this unequal yoking, Abigail has the joy of the Lord. When her husband acts in foolishness, she responds in godly wisdom. This wisdom saved the life of her husband and the reput…

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 Krist…

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 seve…

“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…

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://gatherroundhome…

"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 an…

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, …

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 unders…

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-toddler…

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 f…

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 o…

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 Birt…

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 be…

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 Mc…

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 …

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 c…

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 …

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…

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. …

"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 …

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-Servi…