Choosing to home educate your child is a big decision. Once you make the choice and become a "homeschool family," now what? There are hundreds of curriculum choices out there, and it can quickly give you the feelings of overwhelm and frustration. I've been there. I had to realize that choosing the "perfect" curriculum wasn't going to make or break our homeschool experience. Curriculum is a wonderful and important tool, but it is just that, a tool. 

In this episode I outline steps to help you choose the homeschool curriculum that you believe God has for your family to use as a tool in your child's education. Start with writing out an educational philosophy and educational goals and then narrow it down to what homeschooling method best aligns with your core values. Doing these things will guide you to choosing from hundreds of options to a handful. The most important thing you can do in making this choice is to pray! He wants your children to receive a wholesome education even more than you could. Why? Because He has a specific plan and purpose for their lives, and He wants them to be adequately prepared to follow Him wherever He may lead.

Resources: Homeschooling Methods by Paul & Gena Suarez

*In the month of July, we're celebrating 6 months of the No Higher Calling podcast!! You'll find details about a fun giveaway and how to enter on this episode.

Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org 

God has led Simeon and Brettnay to be a home school family. Home education is so much more than just school; it is a way of life. In this episode, they outline the main reasons why they have chosen this path for their family. Whatever education model God leads your family to, the child's education is always the parent's responsibility. We must be engaged and purposeful in this area.

Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org 

Proverbs 31:12 "She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."

What does it mean to do our husband good all the days of our life? Does all really mean all- before marriage and after? Brettnay brings out truths from this verse as she answers these questions. She addresses three specific areas in which a woman can do her husband good all the days of her life- in prayer, in presentation, and in purity. A Christian woman is called to be different from cultural norms, and that will be evident in the life of a woman who is seeking to do her husband good. The motivation for doing this isn't even to please our husbands, but to obey Christ and be continually conforming more into His image. This is an encouraging episode for all women, whether or not you are a wife and/or mother yet.

*In the month of July, we're celebrating 6 months of the No Higher Calling podcast!! You'll find details about a fun giveaway and how to enter on this episode.

Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org 

Brettnay shares an update on her reading challenge for 2021 which is to read 40 books this year. She finished the month of June reading book #26! In this episode, she shares about the thirteen books she's read this quarter. All of them are non-fiction and cover topics such as hospitality, homemaking, Biblical meditation, parenting, childbirth and many other engaging topics. Listen to her reviews on this episode, and follow the link below to find more information on these books along with links to each book on Amazon.

Resources: Quarter 2 Book List

*In the month of July, we're celebrating 6 months of the No Higher Calling podcast!! You'll find details about a fun giveaway and how to enter on this episode.

Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org 

Spiritual warfare is all around us. The world, the flesh, and the devil are fighting to win the hearts of our children. Simeon joins Brettnay in this episode as they discuss the stewardship of our children and the importance of being a gatekeeper, protecting and preparing our children for the fight to come. While our children are young and in our homes, we must be intentional to pour Truth into their hearts. One day, sooner that we think, they will step out of our safe nest, and will be required to stand strong as soldiers for Christ or become a casualty of war. Be challenged to be a faithful steward and a purpose-driven parent as we seek to raise a generation who will be victorious in Christ!

Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org 

Proverbs 31:26-28 "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."

When we think of the word hospitality serving others outside the walls of our home is often the first thing to come to mind. While this is such an important aspect of hospitality, we must not neglect demonstrating a servant's heart towards those closest to us- our husbands and children. The Proverbs 31 woman's children bless her and her husband praises her. Why? I believe it is because she "looketh well to the ways of her household." Do we look well to the ways of our household? Brettnay discusses personal examples of ways she's failed at this, and ideas as to how we can better serve and sacrifice of ourselves for our husband and children.

Resources:

A Life That Says Welcome by Karen Ehman

Missional Motherhood by Gloria Furman

The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org 

Brettnay's youngest just celebrated her first birthday. That's had Brettnay reminiscing over her little's birth stories. Each birth experience has been a journey of growth, learning, and embracing God's magnificent design for a woman's body through the process of pregnancy and birth. Eden, Knox and Ivy all have a very different story, but all are precious because, in the end, they brought forth the most precious gifts God has bestowed to Simeon and Brettnay. 

An excerpt from Brettnay's blog~ "Birth is beautiful. Bringing a new life into this world is beautiful and miraculous. I praise the Lord for giving me the immense privilege of doing it three times. Everything that God creates is good, even the things that bring us momentary pain. A lesson I’m learning on the journey of life is that it’s often from pain that the most beautiful blessings are brought forth."

Resources:

~Eden Brielle's Birth Story

~Knox Clayton's Birth Story

~Ivy Jade's Birth Story

~Our Home Birth Experience

Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org 

Melissa Hildebrand joins Brettnay to discuss the role that discipline plays in discipling our children. What is the purpose of discipline? It is so much deeper than correcting bad behavior. Disciplines purpose is to disciple our children into spiritual maturity. Melissa walks the listener through many Scripture passages as she explains God's purpose in using the law and grace to bring us, and our children, into closer fellowship with Him. As parents, it is our goal to transfer our children's obedience from us to God as soon as possible. Melissa shares some great truths from the Bible on how God has designed that we accomplish that goal in the hearts of our children.

Resource: The Heart of Anger by Lou Priolo

Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org 

In Romans 12:13, we see that God has commanded believers to be given to hospitality. What is true Biblical hospitality? Is it having a spotless house, trendy décor, and a gourmet meal? Hospitality is opening our hearts and homes to others with the goal of pointing them to Christ and refreshing their souls through the means of meeting their physical and spiritual needs. 

These are some topics Brettnay addresses in this episode. . .

1. The heart of hospitality

2. Keeping your motives focused on Christ

3. The difference between hosting and entertaining

4. Preparing your home to be a blessing

5. Hospitality and the Gospel

Resources: A Life That Says Welcome by Karen Ehman & The Lifegiving Table by Sally Clarkson

Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org 

Brettnay shares more details of her motherhood journey that led to the start of this podcast. Though she felt unqualified, she knew God had placed this burden in her heart. So, she asked the Lord to qualify her. Motherhood is a journey of continually learning, growing, asking forgiveness and conforming more into the image of Christ. It is on His authority that Brettnay has something to share. It's her prayer that God will continue to fill her heart and home with Truth, and that it will spill over into the hearts and homes of her listeners.

Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org