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 Christlikeness, and often my lack thereof. 

Motherhood gives us the opportunity to be models for our children. We have the privilege and responsibility to show them the patience, love, and longsuffering of the Father. Are we rising up the the task? Are we, as mothers, modeling godliness to our children? Hear the overflow of my heart as I share how God is using this thought in my life and motherhood.

Scriptures Referenced:

Philippians 1:6

I Timothy 1:12

II Timothy 2:21

Resources:

Children of Character Cards https://nohighercalling.org/product/children-of-character-cards/ 

Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org

Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org 

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 Budget? https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/nhc-family-why-should-you-budget/id1547126864?i=1000649550719 

Cooking From Scratch with Jami Balmet https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/cooking-from-scratch-with-jami-balmet/id1547126864?i=1000617132827 

Meal Planning https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-62-meal-planning/id1547126864?i=1000549157611 

Freezer Cooking https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-77-freezer-cooking/id1547126864?i=1000558245327 

Hope's Table Cookbook https://amzn.to/3PsuRF2 

Simplified Hospitality with Marcie Fowler https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-34-simplified-hospitality-with-marcie-fowler/id1547126864?i=1000531069404 

Cloth Diapering 101 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-80-cloth-diapering-101/id1547126864?i=1000559688028 

Steps Towards a Healthy Cycle with Megan Kay https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-103-steps-toward-a-healthy-cycle-with-megan-kay/id1547126864?i=1000578020490

NHC YouTube: Cloth Diapering https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgTC71QqMvI&t=36s 

NHC YouTube: Cleaning with Littles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeJi_LPv34Q&t=18s 

Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org

Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org 

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 Christ leave a multigenerational legacy that will testify of God's goodness and grace for years to come?

Simeon joins me to discuss these foundational questions as we look into God's Word.

Scriptures Referenced:

Judges 2:10-19

Psalm 127:5

Matthew 5:14-16

Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org

Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org 

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 through details to make the visit smooth. 

Several of the things we address are. . .

-Preparing the guest space

-Planning an itinerary for their visit

-Communicating clearly with your guest (needs, schedules, etc)

-Ways to prep ahead to make the visit relaxing

Resources:

NHC Podcast: Hospitality Series https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/given-to-hospitality/ 

Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org

Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org 

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 Podcast: Approving Things That Are Excellent https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/approving-things-that-are-excellent/id1547126864?i=1000647558699

Awaking Wonder by Sally Clarkson https://amzn.to/4d3Tan2

Mothering by the Book by Jennifer Pepito https://amzn.to/3xGhiMl

Books Referenced:

The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

The Railway Children by E. Nesbit

Green Ember by S. D. Smith

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org

Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org 

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 to walk through this season as a team. 

In this episode, we discuss. . .

-The importance of communication in this season

-Serving your spouse

-Transitioning to having a new member in the family

-How to make the intial postpartum days sacred

-Finding your "new" normal

-Connecting intimately after your body heals

Scriptures Referenced:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Ephesians 5:25

Resources Referenced:

NHC Podcast: Postpartum: The Beautiful and The Ugly with Morgan Young https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/postpartum-the-beautiful-and-the-ugly-with-morgan-young/id1547126864?i=1000645434442 

NHC Podcast: Freezer Cooking https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-77-freezer-cooking/id1547126864?i=1000558245327 

Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org

Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org 

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! Rachel shares several different struggles that teen girls deal with today and how we, as Titus 2 women, can help them navigate these issues.

Some of the topics addressed are. . .

-Body image struggles

-Emotional struggles (hormones, depression, anxiety)

-Relationship struggles (authority, boys, friends)

Scriptures Referenced:

Psalm 139

Proverbs 11:14

Philippians 2:13

Titus 2

Resources:

NHC Podcast: Raising Teenagers for Christ with Ruth Sturgill https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/raising-teenagers-for-christ-with-ruth-sturgill/id1547126864?i=1000597701791 

Lies Young Women Believe: And the Truth That Sets Them Free by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth https://amzn.to/3vj5fDT 

Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org

Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org 

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 our family that have been a blessing!

Resources:

www.brazzellstoaustralia.com 

Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org

Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org 

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 reputation of the future king.

Some lessons we learn from this couple:

-Can you have joy if you are unequally yoked?

-Showing wisdom in how and when to approach a spouse with issues

-Abstaining from bitterness when you're hurt by a spouse

-Guarding how you speak about godly leadership

Scriptures Referenced:

I Samuel 25

Resources:

Find the entire Bible Study Series: https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/undesirable-couples-of-the-bible/ 

Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org

Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org 

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 Kristen Wetherell

7. Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay & Sally Clarkson

8. Ember Rising by S. D. Smith

9. Breaking Free From Broke by George Kamel

10. Mothering by the Book by Jennifer Pepito

11. Running On Empty by Barbara Bancroft

12. The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis

13. Creative Counterpart by Linda Dillow

14. Ember's End by S. D. Smith

15. Teatime Discipleship for Mothers and Daughters by Sally Clarkson

16. You Carried Me by Melissa Ohden

17. Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis

18. The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

19. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

20. Hard is Not the Same Thing As Bad by Abbie Halberstadt

Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org

Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org