No Higher Calling

Flying with Littles

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 several things we did that wound up being very helpful.

In this episode, I share the smart things we did, and several things I'd do differently when flying with littles. 

 

Resources:

NHC YouTube: Kid's Bag for Our Big Flight (links included!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D3g6GTEKXw&t=477s 

Our Favorite Books! https://paperpie.com/ 

 

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NHC Family~Why Should You Budget?

“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 money and budget their income with purpose and intentionality.

Many of us cringe at the word budget. It feels restricting and daunting. It acutally is the opposite. It is the key to having freedom to spend and give more! And it is a practical way to ensure that you are stewarding the resources God has given you well.

 

Scripture Referenced:

Proverbs 22:7

Matthew 22:5

I Timothy 6:17-19

 

Resources:

Breaking Free from Broke by George Kamel https://amzn.to/487DNGf

NHC Podcast: Stewarding Your Finances Wisley https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/stewarding-your-finances-wisely/id1547126864?i=1000592615640 

NHC Podcast: The Windows of Heaven https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-98-the-windows-of-heaven/id1547126864?i=1000574986128 

EveryDollar Ramsey Budgeting App https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ramseyplus/everydollar/share?utm_source=mobileshare&utm_medium=mobilesharebutton&utm_campaign=mobileshareability&utm_id=ramseysolutions 

 

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Favorite Book Series for Elementary Age Girls

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://gatherroundhomeschool.com/ 

 

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George https://amzn.to/3TmqvSm 

 

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When Grief Changes Everything

"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 and sorrow abound. What does one do when grief changes everything? How can we move forward in hope? 

I share from my own personal experience with grief how it has changed everything for me. There felt like a time where the darkness was so present that I'd never find light again. But, for the believer, there is hope! There is an "after" to the grief. Scars remain, but God brings healing. Be encouraged, friend! "Suffering is never for nothing!" -Elisabeth Elliot

 

Scriptures Referenced:

Psalm 23; 73:26; 119:71

Isiah 43:2

Romans 5:2-5; 8:28-29

 

Resources:

NHC Podcast: Gifts Discovered in Grief https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-11-gifts-discovered-in-grief/id1547126864?i=1000512611671 

NHC Podcast: All Things for Our Good https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-33-all-things-for-our-good/id1547126864?i=1000530384520

Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell https://www.newmerciesmusic.com/product-page/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts 

 

 

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NHC Family~Couples of the Bible: Jacob & Leah

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, identity, and contentment in Christ 

-Encouragement for those in a loveless relationship

-God's holy design for sex

 

Scriptures Referenced:

Genesis 29:21-35

Psalm 133:1

 

Resources:

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

Her Name is Woman Book 2 by Gien Karssen https://amzn.to/3OShqhb 

 

 

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Approving Things That Are Excellent

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 understanding of what it means to approve excellent things. 

Have you filled your heart and life with excellent things? It can be easy to differentiate between good and bad, but it is harder to discern between good and best. 

Wives and mothers are the gatekeepers of our homes. As we approve excellent things in our own lives, it will overflow into the atmosphere we cultivate within our home. It will impact those we love and have stewardship over.

"If I wanted the souls of my children to be rich, then my soul needed to be rich because it  was my soul they would draw from. Whatever I mind with, whatever I learned and embraced, flowed into the well of knowledge and refreshment I would draw from and pass onto them daily as I lived my moments in their presence." -Sally Clarkson

 

Scriptures Referenced:

Philippians 1:10

 

 

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Hats Off to a New Homeschool Year

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-toddlers-babies/id1547126864?i=1000624731570 

NHC Blog: Curriculum Line-Up 2024 https://nohighercalling.org/curriculum-line-up-for-fall-winter-2023-copy/ 

 

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NHC Family~Q&A

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 for a couple facing an unexpected pregnancy

*Our thoughts on birth control

 

 

Resources:

NHC Podcast: Ep 91- Q & A with Simeon and Brettnay Part 1 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-91-q-a-with-simeon-and-brettnay-part-1/id1547126864?i=1000569126123 

NHC Podcast: Ep 92- Q & A with Simeon and Brettnay Part 2 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-92-q-a-with-simeon-and-brettnay-part-2/id1547126864?i=1000569136606

NHC Podcast: Ep 66- Q & A with Simeon and Brettnay https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-66-q-a-with-simeon-and-brettnay/id1547126864?i=1000551377125 

NHC Blog: Date Night Game Ideas https://nohighercalling.org/date-night-game-ideas/

NHC Podcast: Crafting a Family Vision https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/crafting-a-family-culture-with-simeon/id1547126864?i=1000634241307 

NHC Podcast: Ep 35- Truth, Lies, & The Birth Control Pill https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-35-truth-lies-the-birth-control-pill/id1547126864?i=1000531802380 

 

 

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Postpartum: The Beautiful and The Ugly with Morgan Young

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 of sleep, and new responsiblities to the mix, it can leave a woman floundering spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

Morgan does a beautiful job of addressing the real and raw aspects of this season while giving mothers encouragement through the lessons Christ has been teaching her.

 

Morgan's Post:

✨Postpartum✨
This morning I got up, made my coffee while Presleigh played quietly on her floor mat, and then began to ponder the last three months as I did my devotions. Tomorrow Presleigh will be 3 months old. It has been the longest and quickest season of my life all in one. I don’t think anyone can truly be prepared for having a baby. We tried to be as we talked about all the things we needed and all the hopes and dreams along with it. But what I wasn’t prepared for was all the things we didn’t think to talk about.

To the new mom…
* Make time for your relationship with God. He is who is gonna guide you through this and the sooner you are spending time with Him everyday the better for your mental health. He gives a joy and peace in the middle of the crazy that nothing else can!
* Make time for your relationship with your husband. Women are different than men. The emotions and hormones rushing through you are not felt by your husband. Give him some grace as he is trying to help what he doesn’t understand.
* The bathroom does not have to be deep-cleaned the first week home from the hospital. Give yourself some time when it comes to cooking and cleaning. Perfection is not the goal right now!
* Savor the moment. This is not your time to do things solely for yourself and your husband anymore. This is your time to live for serving your child. And it will not last forever. Soon you will miss the things you dreaded so much.
* Find something to look forward to every day. You have reached a new level of difficult but you can still find small moments of something for you! Whether that’s simply taking a shower, or a show you like while the baby sleeps, or asking your husband to bring takeout of your favorite place home to you that evening.
* Remember that it’s going to get easier! And even better than that, it’s going to get fun!! Your mind is not thinking 100% clearly from all your hormones after birth but soon it’s going to be the most amazing thing you’ve ever imagined! Give it TIME.

 

Resources:

Enjoying the Journey Podcast with Evangelist Scott Pauley: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/enjoying-the-journey/id1329674849 

 

 

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

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Flora Quinn’s Birth Story

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 Birth Stories https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-24-brazzell-babies-birth-stories/id1547126864?i=1000524934713 

NHC Blog: Flora Quinn's Birth Story https://nohighercalling.org/flora-quinns-birth-story/ 

Downforce- Race Car Board Game https://amzn.to/3Ugf7If 

 

 

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