Today I'm going to talk about the "change of life". I've had many moms reach out to me and want me to talk about it. I hesitated because I wasn't sure how much help I would actually be. This is such a unique journey for each of us, but I do think there are some principles to keep in mind and a few suggestions I would make based on my own experience. Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math Heritage Defense Our CPS Story The Excel Camp  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Information on my new book: Raising Boys to Men! Search Bar on the Podcast page of my website Podcast episodes mentioned: When Life Feels Overwhelming  How Should Believers Handle Suffering? Anxiety Episodes (#7,8,9, 36,67,72, 76,138, 185,192, 250, 285, 343) Finding Rest in the Lord Physically Finding Rest in the Lord Mentally Finding Rest in the Lord Emotionally Finding Rest in the Lord Spiritually  Trials and Afflictions Simple, Unhurried Word of God Episodes: The Sovereignty of God God's Goodness Complaining and Thankfulness God's Steadfast Lovingkindness The Good Shepherd Scriptures mentioned:  Proverbs 3:5-8 Lamentations 3:22-23 Other resources: Dutch Test with review (consultation) (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I wanted to take some time to talk about suffering because I know many of us are currently experiencing trials and tribulations that could easily undermine our faith and cause us to doubt the sovereignty and goodness of God. Suffering is hard. It can be exhausting and discouraging.  As believers must have a theology of suffering. In other words, we must know how to respond to suffering with faith. To know this, we have to be taught from the scriptures. Letting our faith impact our suffering changes everything and brings hope in the midst of what could otherwise destroy us. Today, Wes is back to talk about how believers should handle suffering. Resources mentioned in today's episode: CTC Math Heritage Defense Our CPS Story The Excel Camp  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Information on my new book,  Raising Boys to Men!   Scripture passages about God's own suffering: Jer. 2:5-8 Isaiah 43:4-6 Ps. 56:8 Passages about God's purpose for us in suffering:  James 1:2-4 2 Corin. 12:6-7 2 Corin. 12: 8-9 1 Peter 1:6-7 2 Corin. 4:17 Hebrews 12:7-13   Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers The Dangers of a Self-Help Culture How to Find a Biblical Church Let's Talk About Biblical Discipline Biblical Submission: The Hot Potato Are We Living in the Last Days? Living With Hope When the Church Says Things Are Only Going to Get Worse Jesus' Return: Revelation, the Mark of the Beast and the Anti-Christ Why We Can't Understand Beauty Without Morality Listen to Wes' sermons here (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Over the years I have read many books, but there are less than 10 that have impacted me the most and that I can say were defining books for me. I mentioned in a previous episode that during 2024, I would periodically share each of those books, and today I’m sharing THE book that impacted me the most when it comes to homeschooling. Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math Heritage Defense Our CPS Story The Excel Camp  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Information on my new book,  Raising Boys to Men! Better Late Than Early by Raymond and Dorothy Moore (I suggest you look at online used bookstores as it's becoming a rare book) Why We Need to Slow Down (Podcast episode) Learning to Trust Your Instincts(Podcast episode) The Inward Battle (Podcast episode) Homeschooling: Purpose or Performance? (Podcast episode) (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Now is a great time to be thinking about the upcoming garden season and I'm excited to have Melissa K Norris from Homesteading Today with us to talk about the basics of planning a family garden! She is an awesome resource whether you are a newbie or a veteran gardener!   CTC Math Heritage Defense Our CPS Story The Excel Camp  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Information on my new book,  Raising Boys to Men! Ways to connect with Melissa: Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube The Family Garden (Book) Melissa K. Norris Website Modern Homesteading Conference Norris Farmstead (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I recently received a message from a mom asking about how much she should expect her kids to help around the house. I realized that many of you might have the same question so I thought I’d dive into this topic today!  CTC Math Heritage Defense Our CPS Story The Excel Camp  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Information on my new book,  Raising Boys to Men! Proverbs 22:29 Galatians 6:6-9 Credit; https://www.flandersfamily.info/web/ (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Feeling overwhelmed seems to be one of every mom’s greatest struggles as we navigate our many responsibilities. The reasons for feeling overwhelmed can be vast and varied, but whatever they are, today's podcast will encourage your heart! CTC Math Heritage Defense Our CPS Story The Excel Camp  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Information on my new book,  Raising Boys to Men! Isaiah 43:1-2 Hebrews 13:15 Psalm 118:11 Nehemiah 4:14 Psalm 42:5,6 Psalm 63:6-8 Exodus 16:11,12 Numbers 21:4-7 1 Thes. 5:18 Col 3:16 Romans 12:1-3 Simple, Unhurried Word of God: God's Sovereignty (podcast episode) (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today I want to talk about whether or not it matters if we can afford expensive curriculum. The real question we are asking is “Will our kids' education suffer?” Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math Heritage Defense Our CPS Story The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Information on my new book,  Raising Boys to Men! Roxaboxen(The book I mentioned about kids creating their own outdoor civilization) Gather 'Round Homeschool Homeschooling Multiple Ages (podcast episode) Treehouse Schoolhouse Our CPS story Let's Talk About Curriculum (podcast episode) Essentials in Early Education (podcast episode) A Simple, Unhurried  Approach to Language Arts (Grades 1-8/podcast episode) A Simple, Unhurried Approach to Science in the Elementary Years A Simple, Unhurried Approach to High School Science My favorite math resource (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

Today we are diving into helping to discern whether we are approaching motherhood with a purpose or a performance mentality.  We will talk about why being performance-driven can be so tempting and ways to change our thinking and ultimately bring more peace into our mothering.  Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math Heritage Defense Our CPS Story The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Information on my new book,  Raising Boys to Men! Proverbs 22:6; Titus 2:4; Proverbs 29:15; Deut. 6:6,7; Psalm 127:3; 1 Sam. 16:7; Psalm 37:1-9; James 1:5-8; 1 Corin. 1:26-29;  Ditching the Comparison Trap for Good (Podcast episode) Our CPS Story (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

As we are goal-setting for the New Year, I thought sharing a word of caution from my perspective as a veteran mom would be a good idea. Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math Heritage Defense The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Join the launch team for Raising Boys to Men: A Simple, Mercifully Short Book on Raising and Homeschooling Boys (February 19-March 5) Series on Nurturing Sibling Relationships The Importance of Nurturing Sibling Relationships Ways to Nurture Sibling Relationships Ways to Nurture Sibling Relationships Through Conflict When Our Kids Interrupt Romans 12:10; Phil. 2:3, 4; 1 Timothy 5:1; Eph. 4:2; Proverbs 11:2; Proverbs 2:4; 1 Thes. 5:16-18; Phil. 4:6,7; Col. 3:16, 17; Phil. 2:5-8; Matthew 10:26-28; Eph. 4:29; Phil 2:14-15;  (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

As we are goal-setting for the New Year, I thought sharing a word of caution from my perspective as a veteran mom would be a good idea. Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math Heritage Defense The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Proverbs 17:12, 16:9 James 4:13-16 Finding Rest in the Lord podcast series: Finding Rest in the Lord Physically  Finding Rest in the Lord Mentally  Finding Rest in the Lord Emotionally Finding Rest in the Lord Spiritually (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Because we live in a culture that gives us access to an infinite amount of information, we can sometimes make the mistake of thinking that we are wise, but there is a vast difference between knowledge and wisdom. I’ve been praying and pondering this episode for several weeks now as I wanted to start the New Year focused on what I believe is one of the most important goals that we as wives and moms can devote ourselves to and that is becoming wise women of God. Resources mentioned in this episode: Heritage Defense When CPS Comes to Your Door (podcast episode telling our story) CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly newsletter and get free access to my book; Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart Devotional Thoughts on Concerns About 2024 Psalm 107:34-43   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

The holidays can leave us feeling disoriented and just plain tired. One of the most helpful things I've done over the years is to be intentional about regrouping for the New Year.  Today I'm sharing some simple practices that have helped us transition into January with more peace in our home! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Excel Camp  CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Thoughts on Concerns About 2024 My favorite meat stock recipe Amy Knapp Family Organizer (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

This is the final episode in my 4 part series on Finding Rest in the Lord. This episode is the thread that ties all the other episodes together because the ability to rest physically, mentally, and emotionally is directly tied to finding spiritual rest in the Lord.    Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Excel Camp (Select “Durenda Wilson” for $100 off the camp) The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly newsletter and get free access to my book; Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart Devotional Proverbs 4:23 Hebrews 3:7-4:11 Phil. 4:4-7 Psalm 116:7 Isaiah 28:12 Ephesians 2:8,9 Article on What is Spiritual Rest?   (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

As women, our emotions can easily become the driving force in our lives. Although having emotions is one of the ways that we reflect the image of God, in our humanity, emotions make a horrible GPS and can lead us away from true rest.  Today we are going to be talking about finding rest in the Lord emotionally. What does it mean? What does it look like?  Resources mentioned in this episode:  The Excel Camp (Select “Durenda Wilson” for $100 off the camp) ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive access to my devotional: Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart Psalm 131 Why We Can't Understand Beauty Without Morality Romans 12:1,2 Don't Pursue Feelings, Pursue Christ (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)      

American's mental health has taken a serious nosedive and much of it has to do with veering so far off course from God's ways. Today I'm talking about some of the things that can hinder us from resting in the Lord mentally along with effective remedies from God's word! Resources mentioned in this episode:  Excel College ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Receive free access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Search bar for the podcast 2 Timothy 1:7 2 Corin. 10:5 Phil. 4:4-7 Matthew 11:28-30 The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan Article: Spend Time in Nature to Reduce Stress and Anxiety (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I have often struggled to rest in the Lord, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. God often reminds me amid my struggles that I need to rest in Him but to rest is to trust and there are times my trust is almost non-existent. Today I am talking about some of the things that can hinder us from finding rest in the Lord physically and in the following episodes I'll be talking about finding rest in the Lord mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Resources mentioned in this episode: Excel College Camp (use "Durenda Wilson" for $100 off) ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day   Receive free access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Search bar for the podcast Phil. 4:4-7 Article on the benefits of morning sunlight exposure The effects of sunlight on sleep Isaiah 40:11 Article on Sabbath rest (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

This is my last Christmas episode. It is a short one, but one I think you will love because it nosedives into the heart of the season: God with us. It matters so much to our here and now. Resources mentioned in this episode:  Excel College ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Receive free access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Knowing the Spirit by Costi Hinn Scriptures: Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23 Judges 6, Judges 14, Judges 15 1 Samuel 11 Numbers 24 Luke 1: 46-55 (The Magnificat) Acts 2:38, Eph. 1:13 John 14:26, 1 Corin. 3:16,17, Romans 15:13 (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I thought it would be fun to do a flyover of the times that Mary is mentioned as being present in the life of Jesus. It seemed as though there might be some things about motherhood that could be discovered and there are! Resources mentioned in this episode:  Excel College Camp (use "Durenda Wilson" for $100 off) ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Receive free access to Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: 31 Days in God's Word Reformation Study Bible Matthew Henry Commentary (I bought mine on eBay, but you can also find it online at biblegateway.com) (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Last Christmas season I shared an episode on our family's favorite Christmas movies and favorite traditions. Today I'm sharing our family's favorite Christmas Foods and Music! I'm including a few of the recipes here along with a link to a Christmas playlist! Resources mentioned in this episode: Excel College ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Our Family's Favorite Christmas Movies Our Family's Favorite Christmas Traditions Wilson Family Christmas Playlist (Spotify) Unhurried Christmas Playlist (Spotify) RECIPES: Gen's (Jen's) Potatoes 10 large potatoes, cooked, drained, and blended with hand mixer. 1 8 oz pkg cream cheese 1 c sour cream 1/2-1 t garlic powder salt and pepper to taste (1 cube of butter melted/paprika) Beat all until fluffy and spread into a buttered 9x13 glass baking dish.  Drizzle with melted butter, sprinkle with paprika, and refrigerate until ready to bake. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes if already warm and 40-60 minutes if refrigerated.    Curried Fruit 1 15 oz can of peaches, drained 1 15 oz can of pears, drained 1 15 oz can pineapple, drained Place fruit in a 9x13 glass baking dish Melt 1/3-1/2 c melted butter and add 1-2 t curry and 1/3-1/2 c brown sugar Drizzle over fruit and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes   Pecan Fudge Pie Use a basic recipe for Pecan Pie, but before you pour the filling into the pie shell, layer the bottom of the pie crust with 1 c chocolate chips, then pour the filling over top and bake.   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Christmas can be a wonderful time of the year, but also very stressful. If you live on a limited budget (like most of us), you might be looking for ways to give this Christmas without breaking the bank! Excel College ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Gift in a Jar Ideas Fort Kit (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Interrupting can be one of the more frustrating parts of parenting so I thought I'd address this topic with helpful suggestions and reasons why addressing this is so important! Resources mentioned in this episode: Excel College ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Nurturing Sibling Relationship Series (this is the first of 3) Scriptures mentioned in this episode: Hebrews 12:11 Proverbs 25:28 2 Timothy 1:7 1 Corin. 9:27 (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It can be challenging to know what the role of grandparents actually is in the lives of their grandchildren.  Today I'm going to share my perspective based on experience, but also on God's word.   Resources mentioned in this episode: The Excel Camp (chose "Durenda Wilson" for $100 off) CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Gentle Encouragement for Mothers-in-Law Proverbs 17:6 Psalm 92:14 Proverbs 16:31 2 Timothy 1:5-7 (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Domestic abuse is more common than we would like to think and homeschooling families are not immune that's why I wanted to address this topic in a way that would better equip us as wives and moms. Whether it's something that's happening in your home, you suspect it is happening to someone you know or you would just like to know more for future reference, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. With compassion and kindness, Darby Strickland brings much-needed biblical clarity to this topic. Resources mentioned in this episode: Called to Peace Ministries Is It Abuse?   ctcmath.com  The Excel Camp (Select "Durenda Wilson" for $100 off the camp!) The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Not that long ago, time for unstructured play was naturally built into a child's daily rhythm. Today, it's something that we as parents have to fight for. As a mom to eight kids, I needed my kids to spend time playing each day, for their sake and for mine. Little did I know the incredible benefits that that simple daily ritual would yield. Today I'm chatting with Ginny Yurich from 1000 Hours Outside about the essential need our children have for play and the countless benefits both kids and parents experience from making this a priority! Resources mentioned in this episode: Excel College ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Ways to connect with Ginny:  1000 Hours Outside Until the Streetlights Come On   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

A while back I talked about concerns I had about 2024. This episode ties into that message as I share an update on our family and answered prayers. I'll also be pulling our family experience from the past and seeing how God has tied it to our present. It really is amazing how He answers prayers in unexpected, but meaningful ways. I pray this will inspire you to keep trusting God for all things concerning your family and their future! Resources mentioned in this episode:  Excel Camp (click "Durenda Wilson" for $100 off!) ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Search for Episodes on The Durenda Wilson Podcast The Family Garden Plan: Grow a Year's Worth of Healthy and Sustainable Food by Melissa K Norris (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

More families than ever are interested in homesteading. Whether you are moving forward with this lifestyle, dreaming about it, or would simply like your kids to learn science, social science, and health in a very practical way, you won't want to miss today's episode! Resources mentioned in this episode:  ctcmath.com  Excel College The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Connect with Kody and Homestead Education: www.thehomesteadeducation.com Instagram (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)      

Have you doubted your ability to homeschool? Whether you are already homeschooling and could use some encouragement or simply thinking of homeschooling this is the episode for you! Today Nicki Truesdale and I have an encouraging conversation about why anyone can homeschool!  If I had to describe this episode in one word, it would be "FREEDOM"!! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  Excel College The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day nickitruesdell.com Facebook Instagram Anyone Can Homeschool Anyone Can Homeschool  (including Audible)  (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

The holiday season can be a wonderful time of year to take a break from the normal rhythms of homeschooling and really focus on seasonal rhythms like Advent.  Today we are going to be talking more about what seasonal rhythms are, why they are important, and how to find rhythms that are good for your family.  Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  Excel College The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Lyndsey's connection information: COUPON CODE: DURENDAWILSONPODCAST15 Website: https://treehouseschoolhouse.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treehouse_schoolhouse/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treehouse.schoolhouse/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TreehouseSchoolhouse Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TSMotherhoodHomeschool/_shop/ (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Grieving the loss of your baby to stillbirth or miscarriage can be lonely and agonizing. As most of you know, our family has experienced both: I’ve had 5 miscarriages, 2 of our daughters and one daughter-in-law have had miscarriages and our first grandson was stillborn, so we are no strangers to the overwhelming sorrow, loneliness, and fears that come with this kind of loss. Today I am praying that this episode can bring hope to those who have experienced this or know someone who has as Jackie Gibson tells her story and the biblical truths that she gleaned from her journey through the deep loss of her daughter, Leila. Resources mentioned in this episode: You're Still a Mother: Hope for Women Grieving Miscarriage or Stillbirth   ctcmath.com    The Unhurried Homeschooler   Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart   The Four-Hour School Day   Excel College    Deut. 3:27   Psalm 139:16   Job 38:4-5, 12, 16, 22   The Moon is Always Round (children's book on grief)   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Almost every mom I know has had at least one miscarriage. The journey of grief that comes with miscarriage and stillbirth can be a lonely one so today I want to share our family's story.  In the next episode, I will be having a very tender and hopeful conversation with Jackie Gibbons who experienced a full-term still-birth.  Even if you've never been on this journey, these episodes will help you better walk with someone else who has. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day theexcelcamp.org and select “Durenda Wilson” for $100 off the camp. The Story of Isaac (3 episodes) Song: Sometimes He Calms the Storm performed by Scott Krippayne     Lyrics: All who sail the sea of faith Find out before too long How quickly blue skies can grow dark And gentle winds grow strong Suddenly fear is like white water Pounding on the soul Still we sail on knowing That our Lord is in control Sometimes He calms the storm With a whispered peace be still He can settle any sea But it doesn't mean He will Sometimes He holds us close And lets the wind and waves go wild Sometimes He calms the storm And other times He calms His child He has a reason for each trial That we pass through in life And though we're shaken We cannot be pulled apart from Christ No matter how the driving rain beats down On those who hold to faith A heart of trust will always Be a quiet peaceful place (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today Professor Owen Strachan (IG: @profstrachan) and I are specifically addressing our role in the lives of our sons and husbands as we engage in the war on men that is raging in our culture. This war is very real and one that we must win because the future of society depends on it, but it's an uphill battle and we need regular doses of encouragement and that’s what you’re going to find on today’s episode! ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day theexcelcamp.org (select “Durenda Wilson” for $100 off the camp) The War on Men  Twitter Instagram (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I've had this nagging feeling that 2024 could bring a fair amount of upheaval in our country and maybe you've had the same feeling. This is why I thought it would be a good idea to drill down on this and look to God's word for wisdom in the upcoming days. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  Excel College Summer Leadership Camp The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day   Verses mentioned in this episode: Proverbs 31:10-31 1 Peter 1:3-4 Zephaniah 3:17 Romans 15:13 Romans 12:12 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 Romans 8:18 Romans 15:4 Lamentations 3:21-23 Psalm 46 (God laughs at the nations that war against Him)   Other related podcast episodes for more encouragement: Simple, Unhurried Word of God: God's Sovereignty How Knowing God's Character Can Relieve Anxiety Dealing with anxiety: living by faith in a toxic world Anxiety: Finding Comfort and Answers Anxiety: A Journey Toward Contentment Finding Hope in the Midst of the Storm Unhurried Grace: No Worries Guarding Our Hearts Tips for Reducing Anxiety Simple Unhurried Word of God Psalm 1 Heaven Rules: Take Comfort. Our God is in Control (book) by Nancy Leigh DeMoss Are We Living in the Last Days?   Living with Hope When the Church Says Things Will Only Get Worse    Jesus Return: Revelation, The Mark of the Beast and the Anti-Christ (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

We all want to know if we are doing enough. We want a measuring stick to help reassure us that we are doing right by our kids. Today, Ashley Wiggers and I are talking about how to measure performance in a homeschool way!  I know you will be encouraged! Resources mentioned in this episode:  Excel College ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today  (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Do you find math a challenging subject when it comes to homeschooling? I’m excited to have Nadim El-Rahi here today to talk about CTC Math and what makes it unique and effective! Resources shared in today’s episode:  Excel College ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart Homeschool Summit 2.0 (Free online homeschooling conference)   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Is ADD/ADHD something that is affecting your family? Today we will be getting a fresh and encouraging perspective on this topic from Dr. Roger McFillin a clinical psychologist and host of the popular Radically Genuine Podcast!   Resources mentioned in this episode:  Excel College ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart Dr. McFillin's Website Substack: https://drmcfillin.substack.com Instagram: Youtube: @radicallygenuine  https://www.youtube.com/@RadicallyGenuine   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Do you find it challenging to parent your special needs child? Do you find yourself confused about how to discipline him or her since it seems that they need to be handled differently than your other children?    Are we as parents so distracted with our kids’ weaknesses and needs that we forget what God has called us to when it comes to biblical parenting?  (This episode is a great reminder whether you have special needs kids or not.) Resources shared in today’s episode:  Excel College ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart Homeschool Summit 2.0 (Free online homeschooling conference) James 1 Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Proverbs 22:6, 13:24, 23:13,29:15,17 2 Corinthians 12:14 2 Timothy 5:8 Ephesians 6:4 Ephesians 6:1 Col. 3:28 Parenting by God’s Promises by Joel Beeke (book) What Does the Bible Say About Parenting? (article) (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are you wondering what you can do to keep your family as healthy as possible through the winter months?    Today Elizabeth Parsons ( a former RN turned “crunchy”) also known as “Purely Parsons” on Instagram,  joins us to talk about ways to both prevent illness and address the symptoms using more natural approaches that encourage our bodies to heal themselves.    Resources mentioned in this episode:  ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart   Homeschool Summit 2.0 (Free online homeschooling conference)   Follow Elizabeth on IG: @purelyparsons   Elderberry Syrup Kits -https://www.purelyparsons.com/shop   Liquid Vitamin C & Zinc (Mary Ruths) - https://bit.ly/3Hshy2E CODE: PARSONS20 OR MROPARSONS20    Powdered C Salts - https://www.amazon.com/C-Salts-Buffered-Vitamin-Powder-4000mg/dp/B002K9N6Y6   Green Pastures Cod Liver Oil - https://www.greenpasture.org/product/fermented-cod-liver-oil-liquid/   Recipe for Bone Broth - https://www.purelyparsons.com/post/homemade-bone-broth   Throat Coat - https://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/products/throat-coat-tea   Earthley Wellness Cough B Gone - https://www.earthley.com/ref/Purelyparsons/ CODE: PURELY10   Wellements Cough Syrup - https://wellements.com/collections/sniffles/products/organic-nighttime-childrens-cough-mucus-syrup   Homeopathic remedies: Chest All (cough) - https://boironusa.com/product/chestal-cold-cough/ Oscillococcinum (for flue symptoms)- https://boironusa.com/product/oscillo/   Therapeutic Essential oil blends available at Purely Parsons in late October! Be sure to check back!    (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Do you ask your kids lots of questions? This is one of the best things I did with our kids as we raised and homeschooled them. We have an unusual opportunity to really know our kids and gather important information that can help us guide, direct, teach, and encourage them.  In today’s episode, we will be drilling down on both the importance of asking questions and ways to do that.  Resources shared in today’s episode:  ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart Homeschool Summit 2.0 (Free online homeschooling conference) Prompta Conversation Cards(Use this link for a discount) Proverbs 20:5 The Physical Benefits of Homeschooling The Mental Benefits of Homeschooling The Emotional Benefits of Homeschooling The Spiritual Benefits of Homeschooling College Alternatives: Excel College (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Have ever wondered how to truly instill in your child the truth about who God is? A person’s view of God affects their entire life. The view of God that our kids have will likely determine whether they will embrace biblical Christianity for themselves or not. Imparting this knowledge is an essential, not optional part of parenting our kids in the faith.  But what does that look like with feet on the ground? Where do we start? How young do we start?  Today I’ve invited Elizabeth Urbanowicz from Foundation Worldview to answer these and other questions.  Resources shared in today’s episode:  ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Foundation Worldview: The Attributes of God Foundation Worldview (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

We have all been repeatedly told that the traditional college setting is the only path to success but the truth is that it is all but obsolete. Only one of our kids went the college route, but all have been successful with or without college. I have a series of podcast episodes where I interviewed each of our grown kids who shared their journey after high school. (I’ll leave links below.) This year, I’ve spoken at 9 homeschool conferences and I’ve noticed more and more alternatives being offered for high school graduates so I decided to start a series of episodes I will share periodically called, "College Alternatives"! My guest today is Colonel Jesse Boulden from Alert Academy! Resources shared in today’s episode:    ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart Where Our Homeschool Kids Are Now:  Brittney Jenna Jake Ben Luke Sam Website: https: //alertacademy.com/ Admissions/application: https://alertacademy.com/admissions/ Training calendar: https://alertacademy.com/training/calendar/ Tuition/fees: https://alertacademy.com/admissions/tuition-fees/ Financial Aid: https://alertacademy.com/admissions/financial-aid/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alertacademy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alertacademy/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/alertacademy  (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Have you embraced the principles of Gentle Parenting? Have you had reservations or doubts about it and wondered how it aligns with God’s word? Wes is back on the podcast today to square up the central tenets of Gentle Parenting with the scriptures and clarify this sometimes confusing parenting advice! (WE HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH THE AUDIO, WHICH IS UNUSUAL FOR US, BUT HOPE YOU ALL WILL BEAR WITH US. THE CONTENT IS WORTH IT!) Resources mentioned in this episode::  ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart Responsive Vs Reactive Parenting Scriptures: Psalm 103:13-14 Hebrews 4:15 Colossians 3:5 Proverbs 22:6 Hebrews 12:7-11 Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers The Dangers of a Self-Help Culture How to Find a Biblical Church Let's Talk About Biblical Discipline Biblical Submission: The Hot Potato Are We Living in the Last Days? Living With Hope When the Church Says Things Are Only Going to Get Worse Jesus' Return: Revelation, the Mark of the Beast and the Anti-Christ Why We Can't Understand Beauty Without Morality Listen to Wes' sermons here (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are you wondering if there are more or better ways you can nurture your relationship with your daughter? Today we are going to be talking about nurturing mother-daughter relationships and I’ve invited my second daughter, Jenna, to talk about this with me. She and I seemed to butt heads more than I did with her two sisters and yet, by God's grace we have a healthy happy adult relationship. Resources shared in today’s episode:  ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course The Importance of Nurturing Sibling Relationships Ways to Nurture Sibling Relationships  Ways to Nurture Sibling Relationships Through Conflict (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are we actually taking advantage of some of the most important benefits of homeschooling?  This is the fourth in my series on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits of homeschooling (each in separate podcast episodes).  Today we are going to talk about the spiritual benefits of homeschooling.  Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day   Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course The Physical Benefits of Homeschooling The Mental Benefits of Homeschooling The Emotional Benefits of Homeschooling Taking the Overwhelm Out of Family Worship The Reality of Motherhood and Devotions The Importance of Nurturing Sibling Relationships Ways to Nurture Sibling Relationships  Ways to Nurture Sibling Relationships Through Conflict How to Find a Biblical Church Why We Can't Understand Beauty Without Morality Finding Goodness and Beauty in Our Own Lives Education: Does God Have an Opinion? (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It’s hard to imagine that hardship could be something good, but that’s what we will be covering today! I’m super excited to have Abbie Halberstadt (M is for Mama) back on the podcast to talk about her brand new book,“Hard isn’t the Same Thing as Bad”!  Resources mentioned in this episode: Hard isn't the Same Thing as Bad (Amazon) Hard isn't the Same Thing as Bad (Abbie's website) ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are we actually taking advantage of some of the most important benefits of homeschooling?  This is the third in my series on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits of homeschooling (each in separate podcast episodes).  Today we are going to talk about the emotional benefits of homeschooling.  It’s important to raise kids who are emotionally intelligent, but often we don’t realize what a huge benefit homeschooling can be to help us do this.  Listen in and be encouraged!  Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Health Benefits of Homeschooling Research on Emotional/Social Health of Homeschoolers Research facts on homeschooling  (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Have you ever wondered what you would do if CPS showed up at your door? This happened to our family a little over a year ago and today I’m telling our story. Resources mentioned in this episode: https://heritagedefense.org/learn-more/ Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are we really taking advantage of some of the most important benefits of homeschooling? This is the second in my series on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits of homeschooling (each in separate podcast episodes). Today we are going to talk about the mental benefits of homeschooling. Most of us are aware that children's mental health (on average) is rapidly declining, but homeschooling gives us an unprecedented opportunity to nurture our children's mental health in the ways that God designed and ways that truly benefit them! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Physical Benefits of Homeschooling Homeschooling Through a Crisis Essentials in Early Education Episodes on discipline: Why Discipline? Homeschooling: Be the Parent Taming the 'Tude In Your Kids Let's Talk About Biblical Discipline Practical Discipline Overcoming Angry and Stressed Out Parenting Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations   (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Do you feel guilty about the fact that your quiet time with the Lord is often cut short, non-existent, or that it doesn't look like it did before kids?  Join me today as we drill down on this topic, kicking condemnation to the curb while still remaining faithful to the Lord in this area! Resources mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations Hebrews 4:14-16 Ephesians 6:10-18 Proverbs 14:1 Psalm 127:1 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

In the busyness of starting a new school year, have you forgotten some of the benefits of choosing this lifestyle for our families? Today we are going to be reminded of some of the physical benefits of homeschooling and I’ll cover the mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits in future episodes! Resources shared in today’s episode:  ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

We have all been repeatedly told that the traditional college setting is the only path to success but the truth is that it is all but obsolete. Only one of our kids went the college route, but all have been successful with or without college. I have a series of podcast episodes where I interviewed each of our grown kids who shared their journey after high school. (I’ll leave links below.) This year, I’ve spoken at 9 homeschool conferences and I’ve noticed more and more alternatives being offered for high school graduates so I decided to start a series of episodes I will share periodically called, "College Alternatives". Resources shared in today’s episode:  Excel College ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations Where Our Homeschool Kids Are Now:  Brittney Jenna Jake Ben Luke Sam   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

The world can feel like a scary place, but children need to feel safe and secure rather than growing up scared or sheltered from potential dangers. Today, Julie Lowe, a counselor, mom, and author, shares some ways that we can teach the safety skills that will help protect our kids from mistreatment, unsafe situations, violence, bullying, cybercrimes, predatory behavior, sexting, abuse and other kinds of danger they might encounter.    This episode is full of wisdom and practical ideas!   Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations Safeguards by Julie Lowe (Amazon) Safeguards by Julie Lowe (New Growth Press)   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

As a veteran mom, I’ve seen many trends in parenting come and go and they seem to lean extremely toward either permissive or authoritative parenting styles that pendulum swing back and forth based on a reaction to the other side.    As Christian parents, it’s essential that stay focused on Biblical parenting, regardless of the latest trends.  Resources shared in today’s episode:  ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations  Let’s Talk About Biblical Discipline Who Is Informing Our View of Family?  Let’s Talk About Discipline A Call Home: The Biblical Importance of Family Ginger Hubbard Parenting Podcast  (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Have you ever wondered if there was an easy, more natural way to teach your kids to write? This is today’s podcast topic! ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations Homeschooling Today Three-part series of articles Kay wrote on the paradigm shift we need as we approach teaching writing: Spring 2022: https://digital.homeschoolingtoday.com/issue/spring-2022/learning-naturally/ Summer 2022: https://digital.homeschoolingtoday.com/issue/summer-2022/learning-naturally/ Autumn 2022: https://digital.homeschoolingtoday.com/issue/autumn-2022/learning-naturally/ (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I think it’s safe to say that we all want strong, healthy marriages, but the truth is that the best way for that to happen is for our marriages to be Christ-centered. Today Scott LaPierre is back to help us discover ways to move toward more Christ-centered marriages. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart Classical Conversations A Biblical Perspective on Finances Scott's website: Scott LaPierre - Pastor, Author, and Christian Speaker on Marriage Scott's free book: FREE copy of Biblical Insights for Christ-Centered Marriages (scottlapierre.org) Your Finances God's Way: Your Finances God's Way: A Biblical Guide to Making the Best Use of Your Money (scottlapierre.org) Your Finances God's Way workbook: Your Finances God's Way Workbook: A Biblical Guide to Making the Best Use of Your Money (scottlapierre.org) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Have you ever found yourself doubting whether your work at home is meaningful? Have you ever really thought about how much goodness and beauty are in your life as it is?    After my recent conversation with Wes (last episode), I kept thinking of the practical applications of his message, so I'm sharing those thoughts in this episode! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations Episodes mentioned on disciplining/training our children: Homeschooling: Be the Parent Taming the 'Tude in Your Kids Let's Talk About Discipline Practical Discipline Let's Talk About Biblical Discipline Other episodes mentioned: The Importance of Nurturing Sibling Relationships Ways to Nurture Sibling Relationships Ways to Nurture Sibling Relationships Through Conflict Tomato Staking: A Relational Parenting Tool Two great reading lists (there are more online, but I trust these sources) The Read-Aloud Family Honey for a Child's Heart The Unlikely Homeschool: Top Booklist Scriptures shared: Proverbs 29:17 Hebrews 12:11 Proverbs 29:15 Hebrews 12:6 Psalm 19:14 Colossians 3:8 Matthew 5:9 Psalm 34:14 Hebrews 12:14 James 3:17 Ephesians 5:22-24 1 Peter 3:7 Hebrews 13:2 1 Peter 4:9 Romans 12:13 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder? In other words, is beauty subjective or objective and how does this speak to homeschooling our kids?    Today Wes is joining me again to help us get a biblical perspective on this very important question as we raise the next generation.    Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers The Dangers of a Self-Help Culture How to Find a Biblical Church Let's Talk About Biblical Discipline Biblical Submission: The Hot Potato Are We Living in the Last Days? Living With Hope When the Church Says Things Are Only Going to Get Worse Jesus' Return: Revelation, the Mark of the Beast and the Anti-Christ (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Taking the leap out of public school can feel overwhelming for many parents who never thought they would even consider it. But what if there was a plan in place that would provide everything a parent needed to bridge that gap? Today Gena Suarez (owner of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine) is here to share an exciting and doable exit plan that allows churches to help families get their kids out of public school! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Northern California Homeschool Convention July 21, 22 School @Home Symposium, Prosser WA July 29th Classical Conversations churchschoolhouse.com (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Education is on the minds of parents now more than ever. With the push to teach Critical Race Theory and the LBGTQ agenda, parents are scrambling to make educational decisions that will protect their children.   But was there even a day when our education system was neutral? Is this even possible? More importantly, what does GOD have to say about all of this? Have you ever wondered if God actually has an opinion when it comes to education? Do you believe that education can, in fact, be neutral?  Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Northern California Homeschool Convention July 21, 22 School @Home Symposium, Prosser WA July 29th Classical Conversations Ways to connect with Israel:  Family Renewal Pitchin' a Fit: Overcoming Angry and Stressed Out Parenting Family Renewal Podcast Raising Them Up Facebook page Previous episodes with Israel: Overcoming Angry and Stressed Out Parenting The Dangers of School Choice (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

A mom reached out to me asking if there was a way she could hone in on her children's interests, giftings, etc. without paying for expensive lessons, classes, etc.  My answer is an absolute "Yes!"  Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Northern California Homeschool Convention July 21, 22 School @Home Symposium, Prosser WA July 29th Classical Conversations (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Summer can be a great time to reconnect with our kids outside of day-to-day homeschooling. It's also an opportunity to refresh our own souls as moms. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Northern California Homeschool Convention July 21, 22 School @Home Symposium, Prosser WA July 29th Refresh by Shona Murray Podcast episodes with Shona Murray: Moving From Burnout to a Grace-Paced Life Part 1 Moving From Burnout to a Grace-Paced Life Part 2 The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan Choosing Rest by Sally Breedlove A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 Classical Conversations (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

We all know that God calls us to worship on Sundays with other believers, but we are also biblically called to disciple our children and part of that means worship(time in the word and prayer with our kids) should be a daily practice. This can feel very intimidating and bring with those feelings an intense fear of failure that can keep us from enjoying the blessings that God intended family worship to be. Today Steve Demme is joining me to talk with us about ways to take the overwhelm out of family worship! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course School @Home Symposium, Prosser WA July 29th Steve Demme website: Building Faith Families  (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are your kids struggling with diligence? Are you wondering what diligence is or looks like or how to encourage it? Join me as I tackle this topic that impacts our daily lives and our children's future. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course School @Home Symposium, Prosser WA July 29th Proverbs 10:4, 13:4 Colossians 3:23 Galatians 6:9 Proverbs 12:24 ! Corinthians 15:58 2 Timothy 2:15, 4:2 Deut. 4:9 Heroes of the Faith (YWAM series) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)      

Do you find yourself tempted to compare yourself with others or your family with others? In today's episode, we are going to dive into what God's word has to say about comparing. The purpose is to reorient our hearts toward what is true so that we can experience the peace that only God can give us in a world that is constantly comparing! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course School @Home Symposium, Prosser WA July 29th (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are your kids struggling to be timely in their chores? In today’s episode, I’ll be sharing the importance of timeliness and some ways to train our kids to do their work in a timely way. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Numbers 23:19 Matthew 5:37, 12:36 Psalm 15:1-4 Proverbs 20:25, 25:14 (More on Tomato Staking: A Relational Parenting Tool) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

One of the most common struggles every mom deals with is feeling inadequate. It happens frequently and can become overwhelming. When we feel this way, it’s easy to grasp the first “comfort” we can find without actually drilling down further and finding our answers in God’s word. This will be an ongoing battle unless we stand firmly on the truth God has for us. Resources mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Classical Conversations (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Thinking that schoolwork is an all-day event is a myth that keeps some parents from considering home education. But even for those who have made the decision to homeschool, there can be a nagging feeling that if we aren’t hitting the books well past lunchtime, we can’t possibly be giving our kids a complete education.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  Join Ashley Wiggers (Homeschooling Today) and me as we talk about why school doesn't have to take all day! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Are you looking or have you struggled to find a homeschool community that is a good fit for your family? Today we are going to talk about ways to find or create your homeschool community and why it’s essential! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations Homeschool life: Can find groups and co-ops in your area!  Link for Northern California Homeschool Convention  Schoolhouse Discoveries: Unit study groups  Wild and Free: Nature Groups  Free Forest School: Preschool Nature Groups  American Heritage Girls Trail Life (Let boys be boys!) Band (app to create groups) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are you finding that gluten and dairy are (or could be) issues for you or your kids? It can be challenging to make the transition when we are just making the change for ourselves, but there can be even more challenges when we are trying to do this with kids. Today we are going to be talking about living gluten and dairy free with kids and including some great resources! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations  Recommended Snacks: Country Archer beef sticks (also at Costco) Rule Breaker bites (Amazon) Simple Mills crackers (also at Costco) Real Food From The Ground Up- crackers, chips, pretzels (Amazon) Epic bars (Amazon/sometimes Costco) Awsum quinoa puffs (Amazon) Granola Bar Recipe  Recommended Cookbooks: Easy Allergy-free Cooking by Kayla Cappiello (Amazon) The Everything Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Cookbook by Audrey Roberts (Amazon/possibly used book website) Baked to Perfection by Katarina Cermelj  (Amazon/possibly used book website) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

We all know we need to be in the Word, but have you ever doubted whether or not you know how to effectively study it? Today we are going to be talking about how to do just that and including some helpful tools! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations Lydia Brownback website and books My favorite study Bible Let’s Study Series by Banner of Truth Tim Challies Read Through the Bible at Your Own Pace Ligonier.com (Updated commentary recommendations) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Have you ever noticed that the more we focus on ourselves, the more miserable we become? But is it wrong to be concerned about self-improvement? Today Lydia Brownback joins me to help us discern where our focus should be and why. Instead of settling for the counterfeit, we want to recognize where to find real joy and life so we can serve our families well.  Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Classical Conversations Lydia Brownback website and books (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Finances can be a huge topic of disagreement in marriage. In fact, it is often listed as the number one marital issue. Does the Bible have anything to say about finances? Today we are going to be talking about gaining a biblical perspective when it comes to money. (We are even including some free resources!) Resources mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Classical Conversations Scott's website: Scott LaPierre - Pastor, Author, and Christian Speaker on Marriage Scott's free book: FREE copy of Biblical Insights for Christ-Centered Marriages (scottlapierre.org) Your Finances God's Way: Your Finances God's Way: A Biblical Guide to Making the Best Use of Your Money (scottlapierre.org) Your Finances God's Way workbook: Your Finances God's Way Workbook: A Biblical Guide to Making the Best Use of Your Money (scottlapierre.org)  (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I recently had a mom reach out to me with some thoughts and an excellent question that I think is important for us to take a few minutes to think through and then, as always, go to the scriptures for our direction.   Are we gossiping about our kids when we talk negatively about them?    Resources mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Classical Conversations James 1:26 1 Corin. 10:13 Jeremiah 17:9 Psalm 139:23,24 James 3: 1-12 James 1:5-8 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Have you ever wondered what life after graduation can or should look like for your young adult specifically if they are choosing not to go to college? How do priorities and expectations shift in this next season? We have walked through this season with 8 kids and you can hear how that worked for each of the oldest 6 in the episodes listed below.  Resources mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Classical Conversations Where Our Homeschool Kids Are Now: Brittney Where Our Homeschool Kids Are Now: Jenna Where Our Homeschool Kids Are Now: Jake Where Our Homeschool Kids Are Now: Ben Where Our Homeschool Kids Are Now: Luke Where Our Homeschool Kids Are Now: Sam (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I’m really excited to share our family’s favorite high school science resource! Science is not my forte, so high school science felt particularly intimidating to me. The 101 Series was an absolute life-saver! It was thorough without being overwhelming and was something our high schoolers could do pretty much completely on their own!    Resources mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Classical Conversations The 101 Series (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Many of you know that our youngest son was diagnosed with Autism last fall. I knew since he was very young that he was likely on the spectrum, but he continued to progress in his development so we never had him evaluated. Some significant changes happened in him about a year ago which led us to finally seek a diagnosis.  Today I am sharing our journey with you along with some things I have learned over the last year that you may find helpful if you have a child that may be on the spectrum, have one on the spectrum, or know someone with a child on the spectrum, or want to learn more so you can have a better understanding.  Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart Places I am speaking in 2023 Classical Conversations Please note that the products and links to health products I have mentioned in the podcast and here are simply things that have helped us. Each of you must decide for yourselves if these are a good fit for you or your child. Also, I receive no money for sharing them.  Anovite LimuZ  Great Plains Labs (now called Mosaic Diagnostics) More on a Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 Healing the New Childhood Epidemics by Kenneth Bock (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

Today we are addressing some important questions regarding teens and social media and ways to help our teens process the nuances of it in a biblical way. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart Places I am speaking in 2023 Classical Conversations Ways to connect with John: Reformed Youth Ministries Social Media Pressure: Finding Peace Alongside Jesus (devotional) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

As mainstream culture grows more hostile toward the Bible’s truths and those who embrace them, Christians will face mounting pressures from family, friends, media, academia, and government to change and even abandon their beliefs. However, these challenges also create abundant opportunities to stand strong for Christ and shine a light to those hurt by the darkness of our day.  Resources mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Classical Conversations Ways to connect with Natasha: Faithfully Different (Natasha's latest book) Natasha Crain Podcast Unshaken Faith Podcast with Alisa Childers (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Today I want to talk about some of the reasons that motherhood can be hard because we all agree that it CAN be hard. However, as believers, we divert from the culture’s thinking when we drill down on WHY it can be hard and we use God’s word to find the answers. Resources mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to my monthly email and receive a free digital download of Encouraging a Homeschooling Heart ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Classical Conversations 1 Peter 5:6-10 Deut. 4:8,9 Psalm 128:5-6 Genesis 45:10 1 Corin. 10:13 Hebrews 12:5-11 Psalm 103:13,14 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

We know it’s important to teach our kids biblical truth, but it can be challenging to know when to start. Today Natasha Crain is here to explain apologetics, why it matters so much for parents today, when to start, and how to incorporate it into daily life! Resources mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to my monthly email https://www.durendawilson.com/subscribe ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Classical Conversations Ways to connect with Natasha Crain: natashacrain.com The Natasha Crain Podcast Unshaken Faith Podcast (with Alisa Childers) Books by Natasha (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today we are diving into Psalm 33. There is so much that applies to us as moms in the particular days that we live in. I hope you will find the encouragement that I found in this Psalm as we focus on the steadfast love of God! Resources mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to my monthly email here ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Classical Conversations Blog posts mentioned Motherhood and Politics Reformation Study Bible (Condensed) End Times podcast episodes: Are We Living in the Last Days? Living With Hope When the Church Says Things Will Only Get Worse Jesus’ Return: Revelation, Mark of the Beast, and the Antichrist (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

M is for Mama has been read by countless moms and provides timely encouragement toward resiliency in motherhood. Today the author, Abbie Halberstadt joins me in a lively, challenging, inspiring and very real conversation as we call out mediocrity in motherhood and exchange it for something so much better! Between the 2 of us we have 18 kids, so we are speaking from a place of knowing what it’s like to be in the trenches, but also where real help actually comes from! Resources mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to my monthly email here ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Refresh  Classical Conversations   Ways to connect with Abbie: Instagram: @m.is.for.mama Youtube: m.is.for.mama.official Facebook: facebook.com/misformama Blog: misformama.net M is for Mama Podcast   M Is for Mama Book Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad pre-order The Gentleness Challenge e-book

I doubt any of us haven’t been touched by cancer in some way.  For most it feels like a hopeless and helpless diagnosis.  Chris Work joins us today to share a fresh and hopeful perspective on healing and preventing cancer!  Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Refresh  Classical Conversations   Chris is the author of the national bestseller Chris Beat Cancer: A Comprehensive Plan for Healing Naturally, published by Hay House in 2018. His second book, Beat Cancer Daily: 365 Days of Inspiration, Encouragement, and Action Steps to Survive and Thrive, was published by Hay House in 2020.  His third book, Beat Cancer Kitchen: Deliciously Simple Plant-Based Anticancer Recipes was published by Hay House on November 16th, 2021. Chris is also the creator of the SQUARE ONE Cancer Coaching Program, which has been shared with over 1 million people globally since 2017. Beat Cancer Kitchen: https://amzn.to/3eUTSGg Chris Beat Cancer: https://amzn.to/2WX834M Beat Cancer Daily: https://amzn.to/2JukTUL Square One Program: https://sq1.chrisbeatcancer.com/own     (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Learning happens best through hands-on experiences and one of the best ways to nurture our family’s faith is through God’s creation! Today Eryn Lynum and I talk about how the Bible and nature are connected, how spending time outdoors can strengthen the faith of our families, how experiences in nature can show our kids absolute truths in a society prone to relativism,  and more!  Even if your family isn’t “outdoorsy”(Eryn wasn’t either) you’ll find some great tips and truths in today’s episode! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Refresh Mini-Con (Boston, MA) Classical Conversations Rooted in Wonder (Book) Rooted in Wonder (Book on Amazon) Nature Lessons Rooted in the Bible Podcast    (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

The study of the end times can be confusing and overwhelming, but Wes and I have attempted to share some nuts and bolts on this topic. Last week we shared an episode titled Are We Living in the Last Days? On Monday we shared another called: Living with Hope When the Church Says It’s Only Going to Get Worse. Our intention in doing these episodes was to present another biblical perspective on the end times that many have not heard about because we have never been taught anything different.  To clarify, there are 3 basic views on end times: Premillennialism (which is what almost all of us have been taught exclusively or simply watched the "Left Behind" series) Amillennialism, and Postmillennialism. Prior to about 100 years ago all three views were known to and held by the church and her theologians. I think that is worth noting. This means that throughout all of church history, believers were knowledgeable about all three perspectives. Only in the last 100 years has Premillennialism been so widely embraced. I don’t know about you, but that alone gives me a reason to pause.  Today we are answering questions that arose from our previous discussions by sharing the Postmillennialism perspective on Revelation, the Mark of the Beast, and the Anti-Christ. This will wrap up this three-part series on this topic. Resources mentioned in this episode:   ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Refresh  Classical Conversations The Last Days According to Jesus-RC Sproul Last Days Madness-Gary DeMar Victory in Jesus-Greg Bahnsen Postmillennialism Made Easy-Kenneth Gentry Revelation: Four Views, A Parallel Commentary-Steve Gregg (this resource shows the historical interpretations of the text without trying to lean one way or the other. It's a popular level commentary) Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers The Dangers of a Self-Help Culture How to Find a Biblical Church Let's Talk About Biblical Discipline Biblical Submission: The Hot Potato Link to Christ Church messages Revelation 1:1 Revelation 6:9-11 Matthew 23:35,36 Revelation 13:16-18 Deuteronomy 6:6-8 Matthew 24:40 In case this reference was confusing to anyone: Wait. What? TWO Virgin Births? (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I've always struggled with the idea that we are living in the last days. I couldn't really put my finger on why because although I had heard several sermons on the end times, none of it really ever made a lot of sense to me. It all seemed complicated and over my head. However, over the last few years, I have explored this area more deeply and found hope that I never expected.  (Please note that I do NOT believe this is a salvation issue. Wherever you land on this topic doesn't change your eternity. I will say though that where you stand on it may very well affect your daily life more than you think) Today Wes joins me to take what we talked about in the last episode a step further to answer how and why this perspective affects our daily lives as wives and moms. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Refresh Mini-Con (Burlington, MA) Classical Conversations Verses shared and resources for further study on the end times: Ephesians 1:18-23 Matthew 28:18-19 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 Judges 2:1-3 Joshua 7 (whole chapter) The Last Days According to Jesus-RC Sproul Last Days Madness-Gary DeMar Victory in Jesus-Greg Bahnsen Postmillennialism Made Easy-Kenneth Gentry Revelation: Four Views, A Parallel Commentary-Steve Gregg (this resource shows the historical interpretations of the text without trying to lean one way or the other. It's a popular level commentary) Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers The Dangers of a Self-Help Culture How to Find a Biblical Church Let's Talk About Biblical Discipline Biblical Submission: The Hot Potato (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I've always struggled with the idea that we are living in the last days. I couldn't really put my finger on why because although I had heard several sermons on the end times, none of it really ever made a lot of sense to me. It all seemed complicated, over my head, and quite frankly, pessimistic.  However, over the last few years, I have explored this area more deeply and found hope that I never expected.  (Please note that I do NOT believe this is a salvation issue. Wherever you land on this topic doesn't change your eternity. I will say though that where you stand on it may very well affect your daily life more than you think) Today Wes joins me to answer the question, "Are We Living in The Last Days?" You will NOT want to miss this one! (Or the next one where we talk about what this means for us on a practical level as wives and moms) Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Refresh Ministries Parenting/Homeschooling Mini-Con (Burlington, MA) Classical Conversations Hebrews 8:13 Hebrews 9:8-10 Acts 2:14-21 Hebrews 1:1-2 Hebrews 9:26 1 Corinthians 10:11 2 Timothy 3:1-5 James 5:1-6 1 John 2:18 1 Peter 1:20 1 Peter 4:7 Matthew 23:37-39 Matthew 24:1-3 Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers The Dangers of a Self-Help Culture How to Find a Biblical Church Let's Talk About Biblical Discipline Biblical Submission: The Hot Potato (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

Although homeschooling our kids gives us many more opportunities to disciple our children, it does not guarantee that they will embrace our faith. Often our teens will ask questions or make statements that can invoke fear and cause us to react, but as you'll hear in this episode, questions are actually a GOOD sign. I had a mom reach out to me recently who was concerned that her teen was expressing doubt about the existence of God. She asked for some advice on how to handle this situation and for any book recommendations. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Places I am speaking in 2023 Classical Conversations I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Athiest by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek Faith is for Weak People by Ray Comfort (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I recently had a mom reach out to me to ask about my thoughts on friendships/relationships/boundaries and outside-the-home time with others.  This episode is not exhaustive by any means, but a few things that certainly come to mind! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Classical Conversations The Importance of Nurturing Sibling Relationships Ways to Nurture Sibling Relationships Ways to Nurture Sibling Relationships Through Conflict Help for Parents: Protecting Your Kids from Sexual Abuse Scriptures used in this episode: Ecclesiastes 4: 9,10 1 Corin. 15:33 Job 6:14 Proverbs 16:28 Proverbs 18:24 Proverbs 27:9 John 15:13 Proverbs 17:17 Proverbs 22:24,25 Proverbs 13:20 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Do you sometimes find yourself stressed out and angry when it comes to parenting? Are you looking for solutions to discipline your children that will produce peace instead of anger?  Today you can inhale hope from Israel and Brook Wayne, the parents of eleven children, who have learned practical ways of de-stressing and responding to their children with words that encourage.  They are joining me today to talk about some of what they share in their book Pitchin’ a Fit: Overcoming Angry and Stressed Out Parenting. Resources mentioned in this episode: https://www.ctcmath.com/ The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today Ways to connect with Israel at Family Renewal: Family Renewal Website Pitchin' a Fit: Overcoming Angry and Stressed Out Parenting (Book) Family Renewal Podcast Raising Them Up Facebook Page (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

With so many new families homeschooling, I thought it would be wise to address the topic of school "choice". What I mean by that is we hear a lot of talk about the government wanting to offer us what they label school “choice”. At first glance this seems enticing, however, there are some very clear and present dangers that come with this offer. Listen in as Israel Wayne presents a very strong argument against school “choice”.  Resources mentioned in this episode: https://www.ctcmath.com/ The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today Ways to connect with Israel at Family Renewal: Family Renewal Family Renewal Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNfS-DUuKHPQHpBadmIe-xA Raising Them Up Facebook Page   (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all that's going on in the world? Has it become a burden to you? Have you ever wondered what moms are called to when it comes to politics? Today I'm going to be tackling this topic from both a practical and biblical perspective and praying that God will free you from burdens that are not yours to carry. Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Places I'm speaking in 2023 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Have you ever found yourself frustrated with the amount of clutter that seems to naturally come with kids and especially with homeschooling?  Today Ashley Wiggers and I are having a great conversation about ways to manage our kids' clutter! CTCmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today Places I'm speaking in 2023 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I’ve had moms write in and ask about the role of mother-in-law either because they have a mother-in-law or are one.  I’ve been a mother-in-law for 10 years, but feel like I’m continually learning more because there is always more to learn!  I hope you’ll find some helpful suggestions and perspectives in this episode! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Places I'm speaking in 2023 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I decided I had more to say about dealing with aggression in boys, how to re-direct it, and more specific examples of what we did and did not allow our boys to do! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com Tomato Staking: A Relationship-Based Parenting Tool  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Previous episode on Dealing with Aggression in Boys (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I have moms email me periodically asking how to deal with the aggression that seems to be more present in boys. (Hint: aggression is not necessarily a bad thing). I hope you'll listen in and share this episode with your friends! Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Places I'm speaking in 2023 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I've talked a lot about building a strong work ethic in our kids in both The Unhurried Homeschooler and The Four Hour School day, but if you weren't taught this growing up, you may want to hear some ways to build a strong work ethic in your kids. Resources mentioned in this episode: Age Appropriate Chores for Children (flandersfamily.info) Places I'm speaking in 2023 CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today Devotional on work: Created for Work by Bob Schultz  (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I've talked a lot about building a strong work ethic in our kids in both The Unhurried Homeschooler and The Four Hour School day, but if you weren't taught this growing up, you may want to know more about what work ethic really is and why it's important. In the next episode, I will talk about ways to instill a strong work ethic in our kids! Resources mentioned in this episode: HomegrownGeneration.com/Durenda (online conference) Age Appropriate Chores for Children (flandersfamily.info) Places I'm speaking in 2023 CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today Devotional on work: Created for Work by Bob Schultz  (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)        

Have you ever wondered if your child might need speech therapy?  Speech therapy actually covers a vast array of issues including newborns swallowing properly, auditory processing, texture aversions and so much more! Today I'm talking with Brandee, a homeschooling mom who has been a speech therapist for 20 years and worked with ages 0-100! She will be defining speech therapy and sharing how it's helpful, sharing what normal developmental speech issues kids might have, signs to watch for, things we can do at home, and what parents should look for in a speech therapist!   Resources mentioned in this episode: ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day   Homeschooling Today Homegrown Generation Online Conference Upcoming conferences where I will be speaking asha.org (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) To connect with Brandee: pirategirlus@yahoo.com   (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Do you have an unmotivated teen? Are you wondering how to help encourage them to be more self-motivated? I'm sharing some perspective and practical tips today from my experience raising 8 teens! Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to try and keep up with grading and checking all of our kids' schoolwork. A mom reached out to me with this question wanting to know how I kept up, so that is what I'm sharing today! Resources mentioned in this episode Upcoming events where I am speaking Homegrown Generation Interactive Online Conference: homegrowngeneration.com/Durenda Homegrown Generation coupon code: HG25 ctcmath.com  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today we are bringing some encouragement for the reluctant homeschool mom Maybe you are homeschooling and are still not sure this is for you. Perhaps you are thinking about homeschooling and have doubts that keep you from taking the leap or you are a seasoned homeschool mom who is feeling a little burnt out. This episode is for you! Join me at Homegrown Generation: an online interactive homeschool conference going on March 6-9th! (Use discount code “Durenda” for $10 off) HomegrownGeneration.com/Durenda Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Moms often wonder how in the world homeschooling can work when you have one or more little ones. I had 5 kids under 7, 6 kids under 9, 7 kids under 11…you get the idea, so I am not a stranger to homeschooling with many littles in the house. In the last episode I talked about WHY it can work and today I want to talk more about HOW it can work! Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math My YouTube channel  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Essentials in Early Education  Nurturing Seedlings Nurturing Sibling Relationship Series: The Importance of Nurturing Sibling Relationships Ways to Nurture Sibling Relationships Ways To Nurture Sibling Relationships Through Conflict Our Family’s Simple Routine Why Chores are Essential A Simple, Unhurried Approach to Science in the Elementary Years Homeschooling Multiple Ages with Rebecca Spooner Let’s Talk About Biblical Discipline (Blog post) When Gaming Becomes a God (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I’ve had many moms message me asking how to homeschool with littles at home. I’ve had 5 kids- 7 and under 6 kids-9 and under 7 kids-11 and under…you get the idea.  So I totally get this and I can tell you that it’s NOT impossible In this episode, I talk about WHY it’s possible and in the next episode I will talk about WAYS to do that! Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today The Importance of a Biblical Education The Importance of the Biblical Family Homeschooling: Freedom From What Others Think My YouTube channel  (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It seems as though so many are struggling and facing difficulty on several fronts all at once (including myself) so today I want to talk about having a biblical perspective on hardship. You could also call it a theology of suffering which is essential for the believer. God is not silent when it comes to suffering. He is compassionate and gracious, but in order to experience the fullness of the comfort He offers and remain steadfast, we must frame our emotions and circumstances under the authority and truth of scripture. Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Article on explaining David's lament in Psalm 40 Isaiah 46:9,10;Psalm 135:6; Psalm 115:3;Isaiah 40:27-31;1 John 1:5;Exodus 34:6;1 Chronicles 16:34;Psalm 145:9;Psalm 34:8;Psalm 92:15;Hebrews 4:14-16;Psalm 40;2 Corin. 4:17;James 1: 12; Hebrews 12:7-10;Proverbs 23:11,12 Godly Introspection vs Morbid Introspection (a short blog post) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

It’s been 27 years since I embarked on this homeschooling adventure(more if you count the preschool years). We have 8 kids so I’m still homeschooling the youngest and there are three things I’ve learned that I think every homeschool mom should know regardless of where you are on this journey! Listen in and be encouraged! Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math My YouTube channel  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

We know that one of the greatest temptations for us as humans is to worship something other than God, but is it possible for even our children to become an idol?  Listen in for some warning signs that our children may hold a higher place in our hearts than they should. Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math My YouTube channel  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It’s popular to take kids on dates, but if you look at the bigger picture historically, it’s a fairly recent/trendy activity. Dates with our kids can be fun, memorable, and meaningful, but we have to be careful not to make them a gold standard of parenting. They can serve a purpose, but are they necessary?   Resources mentioned in this episode: Tomato Staking (Podcast) My YouTube channel  CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course     (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Learning happens in such a variety of ways, but sometimes we find ourselves stuck in the traditional classroom model and need some inspiration to try something new! Today I’m sharing a simple way to do social studies with multiple ages! Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math My YouTube channel  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!) ________________

God commands parents to discipline their children because He knows that is what is best for our children and the entire family. Wes Johnson joins me today to talk about biblical discipline, including THE most controversial discipline tool. This is a long episode, but it is chock full of good stuff even down to specific examples of how to carry out biblical discipline. Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math My YouTube channel  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers Biblical Submission: The Hot Potato The Dangers of a Self-Help Culture How to Find a Biblical Church Scriptures mentioned in this episode: Proverbs 13:14, 22:15, 23:13-14, 26:3, 29:15,  Galatians 6:1 Ephesians 6:4 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

(Even if you homeschool more than one child, you’ll want to listen in for ways to encourage moms who are and be more aware of the unique challenges they face.) I have received several messages from moms asking me to talk about homeschooling an only child. Because I am clearly not an expert in that field, I put that topic on the back burner until I could find someone who actually is an expert.  I finally connected with Jessica Waldock from The Waldock Way and we have an encouraging conversation in this episode about the challenges of homeschooling an only child and ways to overcome them. Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Ways to connect with Jessica and resources she mentioned in this episode: Cooperative Games: https://www.thewaldockway.com/gameschooling-cooperative/ Single Player Games: https://www.thewaldockway.com/learning-with-games-one-player/ Homeschooling an Only Child Posts: https://www.thewaldockway.com/category/only-child-homeschooling/ Homeschooling an Only Child Newsletter: https://www.thewaldockway.com/homeschooling-an-only-child-support-and-encouragement/ Blog: www.thewaldockway.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/thewaldockway Instagram: www.instagram.com/thewaldockway Facebook: www.facebook.com/thewaldockway (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It’s perhaps a parent’s greatest fear-that at some point his or her child will become a victim of sexual abuse. The statistics are alarming: Approximately one in five children will become victims by his or her 18th birthday.   Today my guest is Justin Holcomb and he is here to help us better understand how to protect our kids from sexual abuse and ways to educate them about this topic without instilling fear.    Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math God Made All of Me My YouTube channel  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today

Every homeschooling mom wants their kids to become good readers and to love reading, but what if your child seems reluctant? Today I am answering a question I received from a mom who had some concerns about her son’s reading journey. Resources mentioned in this episode: Let’s Talk About Reading  CTC Math My YouTube channel  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

“Where do babies come from?” This common question all too often leaves parents perplexed about what to say, how much to say and when to say it.    Today my guest is Justin Holcomb and he is here to help us tackle this topic in a Biblically solid, yet simple, appropriate way. (Hint: It's not as complicated as we make it!)   This is a great conversation you won’t want to miss!! God Made Babies CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today     (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Happy New Year! As we move into the new year, I thought it would be great to talk about building your family culture! You may have heard the term, "building a family culture", but not fully understood what it looks like or where to begin. Today our daughter Jenna and I share the importance of building a family culture and how to cultivate that! Resources mentioned in the podcast: CTC Math You Who by Rachel Jankovic The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

It’s not uncommon to feel less energetic, more lethargic, or even somewhat depressed during the winter. I’ve experienced varying degrees of “winter blues” over the years so I thought I’d share some simple things that have been proven helpful! Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are you experiencing signs of burnout? Do you even know what they are? Burnout is a common problem for homeschool moms.   What would it look like to live a more grace-paced life?  With the holidays just behind us, we can often be experiencing serious burnout, so I wanted to talk about what it looks like to live a grace-paced life along with some practical ways we can move toward that. Today my guest is Shona Murray who wrote the book called Refresh that I have mentioned several times over the last months.  Shona has solid wisdom and biblical encouragement that will help us move from burnout to a more grace-paced life! (Plus you will love her lovely Scottish accent!) This is part 2 of a 2 part series, so don't miss the first episode! Resources mentioned in the podcast: Refresh by Shona Murray The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are you experiencing signs of burnout? Do you even know what they are? Burnout is a common problem for homeschool moms.   What would it look like to live a more grace-paced life?  With the holidays just behind us, we can often be experiencing serious burnout, so I wanted to talk about what it looks like to live a grace-paced life along with some practical ways we can move toward that. Today my guest is Shona Murray who wrote the book called Refresh that I have mentioned several times over the last months.  Shona has solid wisdom and biblical encouragement that will help us move from burnout to a more grace-paced life! (Plus you will love her lovely Scottish accent!) This is part 1 of a 2 part series, so don't miss the second episode! Resources mentioned in the podcast: Refresh by Shona Murray The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Often it feels as though God is silent on the issues that psychiatric disorders bring into our lives. Today my guest, Edward T Welch joins me to talk about common questions that Christians who are suffering from anxiety, depression, trauma, etc. often have. He empathizes with the sufferer's nuanced problems and offers practical encouragement for walking forward with Jesus on a challenging post-diagnosis journey.  You won't want to miss this one! Resources mentioned in the podcast: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course CCEF (Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation) I have a Psychiatric Diagnosis by Edward T. Welch (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)        

I don’t know where you are today physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Maybe you are excited and feeling productive and enthusiastic about all the festivities, maybe you’re exhausted on all fronts or just a few, maybe you are stressed about being able to get everything done in time for Christmas, or maybe you are hurting and reeling from unexpected news or circumstances. Maybe you are grieving and just wishing this would all be over so the pain wouldn’t feel quite so intense.  Wherever you are right now, I want to encourage you to take just a few minutes with me to slow your heart down. Take a deep breath, exhale and listen in to this simple, mercifully short episode to encourage your heart today! Christmas Playlist Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

For the last 33 years, I have sent out a Christmas letter and family photo. Today I thought I would simply read this year’s Christmas letter to you on this episode!  (This also means it will be a simple, mercifully short episode!) MERRY CHRISTMAS from our family to yours! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Our family has always enjoyed watching Christmas movies together and we have had over 3 decades to collect some favorites, so I thought it would be fun to share those with you!  You will likely be familiar with some, but you may find some new treasures! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Several of you asked me to share our family’s favorite Christmas traditions, so that’s what I’m doing today!   Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It’s a question many homeschool moms have asked themselves. Sometimes we just need permission to homeschool differently through the holiday season and other times we need permission to lay it all down and do something completely different. My friend Sara (veteran homeschooling mom) joins me today as we share our experiences and thoughts from our many years of homeschooling (or not) through the holidays!   The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today   (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

The commercialism that has become Christmas in our culture can feel disheartening and make us want to run in the other direction, but what if there is another option?  We are taking time today to reflect on some thoughts that will hopefully help us keep things in perspective and put the wind back in our sails when it comes to this wonderful season! Resources mentioned in this episode: Unwrapped: A Brief History of Gift Giving at Christmas Dig Into Culture Building Webinar Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

A mom asked about how to incorporate worship and homeschooling into the celebration of the Christmas season, so my good friend Sara and I are talking about that today! Listen in for a fun conversation and some great ideas! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Jotham's Journey (whole series) by Arnold Ytreeide (daily stories for read aloud) Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski (short and simple!) Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp (family devotional reading) God With Us by Catherine Pawlak (Jesse Tree ornament study) Unwrapping the Names of Jesus by Asheritah Ciuciu (what our small group is using this year)  Unwrapping the Names of Jesus (children's version) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year, especially with children.  However, it can be consumed quickly by relentless and unnecessary expectations that distract us from truly enjoying this time in a meaningful way with our kids.  Amy Fox joined us a few weeks back to talk about Thanksgiving and today she is here again, this time to share simple, meaningful, and unhurried ways to engage our kids in this Christmas season. Resources mentioned in this episode: Countdown to Christmas(CODE FOR 10% DISCOUNT: WILSON) goldenprairiepress.com Free Ebook The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are you overwhelmed by gift-giving as we head into the Christmas season? Join me and my sweet and practical friend, Sara, as we talk about some ways that we have simplified gift-giving for Christmas over our many years as moms! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Inflation is on the rise so my husband and I decided to share some simple tips for saving money!  We have lived on a single modest income for over 3 decades while raising 8 kids and we have watched God multiply our dollars as we tried to faithfully steward what we were given.  We hope you find lots of encouragement in this episode!   Resources mentioned in the podcast:  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day   (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Our son was recently diagnosed with a disability, but honestly, I already knew because I know our son. However, because we took an unhurried approach to his education and adjusted to what worked best for him, he continued to make progress and didn't hit any obstacles (we believed were important) that he couldn't overcome so we never felt the need to dig deeper. Today I'm sharing principles that hold true because they are based on God’s word. The methods may vary, but the principles remain solid and because of that, we can work from a place of confidence and faith even when our kids are diagnosed with disabilities.  Resources worth mentioning: Shepherding the Simple Deceived by OCD: When Crooked Paths Seem Straight Finding Your Child's Way on the Autism Spectrum The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

The holidays are considered to be the "most wonderful time of the year", but if you are walking through change or loss there is a good chance that is not the case. If this resonates with where you are right now, you'll want to listen in as Nikki Dutton and I talk about our own experience with this AND speak words of life and encouragement over you! If this doesn't resonate with where you are, listen in for ways to encourage those who are struggling with change or loss through this holiday season! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course nikkidutton.com More with Nikki Dutton Podcast Liturgies for Hope: Sixty Prayers for the Highs, the Lows, and Everything in Between by Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

The month of Thanksgiving is such a great reminder of the importance of gratitude. While we know it's important to be grateful, sometimes we lose touch with why it's important. (Hint: it's not another thing to add to your "to-do" list...it's really a game-changer!) Today Nikki Dutton(author, podcaster, and speaker) and I talk about the why's along with some practical, doable ways to practice gratitude.  Resources mentioned in this episode: More with Nikki Dutton Podcast nikkidutton.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

It can be so easy to let Christmas overshadow Thanksgiving, but Thanksgiving is rich in history and full of opportunity! Today Amy Puetz Fox and I will be talking about how to enjoy the countdown to Thanksgiving by engaging our kids in simple, meaningful, and unhurried ways! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Countdown to Thanksgiving (CODE FOR 10% DISCOUNT: WILSON) goldenprairiepress.com Of Plymouth Plantation Free Ebook (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Like most moms, I've had countless battles with anxiety over the years, at times it's been debilitating. There are a few simple practices that I keep going back to over and over again. It can be easy to dismiss them because they are so simple, but I have found that consistency is key.  Do I believe feeling anxious is a sin? No. I believe anxiety is a weakness(part of being human) that can lead us into sin if left unchecked and unyielded to the Lord. Today I'm humbly sharing what I've learned over the last 55 years and praying that God will give you wisdom as you listen Resources mentioned in this episode: Our Family’s Simple Routine  Morning Walking Benefits Psalm 84:11 Psalm 16:6 Psalm 16:8 1 Peter 3:17 Hebrews 12:7-11 1 Peter 5:9 Romans 8:18 Leaky Gut Diet Recipes Microbiome Mashup Dirty Dozen Clean 15 Attributes of God by AW Pink The Wonder of His Name (a study by Nancy Leigh DeMoss) CCEF (Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation): tons of great biblical counseling here on a variety of topics including anxiety and depression) The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Today Elizabeth Urbanowicz (Foundation Worldview) and I are going to talk about apologetics for 8-12 yr olds. This is a crucial age to be laying this life-changing foundation. You won’t want to miss this episode! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Seven Lies Your Children May Believe Pt 1 Seven Lies Your Children May Believe Pt 2 Mama Bear Apologetics (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today we will discuss simple apologetics for 4-8 yrs olds. You may be wondering what that would even look like. Isn’t apologetics just for those studying at seminary as an adult?  Apologetics is the study and practice of giving answers for the truth of the Christian faith and what better time to start than at a very young age through the simplest conversations and activities! Seven Lies Your Children May Believe Pt 1 Seven Lies Your Children May Believe Pt 2 Other resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

What if motherhood was about so much more than we've been told? What if the culture is dead wrong and there is something much bigger going on than first meets the eye? What if all the little things mean so much more than we could have ever imagined? Listen in for a boatload of encouragement today! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

When I first recorded this episode with Sherri, it was the beginning of summer, and her new devotional was supposed to be published soon. It was delayed and is finally available, but any time of year is a great time to learn more about who God is through creation in a simple, unhurried way! Today, Sherri Seligson, an avid fan and student of creation and science is joining us. She has many credits to her name, but none is more important than being a mom/homeschool mom. Today we talk about how to engage our kids by exploring nature truths with them! (The audio to the second episode crashed and burned so even though it's mentioned, it never made it to publishing)  :( Nature Study Devotional Website: SherriSeligson.com Social media:  Facebook: SherriSeligsonAuthor Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest: @sherriseligson Other resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Halloween isn't my favorite, but it is right around the corner and is sort of thrust upon us by the culture, so I think it's worth having a conversation about and sharing our family's experience with it. There are many controversies in the Church surrounding Halloween.  I've seen people handle their differences graciously and I've seen others let them destroy relationships. Every family chooses its own way of approaching Halloween. Some choose a personally long-held tradition, some choose a hodgepodge of traditions along with making adjustments to wherever they are in their season of life, adding in new traditions, or doing something completely new! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Many of you have messaged me with concerns about the church that you attend or are struggling to find a Biblical church and aren't sure what exactly to look for. Today I have Wes Johnson back on the podcast to share with us how to find a Biblical church! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers Biblical Submission: The Hot Potato The Dangers of a Self-Help Culture (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today Tripp Almon and I are going to be talking about the benefits of a gap year program for your graduate. A gap year is time taken off from school in exchange for experiences.  There are different kinds of gap year programs. What we will be talking about today is one that will help solidify your graduate's faith and ground them in Christian theology, worldview, and apologetics before they fully immerse themselves in college or the job market. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Summit Ministries(program page) Gap Year Association (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

There is nothing wrong with being proactive and responsible regarding our habits and mindset (this is biblical). However, we need to be sure that we are approaching everything from a biblical perspective, and often even Christian self-help books can lead us astray not necessarily intentionally, but because the author isn’t biblically informed and instead may very well base much of their perspective on pop psychology and humanistic/secular thinking. I invited Wes Johnson back to help us understand the difference between self-improvement, self-focus, “becoming your best self”, etc versus obedience to God and actual fruitfulness. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c7f29e03/recognizing-false-teachers-podcast-323 Biblical Submission: The Hot Potato (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I've noticed that there seems to be an increase in the number of trials and afflictions that many faithful Christians I know are experiencing. Our family is no different. Today I'm sharing a bit of an update on our family along with some encouragement to find courage in the midst of storms. Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Courage and Steadfastness by Rachel Jankovich (this is the message I listened to and I mentioned in this episode) You Who by Rachel Jankovich (this had the quote on faithfulness that I shared) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Biblical submission are words that can bring up a range of emotions and opinions because many of us have heard or experienced the abuses that have surrounded this topic.  As believing women who strive to walk in obedience to God and do our best to live out His standards in our home it’s essential that we have a biblical definition of submission, one that is informed by God’s word and not the culture and we must remember that the family is instituted by God and therefore HE is the only one who gets to define it. I’ve invited Wes Johnson to join us again because I knew I could trust him to be willing to tackle this topic and do so from an uncompromisingly biblical perspective. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

In the last 2 episodes, I’ve been talking about the importance of nurturing sibling relationships and practical ways to do that. Today I want to talk about ways to nurture those relationships through conflict because goodness knows, there can be plenty of that, especially in a house with 8 kids! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Drive Through Talking: An Effective Communication Tool (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Last week I talked about the importance of nurturing sibling relationships because, in my experience raising/homeschooling 8 kids, it's one of the best investments I made into their education! Today I want to share some practical tips on ways to nurture sibling relationships! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Simple Personality Test (Gary Smalley) The Love Language Quiz (5 Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

One of the things I think most of us don't expect when we start to homeschool is the amount of time we will spend navigating our kids' relationships with each other. It can often feel like an obstacle to getting "real" schoolwork done, but the truth is that learning to have healthy relationships IS an essential part of our kids' education! Today I'm going to share why it's so important to nurture sibling relationships in our home. Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Fall is such an amazing time of year and there are so many fun and free things to do with our kids! Today my friend Sara is joining me again to share some ideas that you may or may not have thought of! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Previous podcasts with Sara: A Conversation with 2 Veteran Homeschool Moms Finishing the School Year Well Considering Your Kids' Personalities in Your Approach Planning Your Homeschool with the End in Mind (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Today we're going to be talking about simple meal planning! I know for our family of 10 I had to simplify our meals, but also the way that I planned them. I couldn’t be reinventing the wheel every single week.  I invited my friend Sara to join me again today as we discuss several different options for simple meal planning! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Previous podcasts with Sara: A Conversation with 2 Veteran Homeschool Moms Finishing the School Year Well Considering Your Kids Personalities in Your Approach Planning Your Homeschool with the End in Mind (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Today my friend Sara and I are talking about basic family budgeting. One of the reasons that I wanted to cover this topic is that most families have to live on a budget. Many of us are single-income families and some of us have large families.  My husband and I lived on a modest single income for our family of 10 for many years and I can honestly say that I actually love the freedom of being on a budget. That may sound strange, but there is such peace knowing that you are staying within your income limits and not burying yourself in debt.  In this episode, we mention the envelope system. For our family, the categories were: groceries, gas, entertainment, clothing, and miscellaneous.  Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Previous podcasts with Sara: A Conversation with 2 Veteran Homeschool Moms Finishing the School Year Well Considering Your Kids Personalities in Your Approach Planning Your Homeschool with the End in Mind (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)      

Today I’m going to talk about how knowing God’s character can help relieve anxiety and I’m going to do that by sharing the incommunicable attributes of God which are attributes that only HE possesses. These attributes are important because what we need and what we want is a God who isn’t us. We are not sufficient and we want a God who is. We need a God who is.  We need a God who is powerful and independent of us. Listen in as I go through these attributes and share some meaningful applications when it comes to motherhood. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)      

I've been sharing more simple, unhurried approaches to subjects like language arts and science because I want moms to know that homeschooling really IS doable! Today my guest, Dennis Janisse (college professor and homeschool dad) shares his thoughts on writing as well as a budget-friendly, non-intimidating approach to writing essays and research papers!  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Fun-Schooling (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today I have my good friend Sherri Seligson back with us!Sherri is a veteran homeschool mom who happens to love science and writes science curriculum. She will put your heart at ease as we talk about taking a more simple unhurried approach to science in the high school years. She will also share what it looks like to help our science-oriented kids prepare for college! REMEMBER YOU HAVE THE FREEDOM TO ADAPT ANY CURRICULUM TO YOUR CHILD’S NEEDS. IOW YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Simply Unhurried Community  General Science (Apologia) Our family loved these for high school! It's very well done, it's doable, the student can work almost 100% independently and it fully qualifies as a solid high school credit! Biology 101 Chemistry 101 Physics 101 General Science 101 Suggested options (include your child in the process of deciding); Online classes Live classes (Apologia) Dual enrollment  Double up your subjects (example: if they are reading and writing for a science-related topic, they have covered science, writing, and reading) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I'm excited because today I have my good friend Sherri Seligson with us. Sherri is a veteran homeschool mom who happens to write science curriculum. She will put your heart at ease as we talk about taking a more simple unhurried approach to science in the elementary years!  REMEMBER YOU HAVE THE FREEDOM TO ADAPT ANY CURRICULUM TO YOUR CHILD’S NEEDS. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING! (The next podcast will be about taking a simple, unhurried approach to science in the high school years) Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today The Exploring Creating Series Masterbooks Sherri’s YouTube Channel Check out field guides at the library

When we got married, my husband only wanted 2 kids. Today he joins me as we tell our story about how we ended up with eight and share some thoughts and questions about family size that you may not have considered! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Simply Unhurried Community  Raising a Family of 10 on One Modest Income Yes, I Had 8 C-Sections! (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Language Arts includes such a broad array of topics that parents can become overwhelmed and doubtful that they are covering everything well enough.  Years ago I was introduced to Learning Language Arts Through Literature. I loved how it gently covered all of the language arts pieces without being overwhelming. I didn't use it for all 8 kids, but it was one of the mainstays of our overall curriculum choices.  Today, Ashley Wiggers joins me to talk about taking a simpler, unhurried approach to using LLATL and what we loved about it! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Why Grade Levels Don't Really Matter That Much The Benefits of a More Natural Approach to Learning (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

As moms, we set the tone in our homes.  Joy is a key element to learning, but even more importantly, we are called to it as believers. God gives us tools to help recapture joy when it has waned or has been lost completely. Today Jennifer Pepito, owner of The Peaceful Press and author of Mothering By the Book, joins us to talk about the power of reading aloud to recapture joy!  Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Simply Unhurried Community  Charlotte Mason Companion The Awakening of Miss Prim Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto Passion Driven Education Mere Motherhood Ways to connect with Jennifer and find her new book with a special bonus! www.motheringbythebook.com www.instagram.com/jenniferpepito www.instagram.com/thepeacefulpress www.thepeacefulpress.shop (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)                

God knows that we will face fear as humans and a particularly intense battle with fear when it comes to being a mom and He graciously gives us tools to help overcome fear.  Join Jennifer Pepito (owner of The Peaceful Press and author of Mothering By the Book) and me as we have a great conversation about the power of reading aloud to help overcome fear!  Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Ways to connect with Jennifer and find her new book with a special bonus! www.motheringbythebook.com www.instagram.com/jenniferpepito www.instagram.com/thepeacefulpress www.thepeacefulpress.shop (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Many parents orient their homeschooling plans strongly around grade-level standards. But how crucial are grade levels and more importantly, where did this concept come from? Listen in for a bit of a history lesson along with some insight and encouragement toward the freedom that is ours in home educating our kids! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Simply Unhurried Community  Here is the first in the series on Ecclesiastes https://open.spotify.com/episode/2lpOv8MddcJqkrXz11L8i2 Homeschooling: Purpose or Performance? Let’s Talk About Testing Creating High School Transcripts Life Counts for High School Credit Part 1 Life Counts for High School Credit Part 2 Homeschooling with Confidence When Teaching a Struggling Learner Tips for Disciplining Littles (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It seems as though we need more discernment than ever, especially as moms. We are raising the next generation of image bearers who will carry with them the values that we instill in them. We want those values to be solidly rooted in biblical truth and for them to not only be well-versed in them but to meaningfully apply them.  But where do we start? What does discernment really mean? How do we walk out a life that practices discernment?  How can wisdom change a person’s life and the lives of those around them? Listen in as Hannah Anderson gives us a deeper understanding of what it looks like to be discerning wives, moms, and women! The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Ways to connect with Hannah Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Hannah's Books: Made for More Humble Roots All That's Good Turning of Days Heaven and Nature Sing (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

The topic of humility can conjure up images of feeling restricted or in bondage to something, but as odd as it sounds this invitation to humility is incredibly freeing! It’s another one of those principles that are simple (not to be confused with easy) and surprisingly has a very direct impact on our level of anxiety and stress! This podcast is LOADED with encouragement!  Listen in as Hannah Anderson answers questions like: How does humility free us from the stress of comparison, of always evaluating our performance against someone else’s? How does humility free us from stress in our work? Why is the message of humility particularly relevant in this day and age? And more!!! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Ways to connect with Hannah: Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Hannah's Books: Made for More Humble Roots All That's Good Turning of Days Heaven and Nature Sing (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I recently made a big mistake in terms of what online mentoring can or should look like. It’s important to understand what role our online resources CAN play and what role they can NOT play so we aren’t expecting things that we shouldn’t.  I’m also including some important counsel regarding the local church because our family found ourselves struggling for several years to find a church that was biblically sound. I know some of you are struggling with that as well. BE ENCOURAGED! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Simply Unhurried Community  Applying Romans 13 to Here and Now  Links to messages that lay out the church’s biblical role (transcripts included): Who is the Church and What is She For? Local Church Leadership Pt 1 Local Church Leadership Pt 2 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book and best seller on Amazon, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

They say it can't be done, but clearly, it can. However, I have learned so much from my experience and I'm hoping to encourage you all through my story!  Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Podcast mentioned: Children a Blessing, NOT a Burden Story mentioned: Celebrating Silas (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)      

It's easy to feel the pressure to dive headlong into "school" once our kids reach the age of 5, but the truth is that a slow, more unhurried approach has proven to be far more beneficial. There are many reasons for that, many of which I share in my simple, mercifully short book, The Unhurried Homeschooler.  Today my daughter, who has 4 kids 7 and under,  joins me to talk about what a simple, unhurried, more natural, more effective, and WAY less stressful approach looks like! If you have little ones 7 and under, you won't want to miss this episode! The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day 100 Easy Lessons to Teach Your Child to Read (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!) (Credit for image below: flandersfamily.info)  

Last week I had our oldest daughter join me to talk about Tips for Life with Littles (0-6ish yrs old)reminding moms that although this season with our kids can feel repetitive and even mundane at times, there IS purpose in it! Today I wanted to share some tips on disciplining littles. I even open a can of worms that most believers aren’t willing to, not because I actually wanted to open it, but because I think it is necessary. Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Tomato Staking: A Relational Parenting Tool https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c788594f/the-homeschool-life-tomato-staking-a-relationship-based-parenting-tool-podcast-163 Parenting books: Parenting by Paul Tripp Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp Don’t Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Hubbard    

Life with little ones is busy. Much of what we do can feel repetitive and mundane but make no mistake, there is purpose in this season! Today my oldest daughter joins me to talk about the importance of prioritizing during these years with our little ones. She currently has 4 kids 7 and under and at one point I had 6 kids 9 and under so we get it!  The purpose of this episode is to encourage you and help you keep your eyes on what is important during these very special years with your kids! A great resource to understand your child's developmental stages (Use biblical discretion as these are not a Christian resource, but still very helpful!)  Your 1-Year-Old Your 2-Year-Old Your 3-Year-Old ETC. Other resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day   (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

If you've homeschooled for more than 5 seconds you know that every kid has their own learning style! It's what makes them unique! However, it can also become problematic if we are trying to teach them in a more conventional way.  Dianne Craft is back today to share about right-brain teaching strategies that go around the disconnection to help give immediate success and show our kids that they really are smart! (But we already knew that, right?) Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day diannecraft.org The Brain Integration Therapy Manual Right Brain Spelling  Right Brain Math Strategies Right Brain Phonics  Right Brain Sight Words Right Brain Writing (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)         

Many of us are homeschooling struggling learners. It can be easy to feel like we are not qualified, but I firmly believe that we are in fact the best facilitators of our kids' education.  No one loves and cares for our kids like we do and no one is more invested in their future.  I also think that we can often make things more difficult than we need to. I believe that God can give us simple, effective strategies and resources that allow us to relax and enjoy our kids as we home educate them, whether they are struggling learners or not. One of the things I love to do on the podcast is to connect moms with great resources, so I am excited about our guest today. (Resources below) The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Magazine Dianne Craft Resources: diannecraft.org Brain Integration Therapy Manual Dyslexia Identifying and Correcting Blocked Learning Gates Assessment Identifying and Correcting Blocked Learning Gates Checklist (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

Dr. Kathy and I talked about the importance of being in the word with our kids in the last episode and today we want to talk about a fun way that you can engage your kids in the word and help them learn to love it! The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four Hour School Day The Importance of Being in the Word with Your Kids www.PictureSmartBible.com Code is “Durenda” (Price will then be $99 for the Bible which includes one set of participant sheets. The normal price is $149.) Ways to connect with Dr. Kathy: CelebrateKids.com Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

I've shared a communication tool called Drive Thru Talking in passing during several podcast episodes, but I thought I'd make it the main topic of today's episode!  Listen in for a short, practical episode! The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Hold onto your hats! This is a good one! It’s no secret that there are many false teachers out there and the fallout from following them can be devastating to our families. Paul warns the Church repeatedly in the New Testament to stay away from false teachers.  One good thing that Covid revealed was the number of teachers who are simply not adhering to biblical truths. Now that we are wiser about that, how do we avoid following false teachers? What are the types of false teachers and how can you recognize them? I invited one of the elders of our church to speak on this topic because I knew he would do this effectively and I was not disappointed! Wes has joined me for several other podcasts and it’s been a huge blessing to all of us! (These previous podcasts are listed below) If you can, please listen in with your husband and as many of your children as you can. This is a very timely and crucial message. Wes did forget to cover the last thing he said he would cover and that was a list of warning signs that could be present in your own church:  Warning signs that could be present within your own church: -False teachers are often surrounded by young and or spiritually immature leaders because they’re less inclined to challenge a given decision, doctrinal position, or direction proposed by the pastor.  -False teachers are themselves often young and spiritually immature leaders. -False teachers generally have a loose relationship with biblical exposition (The biblical text isn’t the star of the sermon, the pastor’s anecdotes, illustrations, and jokes are). -False teachers are reluctant to practice church discipline because they’re far less concerned with the holiness of God’s people than they are with amassing a sizable crowd. -False teachers often place a high emphasis on aesthetics, marketing, appearances, and production value because people having a positive experience at their church is more important to them than biblical faithfulness.  The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Previous podcasts with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now (A biblical response to churches shutting down during Covid) Homeschooling: The Importance of a Biblical Education A Call Home: The Biblical Importance of Family The Sovereignty of God and the Problem of Sin in Our World     

What do we do when our homeschooled teens are ignoring our requests for timeliness?  What is actually best for them and what does that look like? I've invited our 19 yr old daughter to tackle this topic! The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today I want to talk about something that I refer to a lot in my podcasts: the sovereignty of God. This particular doctrine has been absolutely pivotal in helping me trust God both in the everyday and in times of crisis. It’s one that has been a safety net and indescribable comfort when nothing else could comfort me. Many Christians say that they believe in the sovereignty of God, but there are varying perspectives on what that actually means. A few questions that come to mind and will be answered in this podcast:  Is God active or passive with regard to the world that He made? Is there any sense in which God wound up the world, set certain parameters, and then let it go? Or is He actively governing His creation and making determinations about what will and what will not happen? Click this link after listening to the intro THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND THE PROBLEM OF SIN IN THE WORLD The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four Hour School Day Simply Unhurried Community (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I talk about simplifying and slowing down a lot, but I’ve realized that some might envision something different than what I mean when I talk about being unhurried. The unhurried approach started with our kids’ education but morphed into being a default that we fell back on frequently to help us stay intentional. It hasn’t been a goal as much as it has been a helpful tool. Listen in for some clarification on what I really mean when I encourage moms to be unhurried. The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

We all have ideas about family: its importance, its place in this world, what it should look like, etc. But upon further examination, we may come to realize that our perspective isn’t actually biblical.  Why do we have children? Why did God create families? What effect are families intended to have on the world and how do they advance the kingdom of God? Resources mentioned: The Simply Unhurried Community Related Podcasts: The Biblical Importance of Family The Importance of a Biblical Education Children a Blessing, Not a Burden Books: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four Hour School Day You Who? by Rachel Janchovic  Messages on how the family is to function, biblically: https://christchurchnc.org/sermons (May 30-July 11, all of these sermons are family-related) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

We all know it's important to be in the word with our kids, but sometimes things get in the way, and/or we get distracted.  Today my sweet friend, speaker, and author Dr. Kathy Koch is joining us today to talk about the importance of being in the word with our kids. You’ll love the simple encouragement and you’ll find inspiration to not give up!!! The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four Hour School Day The Simply Unhurried Community Ways to connect with Dr. Kathy: CelebrateKids.com Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy 8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child’s Intelligences by Kathy Koch 8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers by Tina Hollenbeck www.PictureSmartBible.com Code is “Durenda” The price will then be $99 for the Bible which includes one set of participant sheets. (Normal price is $149.) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

With so many distractions we can easily find ourselves oriented away from God and toward things that cannot satisfy. Jesus didn't mince words when He said that we cannot serve two masters because we will always eventually love the one and hate the other. Listen in today for some clear, concise encouragement toward remaining faithful to keep God ever before us, serving Him only. This is the only place we will find true peace and satisfaction. Matthew 6:24 Romans 6:16-18 James 4:4 James 1:5-8 Proverbs 3:5-8 Romans 12:1-2 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Many of us are thinking about the next school year and trying to get a jump on planning (unless you’re like me and wait until the last minute)! Today my friend Sara (a veteran homeschooling mom) and I are talking about “reverse planning” or “planning your homeschool with the end in mind” remember to be stubborn about our goals, but flexible about our methods! The Unhurried Homeschooler The Four Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

One of the most helpful things we did along the way was to increase our knowledge and awareness of our kids’ personalities so we could better approach both parenting and homeschooling. Simply having a bit of a picture of how our kids are wired by God and taking the time to make some tweaks in how we communicate with them can help us avoid a host of unnecessary power struggles. Today my friend Sara(another veteran homeschool mom) and I discuss this topic and provide simple resources. The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four Hour School Day The Simply Unhurried Community Hidden Keys To Loving Relationships(old, but free on YouTube) Relational Parenting Personality Plus for Families Love Languages for Kids Gary Smalley Online Personality Test Sara’s Summarized Word Doc Drive-Through Talking (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It’s that time of year when the homeschool finish line is in sight! This can bring a multitude of emotions including panic because it may look as though we can’t finish all we set out to do. Today my friend Sara (a veteran homeschooling mom) and I are going to talk about simple ways to finish the school year well! The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

(Don’t miss the “postscript” after the prayer at the end!) This is another episode of Simple, Unhurried Word of God. These episodes were created to give you some time to close your eyes and meditate on God’s word. I encourage you to invite your children into this practice as we disciple them in the ways of the Lord.    I try to keep things very simple and unhurried throughout these podcasts so that even young children can understand much of what is shared. In fact, I will be directing this podcast toward the children, but I think it’s important for you to listen in as well because there’s some great wisdom from God’s word that can be so helpful in nurturing sibling relationships between your kids. The Unhurried Homeschooler   Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart   The Four Hour School Day The Simply Unhurried Community   Scriptures shared: 1 Thes. 5:12-17 Ephesians 4:25-32 John 15:12 Matthew 7:12 Romans 12:10 Romans 15:1-2 1 Peter 3:8-12 Philippians 2:4 Romans 12:18 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, 13 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

As I’ve encouraged you all to simplify and slow down in your family life and homeschooling, many of you have asked what our family’s routine actually looked like. I have shared this routine off and on in other episodes, but never made it the main topic, so I thought I would do that today. This routine is also listed on page 54 of The Unhurried Homeschooler, but I'm sharing a couple of extra things today that are not listed in that Sample Schedule. We used this basic routine throughout our years as a family. Of course, the high schoolers typically had to do an hour or two more of school work after lunch, but they could do it during the "quiet time" that was a normal part of our after-lunch routine. Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four Hour School Day Homeschooling Today The Simply Unhurried Community Managers of Their Homes (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

This is another episode in my series that focuses on meditating on God's word! You are invited to take a pause, close your eyes and listen as I read scripture slowly. I would encourage you to use this with your children as well! Today's focus is God, the Good Shepherd. There are many scripture passages that talk about God being our shepherd and we being the sheep of his flock and there is much to learn from this example. So listen in as I explain the beauty of this metaphor and then read several passages that will bring life and comfort to your soul! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four Hour School Day The Simply Unhurried Community Scriptures in the podcast (you can use some of these for copy or memorization work as well!) Psalm 1:2,3 Psalm 23 John 10:1-18 1 Peter 2:25 Psalm 100:3 Micah 5;4 John 10:27 Isaiah 40:11 Ezekiel 34:11-16 John 21:15-17 P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!

After last week’s podcast on writing, I of course thought of a couple more simple ideas I wanted to share along with some resources!  Resources mentioned in the podcast: The Simply Unhurried Community Homeschooling Today homeschooliowa.org Brave Writer Books: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four Hour School Day Previous related podcast: Overcoming Writing Struggles Podcast   P.S. Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!  

Time is a gift from God and how we spend our time matters. It matters to God and since it matters to Him, it should matter to us. There are countless podcasts, books, and media on how to manage our time, but does God have any direction for us in this area? Today I'm digging into some passages of scripture that have brought so much clarity and peace to my heart. My prayer is that you are encouraged as well! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart The Four Hour School Day Scriptures mentioned in this episode: Matthew 6:24 Job 36:18 Psalm 39:4-7 Psalm 62:10 Proverbs 3:9, 10:2, 13:11, 21:20, 29:3 Ecc. 4:4, 5:3, 5:7 Eph. 2:10 1 Timothy 6:6, 6:9,10, 6:11,12 James 5:3 P.S. Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!      

Most homeschooling parents find writing to be one of the more challenging subjects to teach their children. In our over 26 years of homeschooling, our go-to approach for writing was very simple and straightforward.  I always encourage moms to listen to their God-given instincts, but I’m also hoping our story will encourage and inspire you somehow! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler  Homeschooling Today Learning Language Arts Through Literature P.S. Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!

Today I’m talking about “soul weariness”. It’s a term I recently heard being used to describe something I couldn’t describe before, but have felt to the very core of my being.  Maybe you can relate. We all have things that can cause “soul weariness”…circumstances, relationships, etc,  but today I want to talk about a remedy for this.  It’s not a quick fix, but it is powerful. Be sure to listen to this song at the end of this episode! https://youtu.be/P1qgyLTH6Xg Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler The Four Hour School Day The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry ( I'm listing book this because I said I would. Although the author's work on hurry can be helpful, I would not recommend this author as a solid biblical teacher who rightly handles the word of God) Simply Unhurried(Community) with Durenda Wilson  A way of homeschooling. A way of life. A sneak peek into more about what this community will have to offer. https://youtu.be/UEbHr2iH-cs (Projected launch date: May 1)

Newer isn’t always better. I’ve come to appreciate a more traditional approach to worship for many reasons, but I also love using some of the more traditional methods to disciple my kids that lend themselves to the simple, unhurried lifestyle. Resources mentioned in this episode:  The Unhurried Homeschooler The Four Hour School Day Huggy Hymns Catechism for Young Children http://sovgraceto.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Catechism-for-Young-Children.pdf Children’s Scripture Catechism https://shearerpca.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Childrens-Scripture-Catechism.pdf A short history of the catechisms and the New City catechism app https://servantsofgrace.org/short-history-catechisms-review-new-city-catechism/ Then Sings My Soul by Robert Morgan One of our elders shares our reasoning behind the way we choose to worship at our little church in the barn: “One of the reasons that we do music the way that we do at Christ Church (stripped down and understated) is because we want to ditch the spectator mentality that encourages everyone to listen to what is coming through the speakers without contributing to it.  We want our voices and the voices of our children to fill the barn as an outpouring of praise that our God both richly deserves and requires. We can’t do that if we don’t know the songs! So one of our members created a playlist on Spotify that includes the songs we usually sing. Put it on in the car, play it while you’re fixing dinner, let your kids dance to it, and make up moves to match the words (mine do this constantly!)- get those melody lines and lyrics in the heads and hearts of your family so that when we come together on Sundays WE are singing to Lord, not listening to someone else do it.” Our church playlist (including many traditional hymns):  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0XPJcXLF0yndvISYL8FhP6?si=2gOIWFCuRP6O2WRh5w3DBA Related podcast episodes The Importance of Discipleship https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/d4c4c2ed/the-importance-of-discipleship-with-karen-debeus-podcast-80 Bible and Apologetics: Where Do We Start? https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/be116b53/bible-and-apologetics-where-do-we-start-podcast-226 (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

When in the thick of homeschooling and raising kids, it can be easy to forget to keep investing well into our marriages, but one of the best gifts we can give our kids is a strong, healthy marriage! Today I'm sharing 6 simple ways to sweeten your marriage. It's not rocket science and you are probably doing some or all of these already, even after 32 years of marriage, I know I need reminders! I hope you enjoy this simple, short podcast and that you find some inspiration and encouragement to keep investing! Homeschooling Today Magazine The Four Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Do you have a child who is saying that they don’t want to be homeschooled?  Whether you are homeschooling or considering it and this is happening at your house, find encouragement and some practical suggestions in today’s episode! Homeschool Iowa (Connect with me at this conference in June!) Homeschooling Today Magazine The Four Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

College is NOT the only path to success. In fact, I believe it's becoming more and more irrelevant. The job market is and will be very fluid and constantly changing at unprecedented rates so our kids will need to be able to change with it. That means that as homeschooling parents, we are going to have to think outside the box when it comes to preparing our kids for their future. Fortunately, many fantastic higher education options are becoming available and today I am chatting again (part 2) with Angie Murrell from Apprentice University to find out more about how their program works! She will be answering questions like: What do your classes look like? What is the normal workload for an apprentice University class? What's the average age of an apprentice University student? Can high school students attend Apprentice University? Do you have any residential options? Do you offer any off-campus classes or distance learning? Is Apprentice University accredited? How are digital badges earned and certified? When can I apply to Apprentice University? How does this application process work? What if I'm not ready to commit to Apprentice University? Can I host any events with Apprentice University? Where can I learn more? Key Dates for Apprentice University Friday, April 29 – Student Preview Day on campus Friday, May 6 -- Student Preview Day on campus All registration links can be found on our website: Apprenticeu.com We are also happy to meet with people at any time and arrange for homeschool groups to host us virtually at their convenience. Ways to connect with Angie: Email: angie.murrell@apprentice.university Site: apprenticeu.com Homeschooling Today (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

College is NOT the only path to success. In fact, I believe it's becoming more and more irrelevant. The job market is and will be very fluid and constantly changing at unprecedented rates so our kids will need to be able to change with it. That means that as homeschooling parents, we are going to have to think outside the box when it comes to preparing our kids for their future. Fortunately, many fantastic higher education options are becoming available and today I am chatting with Angie Murrell from Apprentice University to find out more about how their program works! She will be answering questions like: Is Apprentice University a trade school? What types of careers can I pursue with my Apprentice University education? How long does it take to graduate from The Apprentice University program? How much does it cost to attend Apprentice University? What's the difference between an apprenticeship and an internship? How many apprenticeships do students have? What kind of apprenticeships have students held? Are apprenticeships paid? Key Dates for Apprentice University Friday, April 29 – Student Preview Day on campus Friday, May 6 -- Student Preview Day on campus All registration links can be found on our website: Apprenticeu.com We are also happy to meet with people at any time and arrange for homeschool groups to host us virtually at their convenience. Ways to connect with Angie: Email: angie.murrell@apprentice.university Site: apprenticeu.com Homeschooling Today (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

My friend Marianne Sunderland is joining me again today (part 2) to talk about the freedom you have to give your kids with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences a meaningful education! Marianne is a 25-year veteran mom of 8 kids, 7 of whom have dyslexia. She is an incredible resource and a kindred spirit in her simple, unhurried and relational approach. Today we will address questions like: How important is an early diagnosis? Can a mom really do an adequate job teaching her dyslexic child? (You'll love the answer to this!) Is there a simple, unhurried way to homeschool kids with dyslexia? Resources mentioned in this episode: homeschoolingtoday.com The Unhurried Homeschooler The Four Hour School Day Ways to connect with Marianne and her resources: https://homeschoolingwithdyslexia.com/start-here/   My Beyond the Box Learning mentoring group:   https://homeschoolingwithdyslexia.com/beyond-the-box-learning/   My books:   No More School: Meeting the Educational Needs of Kids With Dyslexia and Language-Based Learning Difficulties https://amzn.to/3qx1oNC   Dyslexia 101: Truths, Myths, and What Really Works https://amzn.to/36v9gZ8   What is Dyslexia? A Parent's Guide to Teaching Kids About Dyslexia https://amzn.to/36v9gZ8   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

My friend Marianne Sunderland is joining me today to talk about the freedom you have to give your kids with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences a meaningful education! Marianne is a 25-year veteran mom of 8 kids, 7 of whom have dyslexia. She is an incredible resource and a kindred spirit in her simple, unhurried and relational approach. Today we will hear Marianne's story and answer questions like: When should a mom be concerned that her child might have dyslexia? What are some of the signs that a child may struggle with dyslexia? Resources mentioned in this episode: homeschoolingtoday.com The Unhurried Homeschooler The Four Hour School Day Ways to connect with Marianne and her resources: https://homeschoolingwithdyslexia.com/start-here/   My Beyond the Box Learning mentoring group:   https://homeschoolingwithdyslexia.com/beyond-the-box-learning/   My books:   No More School: Meeting the Educational Needs of Kids With Dyslexia and Language-Based Learning Difficulties https://amzn.to/3qx1oNC   Dyslexia 101: Truths, Myths, and What Really Works https://amzn.to/36v9gZ8   What is Dyslexia? A Parent's Guide to Teaching Kids About Dyslexia https://amzn.to/36v9gZ8   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

Perfectionism involves putting pressure on ourselves to meet impossibly high standards, thinking that what we do is never good enough. This is something I have dealt with my whole life and I know that other moms struggle with it as well. Many of us also have children who struggle with perfectionism, so I thought it would be a good time to tackle this topic! Listen in for biblical encouragement so you can be equipped to deal with perfectionism more effectively! Scriptures mentioned in the podcast: John 14:26 John 16:13a Genesis 3:1-6 Romans 3:23,24 Matthew 11:28-30 Colossians 3:23-24 2 Timothy 2:15 Colossians 3:17 Ecclesiastes 9:10 Titus 2:7 Colossians 3:23  Galatians 6:4 Proverbs 15:32 Proverbs 29:15 Proverbs 3:5-8 homeschoolingtoday.com (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)          

Reading is an important skill, but does every kid have to love reading?  Does it matter what age a child learns to read? Today I'm sharing some of my own homeschooling experiences along with some facts about reading that you might find both helpful and interesting. Praying this episode will relieve unnecessary burdens you might be carrying when it comes to reading! (Join me for 2 upcoming episodes on dyslexia with my friend Marianne!) Resources mentioned: Better Late Than Early by Dr. Raymond Moore Learning all the Time by John Holt The Unhurried Homeschooler by Durenda Wilson Homeschooling Today (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

This is another episode in a series that I’ve been doing that you can use as a tool to help you and your family to meditate on God’s word. You can listen as soon as you get up, before bed, if you’re feeling anxious, during quiet time with the kids, or having a hard time sleeping, whatever works for your family! I include the verses here in the show notes for your reference and/or to use as copy work for your kids! (Don't forget to listen to the song. The link is at the bottom of the show notes!) Today we are going to be focusing on God’s lovingkindness. One of the ways lies that Satan often tries to convince us of is that God isn’t really good or loving or kind, so it’s important to meditate on the truth about who God is and that truth is found in God’s word. The Hebrew word most often translated as “lovingkindness” is checed, which literally means “covenant loyalty.”  Lovingkindness  is most often used to describe the character of the Lord Checed or lovingkindness, as it relates to the character of God, is most often used to describe God’s heart toward those who are His own. Exodus 15:13  “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed;     you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode. Jeremiah 31:3  I have loved you with an everlasting love;     therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Psalm 6:4(uses the word steadfast which means: (firmly loyal and constant, unchanging, immovable) Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;     save me for the sake of your steadfast love. Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,     on those who hope in his steadfast love, Psalm 119:149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;     O Lord, according to your justice give me life. 119:76 Let your steadfast love comfort me     according to your promise to your servant.   God’s lovingkindness brings us comfort and redemption from sin Numbers 14:19  Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”  Psalm 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;     according to your steadfast love remember me,     for the sake of your goodness, O Lord! Psalm 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God,     according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy     blot out my transgressions.   God’s lovingkindness assures us of His promises Deuteronomy 7:9  Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, Nehemiah 1:5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,   2 Samuel 7:15 (Covenant with David) I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him,  Psalm 18:50 Great salvation he brings to his king,     and shows steadfast love to his anointed,     to David and his offspring forever. Numbers 14:18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’   God’s steadfast lovingkindness is abundant, everlasting Psalm 33:5; He loves righteousness and justice;     the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. Psalm 145:8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,     slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love Jeremiah 33:11 “‘Give thanks to the Lord of hosts,     for the Lord is good,     for his steadfast love endures forever!’ Psalm 57:10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,     your faithfulness to the clouds. Psalm 69:16 Answer me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me, Psalm 31:21 Blessed be the Lord, For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city. Psalm 117:2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord! Psalm 63:3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. Lamentations 3:22,23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;     his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;     great is your faithfulness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7WER-J2844 (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

Is your child struggling with lying, but you aren’t sure how to address it from a heart-oriented, biblical perspective? Then we’re glad you’re joining us today as Ginger Hubbard talks about why children lie, what God’s Word says about lying, and encourages parents with practical ways to train children to speak the truth. We will be tackling questions like: Why is lying such a temptation for children (or for that matter adults)? In other words, what’s at the heart of lying. What are 3 methods parents should avoid when dealing with a lying child. Why should parents avoid them? How can parents help young children understand that lying is a sin and how it hinders their relationship with God and others? AND MORE! Ginger's books for kids: Chloe and the Closet of Secrets Ginger is the bestselling author of Don’t Make Me Count to Three, Wise Words for Moms, and I Can’t Believe You Just Said That. She speaks at women’s events, parenting conferences, and homeschool conventions across the country, and co-hosts the Parenting with Ginger Hubbard podcast.  Ways to connect with Ginger: www.GingerHubbard.com Podcast: Parenting with Ginger Hubbard Podcast Books: Don’t Make Me Count to Three, Wise Words for Moms, and I Can’t Believe You Just Said That! Check out Homeschooling Today Magazine: homeschoolingtoday.com (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)    

In a world that is moving at warp speed, it’s easy to forget that kids are still kids. Their needs haven’t changed: they need time to explore and experiment with the real world around them, to absorb life through all their senses, to process their thoughts at their own pace. All of these are crucial in laying a firm foundation for higher learning, but this TAKES TIME.   Listen in for some encouragement to take a simple, unhurried approach when it comes to our kids' education! (This short episode is only 11 minutes, please share with a friend!) (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Is your child struggling with whining, but you aren’t sure how to address it? Then we’re glad you’re joining us today as Ginger Hubbard talks about how parents can address whining from a heart-oriented, biblical perspective and teach their children to be better communicators.  We will be tackling questions like: How can parents help children understand the heart-issue behind whining and teach them to be better communicators? Can you identify some of those ineffective methods and talk about why they’re not beneficial? How would you address the issue differently with older children who whine? AND MORE! Ginger is the bestselling author of Don’t Make Me Count to Three, Wise Words for Moms, and I Can’t Believe You Just Said That. She speaks at women’s events, parenting conferences, and homeschool conventions across the country, and co-hosts the Parenting with Ginger Hubbard podcast. You can check out her parenting resources and find out when she’s speaking in or near your area at GingerHubbard.com.  (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

One thing we can be sure of is that we will walk through trials. The question is how will we walk through them? So much of that is determined by what we believe about trials. Do trials serve a purpose or are they just there to irritate us? Do we simply see them as problems to be solved or is there more to consider? Today I'll be sharing what a trial is, how/why they come, what our response should be and why. (Hint: not easy, but simple) Scriptures, podcasts, and resources mentioned: Romans 12:7-11 1 Peter 1:6,7 Ephesians 6:10-17 James 1:2-4 Romans 8:1-4 Philippians 4:4-7 1 Corinthians 10:13 Listen to Nancy Leigh Wolgemuth on The Wonders of His Name: https://www.reviveourhearts.com/podcast/revive-our-hearts/season/wonder-his-name/ (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Family life is a spiritual calling and involves spiritual warfare and often that warfare simply involves being faithful to our duties each day without wavering.  Discipline is one of those very important parental duties and requires discernment, fortitude, and perseverance to do well.   We live in a culture that doesn’t value children or the raising of children. God’s perspective is the polar opposite.  He tells us we are investing in eternal souls and not just those of our children, but our grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all those whose lives they touch. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work! Listen in for encouragement and some examples of practical discipline! Podcasts, scripture, and resources mentioned in the podcast: homeschoolingtoday.com Creating a Healthy Environment for Character Training: https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/bb0fac96/creating-a-healthy-environment-for-character-growth-podcast-282 Let’s Talk About Discipline: https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/ca27cfb2/lets-talk-about-discipline-podcast-290 Taming the ‘Tude in Your Kids: https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c362e6a1/taming-the-tude-in-your-kids-podcast-288 Tomato Staking: A Relationship Based Parenting Tool: https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c788594f/the-homeschool-life-tomato-staking-a-relationship-based-parenting-tool-podcast-163 Dealing with Disrespect in Our Kids: https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c334d8f5/dealing-with-disrespect-in-our-kids-podcast-263 Retraining the Kid Who Thinks They Are in Charge: https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/ba8a1b4b/tips-for-retraining-the-kid-who-thinks-they-are-in-charge-podcast-274 When Character Training Feels Like an Obstacle: https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/1a8032c8/when-character-training-feels-like-an-obstacle-podcast-52 1 Samuel 2:12-35-The story of the disobedience of the sons of Eli 1 Samuel 3:11-14 Naming and knowing sin: https://www.gingerhubbard.com/collections/all/products/wise-words-for-moms (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

This is another episode in a series that I’ve been doing where I share a bit of truth and the simple, unhurried word of God. The purpose is to give you a tool that helps you and your family to meditate on God’s word. You can listen as soon as you get up, before bed, if you’re feeling anxious, during quiet time with the kids, or having a hard time sleeping, whatever works for your family! I like to share some simple truths before we dive into the main topic verses. I’m trying to do it in a way that is easy for the kids to understand as well! Sometimes it’s hard to slow down. I know I love to be productive but meditating on God’s word IS productive, in the most important way!   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)   One mom suggested including many of the passages in the show notes because her son likes to use them for copy work!   Hebrews 4:12,13  For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.   Isaiah 55:10, 11   The rain and snow come down from the heavens     and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow,     producing seed for the farmer     and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word.     I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to,     and it will prosper everywhere I send it.   Joshua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.   Isaiah 26:3  You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.   Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.   Philippians 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, James 5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 1 Peter 4:9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.   Psalm 100:4-5 Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.   1 Chronicles 16:8 Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.   2 Chronicles 3-4 All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord, saying, “Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Ezra 3:10-11 Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord according to the directions of King David of Israel. They sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.   Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation   Psalm 106:1 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.   1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.   Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;   Psalm 31:7-8 I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness, Because You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul, And You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a large place.   Psalm 44:6-8 For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me. But You have saved us from our adversaries, And You have put to shame those who hate us. In God, we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Your name forever. Selah.   Psalm 136:1,2 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.   Psalm 138:1-5 A Psalm of David. I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to You before the gods. I will bow down toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name. On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.   Philippians 4:4-6 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.    Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;                    

Today we're going to be talking about disciplining our kids! I’ll be talking about what biblical discipline is, why it's so important, and I'll be addressing the issue of mom-guilt. Next week, I’ll be talking about practical parenting in hopes that you will be able to catch a vision for what it might look like in your home! Podcasts, sermons, and links mentioned in this episode: Taming the 'Tude in Your Kids-https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c362e6a1/taming-the-tude-in-your-kids-podcast-288 A Call Home: The Biblical Importance of Family-https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c047db34/a-call-home-the-biblical-importance-of-family-podcast-279 Hindering Our Children Part 1: https://christchurchnc.org/sermons/2021-07-04-elder-wesley Hindering Our Children Part 2: https://christchurchnc.org/sermons/2021-07-11-elder-wesley Creating a Healthy Environment for Character Growth- https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/bb0fac96/creating-a-healthy-environment-for-character-growth-podcast-282 Let's Talk About Growing Character \https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/ac422ab0/lets-talk-about-growing-character-podcast-286 Got questions:https://www.gotquestions.org/raising-children.html) (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)      

Welcome to another episode of the Durenda W podcast. This episode is one in a series that I’m doing to help you and your family get to know God’s word and learn to meditate on it.  A mom suggested that I include the passages in the show notes because her son sometimes likes to write them out! (Copywork for the win!) Last week we focused on the sovereignty of God. One thing I have said over and over again is this: If God were sovereign but not good, we would be in really BIG trouble! But the fact is that HE IS GOOD. This can be challenging to remember when we are facing trials and afflictions, but even those, God promises to use for OUR GOOD…for the good of our souls. So let's see what God's word has to say about his goodness and meditate on that! The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. Exodus 34:6 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Ezra 3:11 Good and upright is the Lord. Psalm 25:8 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. Psalm 145:9 No one is good but One, that is, God. Mark 10:18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11 I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness. Psalm 145:5-7 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Psalm 33:5 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8 Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting. Psalm 100:4-5 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness. Psalm 107:8-9 As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. Psalm 143:10 The Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalm 92:15 You are good, and do good; teach me Your statutes. Psalm 119:68 You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. Nehemiah 9:20 Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. Psalm 69:16 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Psalm 31:19-20 Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart Devotional:https://www.amazon.com/Unhurried-Grace-Moms-Heart-Days/dp/1983403962/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QTJ8PZXRR5L6&keywords=unhurried+grace+for+a+mom%27s+heart&qid=1645201004&sprefix=Unhurried+G%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-1 (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I frequently get questions from moms and recently I received an email with some concerns a mom had about her 9-year-old son who is giving her and her husband a lot of grief. So today I’m going to dive into her concerns and questions and I think you’re going to find a lot of encouragement here! Next week I will continue the conversation about child training and discipline because the truth is that unless we are really engaging that part of our role in our kids' lives, we will find our homeschooling journey much, much more difficult. It really can make all the difference! By training and teaching our kids what God thinks about everything, we are giving them a biblical worldview and helping them get to know who God is so that they can learn to hear his voice when he speaks to them. So whatever situations they are in throughout their lives they can stop and ask “How would God want me to respond to this?” and they’ll know the answer because they know their God! Podcasts on Discipline Why Discipline? https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/3acc1f6e/why-discipline-podcast-65 6 Discipline Mistakes Parents Make https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/af6560eb/on-the-porch-6-discipline-mistakes-parents-make-podcast-189 Homeschooling: Be the Parent https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c1b2508b/homeschooling-be-the-parent-podcast-221 Tomato Staking: A Relationship-Based Parenting Tool https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c788594f/the-homeschool-life-tomato-staking-a-relationship-based-parenting-tool-podcast-163 Recommended Book: Parenting by Paul David Tripp Check out Homeschooling today: homeschoolingtoday.com (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Last week I tried something a little new. I did an episode that included me reading the word of God slowly and quietly. The purpose of this was to encourage you and your family to slow down and get to know your God by meditating on His word. We cannot live authentically as Christians if we do not know the truth about our God and we get to know Him by reading and studying His word. We make decisions every day both big and small based on what we believe about Him so it’s imperative that we actually know who He REALLY is. Every day brings challenges, frustrations, and disappointments. It's part of living on this earth. So when those situations arise, we can ask ourselves, “How does God want me to respond to this?” and we will know the answer because we KNOW Him. The things that are happening in the world are unsettling, but the truth is that unsettling things have been happening for thousands of years. As believers, we are called to respond in sincere faith and that requires us to be continually reminded that yes, God IS in control. For that reason, today we are going to meditate on the sovereignty of God! (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

A few episodes ago I started the conversation about growing character in our kids. I shared how we as moms have a responsibility to encourage our kids to grow in character by creating an environment that will foster that. (Here it is if you missed it: https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/bb0fac96/creating-a-healthy-environment-for-character-growth-podcast-282) Today I’m getting into the nitty-gritty of character growth: What it is, why it’s important, how we do it and when we do it.  Then I will conclude this episode by answering a question I got from a mom about the issue of sharing.  This episode ran longer than I expected, but I think you'll find some helpful tips and grow in your understanding of how to walk this out! It's a worthwhile investment for sure! Resources mentioned in this episode: Homeschooling Today Magazine: homeschoolingtoday.com Deuteronomy 6:1-9  Tomato Staking: A Relationship-Based Parenting Tool https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c788594f/the-homeschool-life-tomato-staking-a-relationship-based-parenting-tool-podcast-163 When Character Training Feels Like an Obstacle (https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/1a8032c8/when-character-training-feels-like-an-obstacle-podcast-52) Creating a Healthy Environment for Character Growth https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/bb0fac96/creating-a-healthy-environment-for-character-growth-podcast-282   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Every mom struggles with anxiety to one degree or another. There are countless resources we can turn to and some of them can be useful tools that God gives to help us. However, Proverbs 3:7, 8 warns us to not be wise in our own eyes, but to fear God and shun evil which means we go to Him FIRST and care more about what He has to say than anyone else. Then it goes on to say that this will be “health to our bodies and nourishment to our bones.”  God’s word is timeless, it’s free, it’s living and active and able to transform us from the inside out.  I’m excited about today’s podcast because God has had me on an intense course (once again) of simplifying and slowing down. I’ve been struggling with some physical changes that are part of this season of life. This has also included some ongoing struggles with anxiety. One of the things that have been most helpful is practicing contentment through being still and listening to God’s word being spoken very slowly. This has helped me bring my mind and body into alignment with the truths of God’s word. I will share some important reminders about what God has to say about the power of His word and what it’s capable of and then I will read Psalm 1 to you slowly. You can use this to help you fall asleep at night or help you get back to sleep if you wake during the night. You can use it as a morning meditation before you even get out of bed. If the kids are out of sorts, call them together and have them lay quietly in the same room with you as you play this for them. If they are having trouble getting to sleep or feeling anxious, play it before bed or use it as a bedtime ritual. After enough listens, you and your kids will have it memorized! I'd love to hear if you'd like me to do more of these using other passages and topic-related scriptures that address things like fear, anxiety, faith, etc. (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Sometimes our kids say things that feel like a punch in the gut and kick our fear/guilt response into high gear. The reality is that there could be a serious character issue that needs to be dealt with in them and other times they are just being foolish like children often are.  Make no mistake, God is working in these situations. The key is to take the time to see what He's doing and cooperate with that work. Whether the work is more in us or in them is worth taking the time to discover. Last week I mentioned that birthdays, holidays, and special occasions can bring to light certain negative behaviors in our kids that need to be addressed. Today I want to talk about dealing with a pessimistic, ungrateful child and some simple ways to address that. PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FOUR HOUR SCHOOL DAY ON AMAZON, YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSELLER OR DURENDAWILSON.COM

(I encourage you to grab your teen or graduated daughters to listen in!) This is the second episode that we are talking about that season when our daughters have graduated, but aren't yet married. Johanna, our 19-year-old, graduated in 2019 and chose not to go to college. She is joining me for both episodes to share her story and what she has learned. Our family has never been ashamed of the fact that we highly value the role of being wives and moms because God clearly does. We believe that God has placed that nurturing nature into women intentionally and that it is a great gift. It's also in our nature to want to be loved by a man. There is nothing wrong with that, but how do we honor those desires in our daughters while encouraging them to be fruitful during this season of being unmarried. Once they have graduated, then what? Does God have a plan and a purpose for that season? How does the church view unmarried women? How does the culture view unmarried women? Is being unmarried a gift or an affliction?  Johanna also has a podcast for young girls that she co-hosts with Julia, my daughter-in-law, called Jules and Jo so if you have daughters, please go check it out! https://open.spotify.com/show/5bUzn8arfTumoFE7QswakM?si=1ed41bcca523409f Resources: Homeschooling Today Magazine: https://homeschoolingtoday.com/ A good study Bible (One of our favorites is the New Living Translation Illustrated Study Bible. The translation isn't as precise because it communicates more in ideas and less in literal translation but if you are fairly new to studying the word, it's a great start as it's easy to understand and the study notes and devotionals are awesome!) Bible studies from The Daily Grace Co Femina Podcast with Nancy Wilson  Learning Contentment: A Study for Ladies of Every Age by Nancy Wilson Single and Satisfied: A Grace-Filled Calling for the Unmarried Woman by Nancy Wilson Listen in and share with your friends! (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

(I encourage you to grab your teen or graduated daughters to listen in!) In this episode and the next, I'll be veering a bit off of my usual topics to talk about that season when our daughters have graduated, but aren't yet married. Johanna, our 19-year-old, graduated in 2019 and chose not to go to college. She is joining me for both episodes to share her story and what she has learned. Our family has never been ashamed of the fact that we highly value the role of being wives and moms because God clearly does. We believe that God has placed that nurturing nature into women intentionally and that it is a great gift. It's also in our nature to want to be loved by a man. There is nothing wrong with that, but how do we honor those desires in our daughters while encouraging them to be fruitful during this season of being unmarried. Once they have graduated, then what? Does God have a plan and a purpose for that season? How does the church view unmarried women? How does the culture view unmarried women? Is being unmarried a gift or an affliction?  Johanna also has a podcast for young girls that she co-hosts with Julia, my daughter-in-law, called Jules and Jo so if you have daughters, please go check it out! https://open.spotify.com/show/5bUzn8arfTumoFE7QswakM?si=1ed41bcca523409f Resources: A good study Bible (One of our favorites is the New Living Translation Illustrated Study Bible. The translation isn't as precise because it communicates more in ideas and less in literal translation but if you are fairly new to studying the word, it's a great start as it's easy to understand and the study notes and devotionals are awesome!) Bible studies from The Daily Grace Co Femina Podcast with Nancy Wilson  Learning Contentment: A Study for Ladies of Every Age by Nancy Wilson Single and Satisfied: A Grace-Filled Calling for the Unmarried Woman   Listen in and share with your friends! (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)                    

Lately, I’ve been sharing a lot about the importance of fully engaging in our roles as parents. I wanted to talk about character building today, but I realized that before I do that, it’s really important to understand that we as moms have a responsibility to create an environment for our kids that is conducive to growing their character.  Listen in, be encouraged, and share with a friend! Podcast and links mentioned: Homeschooling Today Magazine:  https://homeschoolingtoday.com/ https://www.familyeducation.com/how-to-determine-your-childs-love-language  https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/cc187bbd/growing-healthy-families-ways-to-build-your-familys-immune-system-podcast-123 Also, here's a favorite website of mine that has simple, clean eating recipes https://www.thegraciouspantry.com/ (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)        

Now more than ever parents are seeing the need to raise strong children.  As believers, we don’t just want our children to be strong in themselves, but strong in the Lord so that they can thrive in spite of what kind of pressure the culture might want to put on them to concede to secularism. In order for this to happen, it is imperative that we are intentional in our role as parents because, as we heard in last week’s episode, it's one of our primary mandates from God! Our obedience in this area has the potential to affect our culture in a big way! “The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!" -Deut. 30:6  Listen in, be encouraged, and share with a friend! Homeschooling Today Magazine: https://homeschoolingtoday.com/ Related podcasts mentioned: https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/bbcf7598/guarding-against-deceptive-narratives-podcast-277 https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c047db34/a-call-home-the-biblical-importance-of-family-podcast-279 https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c1b2508b/homeschooling-be-the-parent-podcast-221 https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/3acc1f6e/why-discipline-podcast-65 (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

I periodically get questions about testing. Many moms want to know if I tested my kids and if I think it’s important or not. Last week I talked about how math is a tool. Testing is also a tool and when used at the right time can be very helpful. However, the opposite is also true. If a child is not a good test taker and/or becomes stressed in the process, you are not going to get an accurate assessment. Listen in as I talk about my personal experience homeschooling our 8 kids. I'm not a "teacher" or an "expert".  I am a mom just like you simply sharing from my years of experience and my perspective now, 26 years later. (And just a side note: all of my kids are doing very well adulting and did from an early age!) If you are enjoying my podcast, please share it with your friends! Last week's podcast on Math: https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/b6a9580f/lets-talk-about-math-podcast-278 (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)  

Today I want to talk about just how crucial our roles at home really are. All throughout scripture, God references the family in countless ways because the family is what bears His image to the world.  I’ve said over and over again that the most effective way to change the culture is for Christian parents to fully engage in their roles at home.  Listen in to this conversation with Wes, a local pastor, husband, and father of four (who also happens to homeschool) as we talk about why the call home is essential for every believing parent! Links to podcasts mentioned: https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/d8683568/applying-romans-13-to-the-here-and-now-podcast-183 https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c37c85ab/homeschooling-the-importance-of-a-biblical-education-podcast-231 Need resources on biblical roles? Here are a few to check out: Reforming Marriage The Fruit of Her Hands Standing on the Promises For more messages by Pastor Wes, listen here: https://anchor.fm/christ-church-nc/episodes/1-Peter-21-3-e1ce9u9 For past messages on the family, listen to messages dated from May 30-July 11 here: https://christchurchnc.org/sermons   (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I often have moms reaching out to me to ask me about math.  Maybe their child hates it and they're struggling to help them. They can't seem to find an approach that works or they hated math as a student or weren’t good at it and aren't sure how they're going to teach their kids. If you can relate, please know you are not alone: Put simply, math is the bane of many a home-school mom’s existence. Today, I'm going to share with you my personal experience homeschooling our 8 kids. I'm not a math professional or a teacher, just a regular mom sharing from my perspective now, 26 years and 7 graduates later! I know you'll be encouraged! If you know other moms who might enjoy this podcast, please share it with other moms! Homeschooling Today Magazine at homeschoolingtoday.com Video link mentioned in the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyowJZxrtbg&t=623s (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com or your favorite bookseller!)

Narratives are essentially stories.  We are all living from a narrative in our heads, but the question is what or whose narrative? Let’s pause for a few minutes and take stock of what we are believing. God’s word says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  Moms we are responsible to guard our hearts because everything we do flows from them and we want life and truth flowing from our hearts so that we are wise women who build our homes, not foolish ones who tear them down! (Proverbs 14:1)   Scriptures mentioned: 1 Peter 5:8-11 Proverbs 4:23 1 Timothy 6:6 Phil 4:13 Romans 12:1-6 Lamentations 3:22-23 Psalm 75:7 Psalm 50:6 Isaiah 33:22 John 8:44 James 1:5-8 Homeschooling Today Magazine at homeschoolingtoday.com (Please check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life at durendawilson.com, Amazon or your favorite bookseller!)

This is the 55th time I have rung in the New Year. It’s from this perspective that I want to share a few things that I want you to remember as we head into 2022. What has anchored me over and over again throughout these years? What did my devotional life look like with 8 kids? (It's probably not what you are thinking!) Please share this podcast with your friends! For more encouragement, use the search bar on the podcast page on my website! Just enter keywords to find the encouragement you need! There are over 270 episodes! Scriptures shared: Romans 8:31-39 Matthew 6:25-34 (My devotional, Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart, is a great way to get back into God’s word in the coming year! Find it at durendawilson.com) The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool life is an Amazon best-seller! Find it on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Most families have at least one kid who seems to think they are in charge. Sometimes a special occasion like birthdays, holidays, or vacations kicks that into high gear.  Listen in to this short podcast to hear some tips for retraining the kid who thinks he/she is in charge! PLEASE CHECK OUT MY BEST SELLER,  THE FOUR HOUR SCHOOL DAY, ON AMAZON, YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSELLER OR DURENDAWILSON.COM

Life can be hard, but when that hard happens during the Christmas season, the hard can feel magnified. Sometimes we just need permission to be ok with the fact that certain expectations are simply not going to be met. Stepping back and looking at the grand scheme of things can often help us gain a little more perspective.  I hope you'll listen in, be encouraged, and when you've done that, take a few moments to soak in this sweet song!  PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FOUR HOUR SCHOOL DAY ON AMAZON, YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSELLER OR DURENDAWILSON.COM

)This is the final episode in the Unhurried Christmas Grace series!  We can feel so rushed in the midst of the Christmas season. But this time of year is really so much taking time. It's an invitation to wait in anticipation of a promise of a Messiah that was given so many years ago. Waiting isn't something that most of us do well, but why don't you join me for (literally) just a few minutes to ponder a few tender Christmas thoughts.  Get your Free digital Holiday Edition of Homeschooling Today here! LISTEN TO AN UNHURRIED CHRISTMAS(https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/6a9fc0e8/an-unhurried-christmas-podcast-101 PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FOUR HOUR SCHOOL DAY ON AMAZON, YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSELLER OR DURENDAWILSON.COM

)Get your Free digital Holiday Edition of Homeschooling Today here! Gather the kids and find a cozy spot to relax while I read to all of you our family's favorite Christmas story! Most of my kids are grown up and some even have kids of their own, so it makes me happy to be able to share this with your family today! Are you ready? LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE (https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/bc135b67/our-familys-favorite-christmas-story-read-aloud-podcast-102) PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FOUR HOUR SCHOOL DAY ON AMAZON, YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSELLER OR DURENDAWILSON.COM  

Does it feel like God is requiring more of you today than ever before? I’m right there with you. Maybe you are suffering through a particularly difficult trial. Maybe God is calling you to persevere in everyday life like never before. You are not alone. I think it’s important to know that we are not alone, but it’s even more important to know that as believers...(read the full transcript at durendawilson.com: https://www.durendawilson.com/post/is-god-requiring-more-of-you-now-than-ever)

As we wrestle with the challenges we are currently experiencing, many of us are asking questions like these: Can God rescue us from the problems we face? Can He save us from oppressive world powers? Can He break the power of our sin and help us deal with its consequences? These are pressing questions that every generation of Christians has asked and today we are going to find out how we can steer clear of panic/despair and anger and move toward joyfully engaging in the battle (that we will win) and delighting in our obedience to Christ! Please check out The Homeschooling Today Magazine at Get your Free digital Holiday Edition of Homeschooling Today here! homeschoolingtoday.com USE THIS LINK TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FOUR HOUR SCHOOL DAY ON AMAZON, YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSELLER OR DURENDAWILSON.COM

I love it when God lays encouragement on my heart to share with you in a moment when I didn't expect it. That is what today's podcast is. I hope you'll take a few minutes to sit back and let your heart be filled! (Note: I mention Mary's presence throughout Jesus' life. I wanted to clarify that she may not have been physically present for the resurrection and ascension, but she was alive and I'm confident had knowledge of all of it!) Verses shared: Luke 1: 46-56 Hebrews 12:1-3 Proverbs 3:5-8 James 2:18,26 Please check out my bestseller, The Four Hour School Day on Amazon, your favorite bookseller, or at my website, durendawilson.com

Today I’m sharing with you why I wrote my new book. It’s not a marketing podcast. It’s a very short explanation of why I can’t tell you exactly HOW to homeschool your kids.  I am confident you won’t be disappointed as I share several things that you may not have ever really thought about and how knowing these things will help you homeschool more confidently. The ultimate goal of The Four Hour School Day? To realize how doable homeschooling really is and that yes, you are in fact qualified to give your kids a full and robust education…and it doesn’t have to take all day! Please check out The Four Hour School Day on Amazon, your favorite bookseller, or at my website, durendawilson.com

Throughout the holiday season, I thought it would be fun to revisit some Christmas-related topics that I’ve recorded in the past.  We have had over 50K downloads in the last 30 days, so I  know there are many new listeners out there, and even if you aren't a new listener and you actually remember these episodes chances are you will STILL be encouraged by hearing them again!  I have current episodes posted over these weeks as well, but I'm really trying to spend time with my family and keep things simple and unhurried through this season. I hope you are too! (Check out Homeschooling Today magazine at homeschoolingtoday.com) Get your Free digital Holiday Edition of Homeschooling Today here! LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE USING THIS LINK Here is today’s episode description: Welcome to Unhurried Christmas Grace, a short podcast series I am doing during the month of December to help us keep our eyes on Jesus during this Christmas season. Today we are reading from Luke 1:39-55. This is the interaction between Mary and Elizabeth and it has some wonderful application to our lives! Please listen as we find out more about taking a humble posture of waiting during this Christmas season!   PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FOUR HOUR SCHOOL DAY ON AMAZON, YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSELLER OR DURENDAWILSON.COM

Hey Everyone!  I'm throwing an extra short podcast in here this week sharing my heart and hopefully bringing you a dose of encouragement as we head into the Christmas season! You all are the BEST! Really! I'm so thankful that God connected us. I so appreciate all of your notes and messages encouraging me to keep sharing! Thank you for that! Hugs from one mom to another! Durenda  

Throughout the holiday season, I thought it would be fun to revisit some Christmas-related topics that I’ve recorded in the past.  We have had over 50K downloads in the last 30 days, so I  know there are many new listeners out there, and even if you aren't a new listener and you actually remember these episodes chances are you will STILL be encouraged by hearing them again!  I have current episodes posted over these weeks as well, but I'm really trying to spend time with my family and keep things simple and unhurried through this season. I hope you are too! USE THIS LINK TO LISTEN Here is today’s episode description: Today’s episode is called, Cultivating Your Family’s Holiday Culture Be intentional! It's the battle cry of the many parents out there who want to do a good job raising their kids. We want important things to STAY important things. It's no different at Christmas, but it also happens to get more complicated at Christmas. So many possibilities, so many things we could do. Today we are talking about how to cultivate your family's holiday culture.  It's so important to consider where you are as a family: season of life, budget, uniquenesses of your children, etc. Heather Haupt and I are also discussing why it's important to cultivate a culture in your family, not just at Christmas but throughout the year and we will be walking you through a few guiding principles that will help you prayerfully personalize your family's holiday culture!    PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FOUR HOUR SCHOOL DAY ON AMAZON, YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSELLER OR DURENDAWILSON.COM

Throughout the holiday season, I thought it would be fun to revisit some Christmas-related topics that I’ve recorded in the past.  We have had over 50K downloads in the last 30 days, so I  know there are many new listeners out there, and even if you aren't a new listener and you actually remember these episodes chances are you will STILL be encouraged by hearing them again!  I have current episodes posted over these weeks as well, but I'm really trying to spend time with my family and keep things simple and unhurried through this season. I hope you are too! LISTEN USING THIS LINK:https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/b5c43a41/unhurried-christmas-grace-when-god-flips-your-plan-podcast-180 Here is today’s episode description. We all enjoy being able to make plans and see them unfold, but what about when God flips the plan? What then? How do we respond? I'm pretty sure that Mary's dream was not to live out a story that seemed impossible to believe and yet, when God revealed His plan to her, her response was one of humble obedience. All of us have experienced and will experience defining moments when God changes the trajectory of our lives. Let's look more closely at Mary's example in order to glean truths that can help us respond when God flips the plan. Mom’s Retreat Mentioned: homeschoolmomsretreat.com Code: DURENDA PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FOUR HOUR SCHOOL DAY ON AMAZON, YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSELLER OR DURENDAWILSON.COM

I wanted to speak directly to the fear that I know I’ve felt as I’ve seen so many directly affected by job loss, potential job loss, forced moves, and facing circumstances that they never expected.    The fear is real, it’s humanly understandable, but there is a remedy for it and it’s simpler (yet harder) than one might think. However, it is life-changing.    As modern people with SO many resources at our disposal, we often overindulge and end up overwhelming ourselves because we take in way more than we can actually meaningfully apply and obey.    Listen in and be encouraged! We really DON’T have to fear bad news.    Song: King of the World Resources shared: Attributes of God by A.W. Pink Proverbs 29:25 Proverbs 3:5-8 Isaiah 40:26-28 (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less! FIND IT AT DURENDAWILSON.COM, Amazon, or your favorite bookseller)

In a world that is moving and changing at warp speed, sometimes I feel like I can’t keep up.  How do I navigate something that doesn’t stay the same for what feels like any longer than a nanosecond? How am I supposed to keep a perspective of my place in this world and more importantly, my role as a believer?  I have been praying over this since early 2020. I have often bunny trailed into places I’ve never ventured before thinking that since everything is seeming like such a hot mess, maybe God wants me to do things I’ve never done before like become more of an activist. After all, most of my kids are grown and so I “could” do more of those things.  He has allowed me to go down some of those trails for short time and what I found is that they are more like black holes than trails. God, in His faithfulness, has continually led me back to the words “simple” and “unhurried” time and time again.  As a culture, we are overwhelmed with information, both bad and good. I can spend hours pouring over the latest political or pandemic happenings. I can even more easily spend hours utilizing the endless resources available to study scripture, listen to great teachings and read books on slowing down and simplifying.  But here’s the problem: I am human. I am finite. I am limited in my ability to apply and obey the total sum of all the available resources.  So if I am chasing my tail trying to implement every good idea or principle I read or hear or come across, even those based on scripture….(read the rest of the podcast by going to durendawilson.com) Comforts From the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick

I encourage parents to be patient and not to put too much book pressure on their kids too early. We can often gauge what they are ready for by their response to said schoolwork. However, regardless of whether or not they are ready for it, their responses to us need to be respectful.  In fact, before we ever approach solving the schoolwork issue, we must address the respect issue because our homeschooling journey won’t go well if our kids are in a habit of being disrespectful. Listen in for tips on dealing with disrespect in our kids!   (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less! FIND IT AT DURENDAWILSON.COM, Amazon, or your favorite bookseller)

I’m super excited to tell you that Schoolhouse Rocked the documentary is now available to stream! You won’t want to miss this super encouraging film on homeschooling that will help solidify your decision to homeschool and might just be the little nudge that so many parents need to jump into their own homeschooling adventure. So many parents are struggling with school boards and their right to decide what’s best for their kids! Homeschooling frees parents from that battle and allows them to decide what’s best for their kids! Homeschooling is more doable than most families realize and can help grow kids that are creative, flexible, problem solvers…ones that are ready to face the future with hope and confidence! Join me as I visit with Yvette Hampton, Producer of Schoolhouse Rocked! To stream Schoolhouse Rocked to your home, go to: https://watch.schoolhouserocked.com To host a group showing: https://faithcontentnetwork.com/host-schoolhouse-rocked Website: https://schoolhouserocked.com (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less! FIND IT AT DURENDAWILSON.COM, Amazon, or your favorite bookseller)

After over 26 years of homeschooling our 8 kids (7 graduated), I can tell you that curriculum is important, but not as important as you might think. Today I’m sharing some myths/lies that we tend to believe about curriculum along with some truths that are important to keep in mind so that you can make wise choices for your family. Podcasts mentioned: 8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers with Dr. Kathy Koch Why Chores are Essential Essentials in Early Education Here are a few curriculum choices our family has enjoyed over the years (not an exhaustive list!): Through 2nd grade-100 Easy Lessons to Teach Your Child to Read, Horizons math, workbooks from Costco/Walmart (I explain why in this video). 3-8th grade-Teaching Textbooks, Horizons, Notgrass American History(7th/8th gr), Math U See, Saxon (only for my math/logic minded kids), Key To Math series (if they are struggling with the basics) Learning Language Arts Through Literature (we handled science and history in an unconventional way that I describe in my books, The Unhurried Homeschooler and The Four Hour School Day) High School: Mystery of History, 101 Series (science), consumer math (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less! FIND IT AT DURENDAWILSON.COM, Amazon, or your favorite bookseller)

As promised, I am doing one short devotional a week. We can’t be godly wives and mothers unless we are godly women. That starts by making sure that our souls are being nurtured by God through His word and prayer. Typically these devotionals will be shorter than this one, but what can I say? There was so much to share from Psalm 46 that seemed too good to skip and given the increased spiritual battles that are going on all around us, we need it! Resources used and shared: New Living Translation Illustrated Study Bible Torah of Surrender  Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart ( a devotional I wrote specifically for homeschooling moms!) (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less! FIND IT AT DURENDAWILSON.COM, Amazon, or your favorite bookseller)

Have you considered homeschooling your children but are overwhelmed thinking of how to teach them? Or maybe you’re a seasoned homeschooler, but just can’t figure out how to get through to one (or more) of your children. Does your child love to build things but cannot.sit.still? How can you teach based on noticeable unique strengths?  Today, Dr. Kathy Koch and I continue talking about ways to recognize and teach to your child’s unique strengths and help them in their areas of weakness! Ways to connect with Dr.  Kathy: CelebrateKids.com facebook.com/celebratekidsinc instagram.com/celebratekidsinc pinterest.com/celebratekidsinc shop.celebratekids.com/ celebratekids.com/newsletter/   (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less! FIND IT AT DURENDAWILSON.COM, Amazon, or your favorite bookseller)

Have you considered homeschooling your children but are overwhelmed thinking of how to teach them? Or maybe you’re a seasoned homeschooler, but just can’t figure out how to get through to one (or more) of your children. Does your child love to build things but cannot.sit.still? How can you teach based on noticeable unique strengths?  Today Dr. Kathy Koch joins me in talking about ways to recognize and teach to your child’s unique strengths and help them in their areas of weakness! Ways to connect with Dr.  Kathy: CelebrateKids.com facebook.com/celebratekidsinc instagram.com/celebratekidsinc pinterest.com/celebratekidsinc shop.celebratekids.com/ celebratekids.com/newsletter/     (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less! FIND IT AT DURENDAWILSON.COM, Amazon, or your favorite bookseller)

This podcast is a little different in that I’m sharing my recent experience with burnout and how God has revealed himself to me in the midst of it. My intention is that you would be filled with courage as you continue to be faithful to the good work that God has given you in the life of your family. God is sovereign over the events that are happening in the world. We aren’t responsible for “fixing” everything. Although as believers we speak and live God’s truth, one of the most powerful and long-lasting ways we impact the world is by speaking and living God’s truth in our church community and at home as we raise our children and love our husbands. Simple. Unhurried. This has been where God has brought me back to over and over again. In the midst of difficulty, struggles, trials, temptations, and burnout, He wants to lead us back to unforced rhythms of grace, not simply for our comfort, but also as a testimony to a hurting world that peace can only be found in Him. Your testimony at home matters. (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less! FIND IT AT DURENDAWILSON.COM, Amazon, or your favorite bookseller)  

Husbands: How to Support Your Homeschooling Wife We are changing things up in this episode (and the last)!  Jerrad Lopes from dadtired.com is joining us today to specifically encourage husbands!  There is lots of encouragement for wives as well, so why not make it a date to listen together! You won’t be disappointed! Ways to connect with Jerrad: Community: connect.dadtired.com Instagram: @dad.tired All resources: dadtired.com (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less! FIND IT AT DURENDAWILSON.COM, Amazon, or your favorite bookseller)

Husbands: Protecting Your Wife from Fear  We are changing things up in this episode (and the next)!  Jerrad Lopes from dadtired.com is joining us today to specifically encourage husbands!  There is lots of encouragement for wives as well, so why not make it a date to listen together! You won’t be disappointed! Ways to connect with Jerrad: Community: connect.dadtired.com Instagram: @dad.tired All resources: dadtired.com (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less! FIND IT AT DURENDAWILSON.COM, Amazon, or your favorite bookseller)

I recently received this question from a homeschool mom (Rebecca) and I thought it was so good that I would share it in a podcast!  “I have listened to so many of your podcasts, and I know you believe in a very relaxed approach for the younger years. You encourage a similar approach to high school, but you work with an even stronger emphasis on owning their lives and education.  My question is, do you think all of the traditional high school courses are necessary if they’re not going to college?  If your state doesn’t require specific courses to graduate, then do you think it’s all truly necessary?” Navigating the Post High School Years Homeschooling a Struggling Learner Through High School If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less! FIND IT AT DURENDAWILSON.COM, Amazon, or your favorite bookseller)

Many parents homeschool their kids because they have one or more struggling learners, but often they feel ill-equipped and inadequate for the job. They know the traditional classroom setting isn’t working, but lack the confidence they would like to have when homeschooling their struggling high school learner. Entering the high school years as a homeschooling parent is the time when many who have average students begin to sweat bullets, but if you’ve got a struggling learner, the thought of meeting all the traditional standard criteria for high school can feel just plain hopeless. Fear not! Today my friend Peggy Ployhar joins me to talk about homeschooling with confidence when homeschooling a struggling learner through high school! Ways to connect with Peggy: Website: https://spedhomeschool.com/ Podcast: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/spedhomeschool Blog: http://spedhomeschool.com/articles/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/spedhomeschool High School Master Class: https://www.empoweredhomeschool.org/high-school-master-class   If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less! FIND IT AT DURENDAWILSON.COM, Amazon, or your favorite bookseller)

Many parents homeschool their kids because they have one or more struggling learners, but often they feel ill-equipped and inadequate for the job. They know the traditional classroom setting isn’t working, but lack the confidence they would like to have when homeschooling their child.   Today my friend Peggy Ployhar joined me to talk about homeschooling with confidence when teaching a struggling learner. Ways to connect with Peggy: Website: https://spedhomeschool.com/ Podcast: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/spedhomeschool Blog: http://spedhomeschool.com/articles/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/spedhomeschool High School Master Class: https://www.empoweredhomeschool.org/high-school-master-class   (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less! FIND IT AT DURENDAWILSON.COM, Amazon or your favorite bookseller)

Today's podcast is a mercifully short one. I share a short story that I heard years ago that begs the question: What are we hanging on to that God is asking us to let go of? He is a GOOD God and today's short podcast is a poignant reminder of that. (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less!)

In spite of the fact that I have been a believer my entire life, I have struggled with anxiety off and on over the years and still do. There are times it has been debilitating.    I’d like to say that I have overcome anxiety and never struggle anymore, but that would be a flat-out lie. However, God has given me wisdom that I can go back to over and over again whenever I am in a season of struggling with anxiety.   Today I am sharing just a few simple principles/practices that have helped me over the years and that I still find very effective.   Scriptures mentioned: Hebrews 12:11  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Proverbs 25:28  A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 2 Timothy 1:7  God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power of love and of self-control (self-discipline) John 4:18,19  Perfect love casts out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.   Phil 4:6,7 Be anxious for nothing but in everything with prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”   (James 1:5-8)   Books mentioned: The Sovereignty of God-AW Pink (not an easy read) Is God Really in Control-Jerry Bridges Humble Roots-Hannah Anderson The Attributes of God-Arthur Pink (When we know our God well, it is far easier to trust Him which reduces our anxiety)   Message mentioned: The Sinfulness of Worry   (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less!)

A while back I asked, “If you could ask a veteran homeschooling mom anything, what would it be?” Today I am answering three of those questions:  How do you help/encourage teens to explore options after high school? I have a junior in high school that doesn’t have a clue what direction he wants to go. He goes between engineer and car mechanic…..very different paths! As a former public school teacher, the homeschool world was never ever something I expected to find let alone to admire it.  My question is how do you discern when you’re trying to force something on your children and when it’s God calling you out of your comfort zone?  I loved the last half of your new book, especially the boy part! I know all these things but how specifically did you “say fewer words!?” I am horrible at talking too much!! Podcast mentioned: Navigating the Post High School Years https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast-1/episode/c9196c29/navigating-the-post-high-school-years-podcast-32 (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less!)  

Have you ever noticed that the pace of the children seems to inevitably be slower than we want or would tend to go?  What if this is actually God’s plan? What if slowing down is God’s way of helping our children learn and develop naturally, instead of having to force things? Today I’m honing in on the need to slow down for the sake of the children. I’m reading a little bit from my book, The Unhurried Homeschooler, and from The Four Hour School Day. (Let me clarify that this isn't permission to let the children run the show. You are still the parent, always. However, it can be easy to run at a frenetic pace that simply isn't good for the children OR us!) (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less!)

Ready to start homeschooling or at least considering it? (Maybe you know someone who is?) Today I share the last 3 of 4 practical steps to get started on your homeschooling journey! (I share the first step and debunk common myths about homeschooling in part 1)   Making the decision Moving forward Connecting Deciding on your approach Books mentioned in this episode: The Four Hour School Day-Durenda Wilson The Unhurried Homeschooler-Durenda Wilson Better Late Than Early-Raymond and Dorothy Moore (This book can be difficult to find as it's an older one, but The Unhurried Homeschooler has similar principles) The Successful Homeschool Journey (or Home School Burnout)-Raymond and Dorothy Moore For the Children’s Sake-Susan Schaeffer Macaulay Learning All the Time and Teach Your Own-John Holt Access Encouraging a Homeschool Heart Devotional by Durenda Wilson Blog post on different homeschool approaches(remember that you don't have to choose just one! You can combine approaches to best fit your children and family!) Podcasts mentioned: The Homeschool Life: Simple Ways to Avoid Being Overwhelmed How to Start Homeschooling without Getting Overwhelmed (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less!)

Ready to start homeschooling or at least considering it? (Maybe you know someone who is?) Today I debunk some common myths about homeschooling and share the first of 4 practical steps to get started on your homeschooling journey! The other three steps will be shared in the next episode!    Making the decision Moving forward Connecting Deciding on your approach Podcast: Why You Don't Need to Know Everything to Give Your Kids a Great Education Podcast: Transitioning from Traditional School to Homeschool (this one is more about the heart transition) HSLDA.org (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less!)

Sara and I have been friends for a long, long time. We both homeschooled all of our kids and now almost all are grown and gone. There is something about walking alongside another homeschool mom for that long. It creates bonds that can never be broken. I moved across the country, but Sara came to visit, so we sat down together to talk about homeschooling. I wanted her to share some things about her homeschooling journey because I think stories are fun and inspiring!  I hope you enjoy our conversation! (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less!)

So much of raising healthy, productive adults has to do with relationships throughout their childhood. Making connections with our kids and giving them opportunities to build healthy relationships with friends and with learning requires some thought and intention.   So how do you make relationships with your kids fresh, exciting, heartfelt, and happy? My guest, Greta Eskridge, says to break away from the routine! Intentional adventures away from the comforts of home create bonding and sharing opportunities that will last a lifetime!  In this 2 part podcast, Greta answers questions like: Why is connection so important? Can you still adventure with your kids if you aren't outdoorsy? What about when things go wrong on adventures? Convincing young kids to adventure doesn't sound too difficult, but what about teens? How do you make adventuring a part of your home school days? Besides connecting through adventure, you are passionate about helping families fight pornography. Those two things don't seem to go together. Is there a connection?   Ways to connect with Greta: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maandpamodern/ Website: http://www.gretaeskridge.com Adventuring Together (book)   (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less!)

So much of raising healthy, productive adults has to do with relationships throughout their childhood. Making connections with our kids and giving them opportunities to build healthy relationships with friends and with learning requires some thought and intention.   So how do you make relationships with your kids fresh, exciting, heartfelt, and happy? My guest, Greta Eskridge, says to break away from the routine! Intentional adventures away from the comforts of home create bonding and sharing opportunities that will last a lifetime!  In this podcast, Greta answers questions like: Why is connection so important? Can you still adventure with your kids if you aren't outdoorsy? What about when things go wrong on adventures? Convincing young kids to adventure doesn't sound too difficult, but what about teens? How do you make adventuring a part of your home school days? Besides connecting through adventure, you are passionate about helping families fight pornography. Those two things don't seem to go together. Is there a connection?   Ways to connect with Greta: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maandpamodern/ Website: http://www.gretaeskridge.com Adventuring Together (book)   (If you haven't checked out my new book, The Four Hour School Day please do that!  As a 25+ year veteran homeschooling mom of 8, I share WHY you can give your kids a robust education in four hours a day or less!)

Today I want to talk to any moms out there who have littles and might be feeling a bit (or a lot) overwhelmed!  All eight of our kids were born in 13 years. We had two girls first and then 4 boys in less than 6 years. The last two (a girl and boy) were born within 4 years after that, so I’ve been there. Some days really do just feel like survival, but we want that to be the exception, not the rule. Listen in for practical tips that will help you thrive in this very special season. (If you haven't read my new book, please check it out: The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)      

The enemy is insidious and disguises himself as an angel of light. Often, without realizing it, both we and our children can easily absorb these lies and inhibit our ability to think biblically. Today, Elizabeth Urbanowitz from Foundation Worldview joins us as she shares the last 4 of 7 lies our kids(and maybe we) very well may believe! She will also give us some activities to do with our kids to help combat each lie and reinforce biblical truth! (The first three are covered in part 1) Ways to connect with Elizabeth: Foundation Website Foundation Facebook Page Foundation Instagram (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)  

The enemy is insidious and disguises himself as an angel of light. Often, without realizing it, both we and our children can easily absorb these lies and inhibit our ability to think biblically. Today, Elizabeth Urbanowitz from Foundation Worldview joins us as she shares the first 3 of 7 lies our kids(and maybe we) very well may believe! She will also give us some activities to do with our kids to help combat each lie and reinforce biblical truth! (We will cover the last 4 in part 2) Ways to connect with Elizabeth: Foundation Website Foundation Facebook Page Foundation Instagram (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)  

Today I want to talk about transitioning from traditional school to homeschool. I know there are a lot of parents out there with a sort of deer in the headlights feeling right now. I just did a podcast on feeling forced to homeschool and for many families, this is the case. School boards across the nation are literally locking parents out who aren't cooperating with their agenda and refusing to listen to what the parents have to say concerning their kids. Consequently, many families are choosing to homeschool who might not have otherwise. In my recent podcast on feeling forced to homeschool, I help parents walk through some of the feelings that they may be having as well as encouraging homeschoolers to come alongside these families and support them. Before we can do that well, we need to understand some of the things they might be feeling and dealing with right now and that's what I talked about in the podcast along with suggestions on how we can best help them. Today I want to continue the conversation by talking about transitioning from traditional school to homeschool. (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)

(Part 2)One of the chapters in my book, The Four Hour School Day, is titled Overcoming Obstacles. There are testimonies from several moms who had what most would consider insurmountable obstacles to homeschooling. They each share what their obstacles were, why they decided to move forward anyhow, and what the results have been. Many would consider being a single mom an obstacle that would keep someone from homeschooling, but the truth is that there are more single homeschooling moms out there than one might think. Today I’m excited to have my friend LaToya Edwards here today to share the rest of her story. LaToya is a homeschooling single mama to 4 boys living in Tampa Bay, FL. She's a Christian life coach and writer. You are going to LOVE her story and encouragement even if you are not a single mom!   Ways to connect: LaToya's website LaToya on IG HSLDA support for single moms (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)

One of the chapters in my book, The Four Hour School Day, is titled Overcoming Obstacles. There are testimonies from several moms who had what most would consider insurmountable obstacles to homeschooling. They each share what their obstacles were, why they decided to move forward anyhow, and what the results have been. Many would consider being a single mom an obstacle that would keep someone from homeschooling, but the truth is that there are more single homeschooling moms out there than one might think. Today I’m excited to have my friend LaToya Edwards here today to share her story. LaToya is a homeschooling single mama to 4 boys living in Tampa Bay, FL. She's a Christian life coach and writer. You are going to LOVE her story and encouragement even if you are not a single mom!   Ways to connect: LaToya's website LaToya on IG HSLDA support for single moms (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)

It's a whole new world when it comes to education. The headlines are packed with articles about parents who are struggling with school boards across the nation to maintain their God-given liberties to make medical decisions for their children. They are also fighting against ideologies that they believe are harmful, but that the schools still want to teach.  Parents are fed up and many have decided to home educate because they don't feel like they have any other choice, but deciding to homeschool because you want to and feeling forced to can feel like very different things. There are many emotions that a parent who feels forced to homeschool might be feeling. If you are one of those parents, please listen in. You'll be encouraged! If you are not one of those parents (and homeschooling) please listen in for tips to be as supportive and encouraging as possible! (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)

"If you could ask a 25-year veteran homeschool mom of eight anything, what would it be?" This was a question I asked moms on social media and I've now got a list of questions I plan to answer here on the podcast! Today's questions were: Did you ever feel socially deprived as a mom? How do I make connections as a mom?   (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)  

What do we need more than anything right now? Wisdom. Wisdom is what we need.  What do we need more than anything right now? Wisdom. Wisdom is what we need. WHY? Proverbs 3 expounds on how wisdom bestows well-being. What that means is that even in the midst of adverse circumstances, we can have the wisdom to navigate them in such a way that we are actually doing well in spite of them! This wisdom can only come from God and He promises to give it to us (James 1) When we walk in this, we become salt and light to a generation desperate for hope!  It starts at home and moves outward. Our children need us to set an example of seeking wisdom from God more than anything else: money, status, health, security, or safety. Scriptures: Proverbs 3:1-18 Song:  Here’s My Heart (Casting Crowns)   (Please go check out my new book, The Four Hour School Day-How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life, available at your favorite bookseller and durendawilson.com)

"If you could ask a 25-year veteran homeschool mom of eight anything, what would it be?" This was a question I asked on social media and I've now got a list of questions I plan to answer here on the podcast! Today's questions are: What to do about the bickering? How do you know you are doing enough? Tips on balancing needs and sanity What to cut out when you constantly set out for yourself more than you can do in a day? (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)  

To say our world has been in upheaval is a gross understatement. The amount of information we have to process is overwhelming and causes us to lose focus on what GOD has called us to.  This is exactly what the enemy wants. I'm here today to help you refocus and I'm praying this will embolden you to continue to live with courage and clarity! (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)

Did you know that as a parent, you are ultimately responsible for all things concerning your child..physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually?  Our culture has sent a clear message that we are not qualified for these decisions by constantly undermining our role as parents in every possible way. However, as believers, we know that God has established the family and church as the pillars of society. If they falter, society falters. It's time for the church to take back our children. We need to be doggedly determined to give our children a thoroughly biblical education.  Listen in carefully, you're going to want to take notes! To hear more from Wesley please click here (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)  

We have seen many changes in our world over the last year and a half. All along, I've been thinking about how all of this is affecting our children and how we can lead them well as changes continue to unfold. The only source of true wisdom comes from God and I love how when we pray for wisdom and trust that He will give to us, He is faithful and does so in a variety of ways. Today I’m sharing a recent discovery that really resonated with my heart and that God used to help me discover some valuable nuggets of wisdom when it comes to leading our children well in the midst of change, whether it’s world change or personal change.   (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)

We are continuing our conversation in part 2 on the topic of high school credits. I've been talking a lot lately about homeschooling high school because this season can feel particularly intimidating. After graduating 7 of our 8 kids so far, I can tell that these can and should be some of the best years of your family's homeschooling journey! There is much to be excited about and there are also many experiences our kids have during this time that can be counted as credits on their transcripts! Today, Lisa Nehring from True North Academy will be helping us recognize not only WHY we can enjoy these years, but HOW by simply recognizing life experiences as worthy credits for our kids' transcripts! Some of the questions that we will answer are: Why do homeschoolers typically “under credit” high school?  What’s the benefit of thinking more broadly about credits?   Ways you can connect with Lisa: Website: TrueNorthHomeschoolAcademy.com  FaceBook Page: True North Homeschool Academy FaceBook Group: True North Homeschool Tribe; Instagram: truenorthhomeschoolacademy Podcast: https://ultimateradioshow.com/soft-skills-101/ Truenorthhomeschoolacademy.com (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)

I've been talking a lot lately about homeschooling high school because this season can feel particularly intimidating. After graduating 7 of our 8 kids so far, I can tell that these can and should be some of the best years of your family's homeschooling journey! There is much to be excited about and there are also many experiences our kids have during this time that can be counted as credits on their transcripts! Today, Lisa Nehring from True North Academy will be helping us recognize not only WHY we can enjoy these years, but HOW, by simply recognizing life experiences as worthy credits for our kids' transcripts! Some of the questions that we will answer are: What’s the big deal about credits? How do we count a credit?    Ways you can connect with Lisa: Website: TrueNorthHomeschoolAcademy.com  FaceBook Page: True North Homeschool Academy FaceBook Group: True North Homeschool Tribe Instagram: truenorthhomeschoolacademy Podcast: https://ultimateradioshow.com/soft-skills-101/ Truenorthhomeschoolacademy.com Tracking sheets: https://truenorthhomeschoolacademy.com/product/log-sheets/ (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)

Today we're going to be talking about the final educational years... That would be about 7-12th grade! Homeschooling high school can feel scary and intimidating, but today I'm sharing why there are many reasons to approach these years with a sense of excitement and adventure!  We have graduated 7 out of our 8 kids so far and it's been a privilege to walk alongside our kids through this amazing time in their lives! Listen in for great encouragement and inspiration! (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!) durendawilson.com

The most important calling on us as parents is to disciple our children. We know we need to instill God's word and ways in them and that apologetics is important. However, it can feel very overwhelming, especially if we are not sure where to start.  Today I'm sharing the why's as a reminder and inspiration to make Bible and apologetics a priority, but also some simple ways to get started! Resources mentioned: Younger Children's Catechism The Children's Scripture Catechism Firmly Planted Family Bible Study Indescribable by Lou Giglio The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones NLT Illustrated Study Bible (Tyndale)   (If you've read my new book, please leave a review so the booksellers will show it to more moms as they search the sites and you haven't read it, please check it out...The Four Hour School Day, How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!) durendawilson.com        

We all know the importance of scripture. We know that God says that the words in the Bible aren't just words, they are our life! We know that his word is living and active according to Hebrews 4. It stands to reason that it would be wise to begin instilling the word into our children at a very young age. We can even read the scripture over them in the womb because we know that God's word does not come back void! (Isaiah 55:11) I have a guest with me today who is a homeschool mom and has a passion for reading the scripture over our kids. Emily tells her story about how she came to write 3 sweet little books that can be used to help us speak life over our kids! Listen in for some great encouragement! Ways to connect with Emily and her books: Link to all the places to purchase books:  https://www.generationclaimed.com/order FB: https://m.facebook.com/GenerationClaimed/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/generationclaimed/   (If you have read and enjoyed The Four Hour School Day, please leave a review with your favorite book-seller! This helps let other moms know about it as well! If you haven't read it, please go to durendawilson.com to check it out!)

I love the freedom that homeschooling affords and today I’m sharing why we opted to do school year-round. (Hint: it’s not as intense as it sounds!) We love the benefits of schooling year-round and I share many of them in this podcast. The one I forgot to mention was that while doing our “lighter” version of school in the summer, I often found it helpful to have a child focus on an area of weakness that we may have struggled to work on the rest of the year. If your family chooses not to school year-round and it's working for you, keep doing it!  I always say, "If it's not broken, don't fix it!" but you may just find some encouraging ideas here! (If you have read and enjoyed The Four Hour School Day, please leave a review on Amazon or with your favorite book-seller! If you haven't and want to know more, go to durendawilson.com)

One of the greatest challenges in choosing to homeschool is the struggle with being concerned about what others think. We want others to believe that we are doing right by our kids. We want our decisions to be respected and that is a natural desire because we were made for community. The problem comes when we place man's opinion above God's. The Bible calls it the "fear of man" vs the "fear of God". Listen in for some encouragement from God's word and to find out what fearing God above man might look like.   (This is the last day you can receive my free devotional when you pre-order The Four Hour School Day)

Last week I did another FB/IG live and this time I was answering questions about homeschooling in the middle years (4th-6th grade) as I share from my book, The Four Hour School Day! It's an exciting time as in this season our kids are finding their footing when it comes to schoolwork and preparing for the jr. high and high school years.  Listen in as we cover questions like: Did you do classes at this age? I’m concerned for my middle schooler with writing. Should I use a curriculum? What kinds of social activities or events did your middle schoolers participate in while you homeschooled? Can you recommend some activities that your family did to help middle schoolers interact with other homeschoolers? Should these events be parent-led or child-led? And more!! (Please check out The Four Hour School Day at durendawilson.com)  

The main biblical commands that God gives children are to obey and honor their parents, to follow their parent's instructions, and learn from their wisdom. That’s because children need to be able to trust their parents to establish biblical boundaries for them while they are learning to walk in wisdom. This is faith at its core: trusting when you may not understand or see. I always told my kids that honoring and obeying their parents was how they please God and they had to trust that God was leading us as we led them. This is also why there is much more in the scriptures that speak to the parents about being very careful to pass on God’s word and ways to our children, not provoke them to anger, train them, etc. Part of creating a home learning environment where kids thrive is being faithful to discipline them.  Be the parent! Resources mentioned in the podcast:   Parenting with Ginger Podcast Don’t Make Me Count to Three and I Can’t Believe You Just Said That by Ginger Hubbard   Parenting by Paul David Tripp    Please be sure to check out The Four Hour School Day at durendawilson.com

Today I'm answering questions from moms about the early educational years (K-3) based on a few of the principles in my new book, The Four Hour School Day! I answer questions like: How can I best teach a highly active 1st grader? What tools would you recommend to have on hand for a kindergartener? How can I do history and science together with my 1st and 4th graders? This was a FB/IG Live and it's loaded with encouragement to simplify! Don't forget to check out my new book, The Four Hour School Day, available at durendawilson.com  

Sometimes it’s wise to take the time to think through the practical circumstances surrounding our school choices.  Today I’m sharing a few simple, yet important things to consider when it comes to homeschooling and how they might compare to a traditional classroom setting. There are more benefits to home education than one might realize. There are several things we often don't consider and yet they can make a huge difference in making learning happen more easily and happily!   Please check out The Four Hour School Day at durendawilson.com  

Homeschooling: Parents You Can Do This! Never in the history of homeschooling have we had so many resources to help us, but many parents are still hesitant because they don’t feel “qualified”. Today I’m sharing some of the many reasons I believe many parents are qualified, they just don’t realize it.  Listen in for encouragement whether you are simply considering homeschooling or already are and could use a dose of truthful affirmation! Please check out The Four Hour School Day on durendawilson.com   famoushomeschoolers.net

Many parents are scared right now. They are frightened for their children and their future and wondering how in the world they can best prepare them. What's happening right now is not a surprise to God and I can assure you that He has made you and your children for such a time as this. In fact, He has been intentional in doing so. But as parents, we need to remember and embrace our God-given role.  Listen in for some bold encouragement in this short podcast!   Please don't forget to check out The Four Hour School Day at durendawilson.com!

In our 25+ years of homeschooling, the question about socialization is the most commonly asked one.  Today I'm sharing why I don't actually think it's a very legitimate question and certainly not something that most homeschoolers should be fretting about!  (The Four Hour School Day is now available for pre-order at durendawilson.com)

The role of parents is marginalized in our culture. This downplay of our very influential and crucial role in our kids' lives by society directly oppose God’s plan for the family.   As parents, you have the privilege and the responsibility to make all decisions concerning your children, including their education.   For the first time, I am reading a small portion of my new book, The Four Hour School Day!    Please share this podcast with your friends and anyone you know who may be considering homeschooling!   Go to durendawilson.com to check out my new book!

When we decided to homeschool, I don't think most of us realized how much time we would spend dealing with kids who are bickering and fighting.  It can be easy to lose hope and feel like we are failing. Today I want to talk about what's really happening in terms of opportunity when it comes to sibling relationships! Not only is there hope, but there are also some major benefits in taking the time to deal with sibling conflict! Listen in to get some hindsight perspective from someone who's been there and is now on the other side! (I misquoted the scripture-it was 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18, 1 Corinthians :) ) durendawilson.com

It can be easy to bristle at the thought of our husbands being our covering, or even that we need one. Our husbands have a God-ordained role in our lives and it’s a beautiful thing! We can save ourselves so much grief by dialing in on biblical roles graciously given by God for our good!   durendawilson.com

I have said this over and over again:  it's crucial to know that God is sovereign, but if we don't believe He is good as well, we're sunk. If we believe He is powerful but not good, we have no hope. So the enemy works overtime trying to convince us that God is not good. He knows the power of fully trusting in the power of God AND the goodness of God. Listen in as we zero in on the hope we have in the fact that God is both sovereign and good! durendawilson.com

The enemy loves nothing more than to distract us from God's calling on our lives because he knows how powerful a woman of God can be. She poses a very real and present threat to the kingdom of darkness. I've recently had a refresher on the joy of my calling as a wife. After 31 years, I can honestly say that the blessings of walking in biblical principles have far outweighed the hard work. Listen in to find encouragement for your marriage! durendawilson.com 

To say that we live in uncertain times feels like a massive understatement. What we are wanting, even more than that...what we are NEEDING... is hope. Not false hope. Not hope based on lies, but REAL hope. Hope that is eternal and unchanging, a place to firmly plant our feet in the midst of uncertainty. Today we are going to visit Jeremiah who, in the midst of uncertainty and hopelessness poured his heart out to God. It's here that we have a point of entry into the suffering of God's people, Israel, that helps us face the darkest aspects of our own human experience and find hope. durendawilson.com  

I've learned much in my 31 years of marriage and 30 years of parenting. I've transitioned into a new season and so many of the same questions I had when I started my journey as a wife and mom are needing to be asked again: What does it look like to be a godly wife in this season?  What does it look like to be a godly mom in this season? How do I prioritize my days? As I revisit these, I am reminded of God's unchanging heart for us as wives and moms! Listen in to this 20-minute podcast of encouragement as we walk this journey together! durendawilson.com

To say that we live in uncertain times feels like a massive understatement. What we are wanting, even more than that...what we are needing... is hope. Not false hope. Not hope based on lies, but real hope, hope that is eternal and unchanging, a place to firmly plant our feet in the midst of uncertainty. Join me for this 15-minute episode as I share the hope we can find in the midst of uncertainty! durendawilson.com  

I'm changing things up here on the podcast. I'm making the episodes shorter in length and digging deeply into God's calling on our lives as wives and moms because I think that in the midst of these challenging times, we need to be reminded of what our main focus should be. Faith is acting on the revealed will and character of God. What might He be doing and how should we respond?  Listen in to this 25-minute podcast as I share my heart as a mentoring mom. (Head over to my website, durendawilson.com to check out my new book, The Four Hour School Day, releasing June 29th!)

I seriously doubt that any of us can say that we have not fallen prey to comparing ourselves to others.  In an era of carefully curated social media images, nonstop selfies, and TV shows devoted to perfection, comparison can consume you. Chasing something better quickly becomes a burden, weighing down your soul and preventing you from experiencing the freedom, contentment, and rest that God generously offers. Today Heather Creekmore joins us and she will be talking about her new book titled The Burden of Better. She is a homeschooling mom who offers women a journey into the depths of God's grace to find a way off the treadmill of constant comparison! Ways to connect with Heather https://www.facebook.com/heathercreekmoreblog https://www.youtube.com/comparedtowho https://www.instagram.com/comparedtowho/ https://www.pinterest.com/comparedtowho/ https://twitter.com/comparedtowho Compared to Who? Podcast: www.comparedtowho.me/podcast Books: The Burden of Better: https://amzn.to/3csoSgf  Compared to Who?: https://amzn.to/2QyLB1F

Today’s title may have gotten your attention and with good reason! It’s what every homeschooling mom longs to hear!  I’m excited to have Ginny Yurich from 1000 Hours Outside with me as she shares her heart, bringing a message of encouragement and hope. We will be talking about 10 ways you are doing it right! (Hint: They are probably not what you are thinking!) Podcasts mentioned in this episode: The Value of Getting Your Kids Outside Why Homeschooling Families Thrive Durenda's new book: The Four Hour School Day Ways to connect with Ginny: www.1000hoursoutside.com Ginny@1000hoursoutside.com Facebook.com/1000hoursoutside @1000hoursoutside on Instagram   Books mentioned: Israel Wayne-Education: Does God Have an Opinion? Israel Wayne-Top Answers for Homeschooling: Top 25 Questions Critics Ask  

I was reading through my journal from 13 years ago and was reminded how, as we raise and homeschool our kids, it can be so easy to be swayed by circumstances and emotions. Don't get me wrong, emotions aren't necessarily wrong and our circumstances have a genuine effect on us. However, as believing moms, it's incredibly important for us to walk by faith in response to both of these, for our sake and the sake of our families! What does it mean to walk by faith? It means that we act (and react) not based solely on our emotions, but on the revealed will and character of God One of the ways we can do that is by asking God to help us:  -Discern where He is working in our circumstances -Understand and remember the role of emotions  Both of these instances require us to be intentional in what the Bible calls “guarding our hearts”.  Listen in to learn more about this biblical discipline that can help keep us from anxiety as we find solid biblical ground to plant our feet in the midst of uncertainty! (Don't forget to check out my new book: The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life!)

It's been a really tough couple of weeks. You'll likely hear that in my voice today, but it's ok. I'm grateful to God for the things He reveals to me and reminds me of when things are hard.  Recently, that happened to be the blessing of our God-ordained roles as husband and wife.  Feminism has attempted to strip away the blessings that God has for us by trying to convince us that when He set particular boundaries in marriage, He was somehow ripping us off. Nothing could be further from the truth. Listen in for a refreshing, biblical perspective on marriage.  Scriptures from the podcast: Genesis 2:18-25 Genesis 3:1-19 Ephesians 5:22-33 (Please check out my devotional for moms: Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart on my website: durendawilson.com)  

Welcome to part 2 of What is the Role of Government? I think most of us have realized in recent times how little we know about the Constitution and specifically the role of government. I’ve actually been a little embarrassed for myself, but I got over that really quickly and decided it was time to educate myself and as many other people who wanted to know as well. Today I have Christen McMasters joining us for part 2 of "What is the Role of Government"! She is a millennial Constitutionalist from Charleston, SC, now residing in NC. She holds a Ph.D. in political science, but she is not your typical academic. She actually LOVES this country and LOVES liberty and will fight for it at all costs.  She seeks to arm fellow lovers of liberty with knowledge, knowledge that is painfully lacking and desperately needed. Knowledge first and foremost of the Constitution. The Constitution is our government’s job description and we are the government’s employers. How can we hold our government accountable to their job if we don’t even know their job description?” We encourage you to gather your family and listen in as we do two shorter podcasts on the role of government. We thought 2 shorter episodes would work best for kids.  Here are some questions so you and your kids can review what you've learned! Our focus last week was on: Why do we have government? Why do we have the Constitution? Why does it matter if the government follows the Constitution? This week we are covering: What is the most important branch of government and why? What does the Constitution say? Why is it important to distinguish the Constitution from the Bill of Rights? Ways to connect with Christen: Website: www.thelibertybellenc.com  Facebook: TheLibertyBelleNC  Twitter: @LibertyBelleNC  Instagram: @libertybellenc Christen's YouTube channel    Christen's book is available on Amazon:  Why Do We Need Government in the First Place? Or order on Christen's website here: https://thelibertybellenc.com/shop/   And finally, the quotes come from this article: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/interpretation/amendment-x/interps/129   “IN SUM, THE CONSTITUTION’S FRAMERS THOUGHT THAT A BILL OF RIGHTS WAS APPROPRIATE FOR AN UNLIMITED GOVERNMENT, BUT NOT FOR A LIMITED ONE LIKE THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CREATED BY THE CONSTITUTION. THE CONSTITUTION ACCORDINGLY SOUGHT TO SECURE LIBERTY THROUGH ENUMERATIONS OF POWERS TO THE GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN THROUGH ENUMERATIONS OF RIGHTS TO THE PEOPLE…IT REMAINS A GOVERNMENT OF LIMITED AND ENUMERATED POWERS, SO THAT THE FIRST QUESTION INVOLVING AN EXERCISE OF FEDERAL POWER IS NOT WHETHER IT VIOLATES SOMEONE’S RIGHTS, BUT WHETHER IT EXCEEDS THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT’S ENUMERATED POWERS.”    “IT [THE BILL OF RIGHTS] WAS CONSIDERED UNNECESSARY BECAUSE THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT WAS A LIMITED GOVERNMENT THAT COULD ONLY EXERCISE THOSE POWERS GRANTED TO IT BY THE CONSTITUTION, AND IT HAD BEEN GRANTED NO POWER TO VIOLATE THE MOST CHERISHED RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE.”    THE BILL OF RIGHTS ”…MIGHT HAVE VALUE AS A KIND OF BACKSTOP IN CASE THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION’S MEANING GETS TOO DERANGED. IN MODERN TIMES, THE ENUMERATED POWERS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN MISREAD BEYOND ALL RECOGNITION, TO THE POINT THAT THE ACTUAL CONSTITUTION IS NOT REALLY PART OF THE GOVERNING STRUCTURE AT ALL. WE LIVE WITH A SHADOW, OR ‘ZOMBIE,’ CONSTITUTION THAT HAS THE OUTER HUSK OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT BUT NONE OF ITS ACTUAL SUBSTANCE.”

Do you ever have that feeling like everything you do could have been done better? It’s every woman’s battle, especially every mom’s: “I’m not enough. I’ll never be enough.” “I could have done that so much better” “It would have been better if I would have ________.” “That was lame.” These words suck the life out of us and yet the enemy continues to effectively use them.   Nothing makes me more angry, frustrated, and hurt than doing my best and still feeling like it’s not enough. Cue in having 8 kids and there was potential for some serious feelings of inadequacy: Could I pull off raising/homeschooling 8 kids and not miss something?   Would some of my kids go off the rails because I failed to be enough? Would they hate the way they were raised or homeschooled? Would they see me as a failure? Our thoughts of inadequacy come from many places including regrets of the past, concerns for the present, and worries about the future. Listen in for a simple, beautiful truth. (Check out my devotional, Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart at my website, durendawilson.com)

  I’m doing something a little different for this podcast and I’m super excited about it! I think most of us have realized in recent times how little we know about the Constitution and specifically the role of government. I’ve actually been a little embarrassed for myself, but I got over that really quickly and decided it was time to educate myself and as many other people who wanted to know as well. Today I have Christen McMasters joining us! She is a millennial Constitutionalist from Charleston, SC, now residing in NC. She holds a Ph.D. in political science, but she is not your typical academic. She actually LOVES this country and LOVES liberty and will fight for it at all costs.  She seeks to arm fellow lovers of liberty with knowledge, knowledge that is painfully lacking and desperately needed. Knowledge first and foremost of the Constitution. The Constitution is our government’s job description and we are the government’s employers. How can we hold our government accountable to their job if we don’t even know their job description?” We encourage you to gather your family and listen in as we do two shorter podcasts on the role of government. We thought 2 shorter episodes would work best for kids.  Here are some questions so you and your kids can review what you've learned! Why do we have government? Why do we have the Constitution? Why does it matter if the government follows the Constitution? What is the most important branch of government and why? What does the Constitution say? Why is it important to distinguish the Constitution from the Bill of Rights? Ways to connect with Christen: Website: www.thelibertybellenc.com  Facebook: TheLibertyBelleNC  Twitter: @LibertyBelleNC  Instagram: @libertybellenc Christen's YouTube channel    Christen's book is available on Amazon:  Why Do We Need Government in the First Place? Or order on Christen's website here: https://thelibertybellenc.com/shop/   And finally, the quotes come from this article: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/interpretation/amendment-x/interps/129   “IN SUM, THE CONSTITUTION’S FRAMERS THOUGHT THAT A BILL OF RIGHTS WAS APPROPRIATE FOR AN UNLIMITED GOVERNMENT, BUT NOT FOR A LIMITED ONE LIKE THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CREATED BY THE CONSTITUTION. THE CONSTITUTION ACCORDINGLY SOUGHT TO SECURE LIBERTY THROUGH ENUMERATIONS OF POWERS TO THE GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN THROUGH ENUMERATIONS OF RIGHTS TO THE PEOPLE…IT REMAINS A GOVERNMENT OF LIMITED AND ENUMERATED POWERS, SO THAT THE FIRST QUESTION INVOLVING AN EXERCISE OF FEDERAL POWER IS NOT WHETHER IT VIOLATES SOMEONE’S RIGHTS, BUT WHETHER IT EXCEEDS THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT’S ENUMERATED POWERS.”    “IT [THE BILL OF RIGHTS] WAS CONSIDERED UNNECESSARY BECAUSE THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT WAS A LIMITED GOVERNMENT THAT COULD ONLY EXERCISE THOSE POWERS GRANTED TO IT BY THE CONSTITUTION, AND IT HAD BEEN GRANTED NO POWER TO VIOLATE THE MOST CHERISHED RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE.”    THE BILL OF RIGHTS ”…MIGHT HAVE VALUE AS A KIND OF BACKSTOP IN CASE THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION’S MEANING GETS TOO DERANGED. IN MODERN TIMES, THE ENUMERATED POWERS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN MISREAD BEYOND ALL RECOGNITION, TO THE POINT THAT THE ACTUAL CONSTITUTION IS NOT REALLY PART OF THE GOVERNING STRUCTURE AT ALL. WE LIVE WITH A SHADOW, OR ‘ZOMBIE,’ CONSTITUTION THAT HAS THE OUTER HUSK OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT BUT NONE OF ITS ACTUAL SUBSTANCE.”   

All of us hear voices that accuse and condemn us and tell us we are not enough. They can come through many different sources, yet they all originate from the same place: the enemy of our souls. If we can recognize their source, we can wage a more effective war, and our chances of victory increase exponentially. Listen in to this short devotional podcast to hear more about exchanging chaos, confusion, and exhaustion for peace. (This is an entry from my devotional, Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart, available at durendawilson.com)  

As we try desperately hard to be better moms, it is possible to start destroying ourselves through anxiety, shame, and even idolatry, allowing things to take up far more space in our hearts than they deserve! Listen in to today's short devotional podcast on Redemption in Motherhood! (Please check out my devotional written especially for moms: Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart. You can find in on my website, durendawilson.com)

What comes to mind when you hear the word, "modesty"? Be honest. Does it conjure up images of Puritan women, denim jumpers, or pretty much anything "not cute"?  Johanna, our 18-year-old daughter, is joining me today to share her journey. She encourages us that modesty doesn't have to be boring while also reminding us that it's very much a heart issue that should not be ignored! We encourage you to invite your daughters to listen in with you!  

The other day my grown daughter who is a mom of little ones was sharing with me how hard it is to continue to do the same, seemingly mundane things every single day and feel like what she is doing is actually important...that it matters. This is a common struggle for moms. Today we are going to read through a passage of scripture that is so encouraging as it reveals God's goodness in taking what seems meaningless to the world and use it for His glory! (Please check out my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart, available on Amazon!)

When it comes to homeschooling, sometimes we get lost in the day-to-day and find ourselves easily overwhelmed. Today I'm sharing some simple ways to stay intentional in your homeschool days. We want to enjoy this time as much as possible while making sure that our priorities are being lived out so we can raise strong, godly, responsible adults!   Podcasts mentioned: There's Freedom in Simplicity Simplifying Your Homeschooling Ditching the Comparison Trap Finding Satisfaction in the Life You Have Are you Being Led or Driven? (The Unhurried Homeschooler, a simple, mercifully short book on homeschooling, available on Amazon!)  

As moms, all of us have been plagued by the thought that what we are doing and how we are doing it simply isn't adequate, but God turns that kind of thinking on its head. Listen in to this short devotional on "Looking Like Fools"! (Be sure to check out my devotional: Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart available on Amazon!)

Welcome to this new episode of On the Porch! Many of you have told me that you wish you could just sit for a while with me on my porch, so this series was created to get as close to that as we can! Sometimes I invite others to join me on the porch and share their hearts with us. Today Leslie Nunnery from Teach Them Diligently is here to encourage us! Leslie and her husband David founded Teach Them Diligently, the nation’s premier source for gospel-centered homeschool events and resources. With over 10 years of homeschooling experience from preschool-high school (and beyond) and a passion to encourage and equip homeschool families!  Listen in as Leslie and I talk about the benefits of homeschooling and specifically the opportunities we have to disciple our kids! Resources mentioned in the podcast: Teach Them Diligently events--https://teachthemdiligently.net/homeschool-convention-locations/ Heart School-- https://teachthemdiligently.snappages.site/heart-school Teach Them Diligently 365-- https://teachthemdiligently.net/resources/ttd-365-membership/ Teach Them Diligently Book-- https://teachthemdiligently.net/resources/teach-them-diligently-discipleship-book    

Anxiety has become an epidemic in our society, and for moms, the battle seems to multiply exponentially. How in the world could Paul say in Philippians, not to worry about anything? Let's take a few minutes in this short devotional to tackle the topic of worry! (Please check out my devotional, Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart available on Amazon!)

Opposition. It's something we face from the time we begin making decisions for our children and intensifies when we decide to homeschool. Opposition can come at the most inopportune times and sometimes makes us feel as though we have been broadsided. Often it can make us feel inadequate. This is why it's imperative that we keep some very important principles at the forefront of our minds. Expecting opposition and positioning yourself to respond well will help grow your confidence and show your kids that homeschooling is a great choice for your family! (Please check out my simple, mercifully short book on homeschooling: The Unhurried Homeschooler available on Amazon!)

If you've been a mom for more than 10 minutes, you've felt it-the blaring realization that you really don't know what you're doing. It's one thing to watch other people parent, but when the responsibility of raising and caring for children falls directly on your shoulders, the weight can feel almost unbearable at times. Welcome to Unhurried Grace, a series of short devotionals created to get right to the point of our struggles and apply God's Word to them. I hope that you are encouraged today! Be sure to check out my devotional for moms: Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart found on Amazon!

Then we’re glad you’re joining us today as Ginger reveals 6 Discipline Mistakes Parents Make and encourages us to take a more biblical, heart-oriented approach to training our children. www.GingerHubbard.com IG - @ginger.hubbard FB - @OfficalGingerHubbard Parenting with Ginger Hubbard Podcast Another podcast on parenting mentioned: How to Have Patience When Your Child is Misbehaving

Have you noticed that it’s far easier to complicate things than it is to simplify?  Albert Einstein said, “The definition of genius is taking the complex and making it simple.”  Simplifying our homeschooling can be incredibly beneficial and today I'm talking about why along with some practical ways we can do it! Please check out my simple, mercifully short book on homeschooling, The Unhurried Homeschooler (Amazon)

Welcome to a new episode of Mentoring Moments! In this podcast series, I share my 30 years of experience as a mom and 25+ experience homeschooling! When people found out I had eight kids they would often say “You must have a lot of patience” as if having children automatically makes you a patient person. We all know how untrue that is! However, I have learned much over the last 3 decades of parenting, and today I'm sharing from that experience to help equip you to be able to enjoy these years with your kids! Be sure to check out my simple, mercifully short book on homeschooling, The Unhurried Homeschooler (available on Amazon)

This short audiobook is now available in a beautiful ebook version that is available for free if you subscribe to my website! (durendawilson.com) There has been so much going on in the world around us over the last 10 months and especially the last 2 months. It's been overwhelming for many of us and I have spent hours and hours seeking the Lord and asking him to give me a sustainable posture, in other words, a solid place where I can plant my feet and stay at peace. In that process, God has revealed places in my heart where I've built my house on rock...and places where I have built it on sand. My guess is that you can relate to this as well. In the meantime, we are still trying to be the wives and moms that God has called us to be. This creates an inner conflict because we have constantly been fed the lie that we have to be perfect moms and have everything together (or at least mostly together) or we will mess up our kids. Our desire to be good moms, more importantly, godly moms, is from the Lord, but the enemy twists that and uses it against us as he tries to make us believe that we have to have everything figured out. I think I can safely say that at this point we have far more questions than answers. But we serve a faithful loving God who sets our feet on solid ground! Listen in as you heed the call to trust and not fear! (Please visit this post at my site to view the playlist mentioned)

There seems to be a common myth that parents need to know everything (or almost everything) in order to give their kids a great home education. At the very least, they need to know as much as a trained teacher. That simply isn't true. Over our 25+ years of homeschooling 8 kids I've learned there are far more important factors that determine the quality of our kids' education. If you're feeling unqualified, please listen in and discover some very simple truths that will help you move forward in your homeschooling journey with more confidence and joy! Checkout The Unhurried Homeschooler, a Simple Mercifully Short Book on Homeschooling (Amazon) Podcasts mentioned: Chores: Why They are Essential Nurturing Sibling Relationships Series Homeschooling Boys Series

Not that long ago, many of us didn’t really know all that was going on in the world. The internet brought unprecedented awareness and with the burden of knowledge. As we see the wickedness that takes place all around us, we are forced to answer certain questions: Why does God allow injustice? Why does He tolerate evil? These are hard questions…. We all have areas in our lives that are hard–things that happened beyond our control, things we feared would happen.  There are no easy answers to the hardest questions of life, but as believers, we have solid reasons to exercise our faith and trust in our very powerful, very good God! Be encouraged as you listen to this short podcast from my devotional Unhurried Grace For a Mom’s Heart available on Amazon!

I’ve been praying about how to best address the issues that are facing us right now as moms. Although I will be talking about some of those specific concerns in upcoming podcasts, I have found that unless we start with the posture of our hearts, in other words, our spiritual state of heart and mind, all other counsel is a temporary fix at best. I have been spending copious amounts of time slowing down my heart and mind so I can hear from the Lord. It has literally been ongoing warfare. I have found anxiety to be a hedge that God has used in my life. What I mean by that is that God often puts boundaries on us physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually to keep us where He wants us because there is very important eternal work He wants to do in us. As humans, we bristle against boundaries, but David said in Psalm 16 “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Though His boundaries may not feel pleasant, they are most certainly for our good. My anxiety is ignited when....(listen in to hear the podcast or go to durendawilson.com to read the full transcript!)

Most churches have been shut down for months now. Christians are being told that their voice doesn't matter and to make things even worse, many church leaders and members are using Romans 13 as an argument to remain silent and submissive. This is causing many believers(myself included) to question what our role is when it comes to politics and specifically the rights and duties of citizenship as it aligns with scripture.  I wasn’t confident that I could share a solid, biblical position using Romans 13, so I decided to invite someone I trust implicitly to faithfully handle this text and deliver it to you with clarity and precision. Today I have invited Pastor Wes (my pastor) to walk us through this very relevant and very important passage. Wes is married to Heather, they have 3 daughters and another little one on the way. They also homeschool their kids! I think you are going to be very encouraged!

As we wrestle with the challenges we are currently experiencing, many of us are asking questions like these: Can God rescue us from the problems we face? Can He save us from oppressive world powers? Can He break the power of our sin and help us deal with its consequences? These are pressing questions that every generation of Christians has asked and today we are going to find out how we can steer clear of panic/despair and anger and move toward joyfully engaging in the battle (that we will win) and delighting in our obedience to Christ! (Don't miss the next podcast where we will dive into Romans 13 and find out what our part is in living out our civic responsibilities as believers!)  

Welcome to Unhurried Christmas Grace, a short podcast series I am doing during the month of December to help us keep our eyes on Jesus during this Christmas season. Today we are reading from Luke 1:39-55. This is the interaction between Mary and Elizabeth and it has some wonderful application to our lives! Please listen as we find out more about taking a humble posture of waiting during this Christmas season!

Welcome to this week's Christmas devotional! We all enjoy being able to make plans and see them unfold, but what about when God flips the plan? What then? How do we respond? I'm pretty sure that Mary's dream was not to live out a story that seemed impossible to believe and yet, when God revealed His plan to her, her response was one of humble obedience. All of us have experienced and will experience defining moments when God changes the trajectory of our lives. Let's look more closely at Mary's example in order to glean truths that can help us respond when God flips the plan.

Between Pinterest and other social media, it's easy to think that hospitality has to be executed perfectly in order to be meaningful, but nothing could be further from the truth.  When we understand and embrace the whys of hospitality and how powerful it really can be, it’s a game-changer. In fact, it can actually be life-changing in so many ways for you and those you connect with. Now more than ever, we need each other! I continually encourage women to slow down and simplify. It's not just to relieve stress, it's a way to open up space in our lives so we engage more fully with those around us! It's a chance to be the hands and feet of Jesus! The Gathering Table. (https://www.theginghamapron.com/the-gathering-table-book/) PLEASE LISTEN IN TO ENTER A FEE COPY OF THE GATHERING TABLE! (A WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY DECEMBER 15) Scripture Lullabies Albums are available on the website to send as gifts as physical CDs and digital downloads. You can purchase the digital downloads and gift them that way. Also, the Black Friday sale launches on November 27th and runs through December 11th. Use code THANKFUL30 to save 30% off our music on the website: scripture-lullabies.com

I love how God's word speaks directly to the challenges we face in everyday life.  How about complaining? We really hate it when our kids complain, but how often do we complain under the guise of "venting"? Even science has proven that choosing gratitude over complaining has countless benefits physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Even more importantly, avoiding a complaining spirit deeply affects our testimony as believers! Find out why by listening to this short devotional from by book Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart-31 Days in God's Word (available on Amazon)!

Many moms are finding themselves in the position of homeschooling AND working from home. Whether your kids were in school and you never expected to be homeschooling OR you were homeschooling and are now finding the need for a second income, you are likely facing challenges and could use some encouragement! Today I am having a great conversation with another homeschool mom who works from home and shares some practical ways to keep perspective so we can steward our time well. Dr. Jenn Murff has been named among the top 100 Influential Evangelical Leaders you Ought to Know in the country for her work and research on the Millennial generation. She has numerous credentials, but the ones she is most proud of are being a wife to Justin and mommy to their four precious girls!

Welcome to another episode in my devotional series, Grace for a Mom's Heart! These are short podcasts (less than 10 minutes) created to help moms stay in the Word of God, especially on those days where quiet time may simply not have happened! Hands can stay busy while hearts meditate on Him! In a culture of consumerism, contentment is not a popular topic, but oh the joy and peace that comes with the heart that finds it! (Please check out my devotional on Amazon: Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart)

Welcome to my On the Porch podcast series! God put this on my heart to record BEFORE the elections. This is not a political post, but God often uses such circumstances to reveal Himself to us. In a world where truth seems to be elusive and hope can quickly give way to fear, God gives us everything we need for life and godliness! We CAN remain stable in spite of the storms surging all around us! I hope that as you listen, you find encouragement and hope that anchors your soul as you walk the journey that God has you on.

Welcome to my devotional podcast series created just for busy moms like you! Today's topic is loneliness and it must be one that needs to be heard because I had all kinds of obstacles trying to get it recorded! I love these little devotionals because there is so much packed in a less than 10 podcast! Don't forget to check out the hard copy or Kindle version of Unhurried Grace on Amazon so you can have all 31 devotionals at your fingertips!

Welcome to my new podcast series: On the Porch! So many moms have told me that they would love to have a chat on my front porch, so I decided to start a series that would look as much like that as possible!  It's a place where I can share my heart on a variety of topics that are on your heart. I love talking about motherhood and homeschooling, but God often lays other things on my heart and I want the freedom to be able to speak on those topics that are time-sensitive or that God is compelling me to talk about sooner than later and may have very little to do with homeschooling or motherhood. Stories are powerful. They often invoke more change in our thinking than if someone simply makes statements. My prayer is that as I share my stores and heart, that God will cause faith and hope to rise up in your heart for your own story. Today is what I would call the "pilot' episode as I give a brief overview of my life story so that you can have a peek into my background and the perspective I am coming from. I did forget to mention 2 very defining and important parts of my life and those were the loss of our first grandson unexpectedly to stillbirth and coming within a razor's edge of losing our youngest at birth. These are stories I will share along the way as the Lord leads. Welcome to my porch!  

Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom's Heart! (Couldn't we all use a little more grace?) As humans, we are fickle. We forget-often and quickly. But it's the remembering that breathes fresh life into our faith! When we can so our hearts down, close our eyes, and think about what we felt when God met us at the place of our deepest need, we begin to sense something rising up within us that moves us toward trusting Him again for our current needs. Listen in to this short podcast and find encouragement for your soul!

Having eight kids in 13 years, I often found it difficult to pay too much attention to the area of mom care. I often felt guilty about not putting everyone else first, but what I discovered was that taking care of myself was an investment in more than just me. Listen in to this short devotional from my book Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart (Amazon) as we look at the deeper reason it's so important to take care of ourselves!

I'm talking with Eryn Lynum, a homeschooling mama of four. When she’s not teaching her kiddoes, she works as the content creator and publicist for Scripture Lullabies, a company producing high-quality, powerfully peaceful music inspired by the Word of God. Eryn is also author of the book 936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting! Here are the resources mentioned in the podcast: The Unhurried Homeschooler (Amazon) Our Website: www.Scripture-Lullabies.com Streaming: https://scripture-lullabies.com/stream Free “Peace Indescribable” Pack: https://scripture-lullabies.com/devotional Eryn Lynum’s website: www.ErynLynum.com 936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting: https://www.amazon.com/936-Pennies-Discovering-Intentional-Parenting/dp/0764219782 Free God of Wonders Devotional: http://erynlynum.com/god-of-wonders-devotional/ Literature with Biblical truths for ages 0-5: I Love You Just Because, I Love You Even When, and I Love You All the Same by Donna Keith You Are: Speaking God’s Word over Your Children and Tonight: A Book of God’s Bedtime Promises by Generation Claimed Literature with Biblical truths for ages 5+ Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard Case for a Creator, Lee Strobel Indescribable: 100 Devotions for Kids About God and Science by Louis Giglio Parables From Nature by Mrs. Margaret Gatty The Ology and Wonderfull by Marty Machowski Songs for Bedtime: Take No Thought For Tomorrow Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled Wonderfully Made I Am Here “Baby Sleep Time” Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/12YIUBRBRcWLoZ9zdjX2Ws?si=6OeJoBWTTTuAeb1YwJBBvQ “No More Nightmares” Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1dAoa1BkKHEjJSXhcVeaXo?si=y_DVC30zS56tRbaDQ1Cb_w

Over our 25 years of homeschooling, getting a good start in the mornings has been key to remaining intentional throughout the day. However, what do we want that good start to look like?  Homeschooling offers a unique opportunity to build relationships and relationships are key to everything else that happens in the family unit, including education. You may have heard the term "morning basket" and wondered what it was, how it works, and why SO many moms are choosing to use it? Pam Barnhill is a homeschooling mom and former secondary teacher. She's the host of Your Morning Basket podcast and today, she is sharing the specifics of this very simple and effective tool to help bring your family together as you start your homeschool day! Resources mentioned in the podcast: Your Morning Basket Podcast: https://pambarnhill.com/basket/ Better Together: https://pambarnhill.com/better-together/ The Carl Azuz (CNN-10) podcast will be: https://pambarnhill.com/ymb82 The funny voices cards can be downloaded here: https://pambarnhill.com/ultimate-guide-memory-work/ A video I made about using the memory work cards plus two other fun games we played when my kids where little: https://youtu.be/fmxdrWRksHI A free set of Morning Time plans to try: https://pambarnhill.com/month-of-morning-time/ The shop: https://plus.pambarnhill.com/ (CHECK OUT MY SIMPLE, MERCIFULLY SHORT BOOK ON HOMESCHOOLING ON AMAZON!)

Welcome to my short devotional, Grace for a Mom's Heart, read from my devotional, Unhurried Grace for Mom's Heart-31 Days in God's Word (available on Amazon)! Today we are talking about waiting patiently for HIm. We are constantly being told that we must be self-reliant, independent, and self-made, but we were never meant to work independently from God. God's design is so much better. Listen in and have your heart encouraged! Resource mentioned in the podcast: https://scripture-lullabies.com/

Whether or not you are new to homeschooling or not, it’s quite possible that you may be wondering if you’re ruining your child. I’ve got news for you, you’re not the first homeschool mom to have those thoughts and you certainly won’t be the last! I talk to homeschool moms who have a Ph.D. and moms who dropped out of high school and every one of them struggles with this at one time or another! Today I’m going to be having a conversation with my good friend, Sherri Seligson.  We have spoken at several of the same conferences over the last few years and I’ve had the opportunity to hear her speak on this topic. I love her heart and what she has to say about this common misconception, so I wanted her to come and bring that same encouragement to you! You’ll be SO glad you listened in! (For the record, between the two of us, Sherri and I have 12 kids, over 50 years of motherhood, and over 40 years of homeschooling experience!)

In all the blustering on the news and social media, I hear very little about how the many things happening around us are affecting our children. I have to ask myself WHY? Why are the children being ignored?  Homeschooling may allow our kids to be protected from a certain amount that’s going on, but I care about other people’s children as well and so do other homeschoolers that I know. I’ve been a mom for over 29 years (8 kids) and I am appalled at what is being taken away from the next generation. Who is speaking on their behalf? Certainly not most politicians or the media. In fact, I’m going to be bold and say that even many church leaders are not thinking about the next generation.  So what message are we sending to our children? Are we willing to risk traumatizing them all for the sake of “safety and security”? I don’t know about you, but I am not willing to do that. Whether it’s educational decisions, physical decisions, spiritual decisions, mental and emotional decisions, there are many who would say that, as a parent, we don’t have the right to make the final decision for our kids. We are continually being sent a clear message that we don’t know what’s best and that we are being irresponsible by not forcing something that some feel is necessary or vice versa. NOTHING could be further from the truth. As Believers, we are called to obey God as the ultimate authority and according to His Word, parents are the ones who are called to raise their children. They are called to protect them and make the decisions that they believe are best for them. (Read in full here: https://durendawilson.com/the-cultural-attack-on-children-and-why-we-must-protect-them-podcast-165/)

Bullying. It's real and yes, it happens even amongst homeschoolers. It can happen in co-ops, at church, with friends and online. It's imperative that we equip our kids (and ourselves) for these inevitable situations. Let's face it, our kids are not growing up in a kind world.   Quite possibly, bullying might be one of the main reasons you pulled your kids out of public school and now you're wondering how to walk alongside your child in the path to healing. Whatever the reason is that you are here, I’m excited to have Candice Duggar from Bullied/Broken/Redeemed here today!  Link to Candice's website which has all of her resources www.bulliedbrokenredeemed.com Here is the link to Candice's book on Amazon- Bullied Broken Redeemed: Expanded Edition Including Study Guide(*aff link) Bullied Broken Redeemed Parent Workbook(*aff link) Bullied Broken Redeemed Journal (*aff link) Luke The Lionhearted(*aff link) Luke The Lionhearted Workbook(*aff link) Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

Welcome to another episode in my series, The Homeschool LIfe where I tackle commonly asked questions or frequent concerns parents have about the homeschool life! Today I'm sharing one of the most effective parenting tools I have used over my almost 30 years as a mom to eight kids! I often say that homeschooling is an extension of parenting. I also encourage moms to be parent FIRST (teacher second) because the nurturing nature of a mom is what is most tuned into the whole child. Listening to our mom instincts will often be the most reliable and effective way to parent AND homeschool our kids. When it comes to our homeschool journey, the safety and security of consistent boundaries make the homeschooling life so MUCH more peaceful (not to be confused with perfect). In other words, keeping a healthy relationship with our child makes us more effective parents AND teachers. (Just a side note: I think it's important for you to know that after graduating 7 kids so far, my husband and I STILL have great relationships with ALL of our kids!) (Check out my simple, mercifully short book on homeschooling: The Unhurried Homeschooler on Amazon!)

I'm pretty sure that I am not the only mom out there who has found managing screentime with my kids incredibly frustrating at times! Many moms have reached out to me on this topic. I can share my own experience and how our family handled it, but I decided it was time to bring in an expert that could bring even more clarity! Leah Neiman is that expert! We all know that technology is here to stay and today's conversation is both refreshing and encouraging as Leah shares how to take a positive approach with our kids when it comes to screen time! She shares some awesome resources and great tips toward a more intentional relationship between us, our kids and technology! Podcasts mentioned in this episode: The Homeschool LIfe: When Life is Messy The Homeschool LIfe: The Priceless Gift of Childhood The Homeschool Life: Am I Qualified? Protecting Our Kids from Pornography Resources mentioned in the podcast: Freedom https://freedom.to/why   My article on How to Host a Virtual Game Night has 15 Game Apps that You Can Play with Friends and Family https://leahnieman.com/how-to-have-a-virtual-game-night/   Here's a link to Leah's podcast page https://leahnieman.com/podcasts/   Free from Leah: Tech Talk for Parents Conversation Cards   Five Great Search Engines for Kids   Sign up for Leah'sTech Talk for Parents Newsletter   Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash

Welcome to my series called The Homeschool Life where I tackle one topic or commonly asked question per week based on my 25 years of homeschooling experience with 8 kids. Today I'm talking about finding rhythm in your homeschool day because it really does matter. It can mean the difference between feeling stressed and actually enjoying these years with your kids. Finding rhythm help tremendously in building a strong family and homeschool life! Today I define what rhythm is, why it's important, and how to find it! For more details on our homeschooling and taking a more unhurried approach, please check out my book on Amazon: The Unhurried Homeschooler: A Simple, Mercifully Short Book on Homeschooling! (aff link)

Pornography is essentially a hijacking of God's design. Unfortunately, it's a very real struggle for 70% of men and 33% of women, even those who attend church. 56% of divorces list pornography as one of the causes. The average age that a child is exposed to pornography for the first time is 8-13 years old. So how do we protect our kids while still preserving their innocence? Today I am having a great conversation with Sam Black from Covenant Eyes as he shares effective tools to remove ignorance so our kids can assist us in protecting their innocence. (Listen in for several free resources at the end of the podcast!) Resources mentioned in the podcast: Covenant Eyes Website Focus on the Family resources on sex education BARK (Parental control best for ages 3-7) Good Pictures Bad Pictures (age-appropriate book for ages 10-12) Good Pictures Bad Picture Junior (age-appropriate book for ages 4-10) Boundaries by Henry Cloud The Talk: 7 Lessons to Introduce Your Child to Biblical Sexuality Unwanted by Jay Stringer Here are links with the HEAV code embedded. Direct signup link for 30 days free with the HEAV code embedded. https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/c/1143342/387466/5624?u=covenanteyes.com/signup-v2/ Connected, a free ebook shows how strong family relationships lead to internet-safe kids. https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/c/1143342/387466/5624?u=learn.covenanteyes.com/connected/ Confident: Helping Parents Navigate Online Exposure. This free ebook is a step-by-step guide for Christian parents to provide help when a child or teen has been exposed to or is looking at pornography. https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/c/1143342/387466/5624?u=covenanteyes.com/when-your-child-is-looking-at-porn/ Link to the SHE Virtual Recovery Summit - https://shesummit.heysummit.com/ To reach Sam Black via email

I talk to moms all the time and the most frequent concern/misconception is that they are not "qualified" to teach their children. It doesn't seem to matter if they have a degree or dropped out of high school, they share this same fear. Today I'm going to help dispel that myth so you can homeschool with more confidence! This is the third in my new series called The Homeschool Life!   Each week I address one commonly asked question or topic on homeschooling based on 25 years experience homeschooling 8 kids from the beginning (7 are graduated so far)!  These podcasts will be shorter in length, perfect for busy moms! (Check out The Unhurried Homeschooler on Amazon today!) Podcasts mentioned: The Homeschool Life: The Powerful Gift of Childhood How to Start a Small Co-op Because every parent wonders if they are going to ruin their kids, here is our adult kids' perspective on homeschooling: Podcast #'s 60, 62, 63, 64, 66, 68 (Each podcast number is linked to that particular post)

I'm excited to be offering a new podcast series called The Homeschool Life! Each week I will spend 15-30 minutes tackling ONE specific question or topic related to homeschooling and/or living the homeschool life. Experience from 25 years of homeschooling eight kids shared in short podcasts...perfect for moms! Too many adults have forgotten the crucial role that childhood plays in our kids' development. Children deserve a childhood. It is a gift from God, but one that only WE can give them! Listen in to find out how giving your kids a childhood not only benefits them during childhood but lays a foundation for higher learning!

When we decide to homeschool, it's because we really want to do right by our kids, but often we are filled with fear and trepidation. What if I told you that it's possible to learn to walk this journey with courage! Jamie Erickson, homeschooling mom of 5 and author of Homeschool Bravely is sharing her heart today answering questions like: Why is it necessary and healthy for homeschooling moms to acknowledge their limitations? Why is there so much fear surrounding the choice to homeschool and is that fear valid? What are some of the typical lies parents who homeschool can be tempted to believe? With a child who can be particularly difficult, why consider homeschooling when getting them out of the house seems like such a win-win? And more!!!! Listen in to find out how to win a free copy of Homeschool Bravely! Ways to connect with Jamie: Homeschool Bravely: (https://www.homeschoolbravely.com/) Facebook Friends: (https://www.facebook.com/TheUnlikelyHomeschool) Blog Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/unlikely_homeschool/) Mom to Mom Podcast Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/momtomompodcast/) Pinterest: (https://www.pinterest.com/tuhomeschool/) Blog: (https://www.theunlikelyhomeschool.com/  

I'm really excited to be starting a new podcast series called The Homeschool Life!  Each week I will be addressing one commonly asked question or topic on homeschooling based on my 25 years experience homeschooling 8 kids from the beginning!  These podcasts will be shorter in length, perfect for busy moms! Today I am talking about when life gets messy. How do we reconcile that with living the homeschool life? Are we short-changing our kids because things feel chaotic? How might the messiness of life actually give our kids a better education? (Check out my book The Unhurried Homeschooler on Amazon!)  

What do you do when a friend, relative, or stranger hassles you about the decisions you've made for your children? Today we are talking about why you can walk in freedom from people-pleasing! Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart!  In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional.  I will ask some questions at the end to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer.

We all long for peace, but where can peace be consistently found? Today we are talking about finding peace by trusting in the goodness of God! Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart!  In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional.  I will ask some questions at the end to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer.

It's not uncommon to feel powerless in many situations and relationships. So what should we do when we feel powerless? Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart!  In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional.  I will ask some questions at the end to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer

Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart! What can we do when we feel powerless? Today we are digging into Proverbs 3:1-6 and talking about power over fear!  In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional.  I will ask some questions at the end to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer.

Have you ever wondered how in the world God can redeem even the worst days and how we can best walk out our faith with our kids? Join me today as we focus on the simple yet profound impact of being cross-centered. Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart!  In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional.  I will ask some questions at the end to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer.

Have you ever been completely thrown off by other people's opinions when it comes to raising or homeschool your kids? Join me today for a word of encouragement from God's heart to yours! Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart!  In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional.  I will ask some questions at the end to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer.

As moms, we are busy, but is busyness where we find our identity? Listen in as we are reminded what it looks like to work from a place of rest   Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart!   In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I ’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional.  I will ask some questions at the end to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer.  

Do you ever wonder if you have what it takes to raise your kids to adulthood, much less homeschool them?   Listen in to be reminded of God’s perspective on our limitations!   Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart!    In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long.   I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional.  I will ask some questions at the end to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer. 

Homeschooling can feel daunting at first, but as a homeschooling mom to 8 kids (7 graduated so far), I want to bring you some simple encouragement that will help you keep a clear head and heart so you can actually ENJOY these years with your kids!   It's imperative that we know our WHYS for homeschooling. It's the only way we can prioritize and then hone in on how we want to approach this journey. You really don't have to spend 8 hours a day schooling your kids because homeschooling is both effective and efficient!   In this podcast, I will share a bit of our family's experience along with our whys and then give you action steps to take so you can homeschool for the reasons that are relevant to your family life!   The Unhurried Homeschooler (Amazon aff link) Grace for a Mom's Heart Devotional (Amazon aff link) The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course 

When you’re in trouble or feeling overwhelmed, who is the first person you turn to? The Israelites had a habit of going to anyone but God and it’s tempting for us to do the same.  Listen in as we are reminded to resist the urge to “go back to Egypt”!   Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart!    In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link))   Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long.   I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional.  I will ask some questions at the end to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer.

Moms, we are the gatekeepers of our homes and now more than ever we need to make it a priority to protect our children by understanding what the battle really is.    We can’t afford to let ourselves become slaves to fear and oppression in the midst of what is happening around us.   Listen in for encouragement that will calm your heart and help you stay laser-focused and intentional so you can be that woman who builds up her home!    Matthew 11:28-30 Psalm 90:14 A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 (*aff link)      

Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart! We often make the mistake of thinking we have to "clean up" before we can come to God and find ourselves only in landing in a place of "empty chaos"!  Isaiah 45:18-25 speaks to this! It's so important as believing moms to stay grounded in God's word, so in the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts on how the passage applies to parenting and homeschooling as  I read from my devotional. I'll then ask some questions to help you dig deeper. I'll end by praying over you!

Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart! Have you ever wondered why many things about traditional education fly in the face of what seems right for your child? Isaiah 44:9-23 is going to shed light on this! It's so important as believing moms to stay grounded in God's word, so in the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts on how the passage applies to parenting and homeschooling as  I read from my devotional. I'll then ask some questions to help you dig deeper. I'll end by praying over you! Printed copies of this devotional are available on Amazon for just $8.99 (*aff link)

Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart! Sometimes we feel like we are walking in darkness and simply need answers. Where we turn to for those answers makes all the difference in the world according to Isaiah 50:7-10 It's so important as believing moms to stay grounded in God's word, so in the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts on how the passage applies to parenting and homeschooling as  I read from my devotional. I'll then ask some questions to help you dig deeper. I'll end by praying over you! Printed copies of this devotional are available on Amazon for just $8.99 (*aff link)

Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart! Is it possible to be worshiping the "god" of education...even as homeschoolers? Find out what 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 has to say. It's so important as believing moms to stay grounded in God's word, so in the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts on how the passage applies to parenting and homeschooling as I read from my devotional. I'll then ask some questions to help you dig deeper. I'll end by praying over you! Printed copies of this devotional are available on Amazon for just $8.99 (*aff link)

Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart!  Do you ever feel like you have to fix everything for everyone? In today's passage from Ephesians 1:15-23, we are going to tackle this! In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional.  I will ask some questions to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer.  Printed copies of this devotional are available on Amazon for just $8.99 (*aff link)

Every single human on the face of the planet has experienced anxiety at one time or another. Many of us struggle with it on a regular basis, including me. I thought it was about time we all got some professional help! My guest today is a licensed mental health counselor and even more importantly, he is a Believer. Science (originating with God) and faith are interwoven, but when those can be applied to practical life and equip us to more effectively walk out our God-given ministries (specifically our ministry at home), it's an incredibly powerful and beautiful thing! Grab your pen and some paper because you will want to take notes! Other podcasts with Dan Marcone: The Development Stages of Kids and Their Growth  Encouraging a Growth Mindset in Our Kids Growing Kids with ADD/ADHD

It can be challenging for husbands to know exactly how to best support their homeschooling wives,. My husband and I thought we would share our own story and important principles to keep in mind that will help direct how you can best support your wives!   Things to keep in mind that God says in his word are important: 1 Peter 3:7-In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. Ephesians 5:25-For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her Colossians 3:19-Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. Love language quiz Love Nudge App Personality Profile

Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart! Today I am speaking to God’s ability and willingness to bless and multiply our efforts so we don’t have to worry about being inadequate! Matthew 14:13-21 NLT In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional. I will ask some questions at the end to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer. Printed copies of this devotional are available on Amazon for just $8.99 (*aff link)

Everything that feels and is out of your control, God has the power to order. It’s ok if we don’t have all the answers...if we don’t know Instead of dwelling on what we don’t know, let’s meditate on what we DO know. What DO we know? Read the rest of the podcast here or listen in! Find my devotional, Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart, written just for moms! (Amazon)

Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart! Today I am speaking to a doubt every mom deals with: whether or not we are doing enough. In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional. I will ask some questions at the end to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer. Printed copies of this devotional are available on Amazon for just $8.99 (*aff link)

Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart! Out of all of our needs, right now our biggest need is to press into God. We need to know Him and in order to know Him, we have to read His Word.  In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional.  I will ask some questions at the end to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer.  Printed copies of this devotional are available on Amazon for just $8.99 (*aff link) Today's passage is Deut. 5:29-33   If something is new, it's tempting to think it must be better. (Be sure to check out my simple, mercifully short book on homeschooling: The Unhurried Homeschooler)

There are many unique pressures that are part of this homeschooling journey. The stresses are sometimes overwhelming, but as believers, we need to ask ourselves if we are being driven or led? God often refers to His people as sheep. Have you ever been around sheep? A few things you should know: they can NOT be driven, they have to be led. If you try to drive them (come up behind them and force them a certain direction), they lose their minds and scatter. They will also lose trust in the shepherd. God does not drive us. Ever. He is a gentle shepherd that leads, so if you are feeling driven, I can tell you that is NOT God. (You can listen to the rest of the podcast here or read the transcript at https://durendawilson.com/moms-are-you-being-led-or-driven-podcast-131/)

Parents who are considering homeschooling can easily become overwhelmed by all the information out there and that is why I thought it was essential to offer this resource to help parents prioritize their steps as they consider homeschooling.  Some of you haven’t done school at home until the quarantine and this is another reason I wanted to offer this conversation. You need to understand that distance learning is NOT the same thing as homeschooling. Actually, I think it’s often far more stressful in so many ways than choosing to homeschool. When we homeschool, we get to fine-tune our kids’ learning to what works best for THEM (and us). We can arrange their days to give them an opportunity to be kids, to experience a healthy childhood, to learn things in a way that works for them and AS THEY ARE READY. You don’t have to be an expert in education or other people’s kids, you simply need to be an expert in YOUR kids. It’s a commonly accepted fact that if someone spends 10,000 hours on something, they are considered an “expert” in that field.  Guess what? By the time your child is 6 years old, you will have spent an average of 16,000 hours with your child. That makes YOU an expert on your child!  With that in mind, listen in to my conversation with Vicki Bentley, another veteran homeschooling mom, and find encouragement along with simple, doable action steps you can take to start homeschooling your kids! My simple, mercifully short book on homeschooling: The Unhurried Homeschooler (To see more resources mentioned in the podcast go to https://durendawilson.com/how-to-start-homeschooling-without-getting-overwhelmed-podcast-131/)

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR MOM FRIENDS! I’m Durenda Wilson. I’ve been a wife for almost 31 years and a mom for 29 years. I have eight children and 6 grandchildren. I have a word for moms that I think is of the utmost importance. Our world is quickly changing. There are many things that are out of our control and downright frightening, BUT I want to speak right now to your mom heart: As an older mom, I have experienced various crises in my life and learned so much from those, but I will admit that I’ve never seen anything quite like this. As I have prayed and prayed and prayed, God has made something very clear to me that I want to convey to you: In spite of everything that’s happening.... YOUR ROLE AS A MOM HAS NOT CHANGED. (You can listen or read the rest of the post here: https://durendawilson.com/an-urgent-message-of-encouragement-for-christian-moms-podcast-130/)

(You can listen to this podcast here or read it in full by going to durendawilson.com)  I want to be completely honest with you all. I have been struggling, trying to understand what my place is, what my role is in all that is going on around us.  Over the years as a mom at home with our 8 kids, God reminded me over and over again that raising and homeschooling our kids was my calling. A lot of outside activities, ministries, politics and other worthy causes all needed to be laid aside for the most part because I simply couldn’t do it all.  Have you ever heard of that saying, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”? (read complete podcast transcript at durendawilson.com)  

Welcome to my devotional, Grace for a Mom’s Heart!  In the weeks ahead, I will be reading from my devotional Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart-31 Days in God’s Word (available on Amazon *aff link)) Each devotional is less than 10 minutes long. I’ll start by reading a short scripture passage and then share some thoughts from my own heart as written in my devotional.  I will ask some questions at the end to help you dig deeper and then end in prayer.  Printed copies of this devotional are available on Amazon for just $8.99 (*aff link) What we are doing at home is of the utmost importance. We must not let the enemy distract us from our high calling. As mission-minded moms, we understand the threat we pose to the enemy’s kingdom and we stand firm in the truth of God’s Word. We don’t let culture or the voices of condemnation influence our decisions. Instead, we stay the course, setting our faces like flint.  I don’t know about you, but I have been struggling HARD. Around us, there is hatred, division, and issues that are polarizing and downright frightening. In times like these, it is essential that we are grounded daily in God’s word so we can better know HIs comfort, discern His voice, and receive the wisdom that can only come from Him! 

With all that’s going on around us, one thing has not changed...we are still moms. Some of us chose to homeschool, others have had distance learning thrust upon us, and some who have tried, but thrown in the towel for this year(and that's okay!) BUT the fact is that we are all feeling the weight of our current situation and that can greatly affect our focus. So today I want to bring some encouragement to your mom heart and hopefully help you refocus and remember why you are doing what you doing so you can stay intentional. This is part of a series I have called Mentoring Moments. There are other episodes addressing other topics on motherhood, but the reason I created this series is that, as an older mom, I feel a responsibility to mentor younger moms who might be looking for some perspective that can only come with experience and time. I am thrilled today to have Vicki Bentley joining me today, who is the mother of eight daughters, foster mom of over fifty, a grandma to 23 wonderful grandbabies so far, and great-grandma to five! You will be hearing from literally several decades of experience between the two of us.   Ways to connect with Vicki: Website: Everyday Homemaking Website: Everyday Homeschooling HSLDA Facebook: Everyday Homemaking Facebook: Homeschooling with Confidence

I’m talking today about a few vitamins and minerals that we have found consistently important to have as part of our daily life along with some simple remedies for dealing with common illnesses. This is by no means an exhaustive resource, just some things that our family has found helpful over the last 30 years! Resources mentioned (you can use less expensive brands. I'm just sharing the ones I use. Just don't compromise on b vitamins or fish oils or iron.) *Aff links Cod Liver Oil or any kind of Fish OIl: I really like Nordic Naturals found on Amazon Sublingual B vitamins (methylated) Neurobiologix found on Amazon Iron (liquid): Floradix found on Amazon Vitamin C: Liposomal Nutrivein found on Amazon (Remember that you can use a less expensive type as well. This is just extra absorbable) Vitamin D with K2: Mountaintop found on Amazon Probiotics for kids: Probiotic Spray and Gummies (the gummies are gluten-free/dairy-free) Probiotics for adults (You can also use the spray listed above as it's for the whole family. It's plant based, so more shelf-stable and no dairy or gluten. It's nice because the whole family can use it.) (Don't forget to change up the type of probiotics periodically to get a wide variety of strains in your system) Magnesium lotion: Maggie Mo found on Amazon Magnesium capsules: Pure brand on Amazon Podcast on getting our kids outside Podcast on practicing natural family health Recipe for Elderberry Syrup Probiotic good for stomach flu: Tummy Tune-Up from beeyoutiful.com My consistently favorite supplement brands are Garden of Life, Thorne, Pure and LifeExtension(you can find all of them on Amazon) My consistently favorite herbal supplement companies are Gaia, Herb Pharm, and Starwest Botanicals This is where I get my cayenne and red raspberry leaf tea

I've learned much about building my family’s immune system over the last almost 30 years of being a mom (8 kids). What I’m sharing with you today is what I’ve found to be the most reliable and effective for our family over the years. My hope is that you will find some things that resonate with your own heart for your family's health! In this episode, I am focusing mainly on what we eat. I'm planning to talk about vitamins and ways to address common illnesses at home in the next episode and in the last one I want to talk about cleaning up our environment and things we put on our bodies. I'm not selling anything. I just want to pass on things that might be helpful to you. I don't know everything, but I've learned a fair amount over the years!

As moms, we are buckling under the weight of unmet expectations. We are bombarded with messages about what kind of mom, wife, and woman we are supposed to be. In our heart of hearts, we know we are human and that we are weak and it’s that little bit of truth that the enemy uses to sell us a lie that has the potential to do great damage to ourselves and to our families. The lie is that we will never be enough or do enough. We constantly feel like we fall short of the ideals that we believe would help us feel good about what we are doing and give us the assurance that our kids are going to be ok. You see, the enemy KNOWS we care deeply about our children. We love them more than life itself and truly want the very best for them at all costs. So he takes that God-given desire and he effectively uses it against us. Our deep love for our children often drives us to fear. We worry about all the things concerning them. When our head hits the pillow at night in hopes for some peace and rest, we instead find ourselves ruminating over all the ways we failed that day. The judge sits behind the desk, brings down the gavel and yells, “GUILTY!” Our hearts sink and tears stream down our cheeks.  As we drift off into an exhausted sleep, at best, we whisper a prayer for forgiveness and help to do better tomorrow. At worst we feel unworthy to even ask. We are engaged in a war whether we want to be or not. If you are a Christian mom you have a target on your back. The enemy knows that you have a sphere of influence that has the potential to bring down the powers of darkness. There is power in a strong, cohesive godly family and he will stop at nothing to render you as ineffective as possible. He hurls accusations to discourage you so that you will buckle under the weight of condemnation. (To read the rest of the transcript to this podcast, go to durendawilson.com)

I know there are countless moms now doing school at home for the rest of the school year due to COVID-19. They didn’t choose this, it was thrust upon them and that can be very, very stressful.   Today I’m having a conversation with a friend of mine who happens to be our pastor’s wife and also with our married daughter. They each have 3 kids. I have 8 (almost all grown). We talk about where our hearts are as moms and why that is crucial especially right now, but we also discuss practical tips and ideas on ways to make the most of this time with our kids!   Please share this with any moms you know who could use some encouragement!

For most of us, homeschooling is something we feel called to, but it doesn't change the fact that we sometimes feel weary. That weariness can come from a lot of things, but often unnecessary expectations are one of them. When it comes to how we live our lives, are we seeking praise from people or from God? It's worthwhile to take some time to ask ourselves this question. How about homeschooling? Are we pouring our time and energy into what amounts to people-pleasing or have we really taken the time to seek the heart of God for us and for our kids? And if we have in the past, are we continuing to do that? So here’s the thing: when we remain faithful to God’s calling on our lives we are proclaiming Christ. We are saying that HE is God and we are not and even though this journey is unconventional and misunderstood by the majority of the people in our lives, we WILL continue to be faithful to HIS calling. Today's podcast is filled with encouragement to remain faithful to the call! Resources mentioned in the podcast: The Unhurried Homeschooler Places I will be speaking in 2020 The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course I'm sharing a few recent bonus podcasts:

What If I told you that you could spend far less time at the doctor's office and prevent/treat many physical ailments at home? What if you could root out some chronic conditions safely, spending far less money on treatments that often have concerning long term effects? Given the recent epidemic of Covid-19, more moms than ever are searching for ways to keep their families healthy. We already had this particular podcast scheduled long before the crisis hit and we know that can only be a God thing! Today Melissa Crenshaw is here to share why she believes it's so important and beneficial to take charge of your family's health and ways we can do that! She will tell her personal story as well. and I believe her heart will resonate with yours! Melissa is an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and C-Hom (Certified Homeopath) Melissa's website Homeopathy Classes Find Melissa on FB: FB Page FB Group Instagram: @mmc_homeopathy Some of my favorite recipe and wellness sites: Wellness Mama Paleo Running Mama The Gracious Pantry

I love to bring relevant, and sometimes difficult topics to the podcast, not because I think parents are unaware, but to help them look at them through the lens of the gospel and scripture. We are inundated with information and much of it perpetuates fear which is NOT of God. He calls us to wisdom and discernment, but never to fear. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power of love and of a sound mind. 1 Timothy 1:7 The topic of sexual abuse can be a difficult one to process and discuss. If you've experienced sexual abuse you likely have very strong/deeply painful feelings about it. It can also be very emotional. If you've never experienced sexual abuse, you may not be sure how to best protect your kids. Either way, our experiences can cause us to overreact or under-react. Today Kelly Winkler, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Christian mom shares from her many years of experience working with women who have been sexually abused. She gives timely and biblical counsel on how to protect our kids without coming from a place of fear. Even better, she guides us into ways to take what Satan means for evil and allow God to use it for good! Kelly is generously offering a coupon code to give you her online course for $20 instead of the regular price of $50! The code is DURENDA20 Resources mentioned in the podcast: The Unhurried Homeschooler(*aff link) The Wounded Heart (*aff link) Ways to connect with Kelly: Website: Shielding Innocence Counseling page: https://allthingscounseling.com   Email address: kelly.allthings@gmail.com   Additionally, Kelly would love to bring Shielding Innocence to churches and schools or co-ops. Her live conferences bring intimacy and a feeling of community to the material that can be so encouraging to parents!

Children are a blessing. God wants us to enjoy them. Homeschooling is a gift. I believe He wants us to enjoy that as well. Does it take some discipline and fortitude to parent well and to homeschool? Absolutely. However, I don't believe for one minute that God ever meant it to be what many of us are trying to make it. In His goodness, God often allows it to be frustrating and overwhelming because He really does have something better for us. Today I'm sharing my 24 years of experience as a homeschooling mom. I believe that children are a blessing. I was also determined to keep our kids home, but that meant I had to let God direct us and not chain myself to something that wasn't a good fit for us or I would have given up a long time ago. I am here to tell you that if God leads you to homeschool, He WILL make a way for it to work for your family. I am sharing three things that will help make homeschooling doable. It's what worked for our family.  I'm hoping that these are ideas you can work with, use as inspiration to find your own way or, at the very least, be encouraged! Resources mentioned in the podcast: Article on the benefits of an unhurried approach in the early years Podcast on Why Our Kids Need to Spend Time Outside Where I will be speaking in 2020 The Unhurried Homeschooler (*aff link)  

Our perspective on motherhood deeply affects how we approach it and ultimately how we walk the journey over the long haul. It also deeply affects how our children view themselves. If we mother them as though they are a blessing (like God says they are), they grow up feeling valued and become confident in who they are. It's essential that we understand the mission God has given us in motherhood and place the value on it that it deserves. We have the opportunity of a lifetime to invest wisely and intentionally. Today Marisa, from Called to Mothering, is sharing her heart in this very encouraging conversation that will inspire and motivate you to enjoy motherhood and enjoy your kids! Places I will be speaking in 2020 Ways to connect with Marisa: Called to Mothering Website Marisa's book: Bucking the System FB page: Called to Mothering Raising Kids You Enjoy Parenting Course

Twice a month I publish a podcast devotional that centers around reading God’s word out loud. I choose one particular topic and share verses and passages of scripture related to that. Sometimes I share my thoughts on the application of that scripture to our lives as moms. In this week’s Grace for a Mom’s Heart Devotional, we are digging up truths in God’s word about His provision. Fear and doubt can keep us from enjoying the assurance that God can and does take care of us. The enemy loves to use difficult circumstances or simply not knowing the truths of God’s word to discourage us and make us feel distanced from God.  God CAN and DOES take care of us, but it’s our job to meditate on what is true about Him and to continually bring our cares before Him, praying for eyes to see where He is, in fact, working because I guarantee you, moms, He IS moving and working all the time. Keeping the truths of His word in the forefront of our minds is what helps us continue to believe what’s true and to be able to rest and be at peace with trusting Him. Scriptures read in the podcast (all are read from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted: Isaiah 55:10,11 Hebrews 4:12,13 Romans 8:31-34 Matthew 6:24-34 Romans 8:34 Romans 8:26-27 Hebrews 12:5,6 (NIV) Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV) 1 Peter 1:3,4 John 10:7-10 Luke 12:22-32,33 Philippians 4:6,7 1 Corinthians 10:13 (read both NLT and NIV) John 14:27 He is Jehovah Jireh, God Provides! Places I will be speaking in 2020

Difficult finances can be such a drain mentally and emotionally, but they can also take their toll on our marriages and families. Many couples feel alone in their struggles, but please know that you are not alone and there is hope! Today I’m having an incredibly encouraging conversation with Erin Odom (The Humbled Homemaker)  author of More Than Just Making It and You Can Stay Home with Your Kids! Erin shares her journey of how God led her and her husband out of financial ruin along with some of the most important principles they learned along the way. We will be talking about three of her favorite, most effective ways to curb spending, eating well on a budget, clothes shopping and more! (Giveaway ends March 12, 2020) Resources mentioned in the podcast: The Unhurried Homeschooler(aff link) Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart (aff link) daveramsey.com  crown.org Ways to connect with Erin:   Blog: The Humbled Homemaker FB: The Humbled Homemaker IG: @thehumbledhomemaker Erin's Books (*aff links): More Than Just Making It: Hope for the Heart of the Financially Frustrated You Can Stay Home with Your Kids

Hurry can be one of our greatest temptations but also one of the fiercest enemies of family life and homeschooling, but what if we chose to slow down? What might we discover?What might we recover? Pastor Mark Buchanan shared in his book The Rest of God:  Someone asked me recently what was my biggest regret in life. I thought a moment, surveying the vast and cluttered landscape of my blunders and losses, the evil I have done and the evil that’s been done against me. “Being in a hurry,” I said. “Pardon?” Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I’ve ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all that rushing. Through all that haste, I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away Scriptures mentioned in the podcast: Luke 16:24-31 Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take. Places I will be speaking in 2020

Twice a month I publish a devotional that centers around reading God’s word out loud. I choose one particular topic and share verses and passages of scripture related to that. In this week’s Grace for a Mom’s Heart Devotional, we are digging up truths in God’s word about finding peace. Peace is the deepest desire and need of the human heart, but we will never truly find it outside of our relationship with God. He is the source of peace. He is Jehovah Shalom. Verses on the power of God’s word: Isaiah 55:10,11 Hebrews 4:12,13 Verses on peace: Psalm 29:11 Isaiah 26:3 John 14:27 Luke 2:13,14 Psalm 4:8 Psalm 119:161-165 Romans 5:1-2 Philippians 4:6,7 My devotional written specifically for homeschool moms is available on Amazon: Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart  *aff link

I receive emails and messages from moms who want to know more about homeschooling with multiple ages. It's so much more doable than most realize! Today I am chatting with Rebecca Spooner who has 5 children and a wealth of wisdom along with an incredible resource to help those of us who are homeschooling multiple children (and those who are not)!! This podcast isn’t just informative, though, it’s loaded with inspiration and encouragement for your mom heart! You'll be glad you tuned in!  Find my books on Amazon: The Unhurried Homeschooler and Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart (*aff links) Homegrown Generation Online Conference(*aff link) Sign up for my website/blog and receive The Little Book of Encouragement for Homeschool Moms (Wait for the pop up) The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Ways to connect with Rebecca: Podcast/blog: homeschoolon.com(also on iTunes as Keep Calm and Homeschool On). Facebook group for the curriculum: Gather Round Homeschool Community Facebook group for Keep Calm and Homeschool On On Instagram: instagram.com/homeschoolon (Some of you have asked how you can support the podcast financially so my son, who does all of my editing, set up an account where listeners who feel led to give can support by donating as little as $2 a month. There is no pressure, but here is the link)

There is not a parent out there who hasn't struggled with anger at some point. For homeschooling parents, it can be an especially challenging issue because of the amount of time we spend with our kids. Anger can be one of those things that we keep hidden and has the potential for great destruction, but our Redeemer can change all of that! Today Chap Bettis will help us sort out where anger comes from, the different types of anger and how it is a foe, but can also be a friend! Chap is giving away 2 copies of Parenting with Patience workbook! To enter, please leave a comment ON MY WEBSITE below this podcast. (Giveaway ends February 25th) If you purchase Parenting with Patience: Overcoming Anger in the Home Workbook, Chap is offering the streaming video lessons for free! Simply send an email to Melanie  admin@theapollosproject.com with the Amazon receipt. More info on Homegrown Generation Online Conference   You can see the places I will be speaking in 2020 on my website under the "about" section! My two books: The Unhurried Homeschooler and Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart can be found on Amazon. Scriptures mentioned in the podcast: James 4:1, 2 Ephesians 4:30, James 1:20, Proverbs 12:18, Proverbs 29:11 Past podcast with Chap: Parenting with Confidence in a World Gone Mad Remember we are shooting for progress, not perfection! (Some of you have asked how you can support the podcast financially so my son (who does a ll my editing) set up an account where listeners who feel led to give can support by donating as little as $2 a month. There is no pressure, but here is the link) Ways to connect with Chap Bettis: Book The Disciple-Making Parent  Blogging at www.theapollosproject.com/blog Podcast The Disciple-Making Parent Instagram @Chap Bettis

Sometimes it's good to be reminded of why we are doing what we are doing! Today I'm chatting with my friend Ginny Yurich who is a homeschooling mom to 5. She has such a heart for homeschooling families and today she beautifully pulls back the layers, showing us from God's Word that God cares about our kids and their education. In other words, contrary to what even many Christians believe, God has an opinion about how we educate our kids. Listen in and find some great encouragement on God's blessings when we walk in obedience to Him! Education: Does God Have an Opinion? by Israel Wayne www.1000hoursoutside.com Ginny@1000hoursoutside.com Facebook.com/1000hoursoutside @1000hoursoutside on Instagram Blog post if you are interested: http://curriculumoffamily.com/blog/biblical-reasons-why-homeschooling-families-thrive Some of you have asked how you can support the podcast financially so my son (who does all my editing) set up an account where listeners who feel led to give can support by donating as little as $2 a month. There is no pressure, but here is the link.

It seems like believing that God protects us is a very basic principle we should all know by now, but circumstances can cause us to doubt and be fearful. God’s Word is so clear, so powerful and brings us a clear picture of the many ways that He can and does protect us!  I’ll be reading several passages out loud, praying that God will ignite your heart to faith and trust! Scriptures shared are from the New Living Translation: Isaiah 55:10, 11 Psalm 34 Psalm 121 Psalm 18 Isaiah 41:8-20 Psalm 91 2 Timothy 4:18 (Please check out my devotional on Amazon: Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart) *aff link (Some of you have asked how you can support the podcast. I now have a link for anyone who would like to donate a couple of dollars a month. The podcast will continue to be available at no cost to you regardless of whether or not you choose to donate)

We are seeing parental rights being infringed upon now more than ever and it's concerning, to say the least. Parents know their children better than anyone and should have the right to make the decisions they think are best. Today I am talking with Michael Ramey, the Executive Director of parentalrights.org. We are discussing the current threats to parental rights and how you can not only be aware but also become involved in helping defend the rights of every parent, homeschoolers or not! Resources mentioned in the podcast:  parentalrights.org parentalrightsfoundation.org Home School Legal Defense Association

It’s that time of year when many of us are feeling tempted to throw in the towel when it comes to homeschooling.  It’s important to know that you are not alone! Today my friend Yvette and I are sharing a few tips on how to deal with burnout as well as details for an upcoming event that will be the encouragement that so many families need! Link for more details on the Homegrown Generation Online Conference (Best $20 you’ll ever spend!) Homegrown Generation Speakers (aff link) Homegrown GenerationSchedule(aff link) *Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash

Are you or someone you know homeschooling kids who struggle with ADD/ADHD? I can't encourage you enough to listen to this podcast! Today I’m talking with Dan Marcone who is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Clinical Supervisor, Practice Founder & Director of Seasons Counseling in Orlando, Florida. The information and tools that Dan shares in this podcast are incredibly helpful and you don’t have to know everything about ADD/ADHD to be able to grow your kids who struggle with it. As homeschoolers, we can feel burdened by the ADD/ADHD diagnosis, but we actually have an advantage over a traditional classroom setting because we can create a learning environment for our kids that helps them thrive and fulfill the good purposes that God has for them. We simply need to be willing to think outside the box and let God lead us as we grow these unique and amazing kids! Here's a great quote to remember from today: "Positive emotion builds resilience!" Go to durendawilson.com to find resources mentioned in the podcast

Welcome to this week's episode of my devotional, Grace for a Mom's Heart! As we head into the New Year, I'm focusing more intentionally on reading the word out loud to you. Each week I will choose a specific topic and I read passages in God's Word that speak to that.  God's word is powerful and doesn't come back empty. I believe that as you listen, He will reveal HImself to you in a very real and powerful way! You may even want to play it with the kids around so they can absorb it as well!  (You can find my devotional, Grace for a Mom's Heart, on Amazon) Scriptures mentioned(I read from the NLT translation for these): Hebrews 4:12,13 Isaiah 55:10,11 Hebrews 4:12,13 2 Timothy 3:16,17 Isaiah 40:10-31 Psalm 46 Psalm 33 Isaiah 51:12-16 The following verses were read from the NIV translation: Isaiah 46:9-11  Psalm 115:3 Romans 9:20 Daniel 4:35

The homeschooling journey can prove to be lonely at times and it can make all the difference in the world to have the support of other moms. Sometimes our kids need exposure to more educational experiences outside the four walls of our homes or want/need interaction with other kids. These are only a few of many reasons it can be very beneficial to be part of a small co-op. But where do you begin? Today I am chatting with Nancy Manos who has been part of numerous small co-ops over her many years as a homeschool mom. It’s a great conversation about the reasons to be part of a co-op or NOT be part of one. Nancy will also share simple, essential steps and things to consider in starting your own co-op! Some of the things we will cover: Why do a small co-op? Reasons not to do a co-op What is a small co-op? Where do I find people to co-op with? What’s the best number of kids/families for a small co-op? How do we get started? Ideas for planning your co-op Advice from moms who have done co-ops Join us now for this great informational podcast! Durenda Wilson durendawilson.com

We would probably all agree with the quote that says "Comparison is the thief of joy" and yet it's such a strong temptation! Today we are going to face this topic head-on, digging into God's word to find our answers.  May today be the day we ditch the comparison trap for good! (Resources and scriptures are available in the podcast notes found at durendawilson.com)  

Gather the kids and find a cozy spot to relax while I read to all of you our family's favorite Christmas story! Most of my kids are grown up and some even have kids of their own, so it makes me happy to be able to share this with your family today! Are you ready?

We can feel so rushed in the midst of the Christmas season. But this time of year is really so much taking time. It's an invitation to wait in anticipation of a promise of a Messiah that was given so many years ago. Waiting isn't something that most of us do well, but why don't you join me for (literally) just a few minutes to ponder a few tender Christmas thoughts. Get your Free digital Holiday Edition of Homeschooling Today here!

Welcome to the party! I've connected with some amazing moms over the last 100 podcast episodes, so it seems appropriate that my guest today would be a friend that God brought into my life as only He could! Ginger Hubbard, author of Don't Make Me Count to Three and I Can't Believe You Just Said That!.  She has a heart that beats with mine for families and reaching the hearts of our children. I share a lot about slowing down and taking a more unhurried approach to homeschooling and parenting for that very reason...to connect with our kids so we can truly reach their hearts. Today we answer questions like, "When children misbehave, how can parents view it from a heart-oriented, biblical perspective?", "How can parents get their children to actually implement the principles being taught?", and more! Ginger will also share 3 effective ways parents can reach past the outward behaviors of their children to address the issues of the heart. We are doing a HUGE giveaway. Listen in to hear how to enter!   Here are the scriptures and resources mentioned in the podcast: James 1:5-8 Romans 3:23 Matthew 12:34 James 1:19 Romans 8:1 Ephesians 6:4 Ways to connect with Ginger: www.GingerHubbard.com IG - @ginger.hubbard FB - @officialgingerhubbard

I've talked to countless moms and whether they have a degree or not, NONE of them feel "qualified" to teach their children. One has to wonder why? Join me as I take this topic and filter it through both a practical and biblical perspective. You might be surprised how qualified you really are! Podcast mentioned: The Five Most Important Things We Taught our Kids Check out my book: The Unhurried Homeschooler available on Amazon!

Be intentional! It's the battle cry of the many parents out there who want to do a good job raising their kids. We want important things to STAY important things. It's no different at Christmas, but it also happens to get more complicated at Christmas. So many possibilities, so many things we could do. Today we are talking about how to cultivate your family's holiday culture. It's so important to consider where you are as a family: season of life, budget, uniquenesses of your children, etc. Heather Haupt and I are also discussing why it's important to cultivate a culture in your family, not just at Christmas but throughout the year and we will be walking you through a few guiding principles that will help you prayerfully personalize your family's holiday culture! (To enter the giveaway for Knights in Training, mentioned in the podcast, please leave a comment under this post at durendawilson.com) Heather is the author of the book Knights-in-Training: Ten Principles for Raising Honorable, Courageous and Compassionate Boys, The Ultimate Guide to Brain Breaks, as well as GO GLOBAL: A Literature-Heavy, Movement-Rich Learning Adventure. Here are ways to connect with Heather: www.CultivatedLearning.org  instagram.com/cultivatedlearning  facebook.com/cultivatedlearning

Today I’m sharing what I believe are the 5 most important things we’ve taught our kids over our 24 years of homeschooling!  If you guessed those things have very little to do with math or language arts or history or science, you would be absolutely right, but I can tell from where I am now, these things were absolutely crucial to growing our kids into healthy, productive, responsible adults! You won't want to miss this one!

As soon as Thanksgiving dinner is over, I can hear someone fire off the starting gun and the countdown to Christmas begins. In my 28 years as a mom, every year has looked a bit different and some years were more stressful than others. I do know that the simpler I've kept it, the more we have enjoyed it which flies in the face of every commercial out there!  But isn't it just like God to give us beauty in simplicity? Today my friend Ana is joining me to talk about the ways their family has kept things very simple and very focused on Christ. We each come from very different experiences in the ways we celebrate, but the really important question really is, "Where is Jesus?" Where is Jesus in the busyness, the activities, the traditions? It's a question worth asking!  Join us in this mom to mom conversation! (Don't forget to enter the giveaway mentioned at the end of the podcast!) Ana is the founder of They Call Me Blessed and the creator of: 5 Days to Your Best Homeschool Years, Hebrew for Homeschoolers, Charlotte Mason Online Conference, The Homeschool Sisterhood, Grow Your Blog Partying in 30 Days, and the Beyond Blessed Life Planner. She leads a vibrant free community for homeschool moms on Facebook and you can connect with her at www.facebook.com/theycallmeblessedblog. Here is this month's podcast schedule!

Mentoring Moments is a short episode answering one question at a time of the many questions I get from homeschooling moms!  It's my chance to go a little deeper into one topic in order to bring encouragement and a little more perspective. My hope is that I can help homeschooling parents relax a little more and enjoy this journey and their children! I have found that math is one of the subjects that many parents and kids struggle with the most!  But how stressed do we really need to be? Listen in and be encouraged! In the next Mentoring Moments episode, I will share the 5 most important things we taught our kids! Check out my books (Available on Amazon, aff. links here) The Unhurried Homeschooler, a simple mercifully short book on homeschooling Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart, a devotional for homeschool moms

This is the third and final part in my series I have been doing with our daughter Brittney, whose first baby was born sleeping.  We've been looking forward to this podcast because we get to tell the amazing, redemptive story of her last birth! We spend some time talking about her struggles throughout the pregnancy as she felt God's constant nudging to move toward a VBAC. It was a continual decision to yield and trust, following a path that seemed to meander endlessly! The ways that He chooses to redeem and heal are truly His ways and often feel messy and uncomfortable. But the joy that comes from walking in obedience to God pales in comparison to trying to figure out things on our own. Something Brittney wanted me to share from her journal that she wrote during this pregnancy: "My energy is better spent embracing what God is putting in front of me right now instead of worrying about all the possibilities of tomorrow's storm."  That's good for so many areas of our lives! Listen in as we share this God story! Resources mentioned in the podcast: evidencebasedbirth.com The VBAC Link ICAN-International Cesarean Awareness Network Spinning Babies Bible study: The Wonder of His Name Song: No Longer Slaves

This is a recorded Facebook Live event I did recently sharing several things I've learned over our 24 years of homeschooling that have helped me relax and enjoy a more unhurried approach with our kids. Homeschooling is one of the best decisions we ever made and one of the reasons for that is because we actually enjoyed the time we spent with our kids! The only way that could happen was for us to do what was a good fit for our family and not necessarily what worked for someone else's family. It's so important to have the courage to think outside the box and only do the things that breath life into your home. In the last part of this episode, I answer specific questions from moms who asked questions during this event!  

Today Brittney and I are continuing to share the story of Isaac, Brittney's firstborn and our first grandbaby who was born sleeping. In the last podcast we shared about how God met us in our darkest places of grief and brought hope in the midst of deep loss. We are continuing our conversation about the grieving process and the struggles and victories that came with subsequent pregnancies. Our hope and prayer is that, even if you have never experienced this kind of loss, you will find hope and be reminded of how very faithful our God is and that you will know His faithfulness in your own circumstances, whatever they are.  We also want to give insight into what this experience was like so that if you ever need to walk alongside someone as they go through it, you will have a better understanding of the process and God can use you to bring grace and love into that place. Here is a list of possible ways to help a mom walk through the grief of losing a child: *Keep in mind that sometimes a mom can struggle to share her grief OR let herself cry when she needs to. You may be able to help her feel the freedom to do that.  *Don’t feel like you have to have answers. Don’t say things like, “God knows what’s best”. Just hug her, tell her you are sorry, tell her you have no words.  PRAY A LOT for her whenever she comes to mind. Pray that God would bring her comfort as only HE can and that He would continually meet her in a very real and powerful way. Pray for God to show you how you can love her best through it. *Ask to see pictures of the baby and ask about the baby’s name and why that name is special to them?  How much he/she weighed, how long he/she was. If you get to see pictures, talk about all the sweet things about her little one, you know, the things every new mother wants to hear…” look at all that hair!”  “He looks like his daddy” “She’s beautiful!”. *If you have a chance, ask if you can come hold the baby.  It can take a lot of courage, but whisper a prayer, trust God and GO!  Most mommies love to see other people enjoy their baby (just like any new mommy) and in this situation, it is very short-lived for them, so seize the moment if you can. Encourage the parents to take their time with the baby and not let anyone hurry them. Have someone take LOTS of pics! *Remember the Mother’s Day/Father’s Day after or give a gift in memory of baby for Christmas...  Remember to celebrate or acknowledge the baby’s birthdays. Often people stop checking in after a couple of months, so be sure to check in on her regularly after that. *Don’t assume that when she gets pregnant again, the hurt is healed.  As we are finding out, pregnancy after a loss is an emotional roller coaster for the mommy.  She needs extra encouragement and prayers during this time as well. Encourage her (or at least pray for her) to bond with her baby in spite of feeling fearful. Maybe buy at least one gift for the baby during the pregnancy as a show of faith and hope. (For links to resources mentioned in the podcast, please go to durendawilson.com)

I woke up one morning recently with a struggle that I’m not sure I ever had before: I was pondering all that God has done on our behalf through Jesus and wondering if I’m faithfully walking out my gratefulness for the magnitude of what that gift that He acquired for me. It’s not that I thought I needed to repay Him, it’s just that when I thought about the lengths the Lord went to secure my salvation and eternal life, I wondered if I was taking hold of all that He had for me?  If you’ve been a Christian for very long, you probably have heard that our faith isn’t based on works, but our works show that we have faith. (This is discussed in the book of James) That can actually get a little confusing at times. I have even heard it explained, believed myself and told my children that we show our gratitude for all He has done for by doing what’s right. I’m sure there is some truth to that, but it can be really easy to transition from there into a mindset of “repaying” God for all He has done. It only seems to make common sense, right? Well, not completely. We are told over and over again in scripture that our faith is based on grace alone. It is secured by grace alone(Ephesians 2:8,9). So how do we reconcile some of these other thoughts that seem to resonate so much with logical thinking? THESE are the thoughts that were flying around in my mind in no particular order and with no answer in sight. So I did what I often forget to do: I asked God what the deal was. How does this all fit together? How do I, in the words of Paul, “Lay hold of that for which Christ has laid hold of me”? (Phil. 3:12) (To read the rest of the devotional, please go to durendawilson.com OR you can listen here!)

Today we are celebrating the life of our grandson, Isaac who would have just had his 6th birthday. He was our first grandbaby and Brittney and Jacob's first baby. This is the first time that we have shared his story publicly. Brittney was careful not to tell the story too soon, but allow God to do the work and healing that He needed to do in her own heart first. This isn't something you can rush. It's a kind of waiting on God that, though excruciating at times, brings with it deeper healing and perspective that nothing else can. When you lose someone, you are never the same. We wanted to give this story the time it deserves, so we have lingered over it and taken our time telling it in this podcast. We hope that you will listen with a heart that will hear the realness, but also the message of hope and redemption that so beautifully describes our experience and clearly reveals the faithfulness of our great God in a very powerful way! Our prayer is that this story will bring encouragement, but also provide tools for moms to care for others they know who are called to walk the journey of stillbirth. One song that was a huge comfort to Brittney during the healing process was by Matt Redmond, called "Never Once". She created a video featuring this song in hopes that it would paint an accurate picture of God's comfort in the midst of grief. (Suggestion: it will be more meaningful if you watch it after you listen to the podcast!) In the next podcast we will talk about Brittney's struggle with PTSD and subsequent pregnancies and births. In the third and final podcast, we will be sharing her most recent birth which is an awesome and miraculous story!!  

Plot twist: the last seven chapters of Psalms have focused a lot on the world of enemies, wicked people and distorted justice, but Psalm 8 takes a completely different turn. In case you didn’t know, the number 8 is significant throughout the scriptures and often represents a new beginning or regeneration. Psalm 8 beautifully celebrates the dignity of God’s original creation, giving hope for weary souls. For most of us, self preservation has been encouraged. No one wants to be a doormat or feel as though they have been walked over, but the degree to which most of us go to make sure that doesn’t happen can become misaligned with the character of Jesus and quite frankly cause us to respond no differently than the world does. Please don’t misunderstand me: God is NOT okay with any kind of abuse..mental, physical or emotional in personal relationships. That is not what I am referencing. However, it isn’t crystal clear who the Psalms are referring to when they talk about “enemies” or “oppressors”. This is something the Holy Spirit would need to define in your life. You might call this something more along the lines of someone “done us wrong” and instead of being able to “make allowance for each other’s faults”(Colossians 3:13), we are immediately offended and our eyes are drawn away from the Lord and focused only on the offense to the point of it being all consuming or even just an ongoing festering wound.  My point is that God has so much more for us, but it requires us to take on an attitude of humility. Humility is not popular in our culture. It even seems to be a topic that is avoided even in the church and yet Christ was our perfect example and he was exactly that: humble. (To read the rest of the devotional, please go to durendawilson.com)

What is apologetics anyway? As Christian moms, we know it's probably important, but we aren't sure if we can wrap our heads around it, much less teach it to our kids!  However, as we look around us, we are seeing Christian leaders falling to the wayside, kids leaving the faith in droves and fellow Christians succumbing to faulty beliefs. It is here where we begin to see how important it is to know why we believe what we believe and be able to effectively communicate our faith persuasively. This isn't just another thing to add to our list, it can actually be the place from which we teach those "other things". As mama bears, we have a crucial role in passing the faith onto our kids and Mama Bear Apologetics helps us do just that. Join me for this very encouraging conversation with one of the authors, Hillary Morgan Ferrar.  We will talk about how to approach the viewpoints of others that conflict with your own and tackle questions like: What do you identify as the biggest lies in today's culture? How can I teach my child how to filter what they intake from a Biblical perspective? What are some specific ways in which a mother can protect her child from the many lies the world wants to push upon him or her? Why is apologetics a relevant subject for someone who isn't a pastor or a Bible scholar? Resources mentioned in the podcast: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart Mama Bear Apologetics The article mentioned: This is Not a Daycare Ways to connect with Hillary: Mama Bear Apologetics website (You can find the podcast here as well)  MBA Podcast FB page MBA Twitter page  

Welcome to Grace for a Mom's Heart, a short devotional created especially for moms who want to grow in their understanding of God's Word and it's applications for motherhood! Today we are spending time in Psalm 7. Now that we have made it this far into the Psalms, are you recognizing some consistent themes? Lamenting, asking for protection, affirming God’s kingship, and praise. Are you seeing how real the psalmists are, as they cry out to God? This is such an encouragement to me that I can tell God anything. I don’t have to wait until I’ve got it together and I don’t have to word it perfectly. Last week, I was feeling a lot of pressure and somewhat overwhelmed as we prepared for our son’s wedding that was happening in our backyard. I woke up during the night and realized I was just plain ANGRY. I wasn’t mad at anyone in particular, but as I verbalized my anger to God, I realized I was actually mad at Him. My good girl side would say that I should never be mad at God for lots of good, true reasons: He is good, perfect, sovereign, always has my best interest in mind, etc. But I was beyond being reasoned with. I was just done. I’d come to the end of myself and in that moment, I was reminded that I could literally tell God everything I was feeling and He would not hold it against me. He most certainly had broad enough shoulders to handle it. So I had my little hissy fit while He quietly listened. I eventually fell back asleep and as I opened my eyes the next morning, there was a sense of relief.  I felt like a toddler who just needed to blow off my frustration and take a good nap. It seems as though there will always be a little girl inside of me who needs her Daddy. He really is the perfect Daddy and we really need to let Him be that to us. Psalm 7 was written by David and as I read through it, I was reminded of some basic truths that we can take with us to anchor us today. (To read the rest of the devotional, please go to durendawilson.com)

We live in a culture that is pressing in hard on us as parents but particularly as moms. Voices are coming from all directions telling us how to parent, how to homeschool, etc. This can quickly cause us to not only not enjoy our kids, but to be constantly dealing with fear and doubt. Most of all it distracts us and undermines our ability to hone in on what GOD is speaking to our mom hearts. Today I will be talking about 3 common things that typically challenge us and become obstacles to hearing and walking out the heart of God for our kids. I will also be sharing my own most recent struggle with this and how God revealed Himself to me in a very real and powerful way! The Unhurried Homeschooler-a simple, mercifully short book on homeschooling (aff link) Podcast with Ginny from 1000 Hours Outside mentioned in the podcast: Why Our Kids Need to Spend Time Outside (Podcast 82) The Biggest Little Farm (aff link)  Scriptures mentioned in the podcast: Psalm 37:4-6 (NLT) Joshua 1:9  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.; I will strengthen you,, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the Lord with all of your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

At first glance, Psalm 6 doesn't seem to have a whole lot to offer, so as I was preparing this devotional, it was tempting to skip it and move to one that seemed to be more obviously applicable, but I felt a nudge and that still, small voice reminding me that every word of scripture is relevant in one way or another. It can be tempting to focus only on the passages that are easy to understand, but 2 Timothy 3:16,17 says this: "ALL (emphasis mine) Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." -2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT) The Message translations word it like this: “Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another-showing us the truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word, we are put together and shaped (up) for the tasks God has for us.” Do you hear that? ALL SCRIPTURE. Even Leviticus. Even Psalm 6. God did not aimlessly throw the Bible together. He intentionally put every word of it there, so it’s worth the effort to dig deeper and find the messages God has for us in these passages that on the surface, can seem random and even meaningless.

If you've been homeschooling for more than a day, you already know that kids were made to move! Research and studies consistently reveal that much of our kids' best learning happens away from the school desk. The beauty of homeschooling is that we have the freedom to allow our kids to learn in a way that is best for them, but many of us are afraid to move away from the model of the traditional classroom. Today I'm having a wonderfully encouraging and informative conversation with Heather Haupt who has a background in neuroscience along with a voracious love of learning and fascination with HOW kids learn. Today she is sharing from her vast knowledge on the way kids learn along with concrete examples and personal stories. She is a homeschooling mom to 4 kids (2 are teens) and Heather was actually homeschooled herself, so she brings a unique perspective to this conversation!

Welcome to Grace for a Mom’s Heart, a short devotional created for any mom who wants to grow in her understanding of the Word and it’s application to motherhood! (You have the choice to read the devotional in full on my website or listen here!) Today we are going to dive into Psalm 5, but I love to preface our scripture reading and study by laying a foundation, a perspective before we read through the passage. Our culture wants to make everything ok and if you don’t agree, you are called a hater and a bigot.  Yet as we continue to look into God’s Word, we see over and over again that God hates sin and the Bible is full of ongoing warnings against it.  If you have never studied the names of God I would encourage you to do just that. (There is a link to a study at the bottom of this post on my website.) There is something powerful in having a deeper understanding of the many facets of who God is. When we begin to grasp just a little of the fullness of who He is, it makes it easier to understand why He does the things He does.  We know that God is perfect love, but He is also perfectly holy, just and righteous. So all of these qualities(and more) are part of who God is.  That means that He cannot be ONLY love and ignore justice, holiness, etc. He is all of those in the most perfect ways and He acts accordingly. That means He cannot tolerate sin and why He hates evil and yet because He is gracious, loving, and patient,  He does not destroy mankind. It’s also why He sent Jesus. Once Adam and Eve sinned in the garden man has had a sinful heart that rebels against God. Because God is a holy God, man could no longer be in His presence, but God in His grace, kindness and amazing love made a way back for us. He did that in the person of Jesus, who took our place, bore the sin, and took the punishment for it so that we could have access to God again.  I realize that probably all of you know this. I have known it my whole life, but when we’ve heard it so much, we can almost become immune to how amazing and life-changing this really is....(to read the rest of the post, go to durendawilson.com) 

As parents, we know it's good for our kids to spend time outside, but often it's not on the top of the priority list and consequently may not happen as often as it should. What if I told you it has the potential to transform your family life and your homeschooling? Actually, make it easier? Today I am chatting with Ginny Yurich, founder of 1,000 hours outside!  She shares some incredible benefits to being outside, but more than anything she affirms what every mom knows...our kids NEED to be outside. This isn't something we add to our checklist, but something that is essential for children's healthy development. Ginny has a BS in Mathematics and a Master Degree in Education and was an educator for several years. Most importantly, she is now a mom of 5 children and shares from a wealth of knowledge and experience. Books mentioned: The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs by Joel Salatin Balanced and Barefoot by Angela Hanscom The Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv John Taylor Gatto on raising a genius: "Front-load a huge amount of experiences including 'dangerous' ones"! To find places to spend time outdoors: check city and county websites, search for parks, etc on Google Maps Ways to connect with Ginny: www.1000hoursoutside.com Facebook.com/1000hoursoutside Instagram.com/1000hoursoutside #1000hoursoutside (over 20k uses)   Ginny's Children's Book: The Little Farmhouse in West Virginia Homeschool blog: www.curriculumoffamily.com

Welcome to my new devotional series created for ALL moms! I often speak to homeschool moms, but this series is for any mom out there who wants to grow in her walk with the Lord and her understanding of the Word as it pertains to motherhood! Please share with your mom friends!  Have you ever dealt with false and groundless accusations that have been made against you? I doubt one of us would answer no to this question. It seems to be a common experience and, quite frankly, it really stinks. As a mom who tries to live an exemplary Christian life, it can be a real blow to be accused of something you didn’t do or say or even think. I liken it to feeling like you have been broadsided by a bus. It can literally take the breath right out of you. Often it feels like a heavy blanket has been laid over our souls and the burden of it is almost unbearable. Sometimes the accusations don’t come from the outside, but from somewhere deep within us. Things from the past can haunt us: things we’ve done we are ashamed of.  Things that were said to us or done to us. Messages we received verbally or non-verbally, intentionally or unintentionally. But we can be sure of one thing: we know exactly where it originates. (To read this devotional in its entirety, go to durendawilson.com)

We are at a crossroads when it comes to faith in our culture.  We are seeing pillars in the Christian community succumb to faulty, unbiblical thinking. The Bible describes it as being taken captive to "hollow and deceptive philosophies" (Colossians 2:8). In other words, people are becoming hostages to philosophies, intellectualism and vain deceit that flies in the face of the truth of who God is. Because it is literally everywhere, our kids are at more risk than ever for succumbing to it as well. One of the most important things we can do as Christian parents is to disciple our children. This is not something we add to our checklist, but rather something we authentically live out alongside one another and it is crucial to raising kids who will be able to stand strong in their faith in a culture that is quickly becoming blatantly anti-God. I asked my friend, Karen, to join me today because she is all about pointing moms to Jesus and can testify to the power of discipleship. Our hope and prayer is that you will be inspired to courageously commit yourselves to faithfully disciple your children!

Welcome to my new devotional series created for ALL moms! I often speak to homeschool moms, but this series is for any mom out there who wants to grow in her walk with the Lord and her understanding of the Word as it pertains to motherhood! Please share with your mom friends! If you’re struggling with “enemies” in your own life, you’ll find some great comfort in Psalm 3! Like many of the Psalms, David is the author of this particular chapter. He is in the midst of running for his life from several enemies, including his own ungrateful son, Absalom! He is being pursued for his crown and his very life and even his own flesh and blood is out to get him. I can’t imagine the heartache and betrayal that David felt in this particular situation. As moms, we have our own vast and varied enemies that we face: some for a season and others on an ongoing basis. Some of us are feeling the weight of wayward children. All of us seem to be struggling with a certain amount of anxiety. (To read the rest of the devotional, please go to durendawilson.com)

If ever there were a topic that is avoided, especially by the church, it's the topic of pornography. In the meantime, this addiction is spreading like wildfire and leaving a path of destruction in its wake.  Studies show that: 76% of 18-24-year-old Christians actively seek out porn Only 7% of pastors say they have a program in their church to help those who are struggling. 57% of pastors and 64% of youth pastors in the U.S. struggle with porn addiction. How do we, as Christian parents, be proactive and take precautions without becoming overcome by fear? How do we have honest, productive conversations with our kids about the dangers of pornography? I've had a few moms ask me to tackle this topic and I wasn't sure exactly how to go about that. Quite unexpectedly, our 18-year-old son told me that he felt strongly that God was leading him to share his story. We prayed about it and talked about it some more and still felt God's leading to do this. I'm incredibly inspired by Sam's courage and I truly believe God will use it to bring life and redemption to other young people. So please, invite your pre-teens and teens to listen in.  It's a great conversation full of truth, but also overflowing with hope! Scriptures mentioned in the podcast: James 5:13-20 (NLT) Romans 8:1-16 (NLT)

Welcome to my new devotional series created for ALL moms! I often speak to homeschool moms, but this series is for any mom out there who wants to grow in her walk with the Lord and her understanding of the Word as it pertains to motherhood! Please share with your mom friends! Like many of the Psalms, at first glance, there doesn’t seem to be much that is applicable to our lives as moms, but nothing could be further from the truth! We live in a culture that shakes its fist at God in countless ways. This includes the leaders and people who hold high positions with power and authority. We see corruption on every level from community, state and federal government.  Our hearts grieve as places like New York put laws into place that permit the killing of a baby as it is leaving the womb. As I held our newborn grandson just a few weeks ago, I couldn’t help but think of all the babies out there who will not have the opportunity to take their first breath. I thought about how incredibly vulnerable babies are. They are dependent on those around them to care for and protect them and instead they are being murdered in the womb and now as they leave the womb. THIS, this is man shaking his fist at God’s boundaries and the order that He has established in creation. This is man telling God that he wants to be in charge. (To read the rest of the devotional, please go to durendawilson.com)  

"God is still writing your story. Quit trying to steal the pen. Trust the author." This was a recent quote I read and shared, not realizing in the moment how clearly it describes what is really at the root of much of my anxiety in life. It is also directly related to my level of contentment. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one, although one of the greatest tactics of the enemy is to lead or drive us to a place where we feel completely alone.  I believe that for this very reason, God has laid it on my heart to share my struggles with anxiety and the truths that God is revealing as this (His) story unfolds. I don't think it's just about me. I truly believe it's a way for we as moms, to find community, not for the sake of commiserating, but to walk out what the Bible says: to spur one another on toward love and good works(Hebrews 10:24). To confess the unbelief (sin) that lurks in our hearts and pray for one another that we may be healed (James 5:16) and to speak out to others the ways that God has redeemed us from our enemies (Psalm 107:2)!  Please listen and be encouraged! Previous podcasts on anxiety: numbers 7,8,9,67, and 72 Psalm 23 (NLT) Matthew 11:28-30 (Message Bible) Philippians 4: 6-9 & 13 (NLT) Hebrews 12: 7,8 (NLT)

Welcome to my new devotional series created for ALL moms! I often speak to homeschool moms, but this series (Grace for a Mom's Heart) is for any mom out there who wants to grow in her walk with the Lord, her understanding of the Word and its application in motherhood! Please share with your mom friends! (To read this devotional please go to durendawilson.com  and I'd love it if you would please leave a review here!)

If we didn't love our kids to the moon and back, we wouldn't be homeschooling, but sometimes they drive us crazy!! Often we experience guilt for feeling this way, after all, aren't we supposed to love having our kids at home?  My guess is that many of us do love having our kids at home...most of the time, but I doubt there is one homeschooling mom out there wouldn't admit to the fact that sometimes, they drive her crazy! So instead of hiding and pretending, we aren't struggling or only complaining about our struggles, let's move toward problem-solving. More than that, let's(as the Bible says) spur one another on toward love and good works by talking about how to handle those times when (shhh...) we really aren't liking our kids. As an older mom, I have found that there are typically 3 reasons that I'm not enjoying my kids.  I share these in the podcast along with ways to move toward allowing God to use these times for good in our own lives and in the lives of our kids! Scriptures mentioned in the podcast: Luke 10:38-42 Matthew 11:28-30 (Message Bible Translation) 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Ephesians 6:1-4 Hebrews 12:7-11 The Unhurried Homeschooler (available on Amazon) Recommended Parenting Books (*aff. links) *Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp *Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Hubbard *Parenting by Paul Tripp *War of Words by Paul Tripp *Parenting Beyond the Rules by Connie Albers *The Disciple Making Parent by Chap Bettis *It's Time to Pray (Book on Prayer that was mentioned) by Carter Conlon

We all have clear reasons that we decided to homeschool, but as we continue on this journey, the lines can become blurred. It can be so easy to get caught up in how our kids (and we) are (or aren't) performing when it comes to homeschooling.  But what if that isn't actually what we are called to? Mastery can be important and God talks about becoming skilled and the importance of diligence.  But what if we are giving up purpose and exchanging it for performance? Resources and verses mentioned in the podcast: (*aff. links) *Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart *The Unhurried Homeschooler Luke 10:38-42 Luke 6:38,39 Deut. 6:4-7 Psalm 37:1-9 I Corinthians 1:18-31 James 1:5-8

Emotions numbed, foggy brain, heart racing, fatigue, inability to engage in what's going on around us.  These are just a few symptoms of anxiety.  Even the word makes us anxious! As believers we feel like we shouldn't be anxious and yet as busy moms, we aren't sure we have the bandwidth to peel back the layers and get to the root of the problem.  I've done several podcasts on anxiety because it's been a very real experience for me and God has urged me to be transparent with you. We live in a very volatile culture that makes us want to hide our imperfections to protect ourselves. There is a certain amount of wisdom in being careful WHO we share our heart with, but I also believe that when we are authentic with each other in light of God's grace, that's when REAL transformation can begin! That's why I'm here to tell my story. Scriptures mentioned in the podcast: Romans 12:1,2 Psalm 27:14 Hebrews 4:12 Psalm 1:1-3 Nehemiah 4:13,14 Isaiah 45:18,19 Book: It's Time to Pray by Carter Conlon Sermons: Rebuilding the Wall of Prayer: http://tsc.nyc/media_center.php?pg=sermons&ma=49000&size=audio Honest Prayer (a short 13-minute message): http://tsc.nyc/media_center.php?pg=sermons&ma=49035&size=audio

As a Christian mom, I really wanted to be able to confidently wrap my head around what my biblical response to alternative lifestyles should be AND how to talk with my kids about the world they are growing up in. The lie that the Enemy instilled in mankind in the Garden of Eden was this: Without God and outside of God's boundaries and without heeding the word of God, we can become LIKE God. We don't need Him, we can make our own rules and still reach some sort of utopia.  This is the lie we see being blatantly believed and lived out around us.  What should our response be?  How do we protect our kids while still preparing them? We CAN disagree with someone and still love them. Our culture is trying to convince us that disagreeing and loving are mutually exclusive.  This causes an inner conflict that results in being afraid to do or say anything at all. God calls us to be the hands, feet, and mouth of Christ. Changing hearts is HIS job.

Our culture is screaming for "tolerance" and instantly condemning anyone who disagrees with alternative lifestyles, all in the name of love.  As a Christian, I have wanted to get the perspective of someone who has lived an alternative lifestyle.  I wanted to know how THEY felt, what THEY experienced, what Christians said and did that was helpful and actually conveyed the love of Christ and what did not.  I also wanted to know what it looks like to love while not compromising the truth of God's Word.  As a mom, I wanted to know how we can talk to our kids about this topic while still protecting their innocence, especially in the early years AND again, adhering to biblical truth. Today I am talking with Judy who tells her personal story of coming out of a lesbian lifestyle and into a deep, meaningful relationship with Jesus.  In the next podcast, Judy and I will be answering questions about how we can be Christ to those choosing an alternative lifestyle and how we can equip our kids for the future.

I remember when our kids were little and people would say, "Just wait until they are teenagers".  It made me mad that they assumed my kids would grow into impossible teens, but it also cast a seed of doubt in my ability to parent teens. Our culture encourages us to give into one extreme or the other when it comes to our teens:  set super tight boundaries OR let them do whatever they want.  As believers we KNOW that God has a better plan than that, but how do we zero in on what that looks like? Today I am chatting with Connie Albers, author of Parenting Beyond the Rules.  She shares some very deep wisdom and insight from her own experience parenting 5 kids (now adults) and working with teens for over 20 years. She answers questions like: How do you parent teens in the age of social media? How do parents confront their fears when it comes to raising teens? How can parents be proactive in their teen's lives? If a parent feels like they've lost the relationship with their teens (or never had a great one), where do they go from here? AND MORE!

I've been interviewing each of our adult kids who were homeschooled from the beginning. They each share their experience and their perspective as adults on homeschooling! I encourage you to listen in to this one with your boys! It will be an encouragement! This is the sixth and final in the series. I am talking with our son, Sam, who is 18 and just graduated less than two weeks ago. I always love hearing the unique perspective that each of our kids brings. It's really fun remembering their growing up years and seeing how God has worked in each one of their lives to prepare them for what He has for them. I also love that they love learning and continue to educate themselves as adults. This is the beauty of raising life long learners...if there are gaps (and there always are), our kids can totally work to fill those in when and if they need to.

I've shared many experiences with you all including my struggles with anxiety.  I think it's important to be transparent and real with each other.  We need to know that we are not alone. Anxiety is real and it can come in all different forms for many different reasons.  This is why it's crucial that we can get ahold of TRUTH and truth is found ONLY in God's Word and by His Spirit. Today I'm sharing my most recent experiences with anxiety with the perspective that God is giving right along with it. I was strongly compelled to tell my story that your heart might be encouraged as well.  Scriptures shared: Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG Bible) Psalm 131:1 2 Corin. 10:4,5 John 10:10 Psalm1:1-3 Jeremiah 17:7,8 James 1:2-8 Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart-Devotional for Moms (Amazon) The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course

You all told me that you wanted to hear from each of our adult kids who were homeschooled from the beginning and we are now on our FIFTH episode!  I have had so much fun chatting it up with my kids either in person or online.  Sometimes their answers surprise me, but they ARE honest and I love them for that! Today I am talking with Luke who is 20 years old.  He is currently working a job/internship and learning much about business and as you will hear in the podcast, many of the skills he brought into his job were learned during his growing up years...not through books, but through real-life experiences: playing with his siblings for hours on end. Podcasts mentioned: Navigating the Post High School Years Redefining Education: An Interview with Isaac Moorehouse Contact info for Luke if you want help starting a podcast: wilson.d.luke@gmail.com

There are a bazillion books and plentiful advice on parenting. Discipline is a very real part of parenting and its ramifications are far-reaching. For homeschooling families, discipline is a more frequent interaction with our kids than the average parent and can often begin to feel like an obstacle. It can quickly wear us down and cause us to become discouraged, but the lack of it can do the very same thing. At the end of the day, for the believing parent, the only opinion on discipline that matters is God's. Today I'll be sharing some of my own experiences and looking at His Word for answers to questions like: is discipline really that big of a deal?  Why do I hear people say "character trumps curriculum" when it comes to homeschooling? How do I get direction in how to train my kids? How do I not feel guilty for disciplining? How does discipline relate to me as the parent? Verses mentioned in the podcast: Deut. 6:6-9, Pro. 29:15, 17, Prov. 22:6, Ephesians 6:1-4, Exodus 20:12, Hebrews 12:7-11, James 1 The Unhurried Homeschooler-a Simple, Mercifully Short Book on Homeschooling (Amazon) Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart -31 Days in God's Word (Amazon)

Welcome to the 4th in my series talking with each of our adult kids! Today I'm chatting with Ben who is our fourth child and second son. Ben is almost 22, works at a Bible camp and is a volunteer firefighter. Even though Ben was 9 before he was reading well, he is one of our most avid readers!  He was given time and space to develop at his own pace and learn in ways that worked for him.  We discuss this, reflect on his unhurried homeschooling experience and hear his perspective as an adult. You'll love this guy's heart!  He is one of the happiest people I know and a joy to be with! Mentioned in the podcast (aff links): The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course The Unhurried Homeschooler  Unhurried Grace for Mom's Heart

In today's podcast, I am talking with our oldest son, Jake. He is 24, started college at 16 (dual enrollment) and graduated at 21. He is in his 3rd year working as a software engineer. Having gone to college at a young age and straight out of homeschooling, he shares an interesting perspective. At age 12, Jake discovered what he was passionate about and the career he wanted to pursue, but much of what he needed, he had to work hard for.  It's one of the many reasons he is a motivated problem solver which has also given him an edge over many of his peers. I often say that he was one of the kids I "schooled" the least.  He and his siblings were and are self-directed/independent/life-long learners, partly because it's how they are wired and partly because we were a large family. But it worked for us. What it really comes down to (and always does) is listening to how we believe God is telling us to homeschool and raise our kids and being faithful to walk in it...even if it looks different than anyone else.

In today's podcast I am talking with Jenna, our 2nd daughter (of our 8 homeschooled kids) about her homeschooling experience and where she is today.  As a wife and mom of two littles, she shares the unique perspective of having been homeschooled from the beginning and now heading into the homeschooling years with her own children.  I'm having fun interviewing each of our adult kids per your request!  Listen in next week when I chat with our oldest son! Check out: The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (https://theunhurriedhomeschooler.thinkific.com/) The Unhurried Homeschooler: my simple, mercifully short book on homeschooling (Amazon) Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart: a devotional for homeschooling moms (Amazon)

A dyslexia diagnosis can feel overwhelming, especially for the homeschool mom, but take heart!  Dyslexia (or any diagnosis for that matter) doesn't have to negatively define you, your child or your homeschooling!  Today I am talking with Sarah Brown, homeschooling mom of 15 (yes, you heard me right), several of whom have dyslexia and you will be SO encouraged! I know many of you want to take a more unhurried approach when it comes to homeschooling and never is this approach more beneficial than when your child has learning struggles! Sarah and I recorded this podcast over the internet via computer and phone from North Carolina to Hawaii, SO it's not the best recording, BUT I believe the content is incredibly valuable and worth publishing in spite of the obstacles! Please visit this post on my website to sign up for the great giveaways offered in this podcast! (durendawilson.com)  

I asked you all if you would like me to interview each of our grown kids to talk with them about their homeschool experience and their perspective as adults.  The response was overwhelming, so today is the first of several.  I am talking with our daughter Brittney who is 28, pregnant with her fourth and heading into the homeschooling years with her own kids now! I was NOT a perfect mom or homeschooling mom by any stretch of the imagination, but I believed God gave me these kids and was challenged to trust His heart toward me and toward my kids.  Not one single day went the way I planned, but His grace oozed throughout all of our homeschooling years as I tried to facilitate what God was orchestrating.  In other words, my main job was to listen and do what God was calling me to do whether someone else was doing it or not AND to walk in the freedom that I didn't have to do what other's were doing.  You've got this because He's got YOU. Isaiah 40:11 Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp  and The Unhurried Homeschooler (find them both on Amazon)

"You aren't qualified to teach your children.  Only a professional can do that" Today I'm sharing the lie that every homeschooling parent is constantly facing and confronting it with the TRUTH of God's heart toward education and most importantly, His heart toward us as homeschooling parents. Our daughter once said, "Common sense isn't so common anymore".  She was right. It's time for we as parents to return to the wisdom found in God's word and His gift of common sense.  With that in mind, I'm also addressing a hot topic and apply some common sense to it as an example. I usually avoid controversial topics, but the reality is that the decisions we used to be able to freely make as parents have become charged with agendas, hate, and contempt for opposing views.   Because of this I found myself strongly compelled to use an example to encourage you as parents to think for yourselves and do NOT do ANYTHING from a place a fear. Instead, find your footing on the strong rock of Jesus and HIS leading in you and your family's lives. Scriptures mentioned: Luke 6:39,40 Matthew 11:38-40 (MSG) Deut. 6:6-9 Proverbs 3:5-8 Check out my books on Amazon: The Unhurried Homeschooler, a simple, mercifully short book on homeschooling and Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart-devotional for moms

We are engaged in a battle for our children and our right as parents to determine what is best for them. We are constantly being told in blatant and more subtle ways that we are inadequate for the job and encouraged to abdicate those decisions to those who “know better” than we do. This is nothing short of a frontal attack on God's good and gracious plan for families. God has given US these children to raise and He will equip US to do just that. Verses on wisdom: Job 12:12 Proverbs 37:30 Prov 1:7 Prov 3:7 Prov 4:6-7 Prov 13:1 Ecclesiastes. 2;26 1 Corin. 1:25 Colossians 2:2-3 James 3:17 James 1:5,6 1 Corinthians 1:30 Lamentations 29:11 Prov 14:1 Prov 15:12 Prov 19:20 Prov 3:13 Verses on Parenting: Colossians 3:21 Eph. 6:4 Ex. 20:12 Hebrews 12:11 Prov. 22:6 Prov 29:15 Prov 29:17 Lamentations 3:22-23 Matthew 6:33,34 Phil 4:6,7 Prov 1:8,9 1 Peter 5:23 Psalm 127:3-5 2 Tim. 3:14-16 Deut 6:6-9 Eph. 6:1-4 Joshua 4:20-24 Hebrews 12:1-7 Psalm 78:1-7 Titus 2:2-8 Prov 3:1-12 Please check out my books: The Unhurried Homeschooler and Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart on Amazon!

There's a lot to be said for hindsight. Our 6th will be graduating in June. The homeschooling finish line is in sight and the process has taught me so much, but in this podcast, I am sharing what I believe to be the 3 most important things that I've learned over the last two decades. From early on in our journey I remember hearing things that I would often "tuck in my hat", realizing that these were nuggets of truth that I may need later on. As the years unfolded, there were defining moments in our homeschooling journey where I recognized a truth that I also tucked away. I am sharing many of these with you today, praying that you will find your homeschool mom heart filled up to overflowing! Podcast mentions: The Unhurried Homeschooler(aff link) Facebook: Durenda Wilson IG: @durendaleewilson Podcast: Homeschooling: Dealing with Outside Pressure Podcast: Redefining Education My online mentoring course for moms: The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course

What should you do when it seems like your husband isn’t taking the spiritual leadership in your family? How can a husband encourage his wife in homeschooling the kids?   In this podcast episode, my husband and I are tackling these and several other questions from our listeners. We’ve been married for almost 30 years and homeschooling for over 23 years.   Other Podcasts with my husband Raising a Family of Ten on One Income Children: A Blessing Not a Burden   Check out my book, The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course   I will be speaking at these conferences FPEA-May 23, 24 2019 Orlando Florida NCHE-May 31, June 1 Winston-Salem, NC

News, online media, newspapers and a constant stream of information can put us on edge as people, but especially as moms. There are things happening that we never imagined would be happening and they are happening faster than ever.  We can't help but wonder what kind of world our kids will be growing into. Today I want to share HOPE with you...hope that we have as believers and hope that our children have for their futures. Please listen in and BE ENCOURAGED! Scriptures shared in the podcast: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Philippians 4:6,7 2 Timothy 1:8-11 Isaiah 40:18-31 Daniel 2:21,22 Psalm 34:8 Psalm 31:19 Psalm 84:11 Matthew 28:18-21 James 1:2-8 Homeschooling Through a Crisis (Podcast: Found here on SoundCloud or on my blog)

PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! In this podcast, I talk a lot about how to navigate understanding your kids through hormone changes. BUT I want to emphasize that as we try to empathize and work through these things with them, that we make sure that they speak to and treat us respectfully.  We want them to have a voice, but never at the cost of hurting the people around them.  This includes friends and siblings. Hitting the "pause" button is one of the best ways to do that. My husband and I have had teens in the house for 15 years.  We aren't perfect at it, but we've learned a lot and I'm sharing much of that right here on this podcast! The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart

I like to focus on podcast topics that are important to YOU!  Recently I had a mom ask me to do a podcast on international adoption.  I don't really have much experience with that, but I have a friend who does!  Sarah has 10 biological children and 5 children adopted from Ukraine.  In today's podcast, we talk about how God's plan unfolded in Sarah's family's life, how God knit their family together through adoption and what the adjustment has been like. (The newly adopted children are 7, 9, 11, 12 and 16) Even if you are not planning to adopt, maybe you know someone who is.  Learn more about what this process feels like so you can be effective support for those who are adopting! (More info/resources on this post at my website:durendawilson.com/international-ad…rown-podcast-53/)

We always say that character comes before the curriculum, but that can be easier said than done.  In the day to day, it can be a real struggle to actually lay down the math or reading to deal with the character issues in our kids.  But what if we saw character training for what it REALLY is? In today's podcast, I will be sharing a big picture perspective with a biblical foundation to encourage you to take the time to reach the hearts of your children! One thing I forgot to mention in the podcast is that as our kids exhibit behavior that indicates a need for character training, it's so important to find our first (especially if they are younger) if there is a need that isn't being met: are they hungry, thirsty, tired? Might we be over scheduling our family life, schooling or activities?  This isn't about giving our kids excuses for misbehaving, but about being responsible as parents to be fair and just in our actions. theunhurriedhomeschooler.thinkific.com/ (Mentoring Course) The Unhurried Homeschooler on Amazon Florida Parent Educators Association-Homeschool Convention May 23-25, 2019 Scriptures mentioned in the podcast: Luke 6:39, 40 Ephesians 6 2 Corin. 10:3-5 Deut 11:16-21

Many of us are homeschooling because we believe it's a much better choice for our children, but we can easily get caught up in becoming results driven in our approach. Today I am talking to Ashley Wiggers who is a homeschool graduate and now a mom herself.  We are having a great conversation about what can be best described as "homeschooling from the heart".  It's homeschooling from our heart as moms and tuning into our children's hearts so that we can create a learning environment that best fits our families! Ashley Wiggers grew up in the early days of the homeschooling movement. She was taught by her late mother, Debbie Strayer, who was an educator, speaker and the author of numerous homeschooling materials (including Learning Language Arts Through Literature and Trail Guide to Learning). It was through Debbie’s encouragement and love that Ashley learned the value of being homeschooled. Currently, Ashley is the Editor-in-Chief of Homeschooling Today magazine, Public Relations Director for Geography Matters and the author of the Profiles from History series. Ashley makes her home in Somerset, KY, with her loving husband, son and one on the way. (Resources mentioned in the podcast can be found at durendawilson.com)

I don't think there's a homeschool parent out there who would say that getting their kids to enjoy writing is easy. Today I am talking with Dr. Fred Lybrand who has been teaching writing for well over two decades (along with countless other pursuits).  He is ALSO a homeschool dad of 5 grown kids and has a unique and sensible approach to helping our kids with writing. He shares several basic principles in this podcast that will make you shake your head and say, "Why didn't I think of that? It makes so much more sense now!" (Hint: simpler really is better!) If you are looking for a writing resource, this may just be a good fit for you.  I invite you to listen and find out! (durendawilson.com)

Most homeschooling families are not actually enjoying homeschooling.  Parents AND kids are feeling all kind of unnecessary pressure and unreasonable expectations.  This is NOT what homeschooling was meant to be and we FEEL that deep down inside. BUT what will it take to get that peace we long for and to enjoy our children again? Today I'm having a conversation with Karen over at Simply Living for Him.  We share our stories of how simplifying our homeschooling was a game changer. This is something I teach moms how to do in my online course, The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course. If simplifying resonates with your mom heart, please go check it out!  Enrollment is open for a limited time. (Links to connect with Karen and my online course found in the notes on this podcast at durendawilson.com)

As homeschooling moms, we've chosen to educate our kids in what most would consider an "unconventional way". We've made this decision carefully and prayerfully and bear the daily responsibility of our choice, which can feel weighty in and of itself.  But often, on top of that, there are outside pressures that bear down on us and can drain the life right out of us AND our homeschool journey. I've been receiving an unusual amount of messages and emails from moms who are feeling burdened by two main pressures: government regulations/state requirements and push back from friends and family.  Because of that, I feel like God wanted me to bring encouragement in those specific areas. Praying that this podcast will lift any unnecessary burdens and bring joy back into this very special calling! durendawilson.com

I am so thrilled to have Dan Marcone (M.A., LMHC and Clinical Supervisor for Seasons Counseling) back on the podcast! Today Dan is sharing about the importance and how to's of encouraging a growth mindset in our kids!  A growth mindset is a mental attitude that determines how we interpret and respond to things like challenges, obstacles, effort, criticism and the success of others.  Do we have failure resistance?  Why is it SO important to encourage a growth mindset in our kids AND ourselves? We are feeling creatures that think, not thinking creatures that feel, so we MUST address our kids' emotional needs FIRST.   Listen in on the whys and hows of that in today's podcast! (Resources listed in the post at durendawilson.com)

We all want our kids to have a great start to their education, but what does that REALLY look like? Cheryl Bastian is a homeschooling mom to eight kids ages 3-29 and has worked in the early education field for many, many years. She is a wealth of information and encouragement! We will be talking about what's really important for early education along with simple ways to recognize common potential learning problems. (Resources mentioned are listed on this post at durendawilson.com)

As parents, it can be easy to become disoriented in our parenting...even more so for homeschooling parents!  We are with our kids 24/7 and in the daily busyness of trying to educate our children, we can forget that we are called FIRST to make disciples.  But what does that look like?  What tools do we need to orient our families toward that? We are called as Christian parents to hold out the Gospel to our children.  What does that look like? What are the most important things to remember as we disciple our kids?  What does it mean to bring up our children in the "training and instruction of the Lord"? BECAUSE we spend so much time with our kids, we have a unique, God-given, opportunity to do just that!  Listen in to hear some simple principles from God's Word that will help you parent with confidence! (Free audiobook offer listed on the notes to this podcast at durendawilson.com)

Higher education is changing and today we are talking about why homeschooling is truly the BEST way to prepare our kids for what's ahead. My guest today is Lolita, a marketing associate at Praxis, an apprenticeship program that helps young people launch their careers without college.  We are talking about project-based learning and why it can be such a great place to homeschool from. Lolita is a huge fan of homeschooling and was homeschooled herself!  She is passionate about encouraging homeschooling parents because she believes homeschooling is not just another education alternative, but an optimal choice when it comes to truly preparing our kids for the future. (Resources mentioned in the podcast can be found at durendawilson.com)

Many of us long for an older mom to help us navigate motherhood, homeschooling, etc. For months I've been collecting questions that YOU have wanted answers to!  We talk about chores, homeschooling, mom guilt (how does it affect our kids), busyness, how our married kids met their spouses and more! There were so many questions, I had to divide this into two podcasts! This is the second part! I also invited our oldest daughter, Brittney to join me.  I love that she can give her perspective as both a mom of littles AND the oldest child of a large homeschooling family! Our prayer is that God will speak to your heart through this question and answer time and that you would hear HIS voice above all others! (Resource links in podcast notes at durendawilson.com

Oh, how we need encouragement along the way...as moms, as homeschool moms! The best way I know to encourage moms is to share what God is doing in my own life.  It's been a lot...at times overwhelming, but NOTHING good comes easy, right?  There's a lot of goodness in this podcast that I'd love for you to hear! Please listen in and be encouraged! Resources mentioned in the podcast: Please check out The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course @ theunhurriedhomeschooler.thinkific.com   Link to song mentioned can be found at durendawilson.com in the notes from this podcast post!

Many of us long for an older mom to help us navigate motherhood, homeschooling, etc. For months I've been collecting questions that YOU have wanted answers to!  We talk about chores, homeschooling, mom guilt, busyness and more. There were so many questions, I had to divide this into two podcasts! I also invited our oldest daughter, Brittney to join me.  I love that she can give her perspective as both a mom of littles AND the oldest child of a large homeschooling family! Our prayer is that God will speak to your heart through this question and answer time and that you would hear HIS voice above all others! (For the list of resources mentioned in the podcast, go to this podcast on durendawilson.com)

Many of you may know Sarah Mackenzie from Read Aloud Revival! Sarah and I have been friends for a few years and I LOVE her!  She is the REAL DEAL! You may be familiar with her first book, Teaching From Rest. It's been a huge encouragement for homeschool moms everywhere! Sarah recently published Read Aloud Family and it's been a huge bestseller!  I believe it's because Sarah articulates what is already in the heart of moms everywhere.  We WANT to connect with our kids.  We WANT meaningful relationships with them, but we are overloaded with information on HOW to do that. In today's podcast, we are going to talk about one of the simplest ways to begin to connect and build relationships with our kids: reading out loud to them.  Many of us can feel disillusioned by the idea that we have to spend copious amounts of time reading to our kids in order for it to count, but Sarah debunks that myth! She shares tips to help make this time happen and we talk about the countless and sometimes surprising blessings of making reading out loud a priority! DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST ON MY BLOG FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE COPY OF READ ALOUD FAMILY (To find resources mentioned in the podcast, please go to the show notes at durendawilson.com)

After homeschooling for over 23 years, I can count on one hand the curricula that I have used over and over again and recommend to moms all the time.  The Mystery of History is one of those and there are many reasons as I share in this podcast. If you are wondering about the importance of history, how it relates to our faith and how it can be used as a springboard for many of the most important conversations you will have with your kids, then you will enjoy today's podcast! Today Linda Hobar (author of The Mystery of History) joins me to tell a little bit more about her background as a homeschool mom and how she ended up writing a world history series! (You can find resources mentioned in the podcast and information about the giveaway at durendawilson.com)

Anxiety is something we all deal with at one point or another.  For some us, it's literally an ongoing battle. There are no easy answers, but, as Believers, we can be assured that God WILL take care of us in the midst of whatever is making us anxious. Today's podcast comes from literally weeks and weeks of seeking God's face in the midst of anxiety.  Whenever I find myself in places that I cannot get away from, places that seem to compound my feelings of anxiety, but that God is clearly having me walk through, I have to ask Him, "What is it that I can only see or hear in THIS particular place?" Our trials are not haphazardly placed in front of us.  God is sovereign over our lives and nothing is outside His scope of control and care for us.  He doesn't waste anything hard that He asks us to walk through. If you are feeling anxious and weary, join me in looking to the ONLY One who can bring clarity and wisdom. Know that you are not alone and that you ARE loved! A friend of mine challenged me awhile back with this: "When by His grace we break through the shame and boldly unveil our weaknesses, grace rushes in and shows God's power to those around us. "-Kimm Crandall May you be encouraged and may you know God's power and presence as you listen. (Resources mentioned in the podcast are available at durendawilson.com)

We all go into parenting with some amount of baggage and we hope our kids will have less of it than we did, but what does that even look like?  We know what NOT to do, but what DO we do?  We love our kids, but how to we nurture and raise them to be emotionally healthy adults?  And if we are homeschooling, how do we address obstacles that inevitably show up along the way? I went into motherhood and homeschooling with a very basic understanding of child development and even that little bit of information has proven to be very helpful over my 27 years as a mom.  I've learned even more as we have homeschooled our children for the last 23 years. Today, Dan Marcone, M.A., LMHC, is sharing some very, very important information about the development stages of kids and how it relates to their learning.  You will want to grab a pen and paper and take notes because this podcast is chock FULL of great information! (Resources mentioned in the podcast available at durendawilson.com)

Who hasn't had a kid who struggles with whining, lying, complaining, being disrespectful, etc?  Join me as I talk with Ginger Hubbard, author of "Don't Make Me Count to Three", "Wise Words for Moms", and her new release (April 24th), "I Can't Believe You Just Said That!",  Ginger will share PRACTICAL ways we can help our kids tame their tongues.  We want to go beyond just getting our kids to behave.  As Believers, we want to reach the HEARTS of our children and Ginger shares some simple, yet effective tools!

Not every young person knows what they want to do when they graduate from high school. In fact, those that do are the exception, not the rule.  However, there is SO much pressure for our young people to make decisions they are simply not ready to make.  College is becoming less and less relevant and our kids are finding themselves floundering.  Because of this pressure, many students go through the motions of continuing education without owning what they are doing and others just become paralyzed and do nothing. Today I am talking with our 19-year-old son, Luke, as we share our experience of navigating the post-high school years.  Luke is our 5th born, 3rd son) and, as you will learn from our conversation, has learned that this journey looks different for every family AND for every child. You will be encouraged as we talk about what it looks like to walk through these post-high school years TOGETHER!

Did you know that the model for the public school system was created during the Industrial Revolution, essentially preparing students to be factory workers? Our kids need something drastically different to prepare them to succeed in the 21st century.  As homeschoolers, we have that opportunity!  But what this means is that we need to be willing to think outside the box. Today I am talking with Isaac Morehouse, founder, and CEO of Praxis, a highly successful apprenticeship program that can't keep up with the demand for its graduates. Isaac was homeschooled and shares how homeschooling was an incredible asset to him (probably not in the ways you think).  He is on the front lines and well connected to what companies are looking for in employees, so he speaks to the opportunities we have as homeschoolers to truly prepare our kids for the future. I guarantee this podcast will be the biggest encouragement you've heard in a long time! (For links and books mentioned, go to durendawilson.com)

Whether you’ve got kids in high school or you are fact-gathering for the upcoming high school years, you will love the experience and wisdom that Cheryl shares in this podcast on creating transcripts for your high schoolers! Cheryl is a mom to 8 kids ages 28 down to almost 3. She has graduated 3 so far. She brings with her a multitude of years in education, both before children and as a homeschooling mom. This podcast might seem a little overwhelming to some, so listen with discernment as not everything mentioned may be a good fit for you! (As you are listening, please make note of any more questions you might have. We would be happy to do another podcast to answer those, if need be!)

"Just you wait until they're teenagers!".  I heard this a lot when we had several little ones.  I hated it. My friend used to call these people the "just you waits."  I couldn't help but think that God had something better for our kids and our relationships with them.  The teen years hold challenges, but I was right, these years can be both productive and enjoyable! As homeschooling moms, it's easy to freak out as we prepare our kids for high school and question whether or not we can actually pull of homeschooling all the way through high school.  Today I talk with my friend, Cheryl Bastian, also a mom of eight (ages 2-29) who worked in education before she had children and has been homeschooling for well over two decades. You're going to be both encouraged and equipped through this conversation as we talk about how important perspective is in navigating these very precious years with our kids! (For more, go to my website: durendawilson.com)

Today Holly Giles joins me as we talk about what it looks like to homeschool from where you are and to follow your children's interests.  You will love Holly's encouraging stories as she shares how God led her family to homeschool and how her children are thriving through a lifestyle of learning! Holly is a wife, mother, and storyteller. She has a passion for helping families discover their own learning style and use it to nurture their children's God-given gifts. The importance of a strong family relationship is woven in each message. Holly gleans from her own life with boys, embracing the outdoors and navigating the challenges of a special needs child, to tell stories, woven with humor, that are sure to encourage the weariest of souls. Nature is her springboard to inspire you to a more abundant life at home. Holly is the author of Blaze New Trails, creator of the Learning Lifestyle Revival, and opens her home and life to you at thegilesfrontier.com. (More info on durendawilson.com)

Homeschooling has become not only a viable educational option, but often a preferred one, but what is it about homeschooling that actually makes it work?  What are the foundational aspects that give our children the advantage of becoming life long learners? After homeschooling for over 22 years (5 graduated and 3 still school age), I can tell you that it's not what you might think! In this podcast, I share a perspective that I hope will both inspire you and be the encouragement you need to press forward in your homeschooling journey. (For more, please go to my blog durendawilson.com)

We are busy trying to raise decent human beings and that is a very REAL and very influential role.  At the same time, we live in a world that desperately needs hope.  HOW can we, as moms, help facilitate that? The enemy's tactics are clever.  If he can keep our focus somewhere else, we will miss countless opportunities.  But what if we adjusted our lens and became very focused on what REALLY matters? PLEASE listen in as I share something that I believe God is calling every believing mom to grasp and understand because He wants to use us to rock the world. (For more, please go to durendawilson.com)

So many times we refer to ourselves as "just moms", but God created motherhood and considers it a place of honor.  The word honor means distinction, recognition, privilege, glory, prestige, merit, importance, notability, respect, esteem, approbation. We need to understand that being a mom is an honor. It is a privilege. The culture shouts otherwise, but God honors moms. He loves them. He leads them gently (Isaiah 40:11). Motherhood isn't a diversion from the important work...it IS the important work. Between the two of us, my friend Sherri and I have 12 kids, over 50 years of motherhood and over 40 years of homeschooling experience. Listen in while we talk about the Urgency of Motherhood! (About halfway through there is a glitch in the recording.  Hang in there for a little bit...we do come back!) Check out my books on Amazon...The Unhurried Homeschooler and Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart! More encouragement on my blog...durendawilson.com

Most would say it can't be done, but with God all things are possible. Today Darryl and I share the story of how we raised a family of 10 (yes, we count the parents) and recently paid cash for our home and a second small home that generates income as an Airbnb. We hope that as we share our story and some money saving tips, that you will be encouraged!

My husband and I are often asked how in the WORLD we ended up with EIGHT kids! In today's podcast, my husband joins me in telling the story of how we went from wanting 2 kids to having 8! It's a God story for sure, especially when you consider we had ALL of our children via C-section!

My new devotional written just for moms launched yesterday! I am sharing one of the devotions from the book here today to give you a taste of Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart! This devotional was written from many, many years in God's Word with very practical application for moms and homeschool moms! This 31-day devotional could be used several times throughout the year. You can find the book on Amazon for a promotional price of $6.99 until the end of January. (Regular price as of February 1 is $8.99) That means you can receive both The Unhurried Homeschooler AND Unhurried Grace for just $12.98 total (both on Amazon).

Are you waiting on God for any area of your life...something in your marriage, with your kids, friends?  Maybe it's a job or a move? We are typically not very good at waiting, but often God calls us to do just that.  It can be frustrating and discouraging.  It can even take a toll on our faith.  So why in the world would God require us to do it? Is it just a waste of time?   What good might He have in all of it? (all references in the podcast are listed on my blog(durendawilson.com) associated with this episode)

Overwhelmed. Every mom experiences it.  Most of us experience it on a daily basis. It can feel pretty gross. It can steal our joy. It can rob our peace.  It seems to just be a part of life.  As Believing moms, we know deep down inside that God may have something better for us in all of it, but what could that possibly be?  Listen in and be encouraged!

My friend Terrie and her family were on their way home from a family trip. A quick stop at the rest area would prove to be life-changing.  Terrie's husband, Greg, was shot in the back and ultimately paralyzed from the waist down. I had the opportunity to sit down with Terrie and have her share the story from that night and how she experienced God in the midst of a crisis. When we recorded this, Terrie and Greg were just days away from testifying in the trial that would hopefully bring one of the perpetrators to justice. As of today, they are still sitting through court proceedings, so prayers would be much appreciated. (Scriptures and links to Terrie's website and books are on associated post at my blog, durendawilson.com)

Navigating technology and screen time with our kids is one of our biggest challenges as parents.  We are moving into what is called the "Smart Technology" age and quite frankly, it's intimidating!  Technology and screen time have been my arch nemesis for years.  I've prayed through and done the best I can, but I think we all could use some clarification, direction, and a plan! Help is on the way! Today I am talking with Leah Nieman who has been speaking for the past 8 years to parents, homeschooling groups, and teens about technology, social media, and parenting. She is going to share with us some ideas on how we can raise kids with a healthy perspective of technology and social media. I think you will be inspired and encouraged! (All resources mentioned are the blog post associated with this episode...durendawilson.com)

One of the keys in homeschooling boys is moving them from a place of dependency to a place of ownership.  If our boys OWN what they are doing, we won't be needing to push or cajole.  In fact, it may be all we can do to keep up with them!  The conquering spirit of boys is quite the sight to behold and it's an exciting, powerful thing to be a part of! What exactly is ownership?  Tim Elmore describes it like this: Ownership is the antithesis of entitlement. It’s the idea that my life is my own, which entails both freedom and responsibility: …For the decisions I make. …For the challenges I face. …For the money I spend or save. …For the people I choose to hang around. …For the future I prepare for. …For the mistakes I make. Today I'm sharing ways we can encourage our boys to OWN both their life and their education.  College isn't for everyone and is, in fact, becoming less and less relevant.  I'm sharing some great alternatives.  These suggestions aren't an exhaustive list, but they will hopefully give you hope and a vision for something that may be a better fit for your boys! (There are links to the resources I share in the podcast on this post at my blog)

In this podcast, I'm talking more about our boys and what they really need!  We will be focusing specifically on Jr.High/High School ages.  There are lots of practical ideas, but more than anything, I want you, as moms, to be encouraged. They say the mom's heart is the child's classroom and this is why I often spend time speaking to that.   If your hearts are thriving, your children and your homeschooling will be thriving as well!  God's principles are timeless and hold true across the board, but the method to walk in obedience to those principles can vary from family to family. Please listen in, I think you are going find that God has, in fact, been speaking to your heart about your boys. My prayer is that this podcast will give help give you the courage to move forward in faith for their hearts and yours! (Resources mentioned in the podcast are listed on the post on my blog durendawilson.com)

Today I'm talking about homeschooling boys:  what they really need, understanding some of the ways that they tend to be wired and specifically what we have done as we homeschooled our 5 boys who are now 22, 20, 19, 17, and 13. Raising boys can be challenging.  Homeschooling them can bring the best mom/teacher to her knees (or tears), but OH the joy of boys!  I love our boys to the moon and back, but part of being able to enjoy our homeschooling journey required me to give up some of my ideal thoughts about what it was supposed to look like.  I had to decide whether I was going to insist that they measure up to what I felt like and now know are ridiculous and unnatural expectations or if I was going to encourage them to be everything that GOD made them to be!  It was one of the best decisions I ever made (more than once over the years) and I would do it all over again! (All sources mentioned are on my blog at durendawilson.com)

Not one of us is in the EXACT same situation as someone else. We live in certain cultures, sub cultures, have different backgrounds, different children, are in different seasons of life, and so much more! It makes sense that each our homeschooling journeys would have a different flavor as well! In this podcast, our grown daughters and I will be talking about homeschooling confidently from WHERE YOU ARE!  God has very intentionally placed each of us in our specific circumstances and He has a plan and a purpose in how that affects our homeschooling experience! The girls and I will share what our homeschooling looked like because of our specific set of boundaries. You'll get my perspective AND theirs because I believe it's important for you to see how our imperfect homeschooling experience was perfect for US...and yours will be too! Let your friends know about it so they can listen as well and get ready to find FREEDOM in your homeschooling! (Song at the end: Casting Crowns, Here's My Heart Lord)

This week's podcast is a must listen!  I'm talking to my friend, Yvette!  She and her husband and girls are traveling the country filming a documentary on homeschooling that will help debunk the myths that often surround what we are doing at home with our kids! It will be a great encouragement to those who already homeschool, show those who are considering it, just how doable it is AND reveal to the naysayers what a legitimate option it really is! I believe this film will transform our culture's view of homeschooling and encourage so many more Christian families to step out in faith and begin their homeschooling journey as well.  It will also be very helpful for homeschooling families to pass on to the people in their lives who give them grief over their choice to home educate.  I like to call it "educating the non-home educator"! (It's also a great reminder of why we are homeschooling!)

We never know what God is going to call us or our children to, but as we walk our faith out before our kids, we show them what kind of God we serve. As moms, we want to fix things. We want to make everything okay and it HURTS when we can’t. But the truth is that life is messy and it’s hard and even though we want to spare our children of its pains, we would be doing them a disfavor. The very best thing (even though it can be SO hard) is to walk through the pain WITH them, looking and pointing out where we see God’s presence and pointing them back to the cross. Our youngest son was born with a major heart defect and spent the first 2 months of his life in the hospital. A little over 4 years ago, our first grandson went to be with Jesus unexpectedly, just hours before birth. As our family walked through these and other crisis together, we were NEVER more glad that we homeschooled. We had the opportunity to point our kids back to God and to where we saw His presence over and over again. But this took time, patience and understanding...something we could give them because we homeschooled. These experiences impacted them for a lifetime...more than that, for eternity. In this week's podcast, I share what it looks like to homeschool through a crisis and how God can use what feels really yucky to do His deepest and greatest work in our hearts and the hearts of our children.  We learn what it feels like to experience His grace and watch Him bind our families together through difficulty. (Scriptures used in the podcast are listed on the blog post at durendawilson.com) Song at the end of the podcast is called "Hold Us Together" by Matt Maher

Moms, we are the ones our kids will look to the most to find out if God is really good. We spend the largest amount of time with them during their formative years. We are the ones who help them interpret the world around them. We want our kids to walk in TRUTH. We need to make sure that truth is being conveyed...in other words that they are not misinterpreting what’s going on around them. As parents, we are our kids' main advocates and the ones who should be defending their childhood. In this week's podcast, I am talking specifically about protecting our kids from the media. There are images flashing in so many places that our kids simply are not ready for. We have the privilege, but also the responsibility to shelter our kids in the ways that God leads us to so that they will be able to see what a good God we serve! Please share this podcast with other moms! (Scripture references and related posts are shared on my blog under Protecting Our Kids From Media, durendawilson.com)

Technology has exploded in the last several years. There are no long term studies that have been done because of how quickly it is accelerating, but the short term ones already show that technology is impacting our anxiety levels.  We need to navigate this area of our lives with wisdom and discernment that only God can give us. Our daughter, Jenna is joining us! She is married to Sam and has an almost 3 yr old, Avi. You will get perspectives from 2 generations AND a homeschool graduate...plus Jenna is a whole lot of fun! We will talk about what it looks like to use discernment, discuss potential fallout, how to know and yield to God's boundaries, and ways to unplug. I hope you will take the time to listen to this podcast! You won't want to miss it and you will probably want to share it with a friend!

This is the second part of our series on Overcoming Anxiety. It's a series that is for any woman, mom or homeschooling mom, so please share and don't forget to listen all the way to the end of this podcast. There's a song waiting for you there. Close your eyes and let the Holy Spirit wash over you and refresh your spirit! Anxiety can be debilitating or, at the very least, distracting. God wants us to find courage in Him and the good things He has for us. I firmly believe that He uses anxiety to get our attention and as we slow our hearts to listen to Him, He begins to bring redemption to many areas of our lives. As we remember His great love for us and yield to His plan for our lives, we have the privilege of watching Him give beauty for ashes. Go to this post on my blog to read the show notes, Scripture references, and lyrics to the song (Beauty for Ashes by Chris McClarney)

Anxiety is becoming an epidemic, yet those of us who struggle with it feel alone.  What does God have to say about anxiety? Where might my anxiety be coming from? (NO it's NOT wrong to feel anxious) These are just a few questions we are going to tackle as we unpack the part that anxiety seems to play in so many of our lives. We will hold it up to the Word while addressing the practicalities that go along with it. Scriptures shared: Matthew 6:25-34 (NLT),Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT), Proverbs 14:8 (NLT), Psalm 16:5,6 (NIV) Song shared at the end of the podcast is called Hurricane by Natalie Grant: You're spinning out of control again Your life feels like a sinking ship You're wondering how it came to this Is it too late? Is it too far? For Him to reach you And come to where you are Step out on the edge Don't be afraid of it And when you feel the rain Call His name He'll find you in the hurricane You're in the wreckage underneath Your hope is buried somewhere deep You're wondering how long it will keep? It's never too late Never too far For you to reach out And take a hold of love Step out on the edge Don't be afraid of it And when you feel the rain Call His name He'll find you in the hurricane Don't back down from the fight He'll shelter you tonight Just hold on for the change Call His name He'll find you in the hurricane There's a place, there's a place you can run When you fall, and it's all come undone You'll be safe in the raging storm So just let go 'Cause you are held in His arms Step out on the edge Don't be afraid of it And when you feel the rain Call His name He'll find you in the hurricane Oh oh And when you feel the rain Call His name He'll find you in a hurricane

We know that God wants us to slow down, to take a more unhurried heart into our homeschooling days, but that doesn't always change the fact that we have an inward battle to overcome! In this podcast, I will talk about what the battle REALLY is and how to overcome! I share tons of powerful scripture that I encourage you to go read and study for yourself. You can find those and any other references in the show notes on my blog!

It's important that we don't just educate our kids' minds, but that we nurture and educate the WHOLE child. Today I'm going to talk about learning to trust your instincts as homeschooling parents and some of the nuances of that. I have more notes as well as resources on this post at my blog, durendawilson.com Thanks for being here!

I am just going to be straight up honest with you.  This podcast message came so clearly from the Lord, I would be a fool to say otherwise.  Sometimes He just does that and this is one of those times.  I was supposed to cover chapter 3 of my book, but what God laid on my heartfelt so urgent and flowed so well with chapter 4 (How We Homeschooled) that I am doing that chapter this week and will cover chapter 3 next week. Moms, this is a message of freedom.  "Whom the Son has set free is FREE INDEED!!"  This is also a message of love from God to you. Here's a question for all of us:  Are we willing to look foolish in order to walk in obedience to God's plan for our families? What if part of looking foolish for the sake of the cross is raising and educating our kids in a way that seems very different from the world?  This is the heart of what I am sharing today! (Resources and scripture I mention in this podcast are listed on the coordinating blog post)

Could we be running past the work God is giving us because we have a hurried, narrow vision of what we're "supposed" to be doing? Does my pace feel like a gentle breeze or more like a hurricane? Why is slowing down so beneficial in homeschooling our kids and how does it relate to us and our relationship with God? These are questions we need to ask ourselves if we really want to cultivate a more authentically unhurried life with our families.  In this podcast, we will also talk about how love really is NOT hurried, what that actually looks like and how to recognize the enemy's tactics so we can defeat his attempts to discourage us!

We make many sacrifices as moms and homeschool moms, but are we actually yielding to God's plan for us? (If you go to my blog, you will find a list of the resources I mention here):)