The Durenda Wilson Podcast

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: [email protected]

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)