The Durenda Wilson Podcast

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!)