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April 13, 2022 14 mins

Jani is delighted to have her former co-host, Heidi Howerton, join her to wish you a Happy Easter! Find out what God is teaching Heidi during this stretching season in her life.

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Jani Ortlund (00:02):
Welcome to He restores my soul with Janney
Ortlund, where you can findencouragement for your busy life
through God's renewing mercy.
Well, hello, everyone and aHappy Easter Week to you. I have
a special Easter guest and aprize for my listeners who love

(00:24):
Heidi Howerton. Heidi's with metoday.

Heidi Howerton (00:27):
Hello, everyone, I hope you are doing so well.
And I wish you the happiestEaster with your with family,
and really enjoying the Lord'sDay.

Jani Ortlund (00:38):
Heidi, it is just wonderful having you back
podcasting with me. I've missedyou.

Heidi Howerton (00:43):
Oh, Jani, I've missed you, too. And yet, I'm so
proud of the way the Lord hasused you to share His
discipleship curriculum with allof your listeners. He has been
with you, and doing amazingthings through you. So what an
honor to sit and hear what Hehas to say to everyone, and be
challenged in my own heart.

Jani Ortlund (01:04):
Well, thank you, Heidi, that's sweet. Now what do
I say? I'm embarrased.
But what I thought our listenerswould love, is a catch up with
their friend, Heidi. So, Heidi,tell us about your life. We have
another little guest with ushere today, don't we?

Heidi Howerton (01:25):
Yes! Abigail Jane is with us today. And right
now she is seven months old. So,not quite moving out yet, but
sitting up on her own. Oh, whata joy and a gift from God.

Jani Ortlund (01:36):
And for our listeners who don't know, she is
number four in your family. Tellus the ages of your other three
children.
Well, they're at differentstages, too. So, how do the

Heidi Howerton (01:44):
Yes. So, Hannah is nine years old and in third
older three respond to Abigail?
grade, James is seven years oldand in first grade, and then
Oh, they love her. Just, adifferent type of care comes out
Gideon is six years old and inkindergarten. And then there's
of their hearts. Hannah's moremotherly. The boys you can see
Abby, who's just seven months.
So it's a busy season in life.
look out for her—what is shedoing? Very interested in her.
Four kids is a lot of kids!They're also wonderful. And they
keep me hoppin'.

(02:21):
Everyone is grateful that she'sa part of our family.

Jani Ortlund (02:23):
Oh, well, there was a special time in your life
when you were praying, shouldyou have a fourth baby, and the
Lord really spoke into thesituation and guided you and
Mike through it all, didn't He?

Heidi Howerton (02:35):
Yes. For years, we prayed about that fourth
after I had cancer. I wasdiagnosed with cancer when
Gideon, my third child, was justthree months old. So we had
three under three, and a cancerdiagnosis. And it just took many
years for me to get my feetunderneath me again. And at that
point, we thought, "Should wehave another one? Should we

(02:55):
not?" and prayed, and tried toseek, as well. And sometimes you
just have to wait on the Lord toshow you, and finally Mike and I
both said, "We think the time isright." And I praise God for her
little life.

Jani Ortlund (03:08):
Yes. Oh, I wish our listeners could see her.
She's just a beautiful, little,doll baby. Maybe you can hear
her playing on Heidi's lap here.
It's fun to have her join us.

Heidi Howerton (03:19):
But I just want to encourage you women out there
that are wondering, should wehave another one? Should we not?
Keep pressing into God. It tookyears, but He was so faithful to
show us His perfect timing.

Jani Ortlund (03:31):
Thanks for that testimony, Heidi.
Well, Heidi, tell our listenersa little bit about your life
right now, on top of the fourchildren. Tell us about that,
and your home, and yourwork...all that you're doing.

Heidi Howerton (03:43):
Yeah, so we've really pared-down. And the big
focuses right now are Mike andthe kids, and homeschooling the
kids, and then I do real estateon the side. So, just serving
two to three clients at a timein that new career, which has
been such a gift. Very sweet andunique opportunity to love

(04:04):
people in different seasons oflife.

Jani Ortlund (04:08):
Well, talk about homeschooling a little bit. I
know you have a tutorial. Andthen you have a tutor come into
your home part time, and thenyou homeschool them. It's kind
of a perfect mix.
It was really important to Mikeand I to keep the children home

Heidi Howerton (04:20):
Yes, it's a unique setup for doing the
different things that the Lordhas called me to do. I often am
for discipleship. I think alltypes of education are
so reminded of my weaknesses.
Women look at me and they say,"Heidi, how can you do it all?
How can you have four children,wonderful, and God calls
different families to differentand homeschool them, and take
care of Mike, and have a realestate career?" and I look and I
say, I really can't do it all bythings. And for us in this
season, it's homeschooling.
myself. And so, it's knowingwhen to ask for help.

(04:53):
That's not to say we might nottransfer to public school one
day. So, we want to keep themhome, and yet I also wanted to,
or needed to, work real estate.
And I thought, "Lord, how do Ido this?" and in His perfect
timing, he provided a tutor. Sotwo days a week, the children go
to school under a tutorial,three days a week, they're home
with me. And then for a fewhours, two of those days the

(05:14):
kids are home with me, we have atutor come. So many hands make
light work. I'm grateful for ourwonderful teacher who helps our
children. I'm grateful for thetime that I get to spend
one-on-one with the kids. AndI'm grateful for our tutorial
that also pours the love ofJesus into their hearts.

Jani Ortlund (05:33):
It just sounds like it's a happy mix, where you
really know what your childrenare being taught. And you enter
into that, but you also have thehelp you need to ensure that
they're being educated to thelevel you want them to be
educated.

Heidi Howerton (05:48):
Yes. Those are hard decisions. How will we
educate our children? How will Imanage everything? I want to
work and I need to work? How dowe balance that in? So a lot of
prayer and time go into thosedecisions, Mike and I together,
and some creativity. Well, whatif we did this? And what if we
did this? Or humbling moments,where I come to Mike and I say,

(06:09):
"Honey, I'm trying to do it all,and I want to, and I feel so
weak and I'm failing in thisarea, and in this area." And he
often looks at me and says,"Well, what kind of help do you
need?" and then we startbrainstorming together what to
do. But I'm so grateful. We'rereally in a wonderful season of
life right now. I feel very,very blessed in all capacities

(06:30):
from the Lord's kindness to us.

Jani Ortlund (06:32):
Well, let's talk about that a little bit, Heidi.
Talk to our listeners who'vejust had a new baby and are
struggling with their quiettimes with the Lord. Maybe their
baby isn't sleeping well andthey're exhausted. They're at
their end. Can you share some ofwhat you've been going to, and
some of the ways the Lord hashelped you and sustained you?

Heidi Howerton (06:55):
Guys first, I would just go up to that woman
and give her a hug, and say,“Whether you have one baby or
four, it is really, reallyhard.” I knew going into
Abigail's newborn season, howchallenging it would be, knowing
it, and experiencing itphysically on your body. When
you're up every two hours, andevery three hours, and you've
been used to sleeping throughthe night. It is so hard, and

(07:16):
lack of sleep affects every areain your life. So, I would just
give that mom a hug and say morethan anything, give yourself
grace. You know, figure outthings to make life easier. Use
paper plates every couple ofnights, or buy a premade meal
from Costco. It's okay to feellike you only have the capacity
to care for your husband andyour children. It's okay to feel

(07:36):
like you can't give much else.
I'm just coming into a seasonnow that Abby is seven months,
where I feel like I have more togive, I can get together with
friends again, and to go outsideof our home. Sometimes when I
have a new baby, I have toremind myself, it's okay to be
home. And to just focus on thefamily that God's given me for a
few months.
As far as quiet times, I'llhumbly admit that they've been
So I try to make a time everyday or every other day for him.

(07:56):
difficult. I have been spendingtwo to three consistent quiet
times a week with the Lord sinceAbby was born. But there may
have been a week or two that Imissed, and my soul could feel
that. I just felt hungry fortime with God. I missed my
I'll often wake up in themorning and nurse the baby and
relationship with him. And thenI thought, "Well, what do I do?
How do I add this in?" I'm sotired. Getting up early in the
morning doesn't feel like aright fit, especially when Abby
feed the children. And then Itell them, "Okay, Mommy's gonna
was waking up every two hours atnight. And yet I missed the
Lord. And I know how importantHe was.

Jani Ortlund (08:14):
Yes. Isn't that a wonderful kindness of the Lord
have quiet time with God." Andso I set the children up with
some books to read or toys toplay with. I put Abby on her
playmat, because she's happiestin the morning. And I spend 30

(08:38):
to include a hymn book in themiddle of the Bible. We go to it
minutes reading my Bible andpraying. Or it might look like,
in the afternoon, when Abby goesdown for her nap. And I say,

(08:59):
this is important enough thatwe're not going to do
homeschooling for 30 minutes,and everyone's going to do quiet
so often because it's so real.
It speaks to us of bothtime, and I'm going to read my
Bible. And I tell the kids, "I'mgoing to read my Bible. This is

(09:22):
important. Please don'tinterrupt me." And I try to make
time for Him. I'm so gratefulrealities, our physical,
spiritual, reality here onfor the Psalms, because
sometimes when we walk throughhard, draining seasons of life,

(09:45):
we need to read those simpleprayers, words of David, and
ultimately of the Holy SpiritEarth, and the unseen reality of
God and His Spirit.
and God to feed our souls.

Heidi Howerton (10:24):
Exactly. And it speaks to us about seasons of
joy and seasons of sorrow. Itspeaks to all of those emotional
struggles and mountain momentsthat we have. So if I'm going
through a hard season in life,that's often where I'll end up.
But oh, I'm ready. I'm ready tostart eating something with a
little bit more meat again.

Jani Ortlund (10:43):
Well, once Abby gets on solid food (she just
started a little bit ago) now,you can get a little more
solitude.

Heidi Howerton (10:49):
Exactly, yep, I've been thinking, "Where do I
want to start?" I always need aplan. That's what's best for me.
So I've been thinking, whereshould I start? What kind of
plan do I want to get intoagain?

Jani Ortlund (10:57):
Well, I tend to think, nursing babies need milk.
Moms who are nursing can justdrink from the pure milk of the
Word. And then, as the babygrows more and can digest more,
then the mother can take in moremeat, and strength, and more
time from the Word.

Heidi Howerton (11:18):
My soul needed that, Jani. Thank you. I think
it's easy, as a mom, to feelguilty for only having the
capacity to read Psalms, or tothink, "I should be doing
something more." So thank youfor speaking that truth over me.

Jani Ortlund (11:31):
Well, we want this podcast to restore our souls
don't we, Heidi? We don't wantit to be, "You should do this.
And if you don't do that, then Ithink the Lord might be
scowling." We want to speaktruth into women's hearts, where
they can feel God's restorativepowers pouring into them, giving

(11:52):
them what they need for wherethey are in their life now.
Heidi, it's been great havingyou back. Thank you for coming
over with little Abby. She'sdarling.

Heidi Howerton (12:05):
Thank you for the privilege and the honor of
just spending time with you as adear friend, and then even
coming up with the idea for usto sit and podcast together.
What a joy and surprise it wasto my heart today. And oh, all
of you, women, I pray for you.
And I just pray that you aresoaking in this discipleship
curriculum. And I pray that theLord is with you as you meet

(12:25):
with different women or groupsof women, that He's pouring in
His wonderful power into yourlives and you're drawing closer
to Him.

Jani Ortlund (12:35):
Well, why don't we close today by praying for those
young moms who are listeningtoday, who maybe are in the same
spot you are, Heidi, wherethey're drinking milk from the
Word—they're happy when they canget it, but they want more—and
they're looking forward to thatseason when they can have more
time with the Lord.
So, Father, I want to bring thatyoung mom today, who is nursing

(13:00):
a baby, and she's exhausted;she's up every two hours during
the night, and then she hasother things to do during the
day. Lord, I pray for her. Drawnear to her. Comfort her. Give
her hope, Lord, that this is aseason, and all seasons come to
an end. She has another seasonto look forward to ahead of her.

(13:23):
Lord, I pray that you wouldrestore her soul as only you
can. Gently lead her. She iswith young, and You promise us
in Isaiah 40 that you gentlylead those who are with young.
Would you do that for our youngmoms who are listening today? In

(13:43):
Jesus name, amen.
Well, thank you all forlistening. We're so glad you
tuned in. And we're so glad forthis surprise visit with Heidi.
It just made my day so happy.
And I know you're glad to hearfrom her. Hopefully you can come
back again soon, Heidi.

Heidi Howerton (14:01):
I would love that, Jani, and I love you.

Jani Ortlund (14:04):
I love you, too.

Heidi Howerton (14:09):
Thank you for joining us today. This podcast
is generously funded throughRenewal Ministries. If you would
like to discover more aboutJanee and raise ministry or make
a donation, visit their websiteat renewal ministries.com If you
have a question for Danny orwould like to learn more about
this podcast, please visit ourwebsite at He restores my

(14:30):
soul.org
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