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I'm Sara, the voice behind Chasing Jupiter and mum to two young boys.
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  • “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” -John Green 🌿 Have you ever read a book like that? There are so many I could list here. Books I feel would enrich the lives of so many homeschoolers, parents, and, well humans in general. We all need more of those books in our lives. What books fit this category for you? I’ll be digging out some of my favourites to share soon!
  • It’s a wet, cold, dreary kind of day, but just what was needed as we are all on the tail end of a virus the boys and I have all had for the past week. And I just have to say, I am incredibly thankful for my husband and his ability to sit with our kids while they throw up without throwing up himself. 🤢 Unfortunately I never did develop a stronger stomach after becoming a mom like everyone promised I would. So I snuggle them and comfort them and he takes care of the mess... he’s my hero. What made you thankful for your spouse this week? ❤️ (picture is a throwback to our anniversary at the beach on a stormy day... happy memories for a rough week! Here’s to good health and the end of this awful virus!)
  • “Kids are born curious about the world. What adults primarily do in the presence of kids is unwittingly thwart the curiosity of children.” -Neil deGrasse Tyson 🌿 _____________________ I read an article a few days ago that shows the number of questions children ask in a day begins to dramatically decrease throughout their school years. They gradually become passive learners. Their interests and questions become second place to the teachers agenda and next weeks test or assignment. Imagine if the early years was a time of freedom to explore the world. Freedom to follow interests not for the sake of a test but for a genuine passion to learn. How different would the world be? I wonder. ____________________ Like all parents, I remember the continuous string of questions. On after the other. Questions not easily answered without a bit of research. I wanted to say “ I don’t know” or “god made it that way” and move on to the next question. Thankfully I had a child who would not settle for my non-answers. Through him I learned a few things, not to mention many of the answers to his questions. ____________________ 1. Listen for the questions, whether I think it is important or not. If they’re asking, it’s important. 2. If I really cannot help him find an answer at that time (being a homeschool parent can get busy!), either point him in the direction to find the answer himself or get him to write it down so we can research it later at a more convenient time. 3. Include his current questions and interests into the curriculum. Show him that I value his interests as not just a “hobby” but as a great asset to his school day. ____________________ Homeschooling is unique. It’s outside-the-box. It’s an opportunity to question. For our children to keep questioning and following their interests without being told to be quiet, follow the lesson, or wait until the appropriate grade. ____________________ Your turn... what unique interests have your children been learning about lately? 🌿
  • “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.” 🌊 _____________________ Every so often my husband and I have a chance to get out exploring without the kids. It’s different. Sometimes I even feel a little guilty they aren’t with us, even though we go on plenty adventures as a family. Do you ever feel that way when you get time away from your kids? 🌊 _____________________ Despite those feelings, I have to say yesterday was simply amazing. Just the two of us. We hiked further than we normally would. Explored rocks and ocean side cliffs in a way we wouldn’t if we had the little ones by our side. We weren’t concerned with the wind and the rain. It was refreshing. It was just us. Like it was when our adventure together first began. 🌊 _____________________ We need these moments in time together, as a couple. A reminder of the person we loved first. Long before our children came along and a reminder to cherish the one that will be by our side long after our kids have grown and moved out. 🌊 _____________________ So let your kids have fun with their grandparents for the day and go on an adventure with your spouse. A real adventure together... not the grocery store... (we cant be the only ones who go to Costco when we get a sitter...🙄) Don’t feel guilty about leaving the kids behind for a day while you cultivate the kind of relationship with your spouse that will stand the test of time. Be reminded why you became best friends in the first place. 🌊 _____________________ Okay... I’m done being cheesy. I might even share some embarrassing tales of our adventure soon. For now the picture will have to do. When was the last time you got out to do something fun with just you and your husband? 🌊
  • The aftermath of our morning routine. 📚 We started Coyote Peterson’s book Brave Adventures and both the boys love it! Seriously. It’s one of those books that they frequently stop colouring or drawing to just look up and listen intently. We have been watching his YouTube channel Brave Wilderness and studying animals so I think the book holds more meaning to them. Have you read it yet? What are you reading this week? 📚
  • “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” 🍂 -F. Scott Fitzgerald Goodbye summer, hello fall. 🍁
  • It looks peaceful, doesn’t it? Two brothers playing a board game. The oldest teaching the youngest. These are the moments I want to capture and keep. 🌿 _____________________ The before and after moments of this picture weren’t so peaceful. Everyone was feeling “off”. I had a headache, the youngest had been up throwing up the night before, and my oldest was bored and overly annoyed with his little brother. And my husband had been working long night shifts. My patience was thin. The whining and fighting amongst the two of them was pushing my limits and then there was this. A quiet moment in the chaos. 🌿 _____________________ It wasn’t long before the whining and fighting started up again. It was just one of those days. What I have learned is though is how I react during those days is very important. It defines the day. It will either make it or be the final straw that breaks it. I don’t always choose grace. But I need to. Not only for myself but for my children. 🌿 _____________________ Choosing grace may mean putting away the school books for the morning, changing the plans or doing away with them altogether. It may mean taking a nap, or going for a walk to the park. Maybe it’s having a movie day or serving your children by making their favourite meal. It could even mean powering through despite the challenges and using encouraging words to teach persistence. Whatever grace means for you today, embrace with open arms and know you’re making the best choice today for you and your family. ❤️
  • The weekend is here and we are continuing to soak up these last few days of summer. We have had unusually nice weather the past few weeks, and we’re still all in shorts so that’s a win. At least for Canada. 😉 How did everyone’s first two weeks back to school go??
  • “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” -Proverbs 31:25 🌿_____________________ I am a worrier. My anxiety has been high for as long as I can remember. I overthink. I dwell on things that haven’t even happened yet. And I’m a mom. Enough said right? I’m pretty sure all this worrying nearly drove my husband crazy. I definitely was not in a place to laugh at the days to come. But I also knew this wasn’t a place I was meant to be in. So last year I made a choice to make some changes in my day. Life is to short to worry all the time, right? 🌿 _____________________ Since then I’ve been journaling and praying, I take frequent breaks from my blog and social media, I read more, listen to music, and do my best to get enough asleep (another thing that’s easier said than done when you’re a mom). I’ve found methods that worked and tried ones that didn’t. I’m still learning but there is one method I keep going back to. 🌿 _____________________ Whenever I feel the anxiety creep in or the worry build up, I ask myself, “Can I fix it right now? Can I make it better right now? Can I change anything, right now?” If the answer is no, I pray about it, Write it down if needed and then make a conscious decision to move on and focus on something else. 🌿 _____________________ It’s a work in progress, but it is working. My circumstances have not changed. I still have the same concerns, same life. But my attitude has changed. And I am finding joy and peace in the most unlikely situations. 🌿 _____________________ Are you worried about anything right now? What are some ways you find peace in moments of anxiousness and worry? What gives you joy when you think of the days ahead? #pressingpause ❤️

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