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Raising Sawyers

Raising Sawyers

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Making Life Changing Decisions: What I’ve Learned From Moving

June 26, 2024 · In: Lifestyle

I sit here in my home staged with minimal belongings, and gaze upon the photoless walls.  It feels so clean, yet there is an echo from the emptiness.  After 3 showings and only a couple of days on the market, my realtor has informed me we should soon expect 2 offers for our house.  The house that we purchased 10 years ago, renovated and turned into a loving home.

As I gulp the strong coffee in my cup, forcing the lump in my throat to subside for a moment, I wonder if this is all a mistake.

Friends fill my inbox with, “Where are you moving!?”  I shamefully set my phone aside, hoping to give myself more time to respond.  Because my answer is, “I don’t know.” 

It’s puzzling that someone may list their house for sale, for no apparent reason, and have no idea where they are to move to.  Surely we are not choosing homelessness without a cause.  The reality is that we’ve been wanting to move for quite some time.  There are countless miniscule reasons, but more importantly, there is a deep, loud inner desire in our hearts to move to a new home.

A home that we haven’t laid our eyes upon yet.  A home that we believe is perfect for our family in every way.  It has beautiful land where we can cultivate fruit trees, herbs, vegetables and flowers.  The backyard is perfect for hosting family cookouts, inviting friends over to play, and to allow Liam to ride his dirt bike on.  The house itself is built well; the structure is solid, it has been maintained and cared for, and the light that pours through the windows makes the wooden floors sparkle.  There is a homeschool room on the first floor, and it’s a joy to be in.  There’s another bedroom so that we can expand our family.

I have dreamt of this home and property time and time again.  I can almost describe it to you in full detail.  And while I’m not sure when or where we will find it, I know it’s waiting for us.

This dream began as a seed planted around 5 years ago.  A tiny seed that eventually sprouted into what is now a full-fledged dream.  A dream I’ve put on vision boards, written in journals, and prayed for every night.

Several months ago this dream began to really take root.  It started with crunching numbers that never made sense before, but now aligned perfectly with our finances and goals.  Then, we found proof that our dream home exists within our price range – we simply need to find the one for us.

Now, I sit in a home that is barely my own, wondering when my new home will present itself. 

While there is a subtle fear in not knowing what lies ahead, I’m fairly certain that everything good I’ve achieved in life was the product of blind following.

When I glance back at my own timeline, I notice how every leap of progress came from a big, scary, unconventional decision.  I realize that my greatest successes held the largest risks.  The best, life-changing choices I’ve made had no definite outcome at the time.  The only thing in common with all of these scenarios is this – I felt so deeply called to do it, that I had no choice but to act.

Taking new career opportunities, moving, leaving old careers, setting aside my work to homeschool my children… All big decisions that wound up being the most life-changing opportunities.  I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if I had listened to my fear instead.

While I am eager to see where this path leads, for now I’m going to settle in and enjoy the journey.



By: brooke · In: Lifestyle

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@raising_sawyers

I used to build our homeschool around an idea inst I used to build our homeschool around an idea instead of around the children sitting at my table.

In my mind, a rich education looked like a rigorous schedule, classic literature, years of carefully planned curriculum, and full days of meaningful lessons. I wanted to give my children every opportunity, so I kept adding more because I thought that’s what a great homeschool was supposed to look like.

Over time, though, I realized something.

I realized my children *thrive* on blank space.

They need long afternoons outside. They need time to fish at our pond, build elaborate Lego creations, chase frogs, climb trees, take apart and put together their bikes, and follow their curiosity without me rushing them to the next lesson.

Could they do those things after school?  Maybe.

But if they’re mentally exhausted from trying to keep up with the homeschool I designed in my head, they rarely do.

The truth is this:  Trying to do everything was keeping us from doing anything well. We were rushing through books we weren’t enjoying, checking boxes instead of making memories, and constantly feeling behind… even when we were technically “on schedule.”

So I stopped trying to build the homeschool I admired and started building the homeschool my children *actually* needed.

I began paying attention to how they learned best, what sparked their curiosity, where they struggled, and what made them come alive. I stopped seeing blank space as wasted time and started seeing it as part of their education.

This shift has changed the way I plan our days, measure success, and most importantly, my relationship with my children.

No, I didn’t lower my expectations for their education.

I raised my expectations for the kind of homeschool I wanted to create.

I still believe in a literature-rich education, consistency and doing things outside our comfort zone. 

But I also believe children need time to wonder, build, fish, be bored, and notice the world around them.

I think that’s often where the deepest learning happens.
When I first started homeschooling, I thought what When I first started homeschooling, I thought what I needed most was the perfect curriculum.

I was wrong.

The books that changed our homeschool weren’t curriculum at all. They challenged the way I thought about childhood, education, motherhood, and what it actually means to teach.

They gave me permission to slow down, trust my children, pursue wonder, and build a homeschool that reflected our family’s values instead of trying to recreate school at home.

I still come back to these books again and again.

✨ Comment “BOOKS” and I’ll send you the complete list with links.

I’d also love to know…

What’s one book that changed the way you homeschool?
My firstborn baby turned 13 yesterday. As I watch My firstborn baby turned 13 yesterday.

As I watched him blow out his birthday candles, I was instantly transported back to his very first birthday. 

I remembered how young we both were…. There was me, learning how to be a mother, and him, discovering the world one tiny step at a time.

Looking back, I realized he hasn’t just grown over these last 13 years.

He has grown me.

These are five lessons motherhood has taught me through loving him.  Lessons I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. ❤️

#motherhood
If I could only keep a handful of nature study boo If I could only keep a handful of nature study books on our homeschool shelves, these would be it.

Comment “NATURE” and I’ll send you links to all of our favorite homeschool nature study books. 

Whether we’re heading outside for a nature walk, adding a little wonder to morning time, or following a rabbit trail that started with a simple question, these are the books we reach for, time and time again. 

Save this post for your next library trip or homeschool planning day!
I have a lot of people, dreams, and to-do lists co I have a lot of people, dreams, and to-do lists competing for my attention during this season of motherhood. Taking time for myself has seemed almost obsolete, with my family, my children’s activities, and daily chores always coming first. (And I don’t say that with a badge of honor.)

As I reflect on where my time was spent this past week, I realize I accomplished quite a bit.

* I refinished a dresser for Noah’s room.
* I wrote a blog post that was near and dear to my heart.
* I cleaned my house at least 18 times.
* I deep-cleaned my bathrooms.
* I updated a product in my shop.
* I took my big kids to camp and maximized my alone time while they were gone.

I checked off a lot of items on my to-do list, but they aren’t the things I’m most proud of.

The ten minutes I spent on the floor with Noah yesterday, playing with his toy animals and giggling together - that was time well spent.

Answering my sister’s call and inviting her over during naptime so we could sit on the back porch and talk together - that was time well spent.

Putting my computer away to talk to Lucas about the projects he’s been working on and what has been bringing him joy lately - that was time well spent.

Going on a much-needed date with my husband, laughing together and simply enjoying each other’s company - that was time well spent.

As a mother, I’ve become quite an expert at working within timelines, maximizing naptimes, and getting three things done at once. But I’m humbly reminded today that the small moments are what truly fills my cup up. 

With a brain and world that values productivity, my desire is to spend more time prioritizing those priceless moments and remembering that not everything valuable looks productive.

#motherhood #homeschoolmom #parenting

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