LIFE IN BLOOM

Learning How to Flourish in God's Grace

Author Archives: erin.almond


by 1 Comment

Ice-skating Sparks

It’s been a couple of months since I’ve updated, not because of a lack of something to say, but more because of a lack of time to say it.  2010 came in and has kept me busy between coaching, teaching, and trying to maintain some semblance of a personal life.

Around February, I feel like I finally get comfortable in my role as a teacher.  It’s when I’ve managed to figure out all of the little nuances that make me tick as a teacher and my students better as students.  Luckily, I still have the remainder of the year to sharpen the saw, really kick things in gear, and take it to the next level.

Yesterday we took the kids on an ice-skating trip.  It was a trip that I looked forward to, partially because I hadn’t been ice-skating in so long, but also because I thoroughly enjoy opportunity to interact with students outside the classroom.

Watching the students ice-skate was like watching them bloom and blossom in a 2 hour period.  I observed them initially stepping on the ice: timid and fearful; holding tightly to the wall.  Then they slowly made their way away from the wall, and by the time the day was over, they were in the middle of the ice: skating, dancing, and taking pictures.

Watching them bloom and blossom made me reflect on my own life.  There have been many times where I have been reluctant to come to the middle, and have preferred to play it safe by hanging close to the wall.  However, I didn’t experience the complete joy and freedom because of my fear of falling or being hurt.  The real truth is that you learn by falling.  You learn how to do things, how NOT to do things, you better understand your strengths and your weaknesses, and you begin to grow and develop more.

I’ve resolved to spend more of the time in my life away from the wall and closer to the middle, hoping to experience the joy and fullness of life even more, with faith that God will always keep me safe and be there to catch me when I fall.


by Leave a comment

Obligatory Christmas Message 2009

The title of this post might indicate that I’m less than excited about Christmas, when that’s really not the case. It’s actually more of an indicator of my lack of ability to come up with a creative title for this post.

This year’s Christmas has been spent in Camden, North Carolina; enjoying wonderful time with Q and his family. Lots of food has been eaten, gifts have been exchanged, and wonderful time has been spent with wonderful people.

I have much to be grateful for this Christmas season- the birth of Jesus, family and friends to share time with, a job and students that I enjoy, having my needs met and even satisfaction of some of my wants. I think about these things often, but particularly around this time of year, and even moreso as I shared time with Q’s family. The Sawyer family has been incredibly blessed by God and it is so awesome to spend time with a family and individuals who each desire and pursue God with their whole heart.

As I listened to my mom squeal in delight over the gift that I sent her, and I watched Q’s face light up at the gift that I gave him, I was again reminded of the joy in giving, much more over the joy in receiving.

With any holiday, there are challenges, especially when you deal with family.  Families aren’t perfect, as they’re made up of a network of imperfect people.  Nevertheless, I think the joy in families is two-fold; in providing the sense of togetherness and community that we all crave, but simultaneously forcing us to go back to God for the things that only He can provide.

But as I transition from this Christmas season and into the new year, I pray that I can receive things with a heart of Mary, trusting God in spite of, by saying, “May it be to me as you have said.”

Peace and Blessings to you this season, and always.