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.

I’ve found that while I often have several thoughts swirling in my head that would be blog-worthy, I don’t have nearly as much time as I’d like to have in order to blog them. Such is the nature of the beast that I call life.

Work is challenging and rewarding. Challenging in the sense that I’m always aware of the fact that I miss the mark every day, but rewarding because students and coworkers are encouraging and forgiving. I also still endure some of the challenges I faced last year as a new teacher- struggling to find my place and my voice in the school environment and just trying to stay ahead of the curve in terms of teaching a subject I’ve never taught before. Add coaching to that, along with being in school myself…and it ends up being quite a full plate.

Despite this, I find joy in students and their questions, I love being swarmed by the too cool 8th grade girls for hugs before the weekend, and from my mother who provides great wisdom not only as my parent, but as the parent of a teenager.

When I say that I’m trying to maintain, what I really mean is that I’m trying to balance being “Erin” and also being “Ms. Davis”. Last year I learned that I didn’t have to choose- I could indeed be myself and do all of the things that I love and enjoy without giving up my role as a teacher. This year, I’m trying to balance it all out.

I am excited because I see growth in myself, and I honestly feel like I’m moving in the right direction. While there are many, many trying days; there’s much joy and happiness in each of them as well. Overall, I’m grateful to be in a profession that provides me with the opportunity to do what I love and live my dreams. God is good.

“When my faith is challenged and my vision is obscure; when I’m hanging on by a thread and my footing’s unsure; I hear in the spirit one word to help me endure- ORDERED.” ~Fred Hammond