The Next Chapter...

This is not the end of my story.

Instead, it is the beginning of my next chapter. 

As I’ve gotten older and grown as a person, I’ve realized that I am the author of my own story. I can choose how to write each page.

The pages up until this chapter have been wonderful. Rewarding. Challenging. Fulfilling. Full of characters who have helped shape me into who I am today. Yet as wonderful as my story has been so far, I’ve found myself yearning for more. Wondering how to write the rest of my story. 

I am usually one for predictability. Stick to the plot line and play it safe.

But it’s time for a plot twist.

I have prayed for what comes next and I’ve decided to do something bold and brave. Something totally out of my comfort zone.

I’m choosing to trust that what God has planned for my story is even greater than what I could have written myself. I’ve decided to give up my pen for His. God knows the beginning and end, and I trust that he will write a beautiful story for me.

With all of that being said, I’ve decided to leave my position as a Reading Specialist with Marysville Schools. There are so many things that went into this decision. But the biggest reason is that God’s dreams are bigger than mine. I’ve been reading several motivational books and this quote has stuck with me:

 Marysville Schools has been so good to me. This is my hometown and I am deeply invested in it. 

Every job has its ups and downs, but being a reading specialist has been a wonderful experience. I’m forever grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given, friendships that I’ve made, and students that I’ve been able to *hopefully* impact. I want people to understand that I’m not leaving because I’m miserable. I’m leaving to chase a dream and to try and make an even greater impact on students who struggle with reading. 

By the way, my counterpart, Kally, is also leaving to chase this same dream with me. Telling our boss we were resigning was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life. But I knew it was the right decision. The right things aren’t always the easy things.

I’m so incredibly excited about what is coming next. But I’m also completely terrified. This feels like jumping off a cliff without a parachute and trusting that God is going to catch me. 

In just a couple weeks, Kally and I are releasing a reading program that we’ve created together. I wish I could share all of the details, but we’re not 100% ready… not yet. The finishing touches are happening now and we plan to share everything on April 6th. Here's a little tease...

It’s taken a lot to get here. Time spent away from our families. Many, many sleepless nights wrestling with this crazy idea. Relying on family members to pick up the slack. Countless prayers for the strength to be vulnerable and put ourselves out there.

Speaking of being vulnerable, I love this quote called “The Man in the Arena” from Theodore Roosevelt. You’ve probably heard this before, but it’s worth repeating.

“It’s not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly…”

So here we are. In the arena. Getting ready to do dare greatly.

And trusting that God’s got us.

--Erin