It’s been three years since I last posted here. Three long years full of high highs and low lows. I originally started this blog as a place to share what I was learning, how I was growing, and to be able to look back and see how life has changed. I haven’t done a great job of that. I grossly underestimated how tough my first year of teaching would be and even though I thought of writing many times, I never did put the pen to the paper.
I stopped writing because I became scared. I signed an NDA when I started teaching at my current school (a normal occurrence in this online age, by the way) and I thought I would accidentally post something that would cost me my job. I figured it was easier to say nothing at all than to try and fail. Silly me. I’m here to tell you that I’ve failed many times over the past few years and failure is where I have learned the most about myself and my Heavenly Father. That doesn’t mean failure is enjoyable – simply, I have learned to appreciate the growth it brings.
Recently, as I’ve been feeling led to write again, I’ve struggled with what I want Product of Grace to be. I don’t want this to become a place where I only talk about teaching. Yes, teaching takes up most of my time and thoughts, but there are so many unique and wonderful teacher voices to be found online, that I don’t feel mine is necessary. I don’t want this to be a space where I only talk about my hardships and how I’m working through them. That’s something for a private journal entry, not something the whole world is entitled to read. I don’t want this to become a battleground for online warriors commiserating over our autoimmune diseases. Yes, I have arthritis and it effects every facet of my life, but it isn’t where my identity is found. I don’t want my chronic illness taking over my creative outlet as well, it controls enough of me. I don’t want this space to grow mundane with the same type of content always being posted.
I desire for this space to bring people together. I desire for this space to give a voice to the voiceless. I desire for this space to be meaningful to the ones who visit it. I want to get my creative juices flowing again and share what is important to me in not just my current season, but in all seasons. So, no, I’m not quite sure what Product of Grace will morph into over these next few months, but I’m excited to get back into writing and sharing and to see where it goes.
I think we’re due for a little life update next and then, who knows where we’ll go from here. I’ve got some big events and a couple of milestones on the calendar this year and it would be nice to document those things. Maybe I’ll share some adventures in crafting or walk you through a typical day in my life. I can’t say anything for certain, but I can promise this – 2026 is the year for trying new things and falling in love with old favorites again. I look forward to bringing you on the journey with me.
See you soon!