The house is quiet now. There’s no sibling chaos or thudding footsteps down the hall. Only one teenager remains and she is mostly in her room; quiet, reflective, growing up slowly in her own space. I pass her door and remember a time when every corner of our home buzzed with noise. Now, it echoes differently. It’s not bad, it’s just… unknown.

When I left the classroom, I thought it would be a break. I would take a breath, focus on grad school, get my master’s degree in history with a focus on education. But now I wonder if I’m standing at the edge of something bigger. Am I still a teacher if I’m not in a classroom? Do I go back to what I knew, or do I follow the pull toward something new: museums, writing, adult learners?

The truth is, public education looks so different now. The workload. The pressure. The endless demands. I love teaching, but I also love my family, my sanity, and the feeling of doing work that matters in a sustainable way. I’m in the in-between. Still finishing, still wondering. And I think the unknown used to scare me more. But lately, it just feels like a blank page. One I might actually be excited to fill.

I’m learning to be okay with not having the answer yet. Maybe it’s age or grace, but I don’t feel as frantic to figure it all out. The question, What’s next?—sits with me most days. Some days it feels like pressure. Other days, possibility. I’m choosing to believe in the possibility.

On days when I feel a little lost, I cook something cozy. Familiar. Something that says: you’re still here, and this still matters. This week, I made Dirty Rice Skillet, a perfected version of the mystery dish from my childhood. My mom used to make a skillet meal with rice and ground beef that I could never quite recreate. After years of trying, tweaking, and tasting, I found it: a warm, savory blend of nostalgia and satisfaction.

Dirty Rice Skillet

What You Will Need:

What You Will Need To Do:

1. Brown the Beef: Heat 1 Tbsp of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 lb of ground beef and cook until browned.
   
2. Combine Ingredients: Drain the fat from the skillet and return the ground beef. Add 8 oz of sliced mushrooms, 1 box of Zatarain’s Dirty Rice Mix, and 2 1/2 cups of hot water. Stir until well blended.
   
3. Cook: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
   
4. Add Green Beans: Gently place 1 can of French Style Green Beans on top of the rice mixture without stirring. Continue to simmer, covered, for an additional 5 minutes.
   
5. Rest and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat without removing the lid and let it rest for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve.

So, what’s next? I don’t know exactly. I know my daughter will keep growing up. I know I’ll finish this degree. I know I’ll keep writing, cooking, and praying for the courage to follow joy even if it takes me somewhere unexpected.

How about you?
What’s something you’re excited about in the future?
What occupies that sacred space in your mind?

Whatever it is, may it grow gently and bravely within you. Even if you don’t know the whole story yet.

Gracefully yours,

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