Saturday, September 29, 2012

I'm sorry, I'm boring

Sorry I haven't blogged in a week. I feel quite boring. Like I don't have much to write about.

Still learning the new job.

Went to another Giants game Wednesday night.

Had a yard sale at our house.

Received JK Rowling's new book "The Casual Vacancy" from amazon.com.

Tried to learn the Gangnam Style dance.

Went running three times this week.

Talked to an old friend on the phone I haven't seen forever.

Hopefully soon I will be inspired to blog about some awesome topics. 

Saturday, September 22, 2012

goldens!

This weekend I am dog-sitting the cutest golden retrievers EVER. May I introduce Jenny (the white golden in front) and Hannah (the golden golden in back).


We had the best walk this morning. This house is literally a block from the beach. And the day was so sunny and lovely. We walked for an hour and I tell you, it just felt good to be alive. The sun was shining, the ocean was blue, people were outside, I took deep breaths of pure, sweet oxygen. The dogs were hilarious - they kept running after lizards who were trying to sun themselves outside. Multiple times I would scream as Hannah took off from my leash-hold and tried to pounce on a lizard.

One day, I WILL have a golden. So let it be written. So let it be done.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

work update

Ch-ch-changes.

Ok so about a month and a half ago, I met with my boss and he presented me with some news regarding my job. He wanted me to still be with the college group, but not leading it. Just helping out part-time (20 hours a week) alongside a new full-time college pastor. And then the other 20 hours a week would be toward planning and helping to run this alternative service we have on Sunday mornings.

I'm not a huge fan of change and I was sad to think about giving up being the college leader after doing it for 7 years. But the more I thought, prayed, and talked to people about it, I started to think this could be a good change. So I went in and told my boss I'd do it. I started training for the new Sunday morning job and sent out a mass email to all the college students telling them about the change. They were a little bummed because Intern Scott was leaving (he got a job at a church in Florida) and now I wasn't going to be the leader. "Don't worry, guys," I said. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll still be at college group, go on all the trips, and spending time with you."

And then.

A couple weeks ago my boss called me back into his office. Oh no, now what?

He looked and felt horrible. "Sarah, I'm so sorry. I screwed up. None of us took a step back and looked at the big picture. In order for the new college pastor to be successful, we can't have the old college pastor there. So...I'm afraid I'm going to have to pull you out of college ministry completely."

Completely.

A huge lump rose in my throat.

I couldn't believe it. I wasn't going to be with my college students at all this year.

He said they still wanted me to plan and lead the Sunday morning alternative service. But college was not an option. I was shocked and sad and upset at the same time.

"A big reason I took the new job (Sunday mornings) was because I was still going to be with the students and involved in the college group Wednesday nights," I said.

Again, the timing was horrible. I had just sent that mass email and talked to all my students and leaders and told them I was still going to be there. And now I had to go and tell them I wouldn't be there at all. With Scott and I both gone, would they stop going? Would they be bummed? Would students fall away from college group and the church?

It's been a couple weeks since this all happened and life has been crazy (Hence, the not-blogging-much). I have been trying to transition myself both physically, mentally, and emotionally from an old job and old office to a new job and new office (I moved buildings). And meanwhile, the college group is going on without me and I miss it. I am grieving. And when the students come up and complain that everything is different, I have to put on my brave face and tell them, "Change can be good!" etc etc. Which it IS. I just need more time to get used to all this.

I know God is in control. I know this means little in the grand scheme of things. I know I shouldn't worry if college students stop going. I need to bathe all of this in prayer.

Just wanted to give you guys the heads up.

Ch-ch-changes.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

so much news

Friends!

I have so much to share and no time to do it. I'll bullet point the main things and come back in more detail when I can.

* I no longer work with the college ministry at my church...at ALL. I still work at my church, but just focusing on the alternative service that I blogged about here. Big story about that coming soon. This is huge.

* My best friend had her baby last Friday and I am a proud godmother! Cody Alexander is a beautiful baby boy who looks so much like his mom and dad. Again, so impressed with my friends who can squeeze a watermelon out of a straw (as my sister likes to say).

* Went to a Giants vs. Dodgers game this past Saturday and had the most amazing day (I posted pictures on facebook) which included sitting 15 rows up from home plate, meeting Vin Scully and Willie McCovey, walking onto the field at AT&T Park (dream!) after the game, and hearing 6 Giants players share their testimonies about how they became Christians.

* I have a DATE on Wednesday night! First of all, who goes on a date on a Wednesday night? And second, it's been so long since I've been on a date, I don't even know what to do. I think I'm supposed to look nice, put on make-up, and be charming. Seriously, I don't even know what to do with myself.

Ack, it's late and I need to go to bed. More details coming!

Sunday, September 02, 2012

another nephew video

Oh my gosh, Samuel is so ridiculously cute. We made up a game: I put on my sunglasses. He takes them off. I then put my sunglasses on his face. He breaks into the hugest smile and my heart leaps with joy. Nephews are the best thing EVER.