tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70886354765576264532024-03-14T05:47:56.678-04:00Go West, Young LadySarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-69280271378571893392012-01-31T13:12:00.000-05:002012-01-31T13:12:06.342-05:0026<br />
Happy Birthday to me!<br />
<br />
After yesterday's reflection on 25 wonderful things I did last year, I spent this morning dreaming up 26 things I'd like to try and accomplish before January 31, 2013. Some are career goals, some are financial, some personal, and others are maybe just dreams, but I'm rather excited to give this list my best shot...<br />
<br />
26 Things I Want to do at 26:<br />
<br />
1. Research and apply to graduate schools.<br />
2. Take a grant writing class.<br />
3. Apply for a Fulbright grant.<br />
4. Learn how to write copy.<br />
5. Publish some articles / build up my writing portfolio.<br />
6. Make trips to visit friends in DC, Philly, NYC, Austin, and Seattle.<br />
7. Vacation in the Outer Banks for the first time in three years.<br />
8. Finish watching the Harry Potter movies.<br />
9. Come up with a business plan/proposal for an arts-integration focused teacher professional development program in Richmond.<br />
10. Teach a Shakespeare class.<br />
11. Audition at Richmond Shakespeare. Maybe even get cast in something.<br />
12. Create an original performance piece with a group of at-risk teens.<br />
13. Start writing that play I've always wanted to write about Flannery O' Connor.<br />
14. Guest lecture in a theatre education class at JMU.<br />
15. Direct professional actors in a reading of a great new script.<br />
16. Visit at least one national park I haven't been to yet.<br />
17. Learn to play the Ukelele.<br />
18. Get Richmond hipsters into square dancing. If it works in Seattle/Portland, it can work here.<br />
19. Bring story drama to some local elementary schools/ libraries.<br />
20. Fall in love. If not with someone, with something or someplace.<br />
21. Have enough regular income to actually make a budget & save some money.<br />
22. Move out of my parents house and settle into a place of my own.<br />
23. Go camping with my brothers in the Blue Ridge Mountains.<br />
24. Start a RVA chapter of my Seattle YA book club: The Homecoming Court Literary Consortium.<br />
25. Find and get involved in a healthy church.<br />
26. Stop worrying about what comes next and enjoy what comes now.<br />Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-75434713850416229132012-01-30T14:13:00.000-05:002013-01-09T11:46:20.515-05:0025I didn't do a lot of reflecting at the start of 2012. After a cross-country move in October, the passing of my grandfather in November, and then the emotional whirlwind of getting re-acclimated to Virginia while spending a complete set of holidays in my parents' house, something I hadn't done since college, my mind was too out-of focus for reflection this New Year's.<br />
<br />
But tomorrow I turn 26. And my mind feels sharp. For the first time in a long time, I'm at peace with the uncertainty and inexplicability of my weird, artistic, out-of-the mold life. Something I've learned lately is that imposing structure on my thought process usually helps me make some sense of things. So instead of rambling on about 25 and all the abstract things I learned and understood about life this year, I made a list of 25 concrete things that I'm thankful I did this year.<br />
<br />
It's so easy for me to beat myself up every year for the things I wanted to do but didn't or couldn't that I think I miss out on seeing the wonderful blessings of life as it is. Tomorrow I'll post a list of 26 things I want to do when I'm 26.. but for now, I'm thanking God for all of the blessings that 25 brought:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Had my first professional (aka paid) gig as an actor.<br />
2. Directed my first full-length play. Starring 40 elementary school actors.<br />
3. Picked up some sweet square dancing moves. Sort of.<br />
4. Dated someone for longer than two weeks.<br />
5. Taught the most challenging and eye-opening drama class of my life at a men's homeless shelter.<br />
6. Somehow managed to pay all my bills while working no fewer than 10 part-time jobs/short- term independent contracts.<br />
7. Filed taxes on my own (mostly) for the first time.<br />
8. Saw The Avett Brothers, Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes, Ingrid Michaelson, Hall and Oates, and a slew of other new and old favorites play wonderful live shows.<br />
9. Got invited to 10 weddings. Attended 2. And was genuinely happy/excited for all 10 couples. And totally content with my singleness. Really.<br />
10. Made my very first trip to California. Then went back. Twice.<br />
11. Spoke a blessing over one of my very best friends in the whole world at her wedding.<br />
12. Said goodbye to Seattle.<br />
13. Drove the Pacific Coast Highway all the way from Oregon to San Francisco to Los Angeles. All by myself.<br />
14. Hugged some redwoods.<br />
15. Attended my first Cirque Du Soleil show in Vegas.<br />
16. Saw the Grand Canyon at sunset.<br />
17. Got to spend time with my grandfather two weeks before he passed away.<br />
18. Let go of past hurts and started a real, grown-up friendship with my brother<br />
19. Finally read and/or listened to all 7 of the Harry Potter books.<br />
20. Spent BOTH Thanksgiving AND Christmas with my family.<br />
21. Survived a holiday retail job. And picked up some great pencil skirts and a few new friends in the process.<br />
22. Found myself really starting to like this city I never wanted to live in. Who knew?<br />
23. Got offered a teaching fellowship and had the maturity to turn it down, recognizing that four years in an inner city school, albeit an admirable endeavor, isn't the right thing for me right now.<br />
24. Learned that I don't need a job title to use my gifts. Or to be content with my life.<br />
25. Realized that grace really is sufficient.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-52657139894604396772011-10-31T14:28:00.001-04:002011-10-31T14:29:11.126-04:00Mosey on down to MoseleyWelp. I made it. A week ago today, I landed at my parents lovely abode in Moseley, VA.<br />
<br />
I know what you're thinking. "Wait a second, Sarah. Weren't you moving to Richmond? Where the heck is Moseley?" I'm so glad you asked. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moseley,_Virginia">Moseley</a> is a sweet little suburb on the edge of Chesterfield County-- about 25 miles from the city of Richmond and at least 20 miles from any trace of civilization.<br />
<br />
Now, to be fair, I should clarify my rather subjective use of the word civilization. In terms of "modern conveniences," Moseley has plenty to offer. Wal-Mart, for example, is just a hop skip and a jump away, as is a lovely selection of chain restaurants, superstores, and strip malls. And honestly, the people here are wonderful (heck, the majority of my blog readers are my mom's friends-- shout outs to Beth & Mary!). Plus rent is as cheap (er, free) as it gets. But being that I'm over the age of 17, under the age of 40, and single with a penchant for fancy food, craft beer, and live arts experiences beyond high school show chior competitions-- the 'burbs aren't exactly my scene anymore.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the fact that I just spent any and all money I'd managed to save in the last two years touring the country for a month necessitates an extended stay in Moseley. So I'm gonna suck it up, enjoy my free time (while still keeping an eye on job opportunities, of course), and get used to the extra gas and mileage required to reconnect with my friends on the other side of the river.<br />
<br />
But if you happen to know someone who wants to give me a free room in the city of Richmond, just say the word...<br />
<br />Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-63839087578500756062011-10-20T12:48:00.000-04:002011-10-20T12:48:47.779-04:00Texas to Georgia: The Friends/Family TourAnother week and a half on the road has come and gone.. though I'm not sure how it went by so fast. I guess time flies when you're living out of your car... <br />
<br />
After New Mexico, Mom and I headed to Texas to visit my dad's side of the family. After a night in Austin (not enough time at all-- but I'm fairly certain I'll be back) with my cousin Stephanie, we headed to Baytown, Texas-- former hometown of my dad, Jimbo, and current home of my Grandparents, Maw Maw and Paw Paw.<br />
<br />
I'm a little ashamed to admit that it had been over 4 years since I'd seen my Grandparents.. but between my inability to afford to travel anywhere but back to VA when I was living in Seattle and their inability to travel because of health issues, a visit hasn't been possible on either end until now. Needless to say, it was wonderful to see them again and to eat some of Maw Maw's good southern cookin'-- my first homecooked meal in three weeks!<br />
<br />
I was also able to visit my cousin Kristina whose husband and two little boys were a blast to hang out with (Kristina's pretty fun, too-- just for the record!). After Stephanie and I dropped my mom off for her flight back to Richmond on Saturday, Justin (Kristina's husband) made us all an an awesome sushi dinner (which I was so impressed to see a 6 year old and a 3 year old dig into!) and the grown ups stayed up late drinking wine, playing games, and making up for lost time (it had been three years since I'd seen Kristina-- way too long!). <br />
<br />
After another night at Kristina's on Sunday, I loaded up the car once again and headed east through Louisiana to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where I spent two nights with a family that was as close as my own kin through college. Jay ran the college and youth ministries at my church in Harrisonburg and his wife Jennifer became an adoptive big sister to me, always inviting me and my friends over for home-cooked southern meals, sweet tea, and precious kid time with her then three year old son, Riley. Jay and Jennifer moved to Mississippi in February of my senior year of college-- just a week after their second son Nate was born. I hadn't seen Nate since I held him in the hospital the day he was born, so it was a real joy to catch up with the whole family and see how the boys have grown. Nate is a hoot and Riley is so smart and witty-- already spewing his dad's signature brand of sarcasm. I was sad to leave them yesterday morning, but so blessed to have gotten some quality time with one of my favorite families.<br />
<br />
As wonderful as it's been to sight see and visit parts of the country I'd never seen before, I have to admit that the last week has been my favorite part of my month on the road. I do love to travel, but deep down I know that all the cities in the world can't stack up to quality time with family and friends. I've realized over the past few days how blessed I am to have such amazing people in my life and it's been a joy to see so many of them in such a short period of time.<br />
<br />
I'm in Atlanta now, staying with my little brother, Brian. I've only been here a night so far, but already it's been so good to catch up and to get to know his life here, and I'm looking forward to a few more days of hanging out before I finally land in Virginia.Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-56085744332283231732011-10-11T09:31:00.000-04:002011-10-11T09:33:06.305-04:00Go East, Young LadyYes, it has occurred to me that I need a new name for my blog.. but, as I am just now ending my second full week of life on the road, my brain does not have much capacity for creativity anymore. Any suggestions you may have are welcome; however, I reserve the right to make up something better as soon as my life becomes a little less mobile.<br />
<br />
Now, on to the update... when I last left you, faithful reader, I was in Los Angeles with my dear friend Lauren, who showed me a fantastic time in Lala land. I caught up with several of my favorite people from JMU theatre (and a Seattle buddy, too!), went to Disneyland and the beach ate some fabulous food (What up, Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles!), and hung out with my mom at the Getty Museum.<br />
<br />
Mom and I left LA for Las Vegas on Friday morning. We got to town just in time to check out the Vegas hotels for a moment before taking in <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7917034912100739642">LOVE</a>, the Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show at the Mirage. We managed to avoid the slots and instead spent our dough on ice cream Sundaes at <a href="http://www.serendipity3.com/">Serendipity 3</a>, where we people watched the crazies on the strip.<br />
<br />
After Vegas we made a pit stop at the Hoover Dam and then headed for the Grand Canyon, where we caught the sunset (no big deal) before settling into our hotel in middle-of-nowhere Williams, AZ. The next morning (Sunday, I think?) we got up super early to get as much time in at Grand Canyon National Park before making the 6 hour drive to Albuquerque. It was grand. And we were pooped by the time we got to New Mexico.<br />
<br />
Today, we slept later than we had planned (probably a good thing), and then headed into Santa Fe-- which has been such a delightful city to explore. The architecture here is beautiful, the history is rich, and the shopping-- oh my! If only I hadn't had to fix my car and buy a new cell phone this month, I might be tempted to spend a pretty penny on a pair or two of cowboy boots here, but alas, I still have another week of travel to fund.. so, I'll just fall asleep tonight dreaming of the brown pair with the turquoise cut-outs. Sigh. And don't even get me started on the food... green chile and blue corn everything and some of the best damn Margaritas I've ever had.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow we're off to Taos to explore more New Mexican art and culture, so I should get some sleep now...<br />
<br />
but first... Pictures!<br />
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<br />Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-29320797524744486862011-10-03T13:01:00.002-04:002011-10-03T13:04:48.398-04:00California Dreamin'The past few days have been a whirlwind of sightseeing and serious drive time.<br />
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I had a wonderful visit in Blue Lake, CA with my boss and friend from my very first internship in Vermont-- Lauryn. We drank some awesome beer at the town's one watering hole (aside from the casino)-- <a href="http://www.madriverbrewing.com/mad_river_brewing_the_remix_002.htm">Mad River Brewing Company</a> and then ate late night burgers and shakes before bed... a perfect way to unwind from the 7 hours I had just spent driving down the coast (a gorgeous but LONG drive). The next morning, we hit the beach in a tiny town called Trinidad before I headed south to San Francisco.<br />
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San Fran was a mix of exploration and exhaustion. I spent night one in an <a href="http://norcalhostels.org/marin/">awesome hostel</a> in a national park in the Marin Headlands and night two in a <a href="http://www.greentortoise.com/?gclid=CIuY7azszKsCFR5CgwodaUVm3A">less awesome hostel</a> in the city, where my phone mysteriously disappeared and I spent the night lying awake imagining all of the diseases I was contracting from my bed. Between tracking down a new phone (FYI, California tax is RIDICULOUS-- $45 in tax for a $50 phone!) and walking all over town because I couldn't figure out the public transportation situation, I was beyond exhausted by the end of day 1, but day 2 redeemed the visit for me, as I headed down to Golden Gate Park to hear some world-class bluegrass at the <a href="http://www.strictlybluegrass.com/">Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival</a> and take in a fantastic Picasso exhibit at the <a href="http://deyoung.famsf.org/">de young Museum</a>. I capped the day off with a sunset drive down the Pacific Coast Highway to my <a href="http://norcalhostels.org/pigeon/">third hostel</a>, which was in old lighthouse keeper's quarters right on the Coast. I unwound in their hot tub for a few minutes before bed-- the perfect end to a great day of exploring.<br />
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Yesterday, I decided to take the scenic route to Los Angeles and spent the day driving down the Pacific Coast Highway. It was a long drive... but I finished <i>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</i> on CD and stopped several times to take pictures and make friends with seals and other marine life. I'm staying the next few nights with another friend named Lauren (apparently I know a few in CA) and after a few days on the road alone, I can't tell you how nice it is to spend some time in one place with someone who knows me well. I rolled in about 5:30 last night and straight away she helped me unload the garbage bags (yes, that's plural) full of dirty laundry from my car and took me to buy beer and eat <a href="http://www.bestfishtacoinensenada.com/">fish tacos</a> for 1.75 a pop-- this girl gets me!<br />
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We're headed out to Santa Monica today to stroll the pier and check out the scene on the beach, so I need to get going here.. but I'll leave you with a few of my favorite photographic memories from the past few days...<br />
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Northern California Coastline=Gorgeous</div>
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Quick stop in the redwoods (I took better pictures on my phone, but alas.. they disappeared when it did)</div>
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Morning view of San Fran and the Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin headlands </div>
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View of the city from Buena Vista Park </div>
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Haight Ashbury </div>
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The GayBrohood </div>
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Mission Dolores</div>
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Mission Dolores again</div>
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and again</div>
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Murals in balmy alley in the Mission district </div>
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My favorite one </div>
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Balmy Alley</div>
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Lombard Street: The Crookedest (and most touristy) street in the world </div>
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Ricky Skaggs at Hardly Strictly </div>
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The de young Museum</div>
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Apparently a lot of people biked to Hardly Strictly</div>
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One last city view </div>
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Pacific coast sunset</div>
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My hostel </div>
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Fog clearing over big sur</div>
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Elephant Seals!!</div>
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My drive</div>
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<br />Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-8615277015557877762011-09-29T13:40:00.001-04:002011-09-29T13:42:45.791-04:00Oregon to CaliforniaAfter a lovely morning in Eugene Oregon yesterday, I headed to the 101 and down the Oregon coast to California.<br />
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Around lunchtime, I noticed a sign along the coast that said "oysters" so I followed the arrows to a shack on the water where a guy still dressed in rubber coveralls from bringing in the morning catch shucked me the freshest oysters I've ever had!<br />
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I'm blogging from my phone and am eager to get to the beach and enjoy tge sunshine before another afternoon on the road, So I'm just gonna post the pics below rather than try and explain each one. But you'll get the gist!<br />
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Despite the endless stream of goodbyes I've been through this month, It didn't hit me that I was actually leaving Seattle until I was sitting in the waiting room at Jiffy Lube, my car out in the garage, packed to the gills with everything I've not sold, shipped, or given away since moving out of my apartment at the end of August. There I am, sobbing and snotting all over the place, and the poor jiffy-luber, a greasy, fifty-something guy walks in to ring me up and just does not know what to do with this emotional wreck sitting in front of him. Bless his heart.<br />
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But the good news is... I got twenty bucks taken off of my signature service, and had 6 hours on the road to get it together. I took full advantage to all of the sweet road trip gifts friends gave me-- bought a pumpkin spice latte and a tank of gas, ate some Theo chocolate, listened to some awesome mix-cds and a few chapters of Harry Potter (my first time ever hearing/reading it!), and booked some hostels for the San Francisco portion of my trip (one is in the city and the other is in a <i>lighthouse</i> just a little way down the coast-- how cool is that??). Tomorrow, I'm cutting over from Eugene, Oregon (home of the Oregon Ducks and my lovely friend Chelsea V.) to highway 101, which will wind me down the coast and into the Redwoods, where I'll stay with my friend Lauryn before heading to San Fran and on down to LA to pick up my momma for the southwest leg of my trip (Grand Canyon, anyone?).<br />
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Check my route out here and get excited for future posts about my upcoming travel adventures:<br />
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<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Eugene,+OR&daddr=Blue+Lake,+CA+to:Green+Tortoise+Hostel,+Broadway,+San+Francisco,+CA+to:210+Pigeon+Point+Road,+Pescadero,+CA+94060+%28HI-Pigeon+Point+Lighthouse+Hostel%29+to:35.81672,-121.37019+to:Glendale,+Los+Angeles,+CA&hl=en&geocode=FWUuoAIdXtip-CkZGVCssBnBVDFNiUNKiWHsVw%3BFdvSbwIdsyec-CmtmfjwWFjRVDF-coPamBbEJA%3BFQvBQAId1D60-CH1CUQO6dZCEQ%3BFQtbNwIdQGm0-CE88tqQfTiOOilVmy_INgCPgDEqwhhjY27r2Q%3BFRCFIgIdsgnE-CkdUM896ruSgDHFDT8o7as3ew%3BFSz5CAIdHZLz-Cmpg_DIMsDCgDGmJsn-nqE_5Q&aq=0&sll=33.211116,-121.245117&sspn=19.942944,39.506836&vpsrc=6&mra=dpe&mrsp=4&sz=5&via=4&ie=UTF8&ll=33.211116,-121.245117&spn=19.942944,39.506836&t=m" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-75028684166638880462011-09-26T12:30:00.003-04:002011-09-26T12:31:14.745-04:00Goodbye Summer, Goodbye Seattle. As my disappearance from the blogosphere might suggest-- It's been a busy summer. I spent the first half of it deliberating over whether or not I would be leaving the west coast in the fall. One day it was, yes, I'm staying, the next it was no, time to go, and so on for about a month, but once the long-belabored decision to move was finally made, I savored every last moment of my time in the months of August and September-- spending quality time with wonderful friends and crossing items off of my Pacific Northwest bucket list.<br />
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A secret no one tells you about Seattle is that though the 9 months of rain can be pretty unbearable at times, people stick around because the Summers are so sublime. If I could spend every August of the rest of my life here, I would. The sun shines, but it's never sticky-hot like back east, just temperate and breezy. Mountain views that have previously been hidden in fog and clouds appear at every turn. And faces that have worn a scowl since October are suddenly freckled and grinning from ear to ear. My past two months have been filled to the brim with sunny day trips, afternoon adventures, and smiling faces. <br />
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But alas, the summer is over (literally-- the rain started today) and for reasons I don't have time, space, or energy to put on the internet right now, the time has come for me to leave this city that I really have grown to love. I'm headed back to Virginia for a while-- going to hang with mama and papa Roquemore for a few months while I save up some money and pray through my next steps. <br />
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I leave tomorrow on my trip home, exactly two years and three days after I first arrived. Since I took the mid-western route out here, I'm gonna drive south this go-round and check out this cool place I've heard of called California. Then I'll head through the desert and canyons of Nevada/Arizona/New Mexico and deep into the the heart of Texas, where I plan to catch up with my extended family before making my way back up the eastern seaboard. I should be back in VA by late October/early November and expect quite a few adventures along the way.. so keep it tuned here for updates from the road.<br />
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But first, to all my Seattle friends... words cannot even begin to express how blessed I have been to spend my time in this city with you. The past two years have been a season of major soul searching and growing for me and you have been with me through the lowest and highest moments of my life so far. I've learned so much from the friendships I've begun (because friends are friends forever thanks to Facebook) here and can't wait to see where the years take us all.<br />
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Now, off to figure out how I'm going fit all of my stuff in my car for a month... <br />
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<br />Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-65582174756705228652011-06-27T22:01:00.003-04:002011-06-27T22:34:06.615-04:00Back to Seattle AgainAfter three weeks with the family in Virginia, I'm headed back to Seattle tomorrow.<br /><br />Truth be told, I've been a mess for most of this trip as I've fought with all of the ideas in my head about home and life and transition and work and purpose. That said, I feel so blessed to have had this time to sort through such big questions with the people who know me best.<br /><br />I can't say that I'm any less confused now than I was three weeks ago. But I guess the best lesson I've learned is that no matter how confusing and scary life may get, the best you can do is to be thankful for where you are, know that there's more life to be lived, and enjoy the memories you get to make while trying to sort through the rest.<br /><br />And what great memories I'm taking back from this trip!<br /><br />I watched my little brother graduate from high school.<br />I went fishing with my middle brother (and caught four fish!).<br />I visited with my grandparents.<br />I took a trip to Staunton and saw one of my dear friends in a play at the Blackfriars.<br />I went to a rave in a PODS warehouse.<br />I got caught in a thunderstorm.<br />I caught a few fireflies.<br />I ate at Chic Fil A (too many times).<br />I attended a wedding shower for one of my favorite college girlfriends.<br />I caught up with lots of good friends.<br />I visited all of my favorite people and spots in DC.<br />I worked on my tan.<br />I read three books.<br />I napped in our hammock and ate almost every meal on the back deck.<br /><br />Now... back to the west, where there's a summer of memories left to be made!!Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-31613960341715203212011-06-24T10:06:00.003-04:002011-06-24T10:11:45.411-04:00PrayerI've had a hard time praying lately. When life is in transition, it takes so much energy to calm all of the anxieties and thoughts forever racing through my consciousness.<br /><br />But I found a lovely poem in my devotional this morning to help get me back on the right track.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Praying </span><span style="font-style: italic;">by Mary Oliver</span> <p>It doesn’t have to be</p> <p>the blue iris, it could be</p> <p>weeds in a vacant lot, or a few</p> <p>small stones; just</p> <p>pay attention, then patch</p> <p>a few words together and don’t try</p> <p>to make them elaborate, this isn’t</p> <p>a contest but the doorway</p> <p>into thanks, and a silence in which</p> <p>another voice may speak.</p><p><br /></p>Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-58206024326269886952011-06-17T10:56:00.004-04:002011-06-17T11:36:17.421-04:00Two RoadsAs most of you know, I've found myself at quite the crossroads lately. On August 31, my lease in Seattle is up, and on September 1, all of my summer teaching contracts will end.<br /><br />At first, this seemed to me the perfect opportunity to go ahead and head back east. My plan was to move to DC as soon as I could. Then I started looking at rent in DC and thinking about trying to start up again as a teaching artist, and I realized that my plan may not be as easy as I thought. So then I thought, "Hey, why not stay in Seattle another year, keep doing what I've been doing and start investigating graduate school opportunities," but then I got hit with that whole homesickness thing, so I second guessed the idea. Lately, I've been playing with the idea of moving back to Richmond, living downtown (definitely NOT with my parents), and substitute teaching / teaching afterschool drama classes until I can figure something new out. But Richmond is a smaller city than Seattle, and while I could certainly get some teaching artist work here, I fear that there won't be as many opportunities to challenge myself as I would like there to be.<br /><br />And all the while, September 1 gets closer and closer...<br /><br />In all of this, Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken keeps coming to mind.<br /><br /><br /><table bg="" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" align="CENTER" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="601"><tbody><tr><td align="CENTER"><span style="color: rgb(156, 156, 99);"><b>The Road Not Taken</b></span></td></tr> <tr><td><br /></td></tr> </tbody></table> <table align="CENTER" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="601"> <tbody><tr><td><table align="CENTER" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr align="left"><td><br /></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">T<span style="">WO</span> roads diverged in a yellow wood,</td><td><a name="1"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">And sorry I could not travel both</td><td><a name="2"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">And be one traveler, long I stood</td><td><a name="3"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">And looked down one as far as I could</td><td><a name="4"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">To where it bent in the undergrowth;</td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"><span style=""><a name="5"><i><br /></i></a></span></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><br /><br /></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">Then took the other, as just as fair,</td><td><a name="6"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">And having perhaps the better claim,</td><td><a name="7"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">Because it was grassy and wanted wear;</td><td><a name="8"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">Though as for that the passing there</td><td><a name="9"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">Had worn them really about the same,</td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"><span style=""><a name="10"><i><br /></i></a></span></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><br /><br /></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">And both that morning equally lay</td><td><a name="11"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">In leaves no step had trodden black.</td><td><a name="12"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">Oh, I kept the first for another day!</td><td><a name="13"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">Yet knowing how way leads on to way,</td><td><a name="14"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">I doubted if I should ever come back.</td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"><span style=""><a name="15"><i><br /></i></a></span></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><br /><br /></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">I shall be telling this with a sigh</td><td><a name="16"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">Somewhere ages and ages hence:</td><td><a name="17"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—</td><td><a name="18"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">I took the one less traveled by,</td><td><a name="19"></a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td>And that has made all the difference.</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />People constantly mis-read this poem, making an inspirational quote out of the last two lines and completely abandoning the mournful tone of the previous stanzas. But really, the poem is not uplifting; it's incredibly sad. Frost laments that he couldn't take both roads and wonders what his life would have been like if he had made another choice.<br /><br />I feel that so much these days. Only two years away and coming home pains me more every time. I've become so different from the person I used to be, and so different from the people I used to be comfortable around. I don't think that's a bad thing, or that I did things any better or any worse than they did. It just is how things are, I suppose. I've grown up. And growing up often means saying goodbye. But for how long? If I take another step down this untrodden road, will that step be un-retractable? Is this road ever going to lead me home? Or will home always be where I choose to make it?Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-85199837807847342322011-06-06T21:01:00.002-04:002011-06-06T21:07:01.226-04:00Song of The Day: Virginia by Deep River<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YmGYi5z1Z4o" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe><br /><br />It's been a while since I put up a song of the day. But a friend posted this on Facebook today, and being that I'm headed home for almost a month tomorrow, I couldn't resist sharing.<br /><br />"Coming home is easy, It's the leaving that's the hardest..."Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-17444188799792628522011-05-17T02:14:00.007-04:002011-05-17T03:09:35.758-04:00evenness.I love how a poem written four hundred years ago can reflect nearly everything on my heart today...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/litany.php">John Donne. A Litany.</a><br /><br />I'll warn you. It's a dense read. 17th century poetry is not known for its simplicity. But then again, neither is life.<br /><br />Maybe that's why John Donne's my favorite. He doesn't sketch the life of faith in simple shades of black in white, as too many Christian artists are apt to do. No, he paints the vivid colors of joy and hope right alongside the bold, dark hues of heartache and frailty.<br /><br />Because that's where the beauty is. It's in the contrast. That deep, fragile place where the mortal meets the divine. That's where we see the brilliance of grace.<br /><br />I think I found something moving in every one of the 28 verses. But, just in case you don't have an hour to spend on a line by line metaphysical poetry analysis, here are a few of my favorite bits... hopefully some of you literature/theology geeks will enjoy the read!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia,Book Antiqua;"><center> <p><span style="">XV.</span></p> </center> <br />From being anxious, or secure,<br />Dead clods of sadness, or light squibs of mirth,<br />From thinking that great courts immure<br />All, or no happiness, or that this earth<br /> Is only for our prison framed,<br /> Or that Thou'rt covetous<br />To them whom Thou lovest, or that they are maim'd<br />From reaching this world's sweet who seek Thee<br /> thus,<br />With all their might, good Lord, deliver us.<br /> <br /> <br /> <center> <p><span style="">XVI.</span></p> </center> <br />From needing danger, to be good,<br />From owing Thee yesterday's tears to-day,<br />From trusting so much to Thy blood<br />That in that hope we wound our soul away,<br /> From bribing Thee with alms, to excuse<br /> Some sin more burdenous,<br />From light affecting, in religion, news,<br />From thinking us all soul, neglecting thus<br />Our mutual duties, Lord, deliver us.<br /> </span><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia,Book Antiqua;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:Georgia,Book Antiqua;"><center> <p><span style="">XXIII.</span></p> </center> <br />Hear us, O hear us, Lord; to Thee<br />A sinner is more music, when he prays,<br />Than spheres' or angels' praises be,<br />In panegyric alleluias ;<br /> Hear us, for till Thou hear us, Lord,<br /> We know not what to say ;<br />Thine ear to our sighs, tears, thoughts, gives voice and word ;<br />O Thou, who Satan heard'st in Job's sick day,<br />Hear Thyself now, for Thou in us dost pray.<br /> <br /><br /> <center> <p><span style="">XXIV.</span></p> </center> <br />That we may change to evenness<br />This intermitting aguish piety ;<br />That snatching cramps of wickedness<br />And apoplexies of fast sin may die ;<br /> That music of Thy promises,<br /> Not threats in thunder may<br />Awaken us to our just offices ;<br />What in Thy book Thou dost, or creatures say,<br />That we may hear, Lord, hear us when we pray.<br /> <br /> </span>Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-44855332176906707912011-05-09T10:23:00.003-04:002011-05-09T11:54:24.479-04:00Decisions, DecisionsPart of growing up is making decisions. Big, confusing, hard decisions. Like where to live and what to commit forty hours of your week to.<br /><br />I hate deciding things. Decision making is a roller coaster of emotion. But it's a ride I have to take if I want to be an adult. Usually my process goes something like this:<br /><br />Step one: feel like my life has no direction. cry a lot.<br /><br />Step two: decide to do something about it.<br /><br />Step three: tell everyone what I'm doing about it.<br /><br />Step four: second guess "do something" plan. cry a lot.<br /><br />Step five: regret telling everyone my plan.<br /><br />Step six: epiphany: God's plans might be better than mine, and who cares if everyone else thinks I'm indecisive and confused. Jesus loves me. and his opinion matters most.<br /><br />Step seven: make new plan.<br /><br />Step 8: trust Jesus with new plan. cry a lot.Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-11852727578215642762011-05-04T02:18:00.005-04:002011-05-04T02:31:08.192-04:00Work.<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ephesians 2:8-10</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I've been thinking a lot lately about work. About what it is that I should do professionally. What it is that I am <span style="font-style: italic;">meant </span>to do. It's a bit overwhelming, frankly. There are <span style="font-style: italic;">so </span>many options out there.<br /><br />But this verse popped into my head this afternoon, and it's been marinating there all day. How wonderful to know that everything we do, even work, originates with one thing. Grace.<br /><br />What a relief it is to realize that it is not I who works but him, working in me through his amazing and wonderful grace. What a relief to let go of all of the worries I have about my career, about the worth my occupation does or doesn't give me, knowing that my value and my purpose is found in his love.<br /><br />This must be what he meant when he said "my yoke is easy and my burden is light."<br /><br /><br /></div></div>Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-65803954922008493302011-04-26T13:31:00.002-04:002011-04-26T14:46:22.096-04:00Angry Conversations with God<i>Little known fact</i>: for someone who majored in English in college, I'm not a very well-read person. It's not that I don't see the value of literature or think it's important. It's just that I'm usually too distracted to finish any book I start. <div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Little known fact #2</i>: I have not fully read the majority of books on my bookshelf. If you look closely, most are bookmarked a third or half of the way in... books I started reading months, even years ago, and put down because something more interesting or shiny came up.<div><br /></div><div>Usually, the books I actually make it to the end of are the ones I read cover to cover in one or two sittings-- on a long flight or while babysitting for a hippie Seattle family without a TV. But lately, thanks to the inconsistent schedule of my illustrious career as a teaching artist, I've finally had a lot of extra time on my hands, and instead of wasting said time away parousing facebook or watching TV, I'm trying to dust off some of the unfinished reads waiting around on my bookshelf.</div><div><br /></div><div>And wonder of wonders, my plan is succeeding so far. Between a long bath last night, and a morning in bed today, I finished a book! A full two hundred and forty pages! (It's good to know that I'm not actually illiterate, as I feared for a bit there..) </div><div><br /></div><div>It helped that the book, a memoir called <i>Angry Conversations with God</i>, was one of those "just can't put it down" type of reads. It's by an actor/writer/comedienne (hey, that sounds familiar) named Susan Isaacs, who spent most of her adult life trying to figure out how to pursue her dream of working in film, while also pursuing God. Substitute theatre for film and I'm pretty sure it could be the story of my life.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was an emotional read for me-- probably because the hurts that she so vulnerably confesses: the inner turmoil an artist feels trying to squeeze into the mold of a churchy, happy christian, the struggle of seeing friends succeed in a tough business and feeling like your own career is going nowhere, the frustrations and confusion of singleness and dating when everything you understand about sexuality and relationships is also tied to your understanding of God; these are all things I'm grappling with on a daily basis. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've spent a lot of time lately wishing God had made me different: more rational, less analytical, <i>certainly</i> less emotional. It would make it so much easier to feel comfortable at church. And to find a husband. And to pick a career. If only I were uncreative and unemotional and content with simple answers, life would be so much easier...</div><div><br /></div><div>But then I read a book like this, so creative, so well thought-through, and clearly written by someone whose personality, and thought life, and emotional sensitivities sound quite like mine, and I know that he's made me this creative, artistic, blubberingly bizarre human being for a reason. And that he will walk alongside me through whatever struggles lie ahead.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not so naive as to believe that it won't be a difficult journey. Like Susan, who had her fair share of turmoil (eating disorders, alcoholism, terrible relationships and break-ups), I know I will run into plenty of pain in this world (As she puts it, "we live in a fallen world, and it sucks"). But God's given me no other choice than to keep climbing the trail to the top of his Everest (I got that metaphor from the book, too). Some days, I'm terrified of what lies ahead, but as Susan writes in her final chapter, "I'd rather die on the mountain than lie around in Death Valley."</div></div>Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-69123194886725619492011-04-24T19:07:00.004-04:002011-04-24T19:52:14.191-04:00Resurrection Buns!Being that I work in an industry that doesn't exactly slow down for major Christian holidays (the show must go on, right?), I'm working a double shift as a house manager at the theatre today. So, in lieu of attending any sort of Easter brunch, I decided to bring the celebration with me and baked two dozen resurrection buns for my staff!<br /><br />What's a resurrection bun, you ask?<br /><br />One part metaphor and one part yummy sweetness, it's basically the most delicious way to celebrate the risen Lord!<br /><br /><br />Here's how you make 'em:<br /><br /><br />1. Take the "body" of a marshmallow and "annoint it with oil and spices" (dip it in a mixture of melted butter and cinnamon).<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">John 19:40</span></span></span><br /><br /><br />2. Bury the "body" in a flattened biscuit (I prefer grands jumbo buttermilk biscuits... they stretch out and wrap around the marshmallows best)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >And Joseph<span class="footnote"></span> bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mark 15:46a</span></span></span><br /><br /><br />3. Seal the tomb (press together the edges of the biscuit so that the marshmallow is sealed tightly inside). For good measure, I also like to "annoint" the sealed tomb.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. </span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mark 15:46b</span></span></span><br /><br /><br />4. Bake according the the instructions on the biscuit can. While you bake, the marshmallow will "rise" and melt inside the biscuit. until...<br /><br /><br />5. You bite into the cooled biscuit and BEHOLD!! The tomb is empty.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,</span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="verse-num" id="v42024003-1"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus<span style="font-weight: bold;">.<br />Luke 24:2-3</span></span></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNpTmiVVbv08LQjdNba5JGNOjGcMH5FKIxwYFTVBBuUghqQlHmBeLpH4AiZbYlcAb9P6tDIuxOkmn-zoTM1Ng4cCzvMtxIQF-RQPXHKIkVM-qcfP0nEClaPoE2FACySf4g2uz-JCcmkQ/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNpTmiVVbv08LQjdNba5JGNOjGcMH5FKIxwYFTVBBuUghqQlHmBeLpH4AiZbYlcAb9P6tDIuxOkmn-zoTM1Ng4cCzvMtxIQF-RQPXHKIkVM-qcfP0nEClaPoE2FACySf4g2uz-JCcmkQ/s400/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599301544758203202" border="0" /></a><br />He is Risen<br /><br />He is Risen, INDEED!<br /><br />Happy Easter, Everyone!Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-61527602586151792012011-04-22T19:00:00.004-04:002011-04-22T19:54:00.908-04:00Good FridayFor the past 38 days, my church in Seattle has kept a prayer room open. For every hour of Lent, at least one person has committed to pray in that room. Sometimes groups came together, sometimes families, but for the past 928 hours (and for the few that still remain until Easter), at least one person has been in that room, praying for our church, community, nation, and world.<br /><br />Today, from 1 to 2pm, I spent my hour in the prayer room. From the moment I opened the door, I was met with a sense of God's presence. A sign on the wall told me to remove my shoes before ascending the staircase into the small attic loft where I would spend the next sixty minutes. At the top of the stairs, I found bibles, journals, prayer books, soft rugs, candles, a prayer bench, and a comfy chair-- all different aids to prayer. But the thing about the room that immediately struck me was its walls, on which the people of my church had written out scripture and prayers with colorful markers.<br /><br />What stood out most to me about this display was the vulnerability it revealed. On our "wailing wall," my congregation held little back. People wrote down their hurts, their worries, their loneliness, their anger, their fears. And in reading and praying over the walls of that room, I, for the first time in a while, stopped feeling so alone in my own pain, fears, and worries.<br /><br />This must be what Good Friday is about. In so many of the prayers I read today, there was a sense of pain and frustration at the sheer injustice of the world. I can only imagine that the followers of Jesus must have felt the same way when they saw the most innocent and loving man they knew put to death for a charge he was never guilty of. And I can imagine that's what Jesus felt when he cried out in agony "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"<br /><br />But that is the beauty of the cross, that we who follow Christ serve a God who knows what it is to suffer, a God who took pain and injustice and brokenness upon himself for our sake.<br /><br />Theologian John Stott puts it this way: "I could never myself believe in God if it were not for the Cross. In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it."<br /><br />Of course, the real beauty of this season comes Sunday, when we see that He is risen, and that our trials, our pain, our suffering, we can leave crucified as we walk towards a new, resurrected life in Christ.<br /><br />But today we mourn for our broken world, and we place our pain upon the cross, where Christ hangs, grieving with us.Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-71067590880880305112011-01-14T02:52:00.003-05:002011-01-14T02:56:59.455-05:00I'm Moving!Well, my blog is.<br /><br />After much thought and the recent acquisition of a phone that can post pictures and videos to the web super quick and easy, I've decided to make the switch to Tumblr.<br /><br />You can now find all of my hopes, dreams, and other general sap posted for all the world to see at <a href="http://gowestgirl.tumblr.com/">http://gowestgirl.tumblr.com/</a> Do bookmark it. And visit often. I hope to post more this year.<br /><br />But just in case you're in the mood for some vintage Sarah, this blog will stay up and running for now.<br /><br />Farewell, blogger. It's been real.Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-8619188269083192112011-01-01T14:42:00.002-05:002011-01-01T15:59:55.989-05:00Living the DreamOver the course of the past two and a half weeks, I have had a lot of time, maybe too much time, to reflect on my life in Seattle. Being back home I've seen a lot of old friends and acuquaintances who, now that we've all been out of school for a few years, have either settled into "real jobs" with 9-5 workdays, medical benefits, and two-day weekends, or have happily taken on domesticity, marriage, and even kids. Though it's been nice to reconnect with people, every visit has brought up insecurities, fears, doubts, even shame, about my own employment and relationship statuses. I've shed a lot of tears this break, struggling with how different my life looks from the lives of the people I grew up with and the people I graduated with two and a half years ago.<br /><br />I've done this my whole life. I am the queen of making myself feel bad about my life because it doesn't compare to someone else's. But in the past few days, it's finally started to occur to me just how blessed, even spoiled, I am.<br /><br />A friend of mine posted this quote from <span style="font-style: italic;">The Wonder Years</span> to <a href="http://theweeklyshamble.tumblr.com/">his Tumbleblog</a> last week and it's gotten me thinking.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >"When you’re a little kid, you’re a little bit of everything. Artist, scientist, athlete, scholar… Sometimes it seems like growing up is the process of giving those things up. One by one. I guess we all have one thing we regret giving up. One thing we really miss that we gave up because we were too lazy or, we couldn’t stick it out or, because we were afraid."</span><br /><br />Here's the thing. I am living the dream. No, I don't have steady employment. Or a normal work schedule. Or a weekend off until March 12 and 13 (who wants to go skiing??). And, yes. I am on food stamps and live on an 800 dollar a month budget. But I don't have student loans. Or car payments. Or credit card debt. Or any mouths but my own to feed.<br /><br />And because of those blessings, I haven't had to give up what I love yet. I'm not making much, but I am getting paid to work in theater. I act. I direct. I create. I play. I teach kids, teenagers, and grown-ups to be creative and discover imaginary worlds everywhere. My schedule is crazy and confusing... and I'm still not sure how to fit a social life into it... but when all is said and done.. I believe in what I am doing. And I would regret walking away from it right now. I know that someday I might need to get a "real job" at a bank, or a corporation, or a school. But for now, God continues to open doors, and I am so grateful to keep at this crazy life of mine.<br /><br />So, at the start of this new year, I'm turning the page. I'm done whining about my employment status. I am blessed. And if you hear me say otherwise, call me out on it.<br /><br />As for complaints about my relationship status. I can't make any promises. But that's a post for another day. My girl Flannery O'Connor put it best: "A good man is hard to find."<br /><br />Happy New Year, Friends!Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-27791657086043428752010-12-17T00:18:00.002-05:002010-12-17T00:21:31.641-05:00Resolve.I’m sitting in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport at 5:30 AM. Starbucks isn’t open yet and I can’t find an internet hotspot anywhere. I've just gotten some of the worst sleep of my life, tossing and turning through a red eye flight. And strangely, for the first time in a very long while.. I can actually focus on some of the thoughts that have been bubbling in my head lately. <br /><br />I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.<br /><br />I turn 25 next month. I don't have a steady job. I'm beyond single (and a half dozen of my best friends are getting married this year). My family and friends are strewn across the country. A quarter-life crisis seems like a completely reasonable turn for my life to take, right?<br /><br />The truth is, I miss JMU. I miss being on the same page with all of my friends and not feeling inadequate because I didn't move to the big city they moved to or because I didn't go the traditional route with my career or because I haven't met "the one." I miss constant socialization. Salsa nights. Dhall dinners. Football games. And honestly, I miss studying. The library. Having books to read (even if I never finished most of them) and, better yet, papers to write (because I'm a dork like that).<br /><br /> But I'm not in college anymore. So I need to figure out how to rejoice in the life I have now. <br /><br />So, since the new year is almost upon us, I've written up a list of resolutions. I have discovered this year that for me to reach my creative potential, I need structure, goals, and planning. I hope this is a start.<br /><br />-Start every day by reading a psalm aloud. <br /><br />-Set some "office hours" every week in which I get out of my bed, walk across the street to my neighborhood coffee shop, and write lesson plans, answer e-mails, read, and journal.<br /><br />-Hit snooze 5 times instead of 10 (baby steps.)<br /><br />-Read one new book a month. I will stop checking out multiple books at once, starting them all and never finishing them. I will read one book at a time. And when I am done, I'll write about it.<br /><br />-Discover more music. Write about it.<br /><br />-See more movies. Write about them.<br /><br />-Blog weekly. Journal daily.<br /><br />-Initiate at least one intentional coffee date/brunch/happy hour a week. <br /><br />-Get people together more. Plan some social events.<br /><br />-Cook one new recipe a month. Preferably with/for friends. I've only busted my crockpot out once since moving to my house. That is not ok. <br /><br />-Stop letting facebook/twitter suck away my life. I will only log on once a day for no more than 15 minutes a day. Period. <br /><br />-Stop watching trash tv. Friday Night Lights is obviously the exception. (but it's no trash, anyway).<br /><br />-Join a gym.<br /><br />-Do more Yoga.<br /><br />-Hold all goals & resolutions with open hands. Give God room to change my plans.Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-25908781142869057922010-12-14T14:08:00.006-05:002010-12-14T14:38:24.728-05:00Dear SantaNow that I've purchased myself Mumford and Sons "Sigh No More" as an early Christmas / music to listen to on my cross-country flight present, all I really want for Christmas is a man who plays banjo.<br /><br />Seriously. Make this magic happen, big guy.<br /><br />I Believe.<br /><br />Love,<br />Sarah<br /><br />p.s. I've included video evidence here just in case you need any more convincing.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lHsgL30aBzM?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lHsgL30aBzM?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-1664062225116557312010-12-06T00:10:00.003-05:002010-12-08T11:24:25.122-05:00FaLaLaLaLa!Every Christmas, instead of Christmas cards, I send out a mix CD of Christmas music. Starting in November, I hunt my personal arsenal of carols and search the internet for new and exciting holiday tunes that will make my friends and family feel merry and bright without driving them to the brink of insanity. <br /><br />Up until this year, only a limited few have had access to the coveted annual mix. But this year, thanks to the wonders of the world wide web, my Christmas Mix is available to all!<br /><br />Just click the link below, enter the password HoHoHo (capitalization does count), and download your very own copy!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.filemonster.net/en/file/19027/Christmas-2010-zip.html">The 2010 Christmas Mix</a>Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088635476557626453.post-13568265005614691442010-11-10T12:35:00.005-05:002010-11-10T14:07:14.165-05:00Song of the Day: "Home," by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4306i99LMXo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4306i99LMXo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />I'm headed back to Virginia tonight. For four days, I will not think about my future or my past or any of the stresses that seem to weigh on me every day I'm out here. Instead, I'll hug my brothers and kiss my dad and snuggle on the couch with my mom. I'll eat barbecue and drink sweet tea and watch lots of football.<br /><br />Of course, I know that when I fly back to Seattle on Monday morning, my heart will be aching and my head will be spinning with thoughts of home, and I'll still be wondering if I'll ever find my place in the world.<br /><br />So what is it about home that means so much to me? I've <a href="http://ladygowest.blogspot.com/2009/10/song-of-day-ingrid-michaelson-are-we.html">written about this before</a>.. but it's something I've been thinking about a lot over the past year.<br /><br />I've always envied those people who've lived in the same place their whole lives. Who have all of their family in one place. Whose friends have known them since they were babies, because they're the children of parents whose friends have known them since they were babies, and so on, and so on..<br /><br />But then I look at Jesus, who was essentially homeless, who was rejected by his hometown, who in Matthew 10 tells me that if I love my mother and father more than I love him, I'm not worthy of being his.<br /><br />That's a hard pill to swallow.<br /><br />Isn't this the same guy who just one chapter later says "Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest for your soul."<br /><br />I've been stuck on these passages for a few days now, trying to sort this all out.<br /><br />This is what I've got so far: I think Jesus wants to be our home, our comfort, our family. And that home can be anywhere, because he is everywhere. Not only that, but he also calls us to love others like family, to open our hearts and lay down roots with everyone, not just those we've known since birth.<br /><br />Does that mean I won't cry when I step off the plane tomorrow morning and see my brothers and parents and grandparents waiting for me? Absolutely not. My family is a blessing that I've learned not to take for granted. But I'm also learning that family is not my God. So when I fly west again on Monday, maybe I'll be able to hold back the tears and trust that in Christ, home comes with me wherever I go.Sarah Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200445986379844232noreply@blogger.com2