July 4, 2007 The Writings Page is up and has content on it … amazing!
There’s still some work to be done - other pages and more content, etc. But should you have a hankering for sermons, eat your heart out. I’m preaching this Sunday and next so there’ll be two new ones up in the new few weeks.
And, there will be new posts coming soon … promise …
Posted in blog by Sarah 
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June 19, 2007 Here are some very brief reviews of books, music and movies …
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. You should judge this book by it’s cover - at least by the cover on the hardback edition. It is a beautiful book about a family’s decision to eat locally for a full year. It is honest, funny, informative, perceptive, prophetic and reflective all without being kitschy. Website here.
The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai. A book without an ending - at least without an ending that satisfies me. True to real life, this book develops the characters of a haphazard family in India during a time of political turmoil. The characters come alive, the inheritance of loss is beautifully described, but the plot stagnates and leaves me wanting more resolution.
The Uses of Enchantment by Heidi Julavits. I picked this book by its title and cover - and the adage held true (though in reverse of how it was initially meant): don’t judge a book by it’s cover. I was not a fan of this particular novel. The dialog for much of the book is intentionally confusing, which I found frustrating and the plot was both lagging and a bit superficial.
Paper Clips. A moving documentary about a school in rural Tennessee that started studying the holocaust and decided to collect paper clips as a way of getting their minds around what 6 million (the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust) looks like. The movie is human and shows the ways in which the project took on a life of its own that moved the people running it and transformed a school, a community, and perhaps a nation still looking for ways to grieve such a massive loss. Documentaries aren’t generally my thing, but this one had me captivated.
Eragon (the movie). For a movie based on a book - this one was good. Granted it’s been a few years since I read the book, but the movie could stand alone as the start of an interesting epic, and with the book behind it, it grows even richer as a story. It made me want to pick up Eldest, which I haven’t read yet.
Gandhi (the movie). Long - really, really long. Three hours, but three hours I’m glad I watched. The acting was incredible (I didn’t realize it was Ben Kingsley playing Gandhi until the end and then I wondered how he had pulled it off) and I learned so much about his life and the situation in India.
One Voice by the Wailin’ Jennys. Josh introduced Adam and I to this song this past spring and it is still one of my favorites. The harmony is beautiful. Definitely worth the 99 cents it will cost you on iTunes.
(You Want To) Make a Memory by Bon Jovi. I know - eighties ballad, pop rock - it’s true. But I enjoy this song. Not quite as much as ‘It’s My Life,’ which I could rock out to all day everyday, but still really good in my pop culture music world.
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June 11, 2007 “It’s so lush and green here. I can’t tell if I’m in New Jersey or the Garden of Eden.”
[stunned, appalled silence]
“I get them confused so frequently - Jersey and Eden”
“Are you sure it’s not the naked children running around in front of our apartment that confuse you?”
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June 5, 2007 Truth be told it is nicer in Princeton than I was expecting. Yes, our apartment is smaller, yes the whole complex looks as though it is falling down and is plagued by mold, yes we live in state that can possess a smell humans should not know, but our apartment has some character, the weather is lovely, and we have a new dog companion who keeps me endlessly entertained by following my husband everywhere he goes, while my husband in turn follows the dog everywhere she goes (to make sure she goes nowhere near his computer, or his bed, or his food in the kitchen) so that occasionally the two of them walk in circles around the kitchen, living room, dining room trying to keep track of the other while I laugh behind my hand so as not to alert them to their circuitous pursuits and continue to watch my movies (it is vacation after all).
Yet, despite my grudging concession that it could be worse, there are some strange sacrifices, annoying irritations, and alarming paradigm shifts I feel obliged to tell you about.
First is the issue of the dog and the bathroom. Not our bathroom, but the fact that she goes to the bathroom. While I love dogs, I have never been a big fan of the pick up after you dog rule. Granted I don’t want to step in it and I don’t want it polluting my water supplies or stinking up my neighborhoods, but nor do I really want to bend over and pick it up with a thin plastic bag, that could quite conceivably have holes and in no ways mitigates or blocks the smell of the offending feces. But, our dog is having some issues going to the bathroom, as in, she doesn’t. Hardly ever. The girl can hold it for longer than I physically think is possible. And when she lets go - it’s like flood gates bursting forth - it is something to behold. At any rate, her reticence leads us to a strange new world in which when she goes to the bathroom (outside) we jump up and down and cheer and pat her back and generally make a fuss. It’s strange enough when it’s just the two of us and no one else is out. It is another thing entirely when it is just me and the dog and the security guard in the car at the curb having a good laugh at my hysterics and the dog’s bewildered expression. A whole new world.
Second, Route One. This has become the new curse word and threat in my life. You would think after living in Atlanta for three years no amount of traffic or traffic-based situation would phase me. But I tell you Atlanta traffic has nothing on Route One. Words fail me to describe what a terror this road is where people exit and enter in the same lane at the same time and all turns must be made from the right and you must know exactly where the store you are looking for is before you see it because the exit for it precedes your ability to see the store itself so that if you are new to the area you find yourself driving past the store you want, having missed the exit, needing to make the U-turn, from the right, turn around go the other way, make another U-turn (again from the right) and try the whole thing over again. God forbid you miss it twice. Meanwhile, every bloody thing you need is either in downtown Princeton where traffic doesn’t move for all the pedestrians in the road and parking doesn’t exist, or it is on Route one. It is a very scary, irritating, life I lead at the moment.
And finally, on my inability to take a shower with any sense of security. As our dog is new, we are naturally exploring some boundary issues. It looks like this: Sadie jumps up on the couch, I yell no, and pull her off, Sadie sulks in the corner. Sadie goes into the bedroom, she doesn’t emerge after a few seconds, I heave my lazy butt off the couch and check on her, she’s jumped up on the bed, I yell no and pull her off. Sadie goes into the kitchen, she doesn’t emerge from the other side, one of us puts down our dinner and goes to check, Sadie has jumped up and is eating our food of the counter, we yell no and pull her down, she sulks. And so on and so forth. She does bite or growl at us when we correct her, but she does try to eat the curtains and the plants, and the rug, and our dinner and sleep on our bed and lie on our couch and generally do all the things we like to do (minus the eating of the curtains and the plants). Our solution is to watch her and crate her when we go out during the day and when we go to sleep at night. Naturally, however, she is not yet fond of the crate as it means not only restricted access to all things pleasurable, but that we are leaving the general vicinity and our return time has not been cleared with her. Therefore, when we return from our morning walks and I need to shower and Adam is gone at work, I tend not to crate her. I can shower faster than it would take to push, pull, and cajole her into her crate (even with the gourmet treats we have on hand to help with persuasion techniques). So, I leave the bathroom door open and the bedroom door close and shower like I will get a medal for finishing in under five minutes. It is amazingly stressful as every noise (even the ones from next store) sound like a dog pulling down a bookshelf with her teeth and systematically eating every good book I own.
Clearly my life is already a full time endeavor and I should not have to start work next week on top of the trials and tribulations I am already dealing with.
Posted in life by Sarah 9 Comments »
June 2, 2007 
Life in Jersey has been quite busy, at least for my husband. We moved in almost two weeks ago, unpacked and set-up house in four days, had our first anniversary the next day, and then Adam started CPE the next day. And I, well, I read my book, ran errands, reorganized a few things, took some naps, sat on the ‘porch,’ read some more of my book, went to the store and bought some more good books with a gift card, read some more, made some lunch … you get the picture.
Meanwhile Adam is having 8 and 1/2 hour days made even longer by train commutes and the need to dress nicely. Plus, he’s learning about fun things like the Avian Flu and how to minister to cancer patients - easy and light things all around.
So you could say the push to get a dog sooner rather than later was mine. And perhaps part of the equation was sheer boredom and a sense of inadequacy being around stay-at-home moms all day with no child (which I might add we’re in no hurry to change). In case you’re wondering, I will some day work (specifically on the day dated June 11th) - I will hold two jobs in fact, but for now, it’s just me and the apartment, and now … the dog.
It wasn’t pure boredom, mind you, I have wanted a dog ever since I left our family dog at home to go to college - and this is the first apartment that’s allowed me to have one - so of course, one must take advantage of such opportunities.
Sadie came to us named Rosie, but we imperiously decided that name was not right and dubbed her ‘Sadie,’ which seems to fit. I picked her up on Friday and she was great until we tried to crate her Friday night before we went to bed. She was not into that at all. But, we got her in and she slept quietly until 6:50am when she woke us up with some nice barking. Things have gone well today with the slight exception of the peeing on our carpet. I would say 90% of our floors are wood linoleum (aka easy to clean), but Sadie decided to relieve her apparently very large bladder on the one area carpet we have. A wise dog.
We’re all still learning, but mostly she’s great and we love her already.
And … if that weren’t enough, we’ve also had some great discoveries in and around Princeton. Last weekend we discovered a nearby farm that has a store that sells yummy vegetables, cider and all things good. And this weekend I discovered a farmer’s market three miles from our apartment that sells local and organic vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses, flowers, herbs (it’s small, but amazing).
So, despite the fact that I hate Route 1 and I am living in the armpit of the country, things have been going well (cue the dog peeing to add irony).
Posted in life by Sarah 1 Comment »
May 31, 2007 Hi!
Welcome to my new blog. Which is also my old blog. But on a new site. With a new design. Fun huh? I’m still getting used to WordPress, so you will have to bear with me as I learn something new and get used to finding my way around here. You will probably notice that not all of the pages are up yet, but they will be soon, so check back.
And, I will have a proper post up in the next few days about all the adventures of moving and life in the garden/armpit state. Until then … Welcome!!
Posted in blog by Sarah 5 Comments »
April 11, 2007 
I’ve been blogging for over two years now and feel I am entitled to a small blog sabbatical. I know two points of order are popping into your head even now.
But. Life is busy. In 38 days (after three long years) I will finally have my Masters of Divinity (yes that will make me a master of all things divine, thank you for realizing that, feel free to pay me for my mastery). Then, a short two days after that we make the move to New Jersey which will
No big deal though. I’m not stressed out about those things or the mountain of school work that must be accomplished in the next 38 days. Truly.
So. Since I’ve been blogging for over two years I am going to take a two month blogging sabbatical and promise to be back in June (which is really less than two months so do not fret). And, lest you think that nothing will be happening in the meantime, let me reassure that when I return it will be to a new site on a new domain with a new look - because I’m married to a web-designer and the upside to his being attached to the computer like a leech to blood is that I get a new site in the next two months … and now he knows. 
See you in June if not before …
Posted in blog by Sarah 4 Comments »
March 13, 2007 
Life is still incredibly busy and stressful with school and life … BUT I have found time to read (over the course of a few weeks) one of the best books I’ve read in a long time: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert You must buy this book. You could borrow a copy, but I’m pretty sure this is a book worth owning. Since I don’t have a lot of time, and you might not either, I will not proceed to give you the highlights in three sentences or less: This is a memoir written in her early thirties after a hard divorce during a year of travel in Italy, India and Indonesia. She is funny, reverent, irreverent, honest, a great writer and someone you’ll feel like you know by the end of the book. Two sentences - ha!
I really can’t say enough about this book except that for people living two completely different lives, I felt like I knew exactly what she was talking about 98% of the time (yes, that’s a precise equation, thank you for asking). I will now go back to my loads of work and you will go buy the book. Amazon is open 24 hours should you be reading this late at night, but of course it’s always good to support the local bookstore. I leave it up to you.
Posted in uncategorized by Sarah 1 Comment »
March 8, 2007 Apparently inquiring minds want to know what I’m planning on doing with my life next year while Adam is busy finishing up his degrees at Princeton Seminary.
While I considered being a dutiful housewife and staying at home to cook and clean for my very smart husband while he is busy out in the world finishing important degrees, Adam told me I had to either earn my keep or go back to school.
Tough choice. I’m going back to school. Irony of ironies I am now enrolled at Princeton Seminary as a Masters of Theology student. It’s a one year degree that will let me focus a little more specifically on my interest (theology of the holy spirit) and avoiding having to figure out what kind of job I think I could survive in that would also pay me.
While my parents, and Adam, are getting a good little laugh out of the fact that I’ll be a Princeton student after swearing never to attend that fine little institution, I am preparing for a change in schools and one more year of books and study.
Princeton (and smog) here we come …
(and yes, I am excited that my future alma mater apparently cares little about living green, super).
Posted in life by Sarah 2 Comments »
March 7, 2007 I admit that I could be classified as something of a ‘green freak.’ I don’t generally feel like one, I more often feel like I don’t do nearly enough to live a sustainable life; but, granted, I am interested in the topic, I do blog about it weekly, etc. So, perhaps my view is not unbiased …
Yet, as a Christian, I am baffled by other Christians who are not uninterested in Global Warming, but totally against any attempt to talk about or reform it. I understand (though secretly I might think you’re a little slow or lazy or unwilling to see the truth) if you don’t think Global Warming is an issue that requires your attention. Fine. Go ahead and ignore scientific warnings and continue living lives that put this planet in jeopardy - your choice.
But, why, why are there Christians who are fighting against those who are trying to improve our planet? When did prophetic care for this beautiful, God-given earth become alarmist? And, so what if that’s all that it is? Why does something that is alarmist harm you? Why do they care if other people are interest in this issue? What is the down side to them?
I just don’t get it. But I find it rather scary and obnoxious. Cut it out.
For the original article, go here. For a commentary on it, go here.
Posted in eco-green by Sarah 1 Comment »
