I had been dating a guy, but it didn’t work out. He had met someone else. However, I wasn’t going to let that spoil my summer. Despite what happened, I was grateful for finding joy in new experiences. I texted one of my college roommates see if she, her husband and their daughter would be up for a visitor. She said they would, so I drove to suburban Chicago to see them. This was my first time using tolls. I got off at the wrong exit once, but I managed.
That weekend trip was definitely what I needed. It was nice to get away. It was also good to see my college roommate’s daughter who was about two at the time. Kids have the ability to bring so much joy to our lives. On Saturday afternoon, I was standing in the dining area and felt something on my legs. I looked down to see she had wrapped her arms around them. It made me think about how much I want to have a family of my own someday. Later that afternoon, we went to a festival in a neighboring city and went out for pizza. I went to Mass Sunday morning before driving home.
Finding Joy While Expanding My Circle
That summer, I decided I wanted to meet other Catholic young adults. Although I went to Catholic school from pre-k through high school, none of my friends from those grades who were raised Catholic were really practicing. I also didn’t have many friends from college who were practicing Catholics. So, I started attending Theology on Tap through the Cathedral of St. Paul’s young adult group. One night, I was in line behind two women Jamie and Anna and we started talking. We sat at the same table and I found out the two of them had a mutual friend Cody who I also met. That night was the beginning of several friendships I’ve developed through the Catholic young adult groups in the Twin Cities.
I think my mom’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis made me realize how much I needed to be in community with others near my age who shared my faith. When I lived in La Crosse, I didn’t really have friends who were practicing Catholics. However, when I moved back home, I was surrounded by them. It gave me peace to know my friends were praying for my mom.
Finding Joy in Being on Stage
A little more than a month later, “Mary Poppins” opened. It felt great to be back on stage. One of my most memorable moments was after the show on Saturday night. A few people who I sing with at church came to watch, including Karol who encouraged me to audition at Richfield Lutheran Theater Company. Karol’s daughter was in some shows there when she was younger. I was talking with Karol and said if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have auditioned at Richfield Lutheran.
A couple ladies from the cast who I was standing next to heard me and told Karol, “Thank you for bringing Sarah to us.”
It meant so much to hear those words. Although I wasn’t a lead, I was glad to know they enjoyed working with me and thought I belonged on stage. The cast was definitely great to work with. I was sad the show was over, but I was glad to have some more free time. However, it wasn’t long before I was back in rehearsals. In September 2016, I auditioned for “The Reluctant Dragon” at Rosetown Playhouse. It’s based on a book with the same title. However, our director Alex didn’t like any of the stage versions, so he wrote his own. I was cast as the seamstress and a minstrel.
Saying “Yes”
Another show wasn’t my only new experience that fall. I was leaving after 4:30 Mass on Saturday to head home to get ready for Jamie’s Halloween party when I our pastor at the time Father Jerry stopped me. Father Jerry explained our religious education director left to take another job, so he was trying to figure out who would take her place. First Sacraments, EDGE, which is the middle school program and Confirmation were covered. However, Father Jerry still needed someone to teach Family Formation for kids in 1st-5th grades. He asked me if I would.
I told Father I would and he told me I was the answer to his novena. I thought, “Whoa!” It was humbling to hear. He asked me if I’d taught before, so I told Father about how I helped with Sunday preschool in middle school and high school, but the program was eliminated, because of budget cuts. As I was pulling out of the parking lot, I wondered if I was the right person for the job, but I realized God wouldn’t have given me the opportunity if I wasn’t.
