Spring-filled weekend

This weekend was awesome thanks to many events and the spring weather!!!

I have been on the go for the past several weeks, and I thought that I was not going to get to slow down until next weekend, but this weekend ended up presenting itself as a time of rest and fun!

Friday night I played the last indoor soccer game of the season then went out to celebrate with some friends. Saturday I began my day with Mass, followed by some major spring cleaning, went for a run, and got ready for the evening.

Saturday night, Stacy and I planned an Eastertide Wine tasting party. This was in lieu of last November when we had an Advent Wine Tasting party.

To my surprise, yesterday morning my sister Lori called to tell me she was in town for a volleyball tournament! I was so excited to get to see her and to invite her to the party. She took some pictures of the two of us, so I will post those as soon as I get them from her.

Then Sunday I went to Mass with my friend Michelle, spent a few hours on the deck catching up with her, took a nap, went to the park, went for a run, read a book, and now I need to do some school work!

Overall, it was a great weekend to enjoy the weather, be with friends and family, and rest up!

Here are some pics from the wine tasting....

Mark and Sebastian

Sebastian, Brett, and Stacy (with the pizza rolls, a standard at our wine tasting!)

Dan, Jean, Kasia, Brook, and Resa

Kerrie and Becky, fellow math teachers at PHS

Stacy and Dan

It's not a wine tasting party hosted by Stacy and I unless Jenga is part of the evening...let the anticipation begin!

Maria, Carrie, Chris, and Chris

Kelly, Marcus, and Stacy


Notice Laura and Jean in the back, and Lorie taking the approach...


Laura, Jean and me

Lorie, Kelly, and Dan

Jean and Michelle

It's official!

Yesterday my friend Jessica Schippers and I purchased our tickets to travel to Italy this summer! We have been considering over the past year and have waivered back and forth whether or not we should go, but we made it official yesterday by purchasing our tickets!

As of now, our plan is to travel to Italy on July 13th and spend a few days there traveling around Rome and visiting many of the churches and Vatican city. Once we have spent a few days there (and most likely be overwhelmed by the city itself), we are going to retreat to Cortina, Italy into the Dolomite Mountains. There we will meet up with the Apostles of the Interior Life. We will spend several days there. Finally we will travel to Milan, Italy for a day before we head back to the States on July 23rd.

The Apostles are the religious order that I am part of in the Collaborator movement. This coming January 1st, if things go as planned, Jessica and I will be taking promises with the Collaborators as a laity, along with others. Being with the community this summer will be a time of formation, preparation, and retreat before we take the promises!

I am looking forward to this experience and will be excited to share it with you as well!

The Baptism of Isaac Joseph

On Sunday, April 13th, Isaac Joseph was baptized. Isaac is the son of my former froommate Katie and her husband, Ryan. They asked me to be the Godmother. It was a beautiful ceremony celebrated by Msgr. Krische, who was the chaplain at KU while I was in college. I look forward to being a spiritual figure in Isaac's life and being his friend. Here are some pictures from the Sacrament of his Baptism. Msgr. prepares a beautiful ceremony that consists of four processions. We first began outside of the chapel and then processed into the Church, symbolizing Isaac's entrance into the Church. Then Isaac was prepared for his Baptism before the altar. Then we all processed into the baptistery for his baptism. Finally, we were before the altar once more to welcome him and present him before Christ.

Props to the photographer, Sarah Davis. She took lots of great pictures, but here are just a few!

The proud parents

The proud Godmother with her buddy Joachim.

Joachim is Katie and Ryan's oldest son.

Isaac! A new soldier for Christ!

Parents, Godparents, Msgr. Krische with Isaac

We must be one in spirit, for we all color coordinated so well! ;)

Me with my Godson!

Isaac, may the Lord bless you and protect you all the days of your life!

Convivenza

As I have mentioned before, I am part of a lay movement call Collaborators of Your Joy. We meet once a month for formation and fellowship. Once a year we spend a day together. We call it a Convivenza, which roughly translated in Italian means "spending time together." During this time we share meals, attend Mass, Adoration, hear a meditation, and catch up with each other. One of the families who is involved hosted us out on their property. They had a lot of outdoor activities to offer, however it decided to snow in April! So instead, we enjoyed more of each others' company indoors. Here are a few pics of the day!

Fr. Steve celebrating Mass

This is my friend Sasha with her new fiancé Chris

This is my friend Teresa

And my dear friends Jessica and Jasmine

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!

The night of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship I had the honor of fixing the Burton's dinner. This was of course followed up by watching the Championship game! I have to admit, I wasn't sure if we were going to win, but I had to have faith. While watching the game I just wasn't as into it as I was the Saturday before...Well that was until the last few minutes when we were down by 9! Wow, what a game! Although these pics were not necessarily taken during the game I think they express the spirit in the Burton household!

First off, you have to carb up for the big game...

and as any good friend of Sheena knows, you must eat asparagus with your hands, it is only proper etiquette.

Then it was time for tip off. You have to call your friends at the beginning and during the game to be sure they are cheering on those Jayhawks!

Jaydreamin'

...modern style

But wait! Collin's did you really just make that move and risk the game?

Joachim: Oh my gosh! Hold your breath!
Isaac: Whoosh! It's okay bro, Chalmers saved the day!!!

Katie, we're going into overtime!


1988 and 2008!
We are the Champions!

As per request of Roy Williams:

Now since many of us did not get to experience live the excitement, this gets you pretty close to the spirit at Allen Field House!

Aubrey's Visit!

My friend Aubrey, from high school, came to KC for a friend's wedding. She brought along her friend Caro, who traveled in from Germany for the wedding. It was fun to have them over for a few days and to have soem quality time to catch up with Aubrey. Though we didn't take too many pics, we did spend some time at Loose Park and threw around a football and frisbee. It was a fun weekend...thanks for coming Aubs!

well said (and too cute)...

Aspire to have faith like a child

An Update from Me

Hello Family and Friends. It has been awhile as you will be able to tell from the number of posts I have put up in the past few days! I hope you enjoy catching up on me and looking through the photos...

Life is good. Teaching is going well, except for a few children that I would love to have a positive impact on since they have a negative one on my class. But I have renewed my contract at PHS for next year! It will be nice to stay in one place and not make any major changes!

I am signing off now for I overslept today! Here is what I will be dreaming about....my ideal classroom....

Me!

My students!

This is in all good humor. I really feel blessed with my job this year and the people and students that surround me!