Al Amanecer...At Sunrise

Al amanecer.

(At dawn.)

Sounds so beautiful in Spanish, doesn't it?

In any language, though, sunrise is a beautiful sight to behold. I have had my fair share of incredible sunrises on my way to work since the start of this school year - they are especially breathtaking when the clouds do their magic, causing purples and golds and scarlets to dance across the sky.

While I love my daily commute sunrises, what I love even more is getting to the lakefront just as the sun breaks over the horizon during my weekly long runs. Last week's in particular caught me by surprise, and it made me believe I was like Bert (the chimneysweep) and Mary Poppins jumping into one of their sidewalk art pieces...

Kind of takes your breath away, doesn't it?

Getting up a few minutes earlier than is reasonable for a weekend to see something like that is well worth it. But I guess I have always been an early riser - who can sleep in when such beauty and potential awaits for those ready to begin the day?

Speaking of beauty, I ended up going to the Chicago Botanical Gardens with my sister and brother-in-law last weekend, and many flowers were still in bloom. Here are some photos from the day...and from the trip directly after to Graeter's --> 

The weather was beautiful this weekend for yet another run, but the winds are blowing in now, and it looks like it will be a chilly adventure to meet up with my sister and some friends downtown in just a little bit. Our days can't always be picture-perfect, but our hearts can always be full of gratitude for the gifts we receive every day and the people we share our days and time with along this journey of life.

Orchids, and Cacti, and Ice Cream...Oh My!

My sister's fiance belongs to the botanic gardens, and they've been promising to take me for a long time. Well, it finally worked out this weekend...and there was a visiting orchids exhibit, which was a plus (and the main reason for the visit to the gardens)!

I'll let the photos speak for themselves; though, as with most natural beauty, photos just don't do it justice.

Another wonderful part of the trip was a visit to Graeter's ice cream - we had only ever had it once before after the Cincinnati Marathon (about 3 years ago), but we loved it then. Today was just as delicious. And hey, we felt like we earned a scoop of ice cream after running 18 miles earlier in the day...

Mmm...ice cream...

Happy twins...

Spring break for grad school officially starts tomorrow, and I am very much ready for that! While I love grad school and the people I've met, I am looking forward to getting some time back next year and to not have to write so many papers...

Have a beautiful Sunday! Happy 4th week of Lent!

Roses are red...

Where is this going? I thought as our visiting priest started to share a Valentine's Day message sent to Cardinal Cupich this week.

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Valentine's Day is great...

But it's ashes for you.

I see what they did there...


Leave it to my dad to send the years that Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day have overlapped and will overlap - in case you were wondering, the last time it happened was 1945, but it happened before that in both 1923 and 1934. Apparently it will happen again in 2024 and 2029. (I didn't double check if he was right on these - just trusting...)

I must say, though, I was highly confused driving down my block today and seeing a line practically out the door at Stan's Donuts - I couldn't figure out why so many people would want donuts on a day traditionally set aside for fasting... And then I remembered it was also Valentine's Day. Well, that made perfect sense!

At school we actually celebrated Valentine's Day a day early on Fat Tuesday so as not to lose focus on the three pillars of Lent. (It was highly suggested from the Archdiocese.) I didn't get too many treats - just enough chocolate - though, one student did bring a homemade paczki!

One of my favorite student valentines was one a 6th grader made into a scratch-off:

One of my advisory students was a day late (by our calendar) and brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers today - it was such a delightful start to the morning before Mass:

I also got a cute note on a student's assessment this afternoon:

It was a beautiful (early) Valentine's Day, to be sure. The kids are so funny about it - one student asked if I had a special valentine this year, to which I replied, "Jesus." Well, let me tell you, that made his day!

But, when it was time to go to Mass, our focus shifted...

And you can bet money on the fact that I wore purple...

Our visiting priest continued his homily (which he had started with that poem - yes, I'm back to talking about that all the way down here...). He explained that the Catholic church has nothing against Valentine's Day; it is just that the solemn start of the Lenten season takes precedence. He then encouraged us that no matter how we choose to fast, pray, or do extra things this Lent, that we do so with sincere hearts in an effort to draw closer to God.

His message was just what I needed to hear, and I hope the kiddos were listening too! It reinforces a piece of wisdom I shared with them the other day that was once told to me: If you find yourself at the end of Lent the same as when you started, you've done Lent wrong.

God wants us - He wants our whole heart. So, how will we use this Lenten season to make more room for God in order to allow Him to draw us closer?

We have 40 days to make it happen - our time starts now.

It's the Little Things...

It wasn't an extraordinary or special day by any means, but this May the 4th was one of a couple sweet treats:

1. An 8th grade mom brought me flowers as a belated thank you for the extra personal time I spent on retreat and Confirmation stuff this year. They smell and look beautiful!

2. My boyfriend wanted to participate in teacher appreciation week...so he brought me a donut. Yum!

It's the little things in life, my friends, the little things...

April Showers Bring May Flowers

(And May also brings a break from grad school! I just finished up my last assignment through a Zoom call with my classmates. Everything else is submitted. Woo hoo!)

But flowers, yes wonderful flowers are already in bloom here:

Tulips are my favorite...

April was SUCH a busy month, and blogging has really been nonexistent. But hopefully I'm back...at least until July (when summer classes start)...

Happy spring everyone!

Springtime Fun

Best deal at TJ this week? Tulips for less than $4.

Nothing says spring like tulips...especially not the weather we had yesterday... I've never seen such "on again off again" snow/hail. It made for an interesting pub crawl (annual Beat MS pub crawl #9 - only #4 for me), but we were pretty much all smiles and laughter the whole day. It's good to spend a day just hanging out with friends, especially when it's the weekend before facing students coming back from spring break. ;)

I'd like to go on record that I made it to all 5 bars on the crawl, and I even went to a party (briefly) afterwards. And this morning turned out to be pretty good - an early run along the lakefront with my sister followed by brunch with friends from out of town (who were in town for a wedding this weekend).

Still have a little bit of work to do before a retreat reunion potluck and Mass tonight, which I am very much looking forward to. The timing is perfect, as today is Divine Mercy Sunday (and mercy was the theme of our retreat)!

Have a good one, y'all!

It's Simple

It's easy
to get caught up
in the
day
to
day

CRAZINESS

that we forget
sometimes
to look for the little things,
beautiful in their own
simple ways.

solo flower blooming in my driveway

But it is in these moments
of recognition
that we remember
there is so much more
than just
today.

There is so much more
than just
ourselves.

Thank you,
Lord,
for simple joys and beauty.
Help us to treasure all things
and people,
great
and small,
as precious gifts,
for we are caretakers
of this Earth,
now
and in future generations.
Amen.

Until August...

Today was my last day of Ministry of Care until next school year rolls around. 

And both my time at the hospital and the tulips lining Michigan Avenue did not disappoint. (Note in the picture below how I superimposed my name badge over the flowers to "say" this sentiment visually.)

(Corny, I know.)

But it truly was a beautiful day, rounded out by a leisurely brunch with my sister - We're carb-ing up before our half marathon tomorrow! - and a trip to Target.

I also finished the book Tattoos on the Heart (just in time for Wednesday's book club!) this afternoon before tackling this week's Bible Study reading/reflection of Revelation.

Not much planning left to do for school - 6th grade is working on a project (and class will be consistently disrupted with school music concert practice); 7th grade is watching a movie and finishing their vocations unit (courtesy of Holy Cross vocations); and 8th grade voted to take a look at Revelation (for which I will be using resources I've gathered through my current Bible Study). Yes sir, the school year sure is winding down in a hurry...

Spring has (finally) come and (nearly) gone so quickly here...