So where to begin... so much has happened since my last update! I finished out the School year at Catholic Central, Got to visit Family in Indiana one last time before making a much needed visit back to New Mexico to visit family and friends, and of course, consume copius amounts of green chili (yum!) It was also Wedding Central this summer... first, I traveled to Destin, Florida, for my younger brother's wedding. After we returned from Florida, I hit the road to Alamogordo, NM, for another wedding- this time for my friends Casey and Joe. Both Weddings were a blast! here are a couple of pictures:
My brother Brian and his wife (and now my sister!) Nichole
"You better not shove that cake in my face!"
Casey and Joe, and the wedding party
Casey and Joe's First Dance
Of course, I couldn't go to Alamogordo without making the trip down to Las Cruces to see friends there! And of course to admire the scenery :)
I swear... this never gets old!
But sadly, all good things must come to an end... and after three short weeks, it was time to leave the Land of Enchantment, and move on to other places. Hotter, more humid places- like Houston, TX! I've been here for about a week now, and I can already tell that the humidity is going to take some getting used to... I've learned that you pretty much don't want to be outside for any great length of time during the middle of the day unless you have PLENTY of water with you. I drove through Memorial Park the other afternoon on the way to the Retreat House we were having the Associate Retreat at, and there were people jogging. My first thought was "are you crazy?" But I guess what makes desert boy miserable may not make the locals miserable... either that, or they are crazy!
So, many of you may be asking by this point- "Steven, why are you in Houston?" Well, here's your answer. I am here preparing to begin my Novitiate year- a year of intense discernment and spiritual formation that every member of a Religious Community must go through to officially become a member of the community. We learn about the Vows we profess, the Basilian way of life, different forms of prayer and Spirituality, and above all, how to live in Community. At the end of that year, we profess Temporary Vows, and then we will be able to Begin Seminary.
The Novitiate will begin in Mid-August, so in the meantime, we will be taking Philosophy courses at the University of St. Thomas here in Houston. It should prove to be an interesting experience... I haven't taken much Philosophy, so I'm not quite sure what to expect, but hopefully it all goes well!
That's about all for now... I have some other thoughts brewing for a possible future blog that I will share later.... maybe it won't be so hard to get back into this after all!
Blessings in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Steven
