June 13th weekend we took the whole Burton clan to Colorado Springs to celebrate with my college friend, Kris, her marriage to Mike Darlington. Kris is one of my dearest friends in the world...and God has woven the most beautiful story for her over the last decade. Kris married her college sweetheart and our good friend, Joel Korkowski, in the late 90's. They were a beautiful couple that brought much glory and praise to the Lord. But in October of 2002, Joel died in a military plane accident off the coast of California. Kris was 8 months pregnant with their first child when Joel went to be with the Lord. My Faith Anna was only 2 months old when she and I hopped on a plane and flew to be with Kris during Joel's celebration service. We mourned together, laughed together, and cried together. Kris has raised Skylar by herself over the past 6 1/2 years....and has gone through many different seasons with the Lord. She is the epitome of courage, strength, and grace to me. She has made the lemons that were given her, into the sweetest lemonade you've ever tasted. And everytime I'm ever around Kris, I am so encouraged just by the smile on her face....it lights up the whole room! She has grown so much in her walk with the Lord...and in her ability to see life through a new lens of gratitude and humility.
And this past fall, God decided to bless her by bringing Mike into her and Skylar's lives! He is a wonderful man that shares her love for the Lord, her sense of adventure, and her love for the outdoors. They are a perfect compliment to each other. He has brought back a joy to her life that's been missing for over 6 years. We are so happy to have Mike in our lives!
Thank you Lord Jesus for this sweet story of trust and redemption that you've so beautifully displayed in the lives of Mike and Kris. Enjoy the pics!
They married in this beautiful little chapel at a camp and conference center outside of Colorado Springs. The chapel had gorgeous wood trim and pews...
...and beautiful stained glass windows that framed that sweet kiss.
The chapel overlooked the mountains...with Pike's Peak just in the distance. It was a chilly afternoon....but Beth was insistent on not wearing her sweater. :)
We walked along the grounds from the chapel to the reception site....and picked wild flowers along the way.
Kris and Mike thought of everything! They even had a "kids table" with balloons and bubbles. It was just perfect.
Kris' sister-in-law, Joy, made the wedding cake. (We are all jealous of her masterful creativity.) It was so pretty....and yummy!
I loved how the topper symbolized this precious family that God has woven together- Mike's hiking boot, Kris and Skylar's running shoes, and Duke's (Mike's yellow lab) pawprint. So sweet.
5 of our "Reunion Group" girls...and Susie's precious new addition, Lela.
Marci (the wedding coordinator extraordinaire) and Macy (the calm brains behind the whole operation).
I love this look on Kris' face...
Julie and I. Julie and Jeff are pregnant with their 4th! So fun to share in their happiness...
This is so classic "Macey and Luke". I love the fun relationship they have. They joke around with each other non-stop. I think Macey is the sister Luke never had. :)
Tag danced the night away with me...
...and Faith Anna with her Daddy. She had
all the moves on the dance floor!
Faith Anna and Clara Vee
This is the face Tag makes when you tell him to say "Cheese!" for the camera. Ha!
This is our sweet reunion group...minus Jenni and Elissa. We have been getting together each year since we graduated from college! This is a special group of girls...
Logan made a new friend that he hung out with all night...Brandon Heath.
Dancing with the bride.
Tag loves Daddy.
Congrats Kris and Mike! We wish you many, many years of laughter!
Summer days at the Burton Casa are filled with swimming...or "simmin" as Tag says.
Tag saying "Cheese". This face cracks me up everytime!
Faith just mastered the back flip! Look at her fly....
We went to Jes and Matthew's for some family Father's Day/Birthday celebrations a few weeks ago. I was 2 weeks post-op shoulder surgery...sporting my fashionable navy sling. :)
Kissing cousins...
Holding hands when we prayed...
Silliness
Faith lost a tooth while we were there!
Laughter
Matching cousins...
We took this for Tag and Claire. They love Elmo...
Pretzel on the street...
Rockefeller Center
Bryant Park
The Library
St. Patrick's Cathedral
They married in this beautiful little chapel at a camp and conference center outside of Colorado Springs. The chapel had gorgeous wood trim and pews...
...and beautiful stained glass windows that framed that sweet kiss.
The chapel overlooked the mountains...with Pike's Peak just in the distance. It was a chilly afternoon....but Beth was insistent on not wearing her sweater. :)
We walked along the grounds from the chapel to the reception site....and picked wild flowers along the way.
Kris and Mike thought of everything! They even had a "kids table" with balloons and bubbles. It was just perfect.
Kris' sister-in-law, Joy, made the wedding cake. (We are all jealous of her masterful creativity.) It was so pretty....and yummy!
I loved how the topper symbolized this precious family that God has woven together- Mike's hiking boot, Kris and Skylar's running shoes, and Duke's (Mike's yellow lab) pawprint. So sweet.
5 of our "Reunion Group" girls...and Susie's precious new addition, Lela.
Marci (the wedding coordinator extraordinaire) and Macy (the calm brains behind the whole operation).
I love this look on Kris' face...
Julie and I. Julie and Jeff are pregnant with their 4th! So fun to share in their happiness...
This is so classic "Macey and Luke". I love the fun relationship they have. They joke around with each other non-stop. I think Macey is the sister Luke never had. :)
Tag danced the night away with me...
...and Faith Anna with her Daddy. She had all the moves on the dance floor!
Faith Anna and Clara Vee
This is the face Tag makes when you tell him to say "Cheese!" for the camera. Ha!
This is our sweet reunion group...minus Jenni and Elissa. We have been getting together each year since we graduated from college! This is a special group of girls...
Logan made a new friend that he hung out with all night...Brandon Heath.
Dancing with the bride.
Tag loves Daddy.
Congrats Kris and Mike! We wish you many, many years of laughter!
