A Look Into the Stars

We often try to visit as many of the wonderful free museums when we are in St. Louis.  They are all so well maintained and wonderful.  Each visit we spend a little time at the St. Louis Science Center. 

This visit I wanted to do something we don't normally do.  We explored only the Planetarium.   There was a cost but with only 4 kiddos we made the most of it.  Miss Brenda joined us which allowed us to explore an almost empty exhibit with freedom to split up and see what ever we wanted. 

 Inside the unique shape is a theater that shows the stars in the night sky.  So beautiful.

 After the show we walked around and explored the exhibit.  We touched a few meteors and even got to touch a small piece of the planet Mars. 

We had a great day!  It ended with a great meal, at our beloved Steak N Shake.

We miss the big kids but worked hard to enjoy ourselves and look forward to their return.

Mass at Home

I got to do something that I normally do not get to do. I got the pick which Mass we went to and at the Church I most wanted to visit.  I picked the parish that I remember as my home parish for years.  I was three when we moved into St. Clement of Rome parish and moved out when I got married.  Our wedding wasn't there and I kind of regret that.  My faith grew strong at this place.  I was blessed to have great priests throughout the years.  I loved going to Mass every day when I was a child with the Catholic school.  Now a days most Catholic schools start too early for anyone to attend daily Mass - very sad.  I have so many fond memories of finding peace and knowing God inside that building.  It was so good to visit.

I have forgotten how the stain glass all around the round building shine.  I loved the shot of priest giving the homily.  I remember it from all my years of formation growing up.  To me the priest, next to the Easter candle with the cross and the Tabernacle behind him with the glass shinning above is the way it is supposed to look.  I know that is just because I saw it everyday for several years. 

This is a picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.  This devotion is one that I love.  I never see it in Texas but remember her helping me so many times with so many issues through the years.  She is so beautiful and so loving.  I was glad to show the kids this picture and introduce them to this image.  

Looking for some Magic

The big kids were gone so we headed to the Magic House with KeeKee and Tim and Em. When we lived in St. Louis we would go all the time with other kids. This group didn't remember it at all. The older ones had told them what to look for. The Magic House is room after room of hands on learning for kids of all ages. We explored and enjoyed for several hours. I will let the pictures tell the story. Thank you KeeKee and Uncle Mike for taking us as your guests. We had a blast until mom's coat was stolen. Oh well, it was still a great time.

They are Off!

Friday started a simple morning of packing and preparing for the March For Life.  The weather was looking bad and news reports of frozen rain were coming from all news services.  Jumba spent the morning riding the little horse while Sugar and Goobers worked very hard on their "Flat Pooker" paper doll.

They were all so upset that Pooker would not be joining them so they created this wonderful doll with a great likeness.

The flat Pooker was now to be in every picture.

Jumba refused to leave poor Lucy alone.

Pickle was sneaking more juice as the rest of us were trying to get out of the house.

We arrived at Angela Merici before any rain started.  It took all of us to get the luggage to the waiting area.  Lots of pictures with the "Flat Pooker".

Oh yeah, three very excited kiddos getting ready.

The younger ones were very eager to help, as they looked forward to the time with mom being the only kids at home.

I do hope they are able to get in and out of the hotel with out all these little helpers. 

Miss Brenda and I enjoyed loving on "Flat Pooker" as we both miss the real Pooker so much.

The doll doesn't pull away from mommy kisses either.  We should have thought of this years ago.

The boys love their Pooker so much.

Last year so many people of the bus got sick.  My kiddos had been preparing for this trip by taking extra vitamens for weeks in advance. 

Fr. Tom try to prevent illness by spraying everyone down with lysol. 

My March for Lifers all ready to go.  They are even bringing Flat Pooker along to make sure she is included. 

It may have been only those three in our family going but it took the rest of us to get them to the starting gate.  I thought about that for some time.  The rest of us will not be in Washington DC for the March but we worked had to get those there.  They represent us as they will March in defense of the babies.  What an honor. 

Here the kiddos and Father are with our March for Life, St. Louis friends, the B family.  Those 6 teens will change the world for the better. 

Father Tom has always been a Pooker fan.  He might even be keeping a secret about Pooker in this picture.  Hmmm  More on that later.

This is how I see the March for Life:   

I am so proud to know so many people on the March for Life this year. This trip is nothing like one would think it is. People come back talking about the wonderful time they had but that is not what it is. It is not a vacation, it is not a planned trip, it is not a recreation time. Sure that stuff is built into to it to help you enjoy yourself but the trip is about SACRIFICE, it is about OFFERING OF YOURSELF, it is about PROTESTING an evil that is so nasty that we have a hard time understanding it. The March For Life is about loving your country so much that you are willing to travel thousands of miles without comfort to demand change. It is about nothing more than defending the unborn. It is all for the honor and glory of God. Anyone that walks away focused on not seeing the right things or doing the right activities  is too selfish to see why they are there. You being there is about you standing for the hundreds that can't join you but stand behind you in prayer for an end to legalized murder. Thank you to the many people I know that are Marching tomorrow. Know that to March is an honor and part of loving a forgiving God. The truth is that in serving Him you will feel like you had a wonderful time.