His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke at St. Francis de Sales Oratory

Tonight at St. Francis de Sales Oratory we had the pleasure of a visit from Cardinal Burke complete with Solemn Benediction and a wonderful reception.  I took 235 photos and only have 6 to show you...

The Arrival of His Eminence

Vesting

Military escort



Benediction

Cappa Magna



Reception.



Thank you, Cardinal Burke for visiting us at St. Francis de Sales.

Thank you for all  you do for The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.

Thank you for your dedication to Holy Mother Church.

Preparation and Anticipation

Things are definitely in the works for the visit of our beloved Cardinal Burke tomorrow.  I sneaked into the church and snapped a couple of pictures of people building and arranging things. I also included a photo of the angel by the St. Joseph Altar just because I think it's beautiful.



Now THAT'S a torchbearer!



I don't think the ladder will be there tomorrow.
Or will it?

Some people have a way with flowers.
Other people, oh, not have way.



Pontifical Solemn High Mass with His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke

Look at all of those beautiful side altars.
I'm not sure if they are used any longer.

Thanks to the ever-resourceful JJR, I have photos from today's Pontifical Solemn High Mass with Cardinal Burke!

The glorious event took place at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO with the Institute of Christ the King (which is obvious when you see the blue cassocks worn by our servers!).

We shall see Cardinal Burke again on January 31st where he will visit us at St. Francis de Sales just as he did last year!



Procession



At the altar!

I think I see another blogger on here.



Notice the Cappa Magna.



Blue Cassocks and Awesome Abbes!

7 Lies About Homeschoolers.

My siblings are my bestest friends.

PW Pizza

There is a restaurant attached to Vin de Set called PW's Pizza and they offer gluten-free pizza.  Their crust isn't as good as this one, but 1) I don't have to make it and 2) I get out of the house.  Yay!

The beer (Zwickel lager) is from the local Urban Chestnut Brewery.
Yum.

 From their website:

Zwickel, Reverence Series #1:
Our flagship lager, pronounced ‘zv-ick-el’, is an unfiltered, unpasteurized, German classic that finishes as a smooth-drinking, vitamin rich (from the yeast), naturally cloudy bier. Hops: Hallertau Malts: Two-Row & Pilsner ABV- 5.1%, IBU’s- 19, OG – 11.5 Plato

Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper

The Popeye and Olive Oil Pizza.
roasted garlic olive oil, spinach, roasted red pepper & goat cheese
It was outstanding. (This one wasn't gluten-free).

Yum

I had an outstanding meal 10 days ago.  I took photos, but I forgot to post them, so here we are...

Anyway, I wanted to show these photos because the food was exquisite AND delicious AND beautiful AND AND AND.  The company and ambiance were wonderful.  Really, it was a great evening.

Perhaps we can do this again soon?  (Hint, hint!)

I am seriously disappointed to see only 20 glasses on the table.



Is that a chip I see in the water pitcher?



Where are the handmade dough ornaments?

Gaudete Benefit Gala  - next year.

Awwwww.

Fortunately for us the only ingredient not in this is salmonella.



Good ol' St. Nick.  :)



Life with Boys

My very young son who is finally putting sentences together settled into his bathtub tonight and said,

"Ah, this is all I need. A boat, a cup, and my duck."

Oh Christmas Tree

Sometimes a person goes out of town and other people have keys to said person's house. And sometimes those people decorate that person's house with pictures of themselves.

Confused?  That's why I rarely write and post pictures instead.  I talk better through a lens.



Hey, I recognize this tree. But, it's different somehow.
Oh! It has lots of new angels!



Oh my! This angel doesn't look very pleased!



That's better. We must have practiced.

What could that be up there?



Hi-ya! Take that tambourines and guitars!



Taking chops out of liturgical music abuses!



Really, I'm an angel!



Laumeier Sculpture Park, St. Louis, MO

Yesterday I took a handful of kids to Laumeier Sculpture Park as it was 55 degrees! In January!

This beautiful park contains some very impressive works, and some are just downright huge.

We're off to see the Wizard...



This sculpture is enormous. Some might say ginormous.



Timman, they're watching you!!!



Do not be anxious...

I have a friend whom I've been praying for. 

I hope she sees this...

Philippians 4:6-7

'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.'

Bless this House. No, really.

I was privy to a beautiful house blessing the other night. You can read all about the tradition here, but you can see actual photos HERE! On this blog!  The photos were taken with my phone - so I apologize for their grainy quality.  The out of focus ones are because I had already had a glass of wine.

Is this kid mine?

My 7 year old nonchalantly tossed a Rubik's Cube at me and said, "I just solved this thrice in a row."

Rubik's Cube?

Thrice?

Tree vs. Tree

Some people know how to put up a Christmas Tree, some don't.  Some know how to put up a tree only to have it fall, some don't.

For those of you who are in the St. Francis de Sales circle, I want you to guess to whom the following trees belong (no real names, please).  One is a first attempt at a tree, one is obviously the millionth.

Hey, look at the lights I got for next to nothing!
Oh, wait.  They're outdoor lights for bushes?
Well, at least my tree is sturdy, thanks to MotherCrab's extra tree stand!

And a partridge ornament in a pear tree.

Nothing says Christmas like 10 million lights, garland and breakable ornaments.

The trick is to put lights up and down each branch, spend 5 days alone decorating,
and forget to tighten the screws in the tree stand sufficiently.



Ah, holiday memories!

Life with Boys

Before Christmas my girls were sick.

After Christmas my boys have been sick.

The girls make it to the bathroom.

The boys make it to the kitchen, or worse, living room floor.



Here, let me make it easier for you to reach the rug.