Month: April 2011

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Be The Best.

When the wind kicks up, you’re bound to get a few Whitecaps

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Image via Wikipedia

Sports has been a big part of our family.

Whether coaching the boys soccer teams, Max playing basketball and Chris lacrosse.

Then there was the fan part of sports.

Tonight Ingrid and I ventured out to our first Whitecaps soccer game.

It was a fantastic experience…aside from the referee who felt he should be the center of attention, but alas before this becomes a sports rant, I’ll stop.  (cause if I don’t I’ll probably get a red card seeing as they were being handed out like candy tonight) ((ok, I’ll really stop now))

The crowd was great.  The game was great.  The atmosphere was great.  The company was great.

One of the first things Ingrid said to me as we sat down was what do you think Chris would think of the soccer team, MLS in Vancouver etc.  I said I knew he would love it and given the open air atmosphere of Empire Field, he probably had the best seats in the house tonight.

I will never forget the Canucks playoff run and disappointment last year and the anticipation of a BIG run this year.

It was riveting and was a great distraction in very tough times.  I think though, it was more than just a distraction.  It reminded me of the passion that only comes from sports.  The kind of passion that Chris lived with.  I think that’s the true attraction.

When the winds kick up and the storm is blowin, there are bound to be a few whitecaps on the water.  We’ve seen a few of those in our family this past year!

However, it was the Whitecaps tonight, that offered that wonderful first-hand look into the purity and passion of sport and remind us both of another amazing athlete and son we know, love and remember with every heartbeat.

yfrog Photo : http://yfrog.com/gyuyzlrj Shared by randy_friesen.

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Be The Best.

Didn’t have much to say tonight…

…until I saw this pic.

There’s a thousand words for ya.

Nice work Ethan.  Couldn’t have said it any better.

Me too.

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Be The Best.

Yearnin for Vernon

My Dad used that phrase a lot to help my Mom support the vision of a Vernon retirement about 13 years ago.

I’m Yearnin for Vernon he would say.

After another weekend visit, I’ll say I love Vernon, but I’m yearnin not to go up there every other weekend…!

We took the beautiful drive from Sun Peaks through Kamloops to Vernon Jubilee Hospital where we saw not one, but two parents on different floors.

Then something cool happened.

Dad was well enough to go for an adventure, and after Grace paved the way with the Nurses looking after Mom, Max and Ingrid negotiated a wheel chair and we took Dad to see his bride.  He told us he may be emotional and he was a bit.  These two still are deeply in love after 55 years plus…really great to see.

We also showed Mom and Dad the video from yesterday’s blog and Dad’s skis at the chapel in the sky at the top of Sun Peaks.  That was sort of cool.

Mom’s immunity continues low because of chemo treatment but her spirit was a strong as ever.  Currently a severe ear infection has her hospitalized.  As hard as it was to see her in a hospital bed, she’s getting good care.

Dad is unattached from all hoses and tubes which is a great thing!  He is moving on to short-term care in another facility before heading home once Mom is more fully recovered.

Someone asked me what more our family could take given the past year with losing Chris and current circumstances with my folks and my sister’s heart attack.

That answer is relatively simple.

Some things we can control and some are not within our control.

But…the one thing we ALWAYS control is our ability to make the next decision.  Simple things like making the decision to head to Vernon today.  I was very happy to have the chance for Max to see and talk with his Grandma and Grandpa with Ingrid as well.

You can’t buy those moments.  Every one is exceedingly special.

In a light-hearted exchange I told Dad that Max would be voting for the first time this election and that he was voting for the Green party (not that there is anything wrong with that!).  My Dad is a staunch Reformer/Conservative complete with official calendars of Stephen Harper wearing what appears to be a different sweater each month.  The look that Dad shot at Max was priceless and then Max admitted he was actually probably leaning towards Mark Warawa (Conservative), but he might need a calendar.  No problem Dad said, he had an extra.

Dad floats between that kind of sharpness and some less sharp times but his colour is good and the prognosis is pretty decent at this stage.

For every conversation and every ability to share a laugh…we are exceptionally thankful.  We controlled the ability to have that moment and took it.

Rock your week.

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Be The Best.

The sun peeks, but it’s still raining a little.

On a recent trip to Sun Peaks in Kamloops, our great family friends, the Boomers hosted us in their fantastic home away from home.

In a completely unbashful plug, you can rent this fantastic place with your family.  You’ll love it.

In a complete mountain tour today, Max and I learned that Sun Peaks has a chapel on the top of the Sunburst Chair.

It’s a neat spot.  We even saw a bride on the hill today complete with wedding dress, skis and new husband in a tux.  Cool.

At the chapel we said a hello and a prayer out for Dad and Mom.

Dad remains in the hospital and Mom joined him on Friday night.  She is very weak at this stage, but is one of the strongest women I have ever known so she is an amazing fighter.

Mom, Dad…a prayer was said for you at the literal chapel in the sky today.

We love ya.

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Be The Best.

April fools?

Sometimes I wish last April 1 was another day of lighthearted pranks and jokes.

Instead we had a funeral.

I can’t believe it’s been a year…but then again sometimes it feels like 10.

But that reality being what it is, I can’t remember the funeral without remembering the AMAZING kindness, generosity, love and support we felt that day.

Over 1400 strong at the church.  Food overflowing from the gym.  I really wanted Chris’ buddies to eat and believe me, no one went away hungry.  I’ve made shakes from those frozen strawberries up until last month when the last bag was used.  Every shake was the best ever.

I write this with a smile, thinking back on the kindness.

I write this with a hole in my heart that will never quite fill.

I write this with a resolve to continue have Chris’ passion for life fuel our journey forward.