Mark

Finally an update here...A few weeks ago Andrew's nephew, Mark (Michelle's husband) had a farm accident in Alberta...He was run over by a truck and sustained serious injuries. He is still in the hospital with a broken pelvis and various other broken bones -- and other injuries. He can move his legs but cannot put any weight on his legs yet. That will take time for the healing to occur. He is doing well despite the pain of it all. The road ahead will be a long one but we are thankful that he's doing so well so far. Prayers to Michelle & Mark and the boys as they travel this road together. (( hugs ))

Thanksgiving w/ Dawn's Family

Snowball fight courtesy of the arena's snow...

Holly

A decorated shop in town

a new shop -- CANDY SHOP! all kinds of old-fashioned & new candy!

Holly's feet (you know how much I love kiddo feet! ;) )

A Time Away

Andrew & I had an opportunity to get away for a few days...we were planning on going as a family but that didn't work due to jobs and school plans so we stole away instead. We had a wonderfully relaxing time together! The weather changes so quickly in the fall and creation put a wonderful show on for us! We did a lot of fishing and reading -- took a road trip up to the French River as well as to Sudbury, and came back to see an amazing storm in Parry Sound. It was a great getaway!

55th Anniversary Celebration

55 Years & HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Today is Dad & Mom's 55th wedding anniversary AND Mom's birthday!!

What a milestone! We thank God for the blessing of wonderful, Christian parents

and for the legacy of faith that they leave for us.

We hope you have a GREAT birthday Mom (& Oma!)

and may the Lord bless you in the coming year.

Dad & Mom, May you have many, many wonderful years together!

We love ya lots!

Dawn's gene testing results

The results are in and...WE HAVE TO WAIT TO LEARN MORE! Grrr...actually, the report wasn't overly clear and my gastro doc is trying to find out more info from the researchers who did the testing. I DO have the HLA DLQ2 gene but we are not sure if I have the DLQ8 gene. If I have one or both of the genes, celiac disease is likely. If I don't have either of these genes, celiac disease is unlikely.

Research is ongoing regarding celiac disease and it's not a typical type of disease to study so that is what makes everything uncertain. The definitive way to diagnose is via gastroscopy after at least 8 months on lots of gluten -- something that I won't go back to. I just can't. I get sick with little bits of accidental gluten -- how could I purposely eat a lot of gluten for that long and then see what damage it has done? All to know that I have a problem with gluten??? Symptoms of celiac disease vary from person to person and one can even be asymptomatic (without symptoms) and still be suffering from celiac disease!

So for now I've done all that I can do to figure this out. I am on a gluten-free diet and have been for over 4 years now. I have been getting healthier and healthier, although I do have some lasting implications. It is obvious that there was a connection with gluten and I feel like I've been given my life back.

We will wait to hear what the researchers say and I don't have to see my gastro doc unless I develop a problem in the future. And, I don't need another colonoscopy until I'm 50!!! Whoo-hooo! (unless something comes up...)

Thank you for your prayers! ~D

Andrew's Fishing Trip

Andrew looks forward this time time of year every year --

his annual fall fishing trip with some guys from work. They go up to the French River. Here are some pics of Andrew's trip last weekend:

Tea & Paintball

All done up for the tea party...

busy, busy girls

ready for the tea...what beautiful ladies!

from this ^ to this

after the tea -- PAINTBALL, of course!

some tips from the guys

the guys do some cheerleading

Then "Operation Find Campbell in the Field" -- except HE found THEM!! HA!

(Suzanne says she ran out of gas by then ... or they might have won! What do ya think, Campbell?)

Crokinole matches...

And some tired young people!

Eric's accident

Imagine our surprise when we were watching the evening news and we recognized the house shown on TV and then the home address given as the home of Andrew's brother, Rick & his wife, Irene! It was scary, not knowing how things were going, what exactly happened and what the outcome would be. Thanks to the Lord our nephew, Eric, is doing well -- he does have a broken bone in his ankle but it could have been much worse. Below is the news article.

Man rescued from septic tank
Aug 27, 2009

A man survived an unusual accident while doing some digging on his property Monday afternoon.

Paramedics, police and a dozen firefighters were called to a home on ****** around 3:45 p. m. for a report of a man who had fallen into an excavated pit and become stuck.

The 24-year-old man, son of the property’s owner, fell into a 15-feet by 6-feet by five-feet deep trench where a septic tank is located.

When firefighters and other emergency personnel arrived, the man was sitting in water up to his armpits, said *** Fire Department Chief Fire Prevention Officer ***.

The man was conscious but couldn’t stand up because one of his legs was pinned by some broken concrete, which had fallen on him.

Firefighters used large sheets of plywood to brace the walls of the pit to prevent it from possibly collapsing.

The broken concrete pinning the man’s leg was removed and the victim was lifted out of the trench using a safety ring. It took firefighters about 45 minutes to extricate him.
*** police say the man was taken to **** Hospital with a suspected ankle fracture and possible hypothermia.