Happy Canada Day!

June has been a banner month for Isabel and we have much to celebrate.

Quality of life is not all about achievement or success, but Isabel's significant achievements of this past month have been a heartening experience for Mum and her family.

The achievements have included:

* Participation in the "Relay for Life"; and her grand-niece's wedding reception in Moose Jaw (see previous blog postings below)

* Learning to transfer from "Rufus", her wheelchair to the passenger seat of a car (Mum can stand up, step over, sit, and swing those long legs in to the car) YES! Our first outing was to see an old friend of Shorthorn Cattle business days who lives a few blocks away. The next day we drove around the Legislature Buildings and down side streets to view lovely gardens.

* Acquiring a new walker that draws more on her strength and stamina to propel herself forward. Mum can walk up a ramp and down the hall travelling many more feet than she has in the past. What a feat!

Gratitude ~ every day! We are thankful.

And now for July 1 ~Happy Canada Day everyone!

First Big Roadtrip!

June 26 was a special day. Isabel made her first trip of out of Regina in nearly three years. She and Rufus travelled on Saturday to the wedding reception of her grand-niece Amanda Froehlich and Dale Chow in Moose Jaw. Lots of careful planning went into this big adventure and the day was a great success all around. Mum was delighted to visit with over 30 members of her Robertson family who ranged in age from 8 to 91. A special surprise was the arrival of our Scottish cousin, James Clark, from Idaho. Faithful Russ the van-driver took a late evening nap while he waited for Isabel who stayed an extra hour than she had planned! She emailed her daughters the next day: "What a great day yesterday!! I am so glad I went. Everything went so well." Prior to the event, she reminded us of the family cake knife and serving knife that have been used at Robertson and Russell family weddings for decades.

As can be expected, Mum had lots to say about the wet fields between Regina and Moose Jaw. Her comment was: "I have seen them on TV, but you have to see it to believe it." Oh, how good to see the prairies and the horizon again.

Gratitude yet again for another wonderful day in Mum's life!

The Relay for Life

Three weeks of rain here on the prairies, and last Friday evening, Isabel and Rufus-the-Third ventured out to participate in Regina's Relay for Life. This year's theme was: Celebrate! Remember! Fight Back! Isabel and Rufus completed 1.5 laps as "Cancer Survivors" around the floral beds at the Saskatchewan Legislature Buildings. For anyone who knows those beds, think mud mud mud..... Mum was determined to" walk" (drive) the distance on her own without our help, and so she did in her yellow survivor t-shirt and rain poncho with a huge garbage bag to keep her feet and legs dry.

Following the 12 hour relay (7 pm to 7 am), Captain Nancy emailed her 12 team members including Isabel and Rufus:

"We, the Cancer Stompers, raised $2029. Way to go everyone! Every bit helps to bring HOPE to those in the cancer battle. The night was definitely a success, with $507,000 raised in Regina. There were 110 teams and 1060 participants. This is the largest amount raised ever in Regina, so the weather definitely didn't dampen the spirits of those that were there."

And at long last, the sun shone on Saturday.