It's Summer and we "Believe"!

Wow - it's been an entire month since my last update! June has been crazy busy and we are all very ready for some quality time at Pickerel Lake. The forecast is looking a bit better so we are optimistic mother nature knows we have high expectations this year. None of this rain and cool weather we experienced last summer - we want sunshine!

Dane continues to feel really well. Last week was his heavy treatment week so physically, mentally and spiritually he was not himself. However he has rebounded nicely and is really pumped to get to the lake. I think he knows how lousy he felt last year and is looking forward to enjoying all his favorite activities with enthusiasm and energy. He has already proclaimed he will be tubing by tomorrow. He doesn't have another treatment until July 20 so we are in the clear for a few weeks. This is awesome because you may recall last July and August we were at the Clinic a ton as he was in the last two months of the intensive phase.

Dane and Ashley's trip to Camp Arnes a few weeks back with CCMB was fantastic!! They made sure they did all the activities and it doesn't sound like they missed us one bit. We know they will be at the top of the sign-up list when 2011 rolls around. My 20km walk on June 12 was equally special. A heartfelt thanks to Jodi, my partner and BFF. We proved that that distance can be done in pretty good time (3.5 hours) even when you don't train and you talk the entire time. Between us we raised over $4000 for the Foundation and I am very appreciative of the generous donations.

We have been very busy working behind the scenes for the Believe in the Goal Foundation. This is the organization that sent Dane to Vancouver in March to watch the Canucks play the Sharks. Believe's marquee event is the SuperStar Summer Showdown. It's August 12 and will feature many huge local stars, including Jonathan Toews, Nigel Dawes and Travis Zajac. The Press Conference announcing the game was yesterday and that's when this awesome photo was snapped. Dane also got the surprise news he will drop the puck at the game ... he's pretty pumped! I'll post more details in an upcoming blog but in the meantime here is a link to the article in the WFP this morning. There is also a very touching story on Shaw TV that features Todd's mom and player friends ... just go to ShawTV Winnipeg and click on Wednesday June 30 stories.

www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/nhl-stars-unite-for-cause-97460354.html

Spring hockey & ringette are down - yeah - and we have no skating until late August. We are all looking forward to the break. There will be many laps swam at PL this summer to keep up the kids' stamina and work those leg muscles. This is really good for Dane to counteract the various drugs he continues to take.

Ashley and Clare are doing well. Ashley is glad to be done Grade 4 ... the last couple of months were tough on her. Likely an accumulation of all the stresses she's had to deal with. Clare is basically a going concern, with "going" being the operative word. She is everywhere and into everything! She also has quite the temper and voice ... watch out when she doesn't get her own way.

Hope all is good in your world and enjoy the next few days ... It's Summer and we "Believe"!

Janie & Dirk