5pm update

Churchill or Bust!

Today is the day we get on board. After breakfast at The Pancake plac again we packed up and off we went. Mom drove the car around and we loaded the bags to drive a block to the train. It was easier then trying to pull suitcases over cobblestone roads. Mom went and parked the car again and once back we checked our luggage.

It is interesting seeing the types of people who go on trips like this. Mostly older, retired, but 2 families with kids as well. Some of the older couples look the outdoorsy part with the hicking boots and coats with Park patches sewn on. Others look like they should be going to the theater with mink coats and high heeled boots. It will be interesting to see them when we grt up there.

I didn't see the train come in, but at high noon the attendent comes on the speaker and says "Your train is ready"! The doors open and the escalator takes you up one floor to the train. The sleeper car is in the back of the train, then the dining cars, then two economy class coach cars and finally the engine. I counted 7 cars total, but will recount when we stop.

Seconds after we got to our seats, which is where ever you want to sit, the train man comes by and collects your ticket and the train begins to move!

It goes faster then I thought it would and within the hour we are pullung into the first town, Portage, but no one gets on. Still no snow on the ground, but I. am pretty sure that will change. Dad wants to check out the dining car so I go with him and we see the guy who took our tickets. Dad asks if they have coffee or beer and the guy says "tell me what you want and I can get it" . Not mister nice guy so that is two bad. Dad gets a Canadian Molten Beer and I grab a cup of coffee. $2 for coffee and $6 for a beer. we sit down in the dining car and there is a Mom and son sitting across the aisle. He is writing a journal of his trip and his Mom said "you should interview people on the train and find out where they are from?" You could see the kid was not really into talking to people. he didn't know so I said "Hi, I am Janice and I am from Minneapolis, MN and I am writijg a journal as well". He smiled and wrote down Minneapolis and then Dad said " and I am from McIntosh" and. he wrote that down.  I am sure we will see him again as it is a small train and lots of hours.

2:38pm We finally see snow! Not much of it, but a little in the endless field.  Cows galore as well and a few more trees. We are heading more north now and ere are more and more trees here. The water in the ditches is frozen and the fields are no longer plowed as much. Strange sight to see are bird houses along the tracks. Blue ones and then a red one. Not sure what they are out here for. All the roads now look to be gravel where as in Portage most were paved. Still houses with cattle every where. Talk about living with no neighbors.

4:40pm
our first officialstop is Dauphin, MB. It lookslikea goodsizetown so everyone got off and either had a smokeorwalkedaround the train station which is now a museum. the sun is set so it will be dark soon. Dad wants to get something to eat and my Mom is playing Solitaire. not sure how long the train will stay here. They start serving dinner, aka supper, at 5pm so I would guess we will be eating soon. 

email is working pretty good but the mapping apps are not picking up exactly where we are at. we are right here so not a problem. 

It's the Train Day

Good Morning everyone and what a fine Sunday morning it is. Today is Train Day! The day we board the train and begin our journey north 1200 miles into the Arctic Tundra. The parents are so excited they can't sleep and Dad must have smoked 2 packs yesterday.

We went to the train station yesterday and figured out where to go and what time to be there and that, yes they do check baggage so we won't have to worry about that. The Station is nice but not what I expected in a station. I have been to Grand Central in New York and though it would be more that size. The trains go over the building so a little freaky while walking through and the trains are going over where you are walking.

The hotel has been awesome. Dad keeps saying "This is no Super 8". My folks ONLY stay in Super 8's when they travel so this is like 20 steps above that. Pretty funny.

I am sure Dad will want to be over at the train station around 9, but we do not leave until noon so hopefully I can keep them busy for a while longer this morning. Get some breakfast and drink coffee will definitely be on the mornings agenda.

If you want to track the towns we are going through today go to: http://www.viarail.ca/en/trains/prairies-and-northern-manitoba/winnipeg-churchill/schedules  this will give you an idea of all the places we will see today and tomorrow.

We will be arriving in Churchill on Tuesday morning so I will try and write more from the train as we go. They are suppose to have Internet access (wireless of course) from the train, so will try it. If not I will keep writing and post when I get there.

So, for now...let the ride begin!

What to do on a frosty Canadian night?

Well? Did you guess? Tonight in downtown Winnipeg was the annual Santa Claus Parade!!
So much fun but dang cold already after standing outside for 2 hours....hum really, Polar Bears in November...what was I thinking?
Pictures are coming...need to figure out how to get them in. Will try tomorrow morning!

Churchill or Bust!

Well our first night in Winnipeg was uneventful. We walked around once we got here. Dad had to have a couple beers so we stopped off at an Irish Pub and had a few. The Forks in Winnipeg is one of the theater and farmers market type areas so after the drinks we walked around a bit more.

Mom commented how cheap some things were--50 cents a pound for onions and Folgers coffee for $4.99 while other things were or seems very high in price - Spam $5.99 for a small can....hum drink cheap coffee for 2 months or a lunch of Spam? Hum..hard choice isn't it.

We just got back from the Winnipeg Train Museum which is inside Union Station where we will catch the train tomorrow. Excitement galore and so many questions. Thankfully there was a wonderful gal at the counter who didn't seem to mind having all the questions.

The Museum was good and you could walk inside a number of the old cars so that was fun. Lots of old pictures and dishes and stories so Mom and Dad loved it. Mom said to the guy who was collecting money (also the same guy who did the tour, ran the gift shop, played carpenter, and wished you well) "this is one of the neatest things we have ever seen"! It was pretty cool, but I figured if they were getting excited over an old train just wait until tomorrow.

Dad already has his clothes out for tomorrow and already figured out how to rearrange a bit so he could have a clean t-shirt on the train as well. Mom decided she DID need a purse after all! Story is that she didn't want to carry hers so she left it at home and just had a small wallet. That lasted 8 hours and around 7pm last night her and I are off to find a coin purse and small purse. No luck last night, but today we scored as I asked if there was a shopping center outside of town at all and there was one about 10 minutes away. After breakfast we were off and found it and Dad said, "look they have Wal-mart up here too"! Mom knew they would have a purse so off we went and she bought the same exact one she has at home except in tan. Now she feels so much better and safer.

So, 3pm here and now what to do. Folks are in the room going to the bathroom (note to self--always know where the bathrooms are when with the parents) and Dad wanted a cup of coffee. I will have to share the rest tonight as there is something really really special happening around 5pm tonight...but you all must wait!

Today I have a B+ but tonight will surely be an A! Can you figure it out? I will blog about it tonight.

How Blessed I am

Well it is Friday morning and before we take off for vacation I wanted to give you all an update.

Last night my Mom went to see her sister (My Aunt Laverda) before the family meeting. During that time Mom read to her and asked her questions and told Laverda to squeeze her hand.

Like the strong German she is, Laverda did it. She would nod her head yes and no and Mom said she squeezed her hand like a wrestler! It is a small miracle at this time. Well, maybe a big miracle, so the prayers are working.

At the family meeting the doctor was amazed and he said he never thought it was possible after what they had thought 2 days ago. Last night the doctor told the family that with the improvements so far he feels that Laverda has a real fighting chance to make it through this. The road will be long and hard, but she is on the road at least and not on the edge. So, it is with a thankful heart and calm spirit that I ask for your continued prayers for her recovery. The power of prayer can NOT be underestimated, never and no how.

So, this is good news and news that has lifted my folks up to be excited to go again on our vacation knowing that Laverda is doing the best she can to be strong and make it through. Again, a long road and lots of challenges ahead as they still need to remove the ventilator and have her breath on her own, but to know there is a better chance for her survival right now makes my heart sing.

I guess the question for me is why has the last week brought out the prayer in me? Why do I question the powers from above? This event has been a spiritual journey for me and as I asked for God's peace and calm yesterday, He provided.

He provided loved ones, amazing friends, an amazing career, trips, health and so much more--but yet I doubt Him at times. As I was driving home yesterday I made a promise to myself to remember that through Him all things are possible. Life is possible as is death. Our job is to live a positive Christlike life and find purpose in every day. It is our calling and our duty. Not a right nor a need, it is a must.

I go back to my values. Giving. Achieving. Believing. It is who I am and what God had made me. Believing in the power of the possibility. Believing that where there is hope there is faith. Believing that when you put things in His hands, all things are possible.

How very Blessed I am.

First official day of Vacation

Well today is my first official day of vacation, when I was suppose to be gone, but being with family in a time of need is more important right now. My Aunt has no change and her family will be making difficult decisions today. God be with them.

It is also Veteran's Day and I give thanks for all the men and women - including my Dad, Grandfathers, Uncles and Cousin who have served and given up so much so that I could so much. Thank you!

It all got me thinking though how much life really should be celebrated every day. Life should be lived every day. It is a gift to wake up in the morning.

Although the vacation isn't starting out the way it was planned, I do find peace knowing that I have no regrets in life. I have loved unconditionally, given with an open heart, and lived with purpose. I have lost loved ones and will again, but as they leave this earth I know my faith and belief will hold me steady and get me through.

I will write as much as I can from the trip and find peace and living along the way. Celebrate a Vet today and tell them thanks. Say a prayer and tell Him thanks!

It has been a very hard week

Last Wednesday my Aunt Laverda walked into a hospital to have her breast removed due to having found two cancerous lumps. The surgery went perfect and no other cancer was found, but Laverda had a very hard time coming out of it. They sent her home on Thursday and after 48 hours of my uncle and Mom trying to take care of her, they called the ambulance and Laverda was taken back to the hospital.

Now, three days later the doctors have said the outcome looks grim as she wasn't getting enough oxygen and has severe brain damage and if they unhooked the breathing tubes she would not survive.

Seven days ago she walked into a hospital.Seven days ago she was on facebook. Seven days ago she told me to keep her in my prayers. Seven days ago there was anxious feelings not grief. Seven days life was good.

Tomorrow the immediate family will decide what to do. Laverda had a living will so they will follow her instructions. I now pray for her family who seven days ago had a wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend.