Tonight Pete and I went to the Twilight Drive-In, in Langley. (On Fraser Highway, just past Aldergrove). Pete's really good friend owns the drive in, so we usually get in for free or half price, and tonight was no exception :) Jay, the owner, gave me a behind the scenes tour of the projection room, which was pretty awesome. This drive in was one of Pete's and mine, very first dates! It was kind of romantic to think back on that tonight as we sat and watched the movie. The first movie was from 8-10, but we old folks, were tired after the first movie and didn't stay for the second or third one, which would have taken us til about 2 am. ! It's a good deal, even if you have to pay full price. $10.00/person for 3 movies! So, that was our date night tonight, we usually try to think of something different each time, and this was a great date, and a way to celebrate 3 months being married yesterday!

For those of you who are not on Facebook or who don't get our local paper

AFTER BARB STINGO was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2002, she reached out to a support group to help her cope with the issues she was facing.
However, everyone in the group was older than she and most were not facing the same problems, such as dating complications. Stingo attended the group for about a year before she stopped going.
Two years later, she still felt the need to share her concerns with people who would understand what she was going through; she didn’t want to burden family or friends.
Then Stingo found just what she needed – a support group for young adults with cancer.
She found a small newspaper article stating that a Young Adults Conquering Cancer (YACC) group was starting in Abbotsford, and she immediately contacted the founder, Julie Drybrough. The two became instant friends and are now among a membership of about 15 – all women, at this point – who have been meeting since December.
They have formed a fast bond, often keeping in contact outside of the meetings.
“When one person is down, we all rally around each other,” Stingo said.
She and Drybrough want more people to know that the group exists and that new members – including men – are welcome with open arms. YACC is open to anyone from the ages of 18 to 40 who is battling cancer or who has survived the disease.
Drybrough started YACC because she found that other support groups consisted mainly of older people.
“There are different dynamics involved when you’re young and dealing with cancer,” she said.
These issues include fertility concerns; dating, new relationships and marriage; and raising young children.
“We talk about issues we’re going through with our children . . . how we can explain things to them to make it (having a parent with cancer) less scary,” Drybrough said.
She said they also talk about the limitations their illnesses can place upon them and the frustrations this can cause. For example, many of the members have husbands and children, but they are often too exhausted to participate in family activities.
“With my cancer, I get tired a lot and I just have to sleep,” Stingo said.
This means that she can’t always do things with her husband, Peter, but she said he is supportive when she needs to rest.
Stingo has a rare and slowly progressing form of cancer called polycythemia vera, which occurs when excess red blood cells are produced as a result of an abnormality of the bone marrow.
There is no cure, and she has a 30-year life expectancy from the onset of the disease. She must take oral chemotherapy every day for the rest of her life.
The side effects of this treatment include nausea, dizziness, hot and cold flashes, and fatigue. Some days are worse than others, and there is no predictability to her symptoms.
A secondary cancer – cervical – developed after her initial diagnosis, and this resulted in a mandatory hysterectomy.
“That was difficult. At that time, I was single and it was very hard to find a guy who could accept that: a) I have cancer and b) I can never have kids,” Stingo said.
She and Peter were friends for six years before their relationship developed into romance. He accepted her illness, and he didn’t want to have any more children (he has an 11-year-old daughter from a previous relationship). The two were married in January of this year.
Stingo finds it beneficial to be able to share the physical and emotional pain of her condition with others who understand.
Drybrough is among those, herself suffering from a rare genetic condition called Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome. (The News featured her story in its April 21, 2007 edition.) VHL results in Drybrough developing brain and kidney tumours. All three of her daughters have tested positive for the condition.
Another member of the support group is well-known public speaker Feather Janz, who is currently battling her second bout with breast cancer.
The trio plan to attend a cancer retreat this July in Quebec for people ages 18 to 35. The purpose of the trip – hosted by a group called RealTime Cancer – is to learn coping skills and gain information that they can pass on to members of the support group.
A concert to raise funds for the trip takes place Saturday, April 12 at Sardis Secondary, 45460 Stevenson Rd. Performers are Marika, Chris Janz (Feather’s husband), Lisa Adrianne and The NeverKnown. The show begins at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $10 at the door.
Donations may also be sent to: Box 45, Matsqui Station Main, Abbotsford, V4X 1T0. Make cheques payable to “YACC.” Tax receipts can be issued when requested.
Meanwhile, YACC meets the first Monday of every month at 7 p.m. at Edenvale Retreat, 4330 Bradner Rd

My teen years were FILLED with these guys! My sister, friend Heather and I had all the posters, cassettes, cd's, trading cards, pretty much the "works"! My sister has held on to all our NKOTB stuff for the last 20+ years, and well, it's paid off. NKOTB are back together, and have a new album, and are going on tour!!!!!!!!!!!! Back in their hay day, my sister, our friend Heather and I, went to 2 of their concerts when they came to Vancouver. My sister and I have talked at length, the last couple of days, and have decided that even if the closest they come is Seattle, we're going! We're hoping they will come to Vancouver, but we'll take Seattle, if that's as close as they come! Ticket cost, is not even an issue, as we will pay pretty much whatever, to see "our guys". Ya, most of them are married with kids, but it's not even about the dream WE had of marrying them, it's about the awesome memories we have of our teenage years, and loving these guys as people AND musicians. Most people don't like to hear this, but I truly believe, that NKOTB, paved the way for all the OTHER boy bands, like BackStreet Boys, N'Sync, and the like. NKOTB are currently on the Today Show, and I am watching them as I type, which is kinda sacrilegious, so I'm going to go for now, and give them my full attention! LOL!

Yesterday, I was honored to be interviewed by our local newspaper, about my cancer, and the local cancer support group I attend. I am hoping that my story will inspire others and bring attention to my type of cancer. The founder of our local support group was also interviewed about our group and our upcoming trip to Quebec in July. Our pictures were taken and the story will be in THIS SATURDAY'S paper (5th). I'm pretty used to this "celebrity" thing, as I have been in the paper several times, with my Relay For Life participation and such. Pete continues to work hard at his job, putting in "different" hours, now that they are open until 9pm. Yesterday, Pete worked 12-8pm. which was really odd for both of us. Today it's 10am-6pm. He has sold more RV's and I've lost count. I'm SO proud of him, but wish that his boss would give him the proper recognition for all of Pete's hard work. I continue to trust God to find me another client, after being fired by my one and only client, last Thursday. I will be blanketing the churches in this city today, with attempts to get my business card on their announcement boards. I've already put ads on Kijjiji and Craigslist, as well as a few other sites. I've seen how faithful God has been thus far, and I know He will continue to be faithful and provide all of our needs.

This guy showed up a foot a way from our back door tonight!!!!! I am usually REALLY diligent about taking the cat food dish in after supper, but I was distracted tonight, and this little guy took advantage of the "buffet". He was SO gutsy! He didn't even care that I was taking pictures of him, in fact, I'm sure he was posing for a couple of them!

Here, get me from this side....
Now from this side....

Poser much????????? SO cute, but SO deadly!!

We need your prayers! We are not doing very well. I was fired by my one and only client today. She email fired me, and said that she felt we were no longer on the same page etc. I had been working with her for 9+months, on a regular basis. Today, Pete went, AGAIN, for the second time, to take his air brake test (written/computer) at the Motor Vehicle Branch. Again, he failed the 25 question test. You are allowed 5 wrong, and both times he has gotten 6 wrong. He took the actual course thru Fraser Valley College, and passed with flying colors, but the test at the MVB does NOT have any of those questions on their test! Stupid, I know! We tried to reason with the gal at the MVB, but she would not hear us out. Pete gets one more chance at this test, and if he fails a third time, he has to take the Fraser Valley Collage 2 day course all over again, and it comes out of HIS pocket. On top of all of this, Pete's boss phoned him, before he even took the test today, and yelled at him over the phone. Apparently, one of the "senior guys" at Pete's job, was charging up a motor home yesterday, and Pete noticed that the motor home was running. He brought it to this guys' attention, and the guy said he was charging it up. Well, I guess the motor home was left running ALL night, and this guy said that Pete was the one who did it! Pete's boss told him, that he is on REALLY thin ice right now. Pete needs to pass his air brake test in order to keep his job. Things are NOT looking good, and Pete is SUPER discouraged, thinking that maybe God doesn't want him at Fraserway RV. When he sells RV's he doesn't get any recognition, and then when something goes wrong, Pete always gets blamed for it. He feels like he can't win, with these guys. I've been praying all along, that if God wants him there, he will keep opening doors, and if He doesn't want Pete there, He will put up major road blocks. Right now, it looks like we are facing some road blocks. I am trying to be really encouraging to Pete and optimistic, but it's hard, because I feel like the man that I love is not being treated fairly. If you could just keep us in your prayers for the next few days and weeks, that would be so awesome.

So, Pete has sold ANOTHER RV, and has a split sale on anther one! That brings us to 5 1/2 all together, in just over a month! I am SO amazed at how God is working in Pete's life! At first I wasn't too sure of this company or this career move for Pete, but more and more, I am seeing that this IS God's plan for Pete. On another note, Pete had to do some more training at the head office on Monday. I guess a bunch of the guys were talking about their girlfriends/wives or what have you. They all started pulling pictures out of their wallets of "their gals" and knowing that Pete is a newlywed, they asked to see a picture of HIS wife. So, Pete pulls out a picture of me, and he said they were shocked at how pretty I was, and some of them said, "you get to go home to that?" "You LUCKY guy!" Makes me feel kind of special ;)