Wren Williston

Wren Williston

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

There and Back Again: P2, C and W sail the BC Coast

Today is the start of a new adventure. I suppose every day is-- but this is a little bit different.

As you see, I haven't made a post in Wren's blog for a few years. I guess we've simply been too busy living life to record it here. And that is good news, because it means that Wren has had good health for these years and has been busy growing into a little rascal. During this time, she has become a terrific cross country skier and fiddle player.

Of course, that is not what this blog is about. Those of you who talk with us regularly will know that we are setting out for a 2 month sailing voyage from Prince Rupert to Union Bay, and back again (There and Back Again, the title is borrowed from Bilbo Baggins).

At present, we are tied securely to the wharf at Rushbrook Harbour, wondering where we are going to stow all of our belongings. Today is a day of preparation, completing our grocery shopping, taking on fuel and water, and perhaps a minor repair. As our sailing mentors Brian and Kathleen have warned, the low risk repairs will keep you on the wharf forever--some things must be fixed under way.

We'll see.

Meanwhile, both Wren and Chloe are thrilled that the salmonberries are ripe.

Access to the internet will be patchy at best, so we will see how often we are able to update the blog. And I've realized that adding photos using this tablet will be a new challenge--therefore, no photos of the girls eating berries, and the cockpit stuffed full of gear.

All aboard!

P2, C and W.

There and Back Again: P2, C and W sail the BC Coast

Today is the start of a new adventure. I suppose every day is-- but this is a little bit different.

As you see, I haven't made a post in Wren's blog for a few years. I guess we've simply been too busy living life to record it here. And that is good news, because it means that Wren has had good health for these years and has been busy growing into a little rascal. During this time, she has become a terrific cross country skier and fiddle player.

Of course, that is not what this blog is about. Those of you who talk with us regularly will know that we are setting out for a 2 month sailing voyage from Prince Rupert to Union Bay, and back again (There and Back Again, the title is borrowed from Bilbo Baggins).

At present, we are tied securely to the wharf at Rushbrook Harbour, wondering where we are going to stow all of our belongings. Today is a day of preparation, completing our grocery shopping, taking on fuel and water, and perhaps a minor repair. As our sailing mentors Brian and Kathleen have warned, the low risk repairs will keep you on the wharf forever--some things must be fixed under way.

We'll see.

Meanwhile, both Wren and Chloe are thrilled that the salmonberries are ripe.

Access to the internet will be patchy at best, so we will see how often we are able to update the blog. And I've realized that adding photos using this tablet will be a new challenge--therefore, no photos of the girls eating berries, and the cockpit stuffed full of gear.

All aboard!

P2, C and W.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Chloe (and Wren's) Cards for Kids with Cancer

Last year Chloe made greeting cards that she and Wren sold to raise money to support children with cancer (see the picture below). Chloe drew pictures and I had them printed on card stock with help from Facundo Gastiazoro. The effort raised about $1200 which we gave to the BC Childhood Cancer Parents Association, an organization that had helped us out when Wren was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma.

This year Wren wished to contribute drawings to the project, so we chose 5 pictures by Wren and 5 by Chloe. Once again, Facundo helped arrange the pictures as cards. The images on this year's cards are posted below.

The girls are selling the cards at the Smithers Secondary School Craft Fair this weekend, December 6 and 7. They are also for sale at the One-of-a-Kind Gift Shop at the Smithers Art Gallery. The cards are $20 for a package of all 10 designs (envelopes included), or $2.50 for individual cards. The proceeds this year will go the James Fund (www.jamesfund.com), a childhood cancer research centre that focussed on finding a cure for neuroblastoma, and to the BC Childhood Cancer Parents Association (bcccpa.org).

Both Chloe and Wren are enjoying school--though both are struggling a little to get over a particularly stubborn flu. Fever gives us extra cause for worry, and probably always will, as it was the first sign of Wren's cancer.

Wren speaks far more French than I do--three months into kindergarten. The girls are very excited about the approaching skiing/skating season. We got out skating on the lake once before the snow came--first tracks is always a special thrill. We stayed close to shore, where we could touch (if needed).

Wren's next check-up at BC Children's Hospital is in early January.

All is well.

P2, C and W.



The card above was inspired by Douglas Coupland's book about Terry Fox. We were reading this book and were all moved by the young girl who had hand written "I love you, Terry. Smile!" 3339 times. Wren got out a pen and began to write a page full of "I LOVE OUY". The last word came out a little funny because she was concerned about running out of space, and so thought she had better start from the other side of the page.




2012
2013

Chloe (and Wren's) Cards for Kids with Cancer

Last year Chloe made greeting cards that she and Wren sold to raise money to support children with cancer (see the picture below). Chloe drew pictures and I had them printed on card stock with help from Facundo Gastiazoro. The effort raised about $1200 which we gave to the BC Childhood Cancer Parents Association, an organization that had helped us out when Wren was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma.

This year Wren wished to contribute drawings to the project, so we chose 5 pictures by Wren and 5 by Chloe. Once again, Facundo helped arrange the pictures as cards. The images on this year's cards are posted below.

The girls are selling the cards at the Smithers Secondary School Craft Fair this weekend, December 6 and 7. They are also for sale at the One-of-a-Kind Gift Shop at the Smithers Art Gallery. The cards are $20 for a package of all 10 designs (envelopes included), or $2.50 for individual cards. The proceeds this year will go the James Fund (www.jamesfund.com), a childhood cancer research centre that focussed on finding a cure for neuroblastoma, and to the BC Childhood Cancer Parents Association (bcccpa.org).

Both Chloe and Wren are enjoying school--though both are struggling a little to get over a particularly stubborn flu. Fever gives us extra cause for worry, and probably always will, as it was the first sign of Wren's cancer.

Wren speaks far more French than I do--three months into kindergarten. The girls are very excited about the approaching skiing/skating season. We got out skating on the lake once before the snow came--first tracks is always a special thrill. We stayed close to shore, where we could touch (if needed).

Wren's next check-up at BC Children's Hospital is in early January.

All is well.

P2, C and W.



The card above was inspired by Douglas Coupland's book about Terry Fox. We were reading this book and were all moved by the young girl who had hand written "I love you, Terry. Smile!" 3339 times. Wren got out a pen and began to write a page full of "I LOVE OUY". The last word came out a little funny because she was concerned about running out of space, and so thought she had better start from the other side of the page.




2012
2013

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Kindergarten

I see that six months have slipped past since last I wrote, and indication of how busy summers can be. With the first frost expected tonight, and prompted by an inquiry from a friend we made at BC Children's Hospital, I will take a moment to scribble a few words.

Wren has started kindergarten, which is something that has taken me by surprise. I remember way back when our journey with cancer began thinking that seeing Wren go to school was not within the allowable imagination. And yet here we are. She is such a big and independent kiddo--well, especially with her big sister at school with her to make sure that all is well. Wren has been ready for school for some time (loads of "teaching" everyone and everything at home), so the transition has been pretty smooth, though perhaps she wasn't expecting to be the student. Here we are, about two and half weeks in, and she is already coming home speaking French and using vocabulary that I am unfamiliar with (which, I appreciate, is relatively easy to do). She is very enthusiastic about it all. And her health has been excellent. Even hearing loss from chemotherapy does not seem to interfere with her new life as a student.

Chloe is now in grade 3 and is playing fiddle, cross-country running, and swimming. She is a voracious reader. Wren is in swimming as well.

The girls have been working on making drawings for a new set of gift cards to raise money for childhood cancer this Christmas. They've got some excellent pictures to choose from--it's a pretty fun project.  I believe that last year they raised over $1000.

Regrettably I do not have many recent photos to share, but I'll share what I have.

Take care and keep well,

P2, C and W.







 

Kindergarten

I see that six months have slipped past since last I wrote, and indication of how busy summers can be. With the first frost expected tonight, and prompted by an inquiry from a friend we made at BC Children's Hospital, I will take a moment to scribble a few words.

Wren has started kindergarten, which is something that has taken me by surprise. I remember way back when our journey with cancer began thinking that seeing Wren go to school was not within the allowable imagination. And yet here we are. She is such a big and independent kiddo--well, especially with her big sister at school with her to make sure that all is well. Wren has been ready for school for some time (loads of "teaching" everyone and everything at home), so the transition has been pretty smooth, though perhaps she wasn't expecting to be the student. Here we are, about two and half weeks in, and she is already coming home speaking French and using vocabulary that I am unfamiliar with (which, I appreciate, is relatively easy to do). She is very enthusiastic about it all. And her health has been excellent. Even hearing loss from chemotherapy does not seem to interfere with her new life as a student.

Chloe is now in grade 3 and is playing fiddle, cross-country running, and swimming. She is a voracious reader. Wren is in swimming as well.

The girls have been working on making drawings for a new set of gift cards to raise money for childhood cancer this Christmas. They've got some excellent pictures to choose from--it's a pretty fun project.  I believe that last year they raised over $1000.

Regrettably I do not have many recent photos to share, but I'll share what I have.

Take care and keep well,

P2, C and W.







 

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Winter's Almost Gone

Winter is almost gone--though in these parts you never can be sure. This winter has been a great one for watching Chloe and Wren learn to enjoy the ice and snow. Both girls skied 3 km in the cross-country ski marathon this morning. Wren blazed along the trail beside her good friend Sasha, chit-chatting all the way. Then we came home and went skating on our little rink.
We've also been downhill skiing twice. The short video below captured the second day both girls had ever been on downhill skis. Chloe likes the pizza pie. Wren is all about the French fry (I wasn't expecting her to zoom right past me).
Wren is doing very well. She has turned into a great little skier and skater, and has lots and lots of energy. We continue to return to BC Children's Hospital every three months for check-ups and the next one is a couple of weeks from now.

All is well.

P2, C and W.