Was it a DREAM?

Hi Everyone,

We are back from our trip to Detroit, but still grinning from ear to ear. Our living room looks like a souvenir shop...jerseys, hockey sticks, pucks, posters, banners, magazines and books, ticket stubs and visitor passes........all Red Wings of course.

We arrived in Detroit on Friday night, checked into our hotel and spoke to coach Babcock. We were in for a whirlwind of hockey and spending time with an amazing group of people. We attended two morning skates (pre game skates), two practices for the Red Wings and one practice for the Pittsburgh Penguins, two hockey games and two after game visits to the Red Wings dressing room. Earl and Darby sat on the bench during practices and visited several times (actually about 6x) with the players and coaches in the locker room. It was so cute to see Earl crutching from room to room like he was meant to be there. The guys were even teasing him that he should come on the road with them. Earl and Darby could light up a room with their smiles and not only did I enjoy the hockey part I was beaming as a proud mama.

We stayed at a fantastic hotel and even took in a NFL game...in a suite I might add. The Detroit Red Wings, Mike Babcock and Anne Marie especially, took such good care of us and honestly made us feel like family. There was not a single moment that I wished I was somewhere else.

We met so many people I can't list them all, but some of the highlights were Head coach Mike Babcock...who made this trip happen, Paul MacLean, Brad McCrimmon, Jim Bedard, Keith Mc Kittrick, Steve Yzerman, Gordie Howe, the whole team, Jim Devellano, Ken Holland, and Pittsburgh Players: Sydney Crosby, Marc Andre Fluery, Tyler Kennedy. Evgeni Malkin and Matt Cooke.

A big thank you to Anne Marie Krappmann and Lisa and the staff at the East Gate and the Staff at Olympia Entertainment. You all made us feel so special!!!!

Debbie, Darby and Earl.

Detroit Here We Come!!!!

HI Everyone,

In just 60 hours Earl, Darby and I will be heading to the airport and departing for Detroit....aka Hockey Town and home of Earl's team, The Detroit Red Wings. We are staying at the G.M. Renaissance Center, which is just 2 blocks from Joe Louis Arena. If you haven't heard this news before, you need to know that we are going as guests of Mike Babcock the head coach. What an amazingly nice man he is. We have been in touch with Mike by email and chatted on the phone several times and Earl gets so excited, it is a thrill to watch him. We are all quite excited and those of you who know Earl, know he is ecstatic and counting down the hours.

Earl has not been feeling the best these last few days, but we are praying and confident that he will be feeling much better by Friday. I actually had to take him to emergency at St B. last night because he was sweating to the point of being soaked, feeling nauseous and had a heart rate of 160. We ended up leaving without seeing the Dr. after sitting for 3 1/2 hours. The ER was so busy and Earl could not sit any longer. I had them check him out before we made the decision to leave, and his vitals had returned to normal. There are many things going on in his life that are causing him concern and stress and I am keeping a close eye on him.

Would you all please keep the family of our friend Andi, in your prayers as they prepare for Andi's passing. Andi is a lovely 18 year old young lady, who we met here in Winnipeg as we have both been on the same journey. Andi's cancer PNST or peripheral nerve sheath tumor is a very rare sarcoma and has really taken a toll on this beautiful young girl. Earl is very disturbed but all of this and really has a hard time understanding why things like this happen.

We will make sure and post a Detroit update and put up some pictures when we get back.

Debbie