I lost weight without even trying..\ A special diet, you ask? None. I spent a month at the home of my son Greg and his fianc茅e Kelly Yanko in Saskatoon dog sitting, while they enjoyed a vacation in Thailand and Indonesia. Amigo is a large blue healer mix male and Myrtle is a six-month-old Australian herd dog. Taking these two for two to three walks a day kept me active.
Christmas Day is now in the past, and I hope all readers of this newspaper had a pleasant experience during the holiday season.
In the next few weeks I鈥檒l be calling some Mayfair people who want to share their Christmas family gatherings with others. It is nice to stay 鈥渃onnected鈥� with one another. Better yet, contact me at 306-445-992 or 306-481-4570 or text me.
News from neighbours Francis and Gerald Ewanchuck from Whitkow: Gerald and I with all of our five children and significant others attended Christmas Eve mass at All Saint鈥檚 Mayfair Roman Catholic Church. One of the highlights was the three children of eldest son Justin and wife Adrienne participated in the children鈥檚 nativity scene. Jarrett, the eight year old, was Joseph, his younger sisters, Danica and Page, were beautiful angels. They reside in Regina and stayed for a few days, enjoying outdoor activities on the family farm.
Candace, the eldest daughter, lives in Spiritwood where she is employed by Fast Genetics. Her boyfriend is a third-year pharmacy student at the University of Saskatchewan. Brandon, wife and two-year-old daughter live at Blackstrap Lake. He teaches at Walter Murray Collegiate and Jenna is employed at the University of Saskatchewan
Daughter, Brittany, along with husband Mike Ciona and 11-month-old daughter thoroughly enjoyed the evening mass. Britt is a student at the University of Saskatchewan for her second degree in finance, after working at a credit union for several years. Her husband Mike is an announcer with CTV on the morning show 鈥淢orning Alive.鈥�
The youngest family member, 23-year-old Tiandra, has two more years before earning a doctor of veterinary medicine degree. As a point of interest, she and her mother made 3,000 perogies for a fundraiser. Tiandra, in the future, will be volunteering in a vet clinic in Thailand. Her boyfriend, who is a former Battlefords North Stars player, is employed as a power engineer in Cold Lake, Alta.
The Ewanchuks, their children and five grandchildren enjoyed precious family gatherings.
Gerald鈥檚 father, Walter, is living at River Heights Lodge in North Battleford and enjoyed seeing the grandchildren on these special occasions. Mom, Stella, a former school teacher, keeps busy volunteering in many organizations. Fran鈥檚 mother, Dorothy Youst, a former postmistress at Mayfair, resides at Caleb Village in North Battleford.
Faye and Keith Liebaert celebrated Christmas for two days with all of their four children: eldest son Kevin, Lauren and four children of Mayfair; Michelle Chad and three children from Flin Flon, Man.; Janelle, Mathew Johnson and two daughters from North Battleford; and Ryan, who just completed an electrician course from Saskatchewan Polytechnique in Moose Jaw. He enjoyed being at home to play tricks and tease his nieces and nephews and to act like a kid himself.
Condolences to the Liebaerts鈥� relative Shelley Ross Bachelder from North Battleford, who lost her 58-year-old sister suddenly just a week before Dec. 25. Shelley also stayed at their place for four days of non-stop excitement.
Michelle, Chad and their four children left from Liebaerts鈥� a couple days after Christmas for a one-week Caribbean cruise. Chad鈥檚 mom of Flin Flon surprised them with this holiday gift.
Seven members of the Babiy family holidayed in Hawaii one month ago. Sharon said her daughter Kim Brochu of Hafford did the planning of the holiday Sharon had always dreamed of. Here is Sharon鈥檚 story of the trip.
Holidaying together were Peter and Sharon, Kim and husband Marc, Peter鈥檚 nephew Leslie Babiy from Vancouver and niece Karen and husband Daryl of Medicine Hat, Alta.
One snag was standing patiently in a 600-person line-up to get hotel vouchers from Air Canada, who cancelled a flight to Hawaii due to mechanical problems. The trip resumed the next day.
They toured most popular attractions 鈥� Leoda鈥檚 Restaurant, Hanna tour of waterfalls, lush landscapes including exotic flowers and ocean views, hula show with batons on fire, banyan tree that was planted in 1873 and is the largest tree in the United States, walked the Lahalna board walk and stopped at Diner鈥檚 Drive-ins and Dives.
They also toured Pearl Habour where the Japanese bombed the United States Navy on Dec. 7, 1941.
Leslie, Karen and Sharon took a one-hour helicopter tour of Maui on the last day.
Happy new year, everyone and thank you for the phone calls and cards from those who follow the Mayfair news.
