This Blogger’s technological handicaps have delayed entering a video of the Doukhobour Wedding that our children and grandchildren blessed us with on December 23, 2011 at Mazatlan, Mexico. They all became part of a family project that even had them singing “Precious Moments” and “You Know God” in Russian which most of them previously did not speak Russian.

When Marilyn and I got married on December 23, 1961, we went in front of a Judge in Saskatoon to legalize our marriage. The Judge correctly informed us before the ceremony, that Doukhobour Marriages were legal before the law on their own merits. We had many other events that would take place that day and so organizing a Doukhobour Wedding Ceremony was not on the agenda. So we requested that he proceed as earlier arranged.

When our family asked us what sort of present we would like for our 50th wedding anniversary, we responded with “we would like a Doukhobour Ceremony” with all our immediate family present. Since we never did go on a honeymoon, we also decided we would take our entire family with us to Mazatlan.

So here is the ceremony:

Just so those who recall the wedding and can compare, here is the bride and groom 50 years previous to this:

Updated by EWV December 31, 2020 with actual video for a public file. The best of the season to all of you!

At 0905 hours, Tuesday, December 01, 2020, I drove Marilyn to the Trail Hospital where her long-awaited elective surgery was to take place with Dr. Cook.

There was a great deal of anxiety on the part of the patient with all the various descriptions and after effects of such surgery that she had heard from her friends and people who have had that surgery.

The condition is usually the result of Asthma and related conditions and surgery will relieve the condition by removing the blockages caused by the Polyps but is not a cure. The condition was seriously affecting her hearing, speech and continual nose draining which was not acceptable. So Marilyn agreed to the procedure and the wait was about 18 months. She sacrificed here previous appointment in March of 2019 as my Cystectomy operation was more serious at that time and we could not be both compromised, healthwise, at the same time.

So she opted to let me go first for act which I really appreciate.

With the Covid situation, I was not permitted to wait in the hospital and at 1400 hours, I was called to bring her home.

Marilyn was still oozing blood that was being eased by gauze in her nostrils but otherwise was quite positive as I drove her home.

Our daughter Lori prepared some Varenekee which she enjoyed for dinner yesterday (I was allowed to have the potato filled variety as she prefers the cottage cheese). Thank you Lori.

This morning, she is much better and the oozing has reduced substantially. She is now preparing to start the nasal rinse procedure which she will need to do twice a day. This part of the recovery was what Marilyn dreaded the most but unfortunately there is no other way to keep her nasal area healthy.

I need to thank Dr. Cook and the Medical staff at the Trail Hospital as her visit with you was very enjoyable. She appreciated all the TLC to which she was the recipient.

Thank God for TC Douglas that brought us universal healthcare as I am not sure how we would survive without it.

We look forward to a healthy Marilyn in the years to come.

Posted by EWV 0910 hours Wednesday, December 02, 2020