Oct 1,2012

I started to go to church when I was 2 years old.  I basically grew up in the church.  When I was about 12 years old, my church took a break from sunday school every summer.  Instead we would get to join all the older kids for a summer video series.  Back then, watching videos sure was better than being in a classroom.  But I was young and dumb at the time(as opposed to being old and dumb now) and those videos bored me too.  I remember the video that changed my entire outlook on Christian speakers and pastors.  We watch this one video where this guy was yelling and spitting and he was so funny.  It was like watching a comedian and through all the laughter, the message of Christ's love still made it into my brain.  This guy had a way of relating life and humor and what it meant to live a life where you put your trust in Jesus.  That was over 20 years ago.  His name was Tony Campolo.  He is speaking at my church this sunday.  I can't believe it.  I am inviting everyone in blogworld to my church this sunday to hear Tony speak.  He is speaking on behalf of world vision.  June and I support this organization and we sponsor 2 children:   Pelince and Vibol. I know it's thanksgiving sunday and its football and long weekend but come on out, my church has 3 services, 9:15, 11:15 and 6:30 at night.  Hope to see you there.

Sept 23, 2012

I think it's time to share the real reason why I have almost stopped blogging. I can blame it on the busyness of life or many other factors but I know the real reason. And when I say it, it will probably make a few people upset and that is not my intention. This blog started as a way to communicate my battle with cancer with people I knew. Then it morphed into a way of getting my thoughts and beliefs out there in a very non threatening  manner . But the reason I stopped was because i was afraid my blog was turning into a news feed in Facebook. Now I don't have Facebook but I made the mistake of creepin June's. And I was shocked. I could not believe how many people post such weird and obscure things on there. I was hooked and read page after page getting more and more disgusted  the more I read. But I realized that I was reading it so obviously it meant something .  Anyways this isn't a rant but I didn't want people to read my blog and say. Who cares. Which was what I did when I read the news feed.  Anyways. I have come to terms of it and I am still not on Facebook but I want to keep blogging because I want this to be a record of my life after cancer and I don't want to forget. So you won't find me checking into my basement or into my bathroom or the garage. Wait I guess I just disliked Facebook. Haha. Anyways. This week was Rhys first soccer practice. And she loved it.she was so cute in her little cleats and shin guards and uniform. I cannot wait to be will ferrell in kicking and screaming on the sideline as the proud yet overbearing father.  I am also taking a leadership course at my church and it is teaching me that in order to be a good leader- you  first must be a good follower. I have an amazing staff at work and I learn from them all the time. I am now trying to learn to follow them too.  Servant leadership.  We also moved into our new place...moving not fun but our new place is pretty sweet.  NOw to find time to enjoy.  To of my cousins getting married next year and i am going to take a road trip with my dad and brother in a few weeks.  Family first.  always.

Gil

Aug 30,2012

Well. It has been a long time since my last entry. Not because I had nothin to say but maybe because there was too much to say. Today I find myself at the cancer clinic for a routine checkup. The scans are now 6 months apart so today was just a Bloodwork and an X-ray. All things fine says the doc  see u in the new year.  The last time I checked in was my birthday. It has been a crazy summer. We did a week at anvil again and this year was tougher than most for June and I. But Rhys had a blast and many kids got to know Jesus. I am always amazed at how God works even despite my numerous attempts to mess things up.  We also just moved and that's always stressful. Well just looking forward to things slowing down a bit and I can sit back and hang out with friends in our new place.  Later.

July 6, 2012. Free day Friday!

Once again it's the one day of the year that makes a cheap man like me happy happy happy. Let's start off the day with Rhys and I at Denny's. Free breakfast. I paid for a coffee and hashbrowns. Rhys ate all he sausages and I feel healthy as I ordered the turkey bacon. Bill came to $6. And I tipped like I was ballin! Will update as the day goes on- free day Friday!!! Off to church kids camp with Rhys. Then free burger at Vera's for lunch and then maybe some Pajo's fish and chips for afternoon snack but not before hitting the mall to get some birthday savings. It's tiring going around getting free stuff. Good thing I got Rhys with me

June 11, 2012

Father's day came early this year.  Kinda.  It was father/daughter weekend with June out of town.  I know I spent 9 months with Rhys every day last year but it was different.  Being sick gave me a different mindset but I don't ever want to forget how precious these moments with my young daughter is.  I am in no position to give any advice to any father out there- but I would recommend every dad to send their wives away for a few days vacation and hang out with your kid one on one.  Totally different.  It's almost like without June, my parental spidey senses needed to be heightened.  I didn't have my wife to shoulder some of the burden.  I became more attentive, slept earlier knowing I had to watch her the next day.  I carried around snacks, and water and extra clothes and shoes.  I'm sure these are  things moms do regularly and any mother reading this is going, pffffhhh, watchu want a cookie gil, for taking care of your kid?  thats what you suppose to do!  Noted but it still was a lot of fun.  It did have it's moments.  I realize that when i am going out alone with Rhys- I drink less water because I don't want to pee.  Maybe this is just father's with daughters.  But if i have to pee, i have to find a private bathroom(pref starbucks.)  I make rhys stand in the corner so she can't see me go #1.  I can't bring her into the guys and have her stare at a bunch of men in front of urinals.  Just me? Anyone? Bueller?  But I digress.  I just wanted to jot down some memories in case i forget in my old age.

Friday- got to pick her up from preschool-  she was pretty stoked.  All the kids stay after school and play in the playground.  Rhys set up a picnic with her friends.  I thought  I would be smart and bring her snacks.  I made the mistake of bringing her a whole box of crackers.  So of course she shared with her friends- that's cool.  What's not cool is the chubby kid that grabbed about 6 handfuls and 2 minutes later, the box was empty.  I couldn't even get mad at him- cuz that probably used to be me ( i was the chubby kid that ate other people's food)

We then went to costco and then hung out at Andis' house for dinner.  Rhys ran around Alden for a few hours and we went home.  Tired and happy.

Saturday- pancake breakfast- she even knows its Uncle Stevo's recipe from scratch.  I am getting good at making shapes of various animals with the batter.  Maybe start my own restaurant chain.  I will call it Panshapes and Bacon.

12:00- Dance class- or as I call it, Shawshank-  I cannot believe what it costs to let our kid dance.  I can teach her all that jazz at home with LMFAO pounding in the background.  For free!

Spent the afternoon cleaning the house with her helping by not messing it up as I cleaned.  Then her friend Maddie came over to play- Maddie and RHys 6 days apart and are great playmates.  THey ran around in the playground and then ran around in the house pretending that Maddie's baby brother Conner was a monster.  After a full dinner of Udon (her favorite).  It was off to bed.  Slept to 7:30 and both sat and sun morning comes into our room and goes , "where's momma?  In kelowna? I miss her"

Sunday-

Off to church, then June's mom's house for Kimpap (korean sushi)  and then off to pick up her school mate and to class birthday party- hawaiian theme.  It was good, but I didnt know anyone except for the parents of the birthday girl.  So made some new friends and tried to figure out who was related to whom.  Big family.

After party- dropped RHys off at my mom's to spend the night.  Came home and took a nap, made dinner and did some laundry.

Phew.  TIme for bed.  Rhys and Gil's weekend adventure is done.  Now back to work.

Some photos to highlight the weekend:

 Boo and the Aldenator

Child labor- I rewiped, obviously

costco fries- woohoo

booboo and Haribajee(grampa)

about to eat her teddy pancake

Minnie mouse- whaddup

 yes those  are thought bubbles or drips actually

good thing we didn't name her Anastasia

with momma gone- she needed all her bodyguards before she could sleep, cuz apparently I couldn't protect her.

June 8th, 2012

Didn't realize it had been this long.  Hmm.  I wonder if I am digressing or regressing. No June to proof read.  This entry gonna be rough.  Long hours at work again, struggling to exercise.  This weekend seems like one to recharge.  Was hectic for a few weeks.  I mean months.  1 year cancer free.  6 years married to June.  What a difference a year makes.  This weekend I am Mr Mom.  Just Rhys and me as June has taken a much needed trip with the ladies up to the Okanagan.  I got to observe Rhys in class for 20 mins today.  Very interesting.  She does know how to be silent.  She can put things away.  Dr Montessori, you are a genius.  What a fun evening just hanging out with the Yu's and then playing princess with my daughter.  Can't ask for anything more on a Friday after a long week. Tomorrow- pancakes and dance class- and maybe eat some food that Momma won't let us eat.haha.

My co-worker called me a duck the other day(all who are chinese-cue the laughter)  How so you ask? Well, i think I used to be a bit of a spaz, If you ask June, I still am.  But apparently, I am now cool and calm on the surface, just like a duck, but underneath the water, the part you can't see.  the legs are working like sixty to stay afloat.  Which is ironic because I can't swim, still.  I guess some things have changed and some still stay the same.

Looking for a worship leader for camp...praying God drops the band right on my lap...


Oh right- we finally found a place to live after 2+ years of looking.  Can't wait to have everyone over after we move in August.  I finally get my own room...i mean mancave. ah woo, wait for it, hoo

See you all this summer hopefully.

May 18, 2012

CT scan clear. I was sitting in the doctors office at the cancer clinic reading my bible on my iphone, reading matthew chapter 6-


²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry^(AC) about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.^(AD) Are you not much more valuable than they?^(AE) 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life


and my oncologists walks into the room.  I say, hi Dr Murray, he says, hello Gilbert, I am looking for a tool for another patient, I will be right with you.   35 minutes later, of not worrying, an intern or a resident walks into the room.  This is the conversation

intern- hello gilbert

me- hi

intern- i am DR Craig, i am a resident, so how are you

me- good

intern- thats good, now how have you been feeling

me- tell me what's on the report

intern- what, I er...

me- tell me what is on the report

intern- uh, well, we are still waiting for , see the...

me- am i good or not, was it a clear scan?

intern- we are still waiting for the report, but your bloodwork is good, no raised levels of tumor markers, but we are still waiting for the report

me- so can you go get the report and then we can chat

intern- uh, yeah, i can do that but the scan is clear, nothing unusual on it, just waiting for the actual written report from radiology

me- ok, well thank you, you should tell the patient he is fine first, then you can ask me all the questions you want

intern- yes of course, let me check for the report and i will be back

me- that would be great, why don't you do that

25 more mins...

my regular doc walks in- Gilbert you are fine, things are looking great, you look great, 1 year, congratulations, we won't even need to see you until the end of the summer.  ok

me- yup, thanks Doc.

And Scene...haha, never a dull moment


1 year cancer free- Praise God.