5 Year Anniversary of the Bump in the Road

Today (August 31) is the 5 year anniversary of starting cancer treatment. Tomorrow I go for the 5 year tests (ct scan, x-rays etc.) When they come back all clear, then I finally am considered cancer free. Your prayers are appreciated.

The past 6 years have been a whirlwind.  December 2016 Teresa got a new job in Vancouver, so we sold our home in Chilliwack, said “see ya later” to our friends and family, and moved back to Surrey.

We made the decision to use the equity of the sale of our home to fund a seminary education, so we opted to rent rather than buy. I quit my 9-5, suit-and-tie, well paying management job and went to work for a friend doing landscape maintenance. We were excited about the new outlook on life, the possibilities, the unknowns, when we found out about the cancer – our bump in the road.

So I quit working. 

I quit school. 

I focused on beating cancer.

Because I wasn’t working (we were very thankful that Teresa had a new job) we ended up in government subsidized housing for more affordable rent.  Rather than use the money to fund the education goal, we lived off the equity of the sale of our home (it wasn’t all that much, but enough to get us through).  We were grateful we had that cushion, most people don’t have it.  I was very grateful for my family, friends and church community who rallied around us with drives to the clinic, meals, visits, cards, gifts, messages, money, love expressed in so many ways that I cannot even mention. Our ward elder had the same cancer in almost the same stage so he was a blessing to me in ways that I cannot even tell.  

Looking back we definitely see the Lord’s hand in all of it.  He moved all of the pieces. 

He got Teresa a Job. 

He got our house sold so we could have a cushion in the bank. 

He put our elder in place.

He gave us a loving church community.

He got us a home 5 minutes from the cancer clinic.

Once all the pieces were in place He let us experience cancer.

Why?  I am still not sure. But I do know that he is still moving the pieces.

In the past 5 years we have gone a direction that we never ever thought we would. I was able to take 1 Hebrew course at Trinity Western, before our money ran out. Once there was nothing left I started a cleaning business. Family and friends hired us to clean their homes and offices for them.  I was too weak to work full time so it was perfect for me to get back on my feet.

Then one of my client friends asked me to clean their roof.  That was the catalyst to starting the exterior cleaning business. Being too weak from the treatment to move ladders, I hired our first employee Will.  He has been with me for over 4 years and is one of the most loyal employees anyone could ask for.

Through hard work,the Lord blessed the company; we are preferred vendors for many great property management companies, as well as some big companies. The company has grown and it includes Christmas Light rentals, commercial landscape maintenance, and snow removal. 

It hasn’t been all good, however.  About 4 years ago I was diagnosed with an “Alphabet Soup” of things: Major Depression, a panic disorder and a couple types of Anxiety, and whatever else I haven’t been diagnosed with LOL.  Anyway. Life was full of periods of social anxiety where I was unable to go to church, or the store, or even see clients. There were nightly panic attacks (I would even have panic attacks at the most unusual and random times – like standing in the grocery store deciding what to have for dinner)

I had suicidal thoughts. 

It was a dark time. 

Teresa and I struggled in our marriage, because of my “marriage” to the business, and mental health issues. We worked on our marriage, developed a family legacy plan, and I participated in Life Renewal which helped me to grow closer to Jesus, while dealing with past abuse and sins… and we came out the other side much healthier, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. 2 of our kids have also been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and we took the leap and are now a homeschooling family. Then COVID.  With all the economic turmoil, isolation, financial hardships, and lack of communion with the saints, I slowly descended back into depression for a while.

Looking back there has been a significant number of bumps in the road. But the one constant through it all has been love. Love of the Lord, my wife and family, my friends, and our church community. All of that to say, “It’s been 5 years, I covet your prayers.” Sometimes it feels like yesterday, other times it feels like a lifetime.

Thanks for joining me on the journey.