on the Verge of

Today, I was able to finally visit the shrine of the Divine Mercy at El Salvador City. I have been meaning to visit since last year but it was only today that I finally had the opportunity to go. Aside from lighting a candle and saying my prayers, I was able to drink the said miraculous water of the shrine. But instead of taking bottles of water like many others, I only took a sip at the fountain. It was not because I did not believe that it would completely heal me, but because I remembered the sick woman who touched Jesus' cloak (Luke 8:43-49). She knew in her heart that if she could only touch Him, even if it were only the edge of His cloak, she would be healed. She knew that it was all she needed. And Jesus said to her, "...your faith has healed you." And so I only took a sip, knowing that it was all I needed for my soul. The water tasted like home. In my heart I know, God has touched me as well. At the foot of the statue of Divine Mercy 

Today I had my follow up check-up a month after my radioactive iodine. I finally got a clearance to go back to work and travel :) But the battle isn't over. As my doctors explained, we have yet to learn the extent of the treatment's effectiveness 6 months after I underwent it. We've done everything that we can and could only pray for the best. Some of my tests were not within the expected range so I am under monitoring. But right now, it's time to move on. If you haven't read my previous blog about my condition, you can read it here . Papillary Carcinoma may be one of the most treatable cancers, but it is what it is. Sometimes the worse scenarios play in my head and I try my best to be practical about it. Sometimes we try to prepare ourselves for anything that could happen. But nothing can really prepare us from the possibilities of permanently losing our voice, or being disabled, or for simply leaving too soon. Like what I said, we've done everything we

Last Jan 1, Keen and I were able to break free from our 2019 resolution of 'No Beer for the Year.' As we drank our first bottle of ice-cold beer for over a year, we discussed our possible joint resolutions this 2020. There were some suggestions like 'no softdrinks for the year' and 'no meals after 6pm' which were certainly a whole level of difficulty for me and even for Keen. We learned our lesson last 2018 that we shouldn't make unfeasible resolutions that we cannot follow through for the rest of the year. And so after finishing a bottle or two and making some final negotiations, this is our final 2020 resolution: to reach 50 and 60 kilos for me and Keen respectively by the end of the year! It's definitely more challenging for me since I was the one who gained a significant amount of weight during my medical situation last quarter. Nonetheless, I'm enthusiastic about it as I need to be healthier and I want to feel more confident about