Going through some of my old photos tonight, I'm continually reminded of just how amazing my heavenly Father is in always providing for my needs and surrounding me with great house mates/roommates who take really good care of me. Growing up, I thought of myself as a pretty independent person. I once blogged about how capable I am of taking care of myself and living on my own would be a cinch. Oh how God consistently proves me wrong.

The first time I moved away from home was first year at Ryerson where I lived at rez. It wasn't really a far stretch from home. I had a single room all furnished, a meal plan, all utilities, phone and internet included in the rent and I went home every other weekend to do laundry. While the living situation seemed pretty good, this was also the first time in my life where my bank account plummet passed $0! Rent + tuition + books + drafting supplies = negative dollars. I've never struggled with money till that point because I never had to spend so much and BMD (Bank of Mom and Dad) always provided! Not so anymore... However, praise God for school bursary (school grant for the Americans)! The extra money held me over until my student loans kicked in : )

My second year, I moved out of rez and into Neil Wycik, a student coop apartment. Rent was a whole lot cheaper and the apartment was also fully furnished with utilities included but no meal plan, I had to cook for myself. It was this year that I realized that I don't really know how to take care of myself. I don't know how to cook! But I was so busy at school that I barely had time to cook. This was also the first time I experienced the horrors of living with other people and sharing common spaces. Good thing I hardly spent time at the apartment! Praise God for additional bursary money and loans so that I could afford eating out all the time!

In my third year, I stayed at Wycik again but I moved to a different unit with new house mates... I was a little worried because the year before was such a bad experience but God provided me with great housemates this time round. They were clean, they were studious students, they were quiet, they were fun to hang out with and they were great cooks! Well, at least the two girls were. I really enjoyed living with these four. We were like a family, sharing with each other our possessions, our food and our lives. We had a great time decorating our apartment.

This is Ishmael. He's kinda like our 6th housemate. He was quite the drama queen with his various outfits and costumes. We definitely had a little too much time on our hands that year! =P I guess school wasn't as busy in third year for me or I guess I just got the hang of all the work.

In fourth year, I made the difficult decision to move back home. I decided to save money and somehow during the summer, I had the strangest feeling that the coming year might be the last time all 5 members of my family would live together in the same house and I didn't want to miss out on that opportunity. I was right. It was a tough move but God provided. I had nice home cooked meals, I saved a lot of money so I could backpack Europe after graduation and well, I guess I got to spend more time with my family which definitely required God to give me strength and patience!


Then came the big move to the West Coast! I finally had to cook for myself! It didn't always turn out so great though... rent was expensive and I had to pay for my own utilities and internet! I had to buy my own furniture! I had to buy my own car!! I had to grow up. But as always God provides. He gave me a job that pays the rent, the internet and the gas. He then gave me a new housemate and roommate who made/makes me food! =D Twice this week I came home to food waiting for me on the stove or in the fridge plus extra packed away for lunch! I feel so blessed!

So the point of this blog is a) to show that I cannot take care of myself and just a few of the many ways my heavenly Father cares for me. Thank you Father; b) to thank all my housemates and roommate who have cared for me. I so appreciate all of you!; and c) to show off Ishmael! Look how pretty he is all dressed up!