The End of Another Summer Unlike Any Other

Hey friends! 

I want to start blogging more often and more frequently just about things that are on my heart or what God prompts me to write about. So, since summer is coming to and end and I officially start classes in about a week, I wanted to write about the most amazing summer that I had. 

This summer was unlike any other. I was offered a position as a mother's helper/nanny for a family whom I had never met previously to being offered the job. I met the mother, Juliet, when she was 8 & 1/2 months pregnant and had a 1 & 1/2 year old boy named James. She was looking for help because she was going to have a newborn with a less than 2 year old running around - plus her husband works all day! But this was SO for me. I love babies and kids and doing motherly/wifey things like changing diapers, cleaning a house, doing dishes, going for walks, running errands, etc. My job started less than one week after her second baby was born, Lucas.           

          
         

                    

Over the summer I watched James grow (seriously, he grew taller than any other 1 year old I know) and I watched Lucas grow from a little lump to a very happy, giggly baby! We got to go on adventures like to Ripley's Aquarium, the Toronto Zoo & many splash pads and water parks. 

Ripley's Aquarium

The Toronto Zoo

Petticoat Creek

                           

Not only did I fall in love with this family and those two boys, but I became even more sure that I want to one day be a mom and a wifey. I also learned that I really love to help others and serve those in need of some help. 

This summer I also got the chance to go to Wonderland and see some of my favourite artists perform at Wonderjam 2015, I babysat for many different families, I volunteered at a soup kitchen with my best friend and celebrated Canada day with her too, I got to spend time with friends and do fun things with my family (including visiting family I hadn't seen in over 10 years who live 4 hours away), I became a mother to five plant babies (!!!), I turned 20 and had a wonderful birthday weekend with friends, I got to house sit/pet sit for a family friend, I FINISHED ALL 10 SEASONS OF FRIENDS, and I had the privilege of donating blood for the third time!  I was so so blessed by God who gave me this wonderful summer full of memories, joy, laughter and full hearts. 

          

I just babysat for these three handsome boys! I sure did miss them!

Visiting family! 

Canada Day 2015

My plant babies! (missing my bamboo)

Birthday pictures - Starbucks sipface - Classic #Jarbbadventures

These ladies took me out somewhere special for my birthday! 

My bff Jaslin got me this absolutely wonderful key - from http://www.thegivingkeys.com/

And all these people came out to dinner with me to celebrate being 20!

My lovely, gorgeous fam at church on my birthday!

House sitting/Pet sitting - this is Trooper!

"You watched all 10 seasons in less than four weeks?"
"UH HUH!"

Donating blood! 

On a more serious note, this summer (well just two weeks ago) we found out that my mom's kidneys had dropped to 16%. We have been able to prolong this subtle decline in her kidney function through healthy eating (by not eating anything containing potassium - which is terrible for the kidneys) and through controlling her blood sugar levels as a diabetic. However, even with doing everything right, her kidneys are still declining. I wrote a post last year (the first post on this blog) about how there was a new urgency for me to eat healthy and take care of myself as well because the process for seeing if I am able to donate to my mom would start soon. That process did not start until now. Now since her kidney levels are so low, they are truly beginning the year-long process we both need to undergo to see if we are a match.

I one hundred percent want to donate my kidney to my mother. But, the outcome of this situation remains only in God's hands. He has the control, He knows what our outcome will be. I just pray that He will show His grace and allow my body to be healthy enough and a perfect match for my momma, so she won't have to endure the pain and discomfort of dialysis. 

Overall this summer was full of love, adventures and memories that will last forever! I can't wait to start my third year of university next week and embark on a new journey. 

With God, I am ready for anything! 
In omnia paratus 

Ps. Donating blood is an amazing thing that I believe everyone should do - if you are healthy with no blood disorders or diseases, you should donate blood. My dad's treatment is made out of hemoglobin, which comes from blood. Without healthy people donating, people that are sick and need treatment or people who are in need of a blood transfusion, go without. You could save a life! And how AMAZING is it that God created us with a heart that pumps blood and regenerates blood continuously. We have that gift inside of us to give away! How wonderful! Please consider donating if you're able to - you could seriously save a life.
Go to https://www.blood.ca/ to book an appointment :)