Back again

It's so strange to come back to this blog and read back on days gone by.

I quit my job and am now in my second year of bible college, and my gorgeous nephew is 2 and a half and I have another niece/nephew on the way. My first year was full of new friends, but also much sadness. Losing my aunt was hard, losing my Nanna was harder. She is someone I looked up to, the most amazingly faithful woman I have ever met. Right up until her last days she was still trying to convert people and sharing God's love with them, a true evangelist.

Coming to the end of 1st year, I was ready to throw it all away. I had no money, my family felt like it was falling apart and nothing seemed to be going where I thought things were going. A few weeks later, I had 2 jobs and things were looking up for me.... only to say goodbye again. This time, not forever goodbyes, but the friends I had made over my first year were all finishing up and moving away. Sometimes it feels like all I do is say goodbye to people.

This year, my 2 jobs have pushed me to the limits. Fully moving out of home, studying full-time and working two jobs has pushed me to be ready to quit again. I realised quickly I need to take time out or I burn out. My first holidays in 6 years was to Elcho Island, a beautiful island off NT. It was fantastic to just sit for 10 days and do nothing but enjoy God's beautiful country and catch up with my good friend Matt.

Over the weekend I hung out with my youth kids all weekend in the city. I realised I'm city-challenged and the city is not really for me. It's nice to visit but I don't think I'm meant to stay here for good.

What will the rest of this year bring? I don't have much idea, but I'm ok with that at the moment.

Times they are a changing...

This week is the last week of work for me in my job. After 3 years I have resigned from the church office and am moving onto bible college. I also am moving to Sydney, leaving my parents house and moving on campus.

I leave on Saturday for Breakaway Camp for 2 weeks, am back for a week, then start college orientation and then the following week I start classes.

I can see 2008 being a good year.

My little nephew is now walking, he took his first steps 2 days after Boxing Day, after we had seen him of course. He's such a cutie.

Weddings, Parties, Everything

What a hectic time it has been. I haven't uploaded any China photos because I haven't got them all. I will make a lovely collage when I have them all.

I've been to 2 engagement parties (for the same couple), they were much fun (i'll get photos on here when I can).

Also Jenny and Brad, high school sweethearts got married last weekend. Jenny looked stunning, she always is beautiful though. I caught up with a guy I went to primary school with, I've known him 20 years, scary stuff.

Everything is really hectic leading up to Christmas and beyond. I leave work on Jan 10th, go on camp for 2 weeks, I'm home for 2 weeks then I start college up. It's the beginning of 3 years of study.

It's really exciting that everyone is getting married, but in the same way it's sad being single. One day it maybe might be me.

Bed time.

A Whole New World

My perspective of this world has been changed forever. I went on the trip to China, it was a Global Xposure Trip through a company over here. My world will never be the same again. For every incredible thing I saw, my heart also broke for the same area. Imagine living in a place where you've never seen the stars, see the sun and blue sky for about 1 week out of 52 in the year, where poverty is rife and no-body seems to care, and to be in a country where you aren't free. It's so hard to convey what I saw, it's such a sad place, but we were the light, the hope from God.
We met some amazing people, heard some incredible stories. Hygenie is very minimal, if any of us got sick over there, we didn't want to go to a hospital. Everything was very cheap over there for us, DVDs $1, CDs, $4. To give you an example, we ate out one night 9 of us were fed for $20, thats not each that was all up, all of us for $20, you wouldn't get a meal like we had for that cost here.
We went to the Great Wall, Terricotta Warriors, and some other big sites. In Hong Kong we got to go to Disneyland, it was great to escape for a day, and to have some fun. There people in China don't get to escape like we did, we left after 17 days, they are stuck for much longer.
My heart really goes out for the people in China, it's so hard, I'm still processing it all, but I'll attempt to put my thoughts together and write some more later on.
I'll post some photos tomorrow, I'm getting error messages and I can't be bothered to deal with it plus I need an early night

And here it is......

2 sleeps til I'll be in China. I can't believe how quick it has come about.
I'm going to try and update from China, so keep your eyes peeled, it just depends how often I can get Matt's laptop.
Must go to bed, not sleeping too well, keep thinking of things I need to do.
Until next time MWAH!!!!!!!!!
PS I'll be thinking of you all at 4:30am on Thursday morning when I get up to go to the airport at 5:30am

Crazyness

22 days until I fly away. Argh so much still to do. Yes I'm counting down, well I've had a countdown on my myspace and bebo forever. By the way if you are on myspace, bebo or facebook, let me know, we can be friends if we aren't already.

Side diversion, I like the photo on the left, I look skinny, thanks Sam for finding a skinny angle hehe.

I am now the official owner of a visa to get my into China, it's all pretty in my passport. I also now have a Visa debit card, which I can use as a credit card basically (watch out bank account).

I still have so much to do. I'm trying to not stress out, so I'm enjoying myself doing other things.

On the weekend I went to Big Exo Day, which is a big Christian youth event. Yes I'm not exactly "youth" but Switchfoot (totally luv this band) were there and we were checking it out to see if it's decent to take kids to. It was a mass event 13,000 people were there, wowser.

The only bummer was that Caleb came for a visit while I was away, oh well, I saw him early in the week.

I feel in the need for change. Starting with a haircut. I haven't cut my hair in about 6 months, I think March was the last time I had it cut, although it could have been earlier. So I want something a bit different, but not too different, I like my hair long now I've decided, but I want to try something different. Any suggestions blogging world? Check out the length in the photo.

I was attempting to cut and colour it for China, but I'm afraid I've run out of money.

Anyway back to work and everything, fun fun.

Photos are from Exo Day, crazy.

Update never

So the past 2 weeks have been interesting. I am in a funny mind frame at the moment, you when something is just out of reach, and you want it so bad, but you just can't reach it, well that's where I am at.
Under 4 weeks until China, my first overseas trip, very exciting, though I feel very under prepared. I have checked out the movies on the plane, yeah I will be watching a few, although I have seen lots of them already. I think my mp3 player will be getting a work out (must buy on first)
Sam and Johnno got engaged over the weekend, that was pretty wowser. They are so cute together.
Went on a roadtrip on Sunday to see camp people, and hanging out with them reminds me of what camp is like. It would be cool if camp was all the time, but then I'd also be bored and want a change.
Saw Caleb yesterday, he's as cute as ever, sneezed on me 5 times, and yes I caught spray, plus a few dribbles too. He is always full of smiles though.
My road trip was much fun, though kinda lonely, gave me lots of singing and thinking time. I came to the conclusion I need to pray more about things so I can figure out where God wants me to be.
I think I'm a bit confused. Grrr