Mixed emotions

It's hard to describe the feelings that I am having at the moment.

Anxious? About starting full time work soon, working out what things to bring down with me

Sad? About living away from home, seeing family and friends less often and not being around at church

Excited? The possibilities that await, not knowing what people are like, what work will look like, being paid

Grateful? For my family and friends who have encouraged me, for their prayers and love for me

Thankful? To God knowing that he will continue to sustain and take care of me

And so I am reminded of a verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you

Last uni exam accomplished !

After 4 years of nodding off in lectures, of printing out lecture notes, of freezing in R block, of rubbing my hands dry with sanitizer, of practicing on each other at the plinths, of hanging out at JDV, of sleeping in the library, of getting a free park at uni, of arriving at uni at 7am, of late night cramming - I've made it. We've made it. Bachelor of Applied Science Physiotherapy? Milestone achieved. Well ... not officially until I get my registration in January.

Thank you God for guiding me through four years of study here and for the friendships that you've given me. I'm thankful for how you've taught me more of who you are through the bible, through ECU and taught me that our greatest need is not a fixed back or pain free neck, but a right and growing relationship with you.

Context - there is a St George ATM connected into our Physio Clinic. However, it is not affiliated with us in any way. Someone walks in and I do the usual "Hello, how can I help you" Do you speak cantonese? Yes Can I ask whether I can use a HSBC card with this ATM? I'm not sure, I've never used it before Do you know whether there is a chinese translation on this ATM? No, Sorry I actually don't know Last week I put my card into a machine and it ate it. Do you know how I can get it back? Sorry, I'm not sure about that one either. It's best to check with HSBC bank or any other bank. I'm sure they would be able to help you. Isn't this a bank? 'Smiling' No this is a physio clinic.

amazing creator

We've been studying alot about how the human body produces a movement this semester, and how our movement co-ordination is all patterned to gether into a really neat pattern.
How our heart knows how to keep pumping, adjusting by pumping faster or slower as we exercise or rest. How each nerve sensitises a certain part of the body, and how when that sensation is removed due to that one nerve damage, it's ten times harder to perform daily activities. Everything is just so neat and perfect.
It just makes me wonder how majestic God is in creating and sustaining life on earth.

5 He established the earth on its foundations;
it will never be shaken.
6 You covered it with the deep
as if it were a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At Your rebuke the waters fled;
at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away
8 mountains rose and valleys sank
to the place You established for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
they will never cover the earth again.
10 He causes the springs to gush into the valleys;
they flow between the mountains.
11 They supply water for every wild beast;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky live beside [the springs];
they sing among the foliage.
13 He waters the mountains from His palace;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of Your labor.
14 He causes grass to grow for the livestock
and [provides] crops for man to cultivate,
producing food from the earth,
15 wine that makes man's heart glad—
making his face shine with oil—
and bread that sustains man's heart.

Psalm 104: 5-15

First practical exam

Nerves. Tissues that signal my toes to start tinkling, my heart beat to rise.
It's the awful anticipation of waiting outside the exam room, ears sensitive to the call of my name. And then it came, 20 minutes later. As I stepped in, I was met with two quesitons.

Left active ankle dorsiflexion ROM, left elbow flexion manual muscle test.

It's funny how under pressure, you take their right ankle and measure it, thinking it's their left. Or that you read an angle that's far greater than what it is supposed to be.
Because I did just that.

In a few weeks time, I"ll be heading off to Mudgee for one week's placement at the hospital.

Time has passed by so quickly. Oh how I take for granted, the blessing of each and every day.

Taste of uni life

It's been 2 weeks into uni. and guess what? as part of our motor learning and control prac, we're learning the cossack dance !! only a bit of it though. as a treat, our tutor showed us a clip of the russian soldiers doing it, and wow they're good. we're training for 2 weeks so that we can do the squat kicks that the cameo soldier does.



I reckon the squatting will be the hardest to do, but it does look fun.
Yesterday, we also had a lecture on clinicals. I'm really excited and looking forward to going on placement in May :) !

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose - Jim Elliot

Oday

Today was Oday at Cumbo. Funnily enough, there was much more than last year in store for the first years. Fairy floss, stage set up and chairs, all the stalls of the student associations, free barbeque. Last year I remembered we only had small muffins and fruit for morning tea and no stalls at all. Most of them were saved for first week back at uni.

I got a chance to talk to a lot of people, practiced some of my chinese with international students too, and realised how much it had deteriorated.
I'm really looking forward to uni starting and seeing what's in store for us. 5 days a week, shall be great !

Just for Laughs.

This truly made my day. It's funny seeing the reactions of all the shoppers.

primary schools concert

How fast time flies.
I was at town hall today while waiting for some friends. I saw primary school kids streaming from the side doors of the hall at around 4:30. Purple t-shirts with goose pictures at the front, black pants, black shoes. Kids waiting for their parents to take them around the city, in the time between practice and the actual performance. Others running around the courtyard, supervised by teachers.

I can still remember when I was in year 6, and Mrs Owen and Mrs Allen took us to the primary schools choral concert. Haha I still have the booklet in the cabinet next to the piano, and I can still remember how to sing most of the songs. Funny how there are some memories of your childhood that you remember so vividly, and others that you totally forget. This was one of those memorable moments.

From today, I'll stand a little taller. From today, I'll lift my chin and smile. Every doubt will disappear, every fear swept away. And I'll face tomorrow, from today

feeling so blessed for my family and the friends that I have
thanks

Then joy unspeakable will flood my soul,
For I am truly home

Pixar didn't disappoint. Toy Story 3 was great.
Went to strathfield yesterday, and the ticketing officer somehow heard Ashfield instead. Ended up with a return ticket to Ashfield.
Luckily it was only two stations apart.

It's been three weeks into the holidays.
One week was spent at Meroo on a five day conference along with christian groups from UTS, UWS and Wollongong. We focused on the cross of Christ and remembered what Christ has done for us. Summing up what I was reminded of.

We have all sinned by rebelling against God.
We've chosen to live life our own way without the need for God.
The gravity of sin is enormous, and our due punishment is facing the wrath of God.
What is facing the wrath of God like?
Imagine pitch darkness, no sun, sickness, every good thing you've ever known gone. For every good thing comes from God, and in that place, God won't be there.
What struck me most was that this world is already a glimpse of what hell is like. But it is only partial, because God's goodness is still here.
This is the outcome for anyone who has not placed their trust in Jesus.
For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God took his wrath onto himself, not because of us, but because of his name's sake. Because he is love, that we may be forgiven and can live with Him. There is nothing that you need to do to be forgiven by God. Because you have already been forgiven, if you acknowledge your sin and believe that Jesus has died and taken your punishment on the cross.

Spent another week of the holidays packing up notes from first semester. Watched Karate Kid as well. It was an alright movie, lots of kung fu. I didn't think it should be rated PG though, there were a lot of little kids in the cinema when we were watching.
I've only ever heard good things about Toy Story 3. Shall be watching it soon before uni starts.

french open

Wow Stosur beat Serena williams and Justine henin and is in the final against Francesca Schiavone !!
Haha Go Aussie xD

The Muscles of the Hand Song

Can't belive they made it into a song. Some light relief for the anatomy exam coming up xD

Spotlight

So we were playing spotlight during growth groups, where we took turns asking one person questions, and she had to answer as many as she could in 1 minute.
It turned out to be quite funny.
The usual favourites came up, like where've you been outside Australia? or what's your favourite colour?

And Then someone asked
So when you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A fish !

Hahaha cracked up for a long time.

Semester's ending. Can't wait for stuvac.

minesweeper

haha someone showed me this today. so funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHY8NKj3RKs
now back to procrastinating about my sociology essay

With musical happening back at Ruse, it just got me remembering back to Les Miserables. Best musical by far in my opinion xD
Every time I listen to 10th anniversary Les Miserables, I'm left speechless.
Such great storyline, great music, great singers - I'd really want to watch it live one day.

"Tomorrow we'll discover
What our God in Heaven has in store!
One more dawn
One more day
One day more!"

Bumped into Phil on campus today !!
Wouldn't have imagined ISCF leaders to have grown to 20-25 people.
Prayers answered.

Thanks God.

Jumped on board the bus today to usyd.

The main campus is, what can i say, almost quadruple the size of our one at Lidcome.
Lecturers, students alike walking across the wide pathway to their next class.
A hub of students in the food court chatting and eating.
Donut Kings, Newsagencies, Easyways.
Posters of concerts, Reconciliation meetings advertised on noticeboards.

In the midst of it all, gotta love the ruse reunion.