Mmm, things kind of suck at the moment. First of all, I'm sick. I've got a really sore throat, a headache, a sniffly nose and a unsettled stomach. Not fun. The worst bit about that is I don't know how long its going to be like that for. I don't want another long term sickness, but I can't imagine getting better anytime soon. Then there's stuff with me and Sean, I don't know whats going on with that. I really do like him. And I'm living at college, and at the moment there aren't many opportunities to actually talk to people. Lots of time for round the world ping pong and laughing in large groups, but I kind of feel more like sitting down quietly with good friends and talking. Right at the moment, though, I feel like sleeping.

Still, God is good.

Yay...my 100th post!

Anyway, Sunday was very interesting. A couple that used to go to my church, but moved to Queensland a few years ago, came back to visit. Completely randomly with no notice so it was such a nice surprise to see them there when I arrived at church. The great thing, which shows God working so much, was two other people who used to be good friends with this couple turned up aswell, and they haven't come to church for ages either. So God brought all of them together, and we ended up going for dinner spontaneously after church.

What was also very interesting was hearing about some of the kids I used to be friends with in early highschool, and what they are doing now. One of them, who I haven't seen since Year 10, is about to become a father at the age of eighteen, and his girlfriend is due to give birth anyday now. That was such a shock when I heard that! I'm praying for them, because having a baby is a huge thing at any age, but when they are so young that makes it harder.

On another note, youth group attendance is really low at the moment, but the kids that are coming really seem to be thinking seriously about God. I suppose that's better than having lots of kids that are there just for the games. The biggest challenge at the moment is reaching the wide age group that we have. Because there are so few kids, it doesn't make sense at the moment to divide into age groups (on Saturday we had 2 ten year olds and 1 sixteen year old). As you can imagine, it's difficult. For this sixteen year old girl, it seems that all the stuff we say is real to her, that she wants to live as a Christian, and she needs to think about faith issues on a deeper level - praise God! But how do you encourage and challenge her while also spiritually caring for the ten year old kids, who need different things?

Other than that, I'm almost finished my round of antibiotics and I'm still not feeling much better.

One of the kids at church said I remind her of Jennifer Hawkins...hehe, that's pretty funny!

Em's party!!

Em's 21st party was lots of fun, as I expected it would be. So many birthdays coming up, so exciting. And other exciting news - Heather and Rohan are engaged!! I actually remember having a conversation with Heather last year where she told me she was content being single :P And it's also Heathers birthday, so happy birthday to her.

Back to Em's party....possibly the best bit was rediscovering my pyromaniacal tendencies by burning those little bits of silver ribbon that came off Roxi's hat. Those little ribbons curl and dance and melt and do all kinds of fun things when put near flame. Surprisingly, Jo Dear was also fascinated with this. I never would have guessed she was a pyromaniac. Going on the trampoline was fun, watching other people on the trampoline was interesting. Reliving quotes from various movies/tv shows/internet cartoons, such as Men in Tights, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Trogdor, etc...was extremely funny aswell, although Saladfingers is still creepy. It was really croweded in the Tea House last night, although outside was slightly more spacious. Then suddenly it got quieter when most people left...and Mike arrived, hehe. Watching Em opening presents was fun, although she didn't make nearly as many squealy noises as Manda. I am coming to see you guys more and more as my family...my family is crazy!

It was nice to be back at CU on Wednesdays! Good talk today...almost was disagreeing on some things, but then Scott mentioned that all the other stuff (experience, tradition, etc) is good but needs to submit to the authority of the Bible. That is so true. And I actually do think God still talks to people using dreams, visions and the like, but there are no new major revelations.

Anyway...there are so many birthdays coming up! Ems, Ash, Kate, Chris, myself, Lissa and, somewhere within all that, Maddy and Mike's bub. I just hope we'll be able to work out something where no-one's parties clash and everyone feels their birthday is celebrated. Hmm...could be tricky. I'm thinking just a simple dinner with friends on my actual birthday, cause if I wait for a Saturday to have a party, it will probably be some time in August. Then there's the complications of working out where to actually have the party....dinner sounds good.

I went home as quickly as possible after class today...then when I got home I found out my tutoring was cancelled today, so I could have frolicked and 545-ed anyway. Oh well :P And I am so very busy with assignments at the moment, I had a little stress episode today once I got home.

Clothes swap was so fun! For some reason, Manda and I got *really, really* excited. Yes, hyperactivity is genetic. I liked hearing Myfanwy's talk about putting on the good characteristics of Christ, and getting rid of the old stuff...and appropriately, I found a t-shirt with the fruits of the spirit written on it. I also got some pants, a jacket and 2 hats - one that makes me look like a little cupcake. And I also got some incredibly small, incredibly pink tops for thy Stiney. It was fun fun fun finding clothes and watching other people find clothes - and there were *no* catfights, despite what Sean thought! I loved all the silly dressups that were going on...like Ash's leather outfit, Manda's scary vamp and the dancing leotard girls!! Dressups are so fun. Also was great to have some college girls come.

Also funny at the clothes swap: during Myfanwy's talk, I got the giggles when Adrian was walking around outside whistling. I don't know why, but it was really funny.


By the way...

Happy Birthday Ben!!

Woohoo, finished prac! And I got above satisfactory in my final prac report. Hehe, it was *such* a good idea to transfer to primary ed. It's kind of funny thinking prac's over cause it was only for five days...still I will miss the kids (even if they were crazy some of the time). I heard the most random quote today at school, from one kid who I wasn't even sure was talking to anyone. I just heard him say, while sitting at his desk: You lose your licence if you read a book in the car and you're the driver So very true...pay attention all you drivers :P

I have 4 assignments due next week :( Only one of them is a big assignment, but still its not fun. I have heaps of reading to do...hmmmm, you probably won't see me in the caf so much over the next few days...probably!

My throat's sore and I'm kind of tired....but, then again, that's normal. Really, if I stayed at home everytime I felt a bit sick, I wouldn't end up doing anything at all. Hehe, I'm a sick little monkey. Even so, my week has been pretty good. Prac teaching is fun, even though the kids are crazy. Particularly in the afternoon, when they're ready to go home, and so am I. A group of kids spent most of the afternoon one day chanting the 'don't chop the dinosaur, daddy! chop it!' ad, much to the annoyance of the teachers and the other kids. Another funny quote I heard: 'I'm the oldest out of all of you. I'm 6 and a half.' Also interesting, if not disturbing: 'I don't want to go on Big Brother cause they film you in the bathroom' which was followed by hysterical giggles by the other kids. Teaching is fun...only 2 more days of my prac left.

Let's see...what else happened this week. No frisbee on Thursday, but much excitement about some psychology surveys that were going around. I didn't actually get one, but it would have been funny to say that I was the most popular person at CU but also frequently felt like I couldn't cope with feeling so alone :( just to screw up the statistics a bit....maybe it's good I didn't get a survey. I have really random little drawings in my EDUC260 lecture notes now, thanks to Ash and Sean. Round the world ping pong is fun. (those two random comments had nothing to do with eachother)

Also, on Thursday at college we had this guy from Nigeria come to talk about the work he does in his village. Stuff like building wells for cleaner water, building hygenic toilets and also preaching the gospel and planting churches. Awesome stuff, and definitely something to pray for.

Hehe, on Friday, after the TEP290 stuff, Ali and I were making lists of Dr Nick quotes:

Dr Nick: If it isn't my old friend Mr McGreg, with a leg for an arm and an arm for a leg

Dr Nick: If you're not sure about something. Rub it against a piece of paper. If the paper turns clear, its your window to weightgain'

Medical board person: You operated using a plastic knife and fork from a seafood restaurant?
Dr Nick: But I wiped them with my napkin'

Medical board person: ...gross misuse of cadavers
Dr Nick: I get here faster if I use the carpool lane..." that one's gross.