I started writing group again today. It was really nice. I always kind of don’t want to go but then when I get there I always really enjoy it. (There is a lot in life like that.) So I decided to make the theme of writing group beginnings and I did a variety of activities around that. I ended up writing about my first day at the Catholic University. I wrote how I nearly didn’t make it. I had been out partying all weekend and then David comes to me on the Sunday night and goes “do you know your starting university tomorrow?” I was shocked and really overtired. Lucky he had an “oh shit guide to starting university” written out for me with all the things I needed to do. The first thing was panic and then the second thing was calm down. Anyway thanks again for that David. I am about to begin my last semester. I nearly didn’t make it through the first day.

Yet I… I’m still with you. You pulled me by my right hand.

You guide me with your council and after you will take me, into glory… into glory

My flesh and heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion… forever.

Whom have I in heaven but you? Whom have I in heaven but you?

The earth has nothing that I deserve… besides you.

As for me it is good, good to be near God.

I have made the Lord my refuge and I will tell of your deeds.

Tonight I started my Modern Hebrew class. This is very exciting because as much as I love Biblical Hebrew (see the psalm above), it is nice to actually learn how to say ”my name is Gemma” and “they call me Loca.”

So it is valentines day today and I have a boyfriend but it doesn’t look like we will be hanging out much together. I am working this morning then I take a friend to the airport in the afternoon and then this evening I am going dancing with some girlfriends here in Melbourne. I must say I like that Dave doesn’t care much about valentines day. One year I went out to dinner and sat in a restaurant with a bunch of other couples and ate overpriced food. None of that for me this year which I am perfectly fine with.

These bushfires in Victoria have been crazy. Every one knows people or people that know people who have died. My flat mates best man lost his 2 sisters. And my other flatmates sister’s bestfriend lost her whole family. That is just two stories I know of. I can not fathom the pain some people would be feeling right now. Just the thought of people I love burning brings tears to my eyes. I am sorry to be so harsh but that is the reality. We have been praying together each night. I guess just to sit with each other and God in the shock of it all. Apparently the fire just moved so so quick and did all the things it was expected not to do.

So I was enjoying my new room until it turned into a work zone. I didn’t want to move rooms but it was decided last year we should move some residents around. Anyway, despite my reservations I was  enjoying living on the floor below and enjoying the differrent dynamics between resis. But then we had to build an insulator wall into my room and then it had to be plastered, sandered and painted I have been left living in the lounge room getting a touch stressed about not having my own space to go into. Anyway whenever I start to feel too put out about it I remember the Chopper Read ”Holiday of Fun” catchphrase. ”And I say…. H.T.F.U” and then I laugh and I feel much better.