Hello our bloggity blog friends!
We hope you're all keeping warm and well as winter well and truly winds its way into our midst.
A lot can happen in a month! And here's where it's at:
Ridley
It's a pointy end of semester, having just completed week 11/12!
Tomorrow, Sarah has her final classes for Gospel of John and then we roll into our final week of Semester 1, 2012.
Following this is a week of SWOT VAC for some mad exam revision time, after which come the EXAMS. As you may have already guessed, this is a big prayer point! But more on those later (just to keep the suspense going....)
Apart from classes, Stephen and I have continued to be involved in other ways at Ridley. Most notably at the moment is Stephen's role on the Ridley Student Committee (RSC) as First Year Rep and Social organising person. He's organised a 'Studying Well Encouragement Lunch' for during swot week, as well as a 'Celebrate End of Exams' with a night at a local pub (which also has karaoke. But that's totally unrelated...).
Sarah is currently tossing up whether to do four subjects next semester...or three. Another prayer point for the list! One of the considerations is the workload. Being the possibly only year I'll spend at Ridley (unless God opens other doors), I really want to make the most of what I'm learning, and enjoy time and space for it to sink in. Cutting back to three subjects may be a solution to ensuring this happens. But on the other hand, there is a tidy 'finality' to finishing the Grad Dip in a year and not having any further subjects to do... If anyone reading has wisdom, please do leave a comment and share your thoughts!
Church
Last blog, we talked about how we were finding our time at St Jude's, Carlton. Since then, we have visited their church plant which meets at Ridley, St Jude's Parkville. Of the two times we've attended so far, we have found the community to be very warm and friendly, and have felt that this church seems to be a natural fit for us. Of course, there are plenty of families around - many with very young children - which means there is opportunity for growth in the children's ministry. Being a church plant, there are also many opportunities to serve as needed.
Other
We had a wonderful time in Adelaide on the mid-semester break, and while the time was busy catching up and travelling from one end of Adelaide to the other some days (literally! Hallett Cove to Andrews Farm!) we so enjoyed being in what I call the prettiest city we know!
Not long after that, Stephen celebrated his 29th birthday on 28 April. We spent the day at the Ridley graduation ceremony - not ours! We were invited to play/sing in the band. It was also the debut performance of our acapella quartet, and our performance was warmly received! Following graduation we enjoyed dinner with Stephen's family at a family favourite restaurant - Lazy Moe's.
Our house-sharing situation continues to be a great one, and we're really enjoying getting to know Chris and Gill better, being on the receiving end of their culinary flair and having good chat when there's procrastination in the air!
Until recently we had a visitor staying in our home....of the small, furry and squeaky variety. Yes! A mouse! This update from Chris and Gill's blog shows the announcement of its arrival (http://www.porterblepeople.com/2012/04/cold-weather-sets-in/) while this one describes its defeat, at the hands (or should I say the feet?) of Chris' well-timed kick - http://www.porterblepeople.com/2012/05/vermin/. We're glad to have such brave and valiant housemates.
A few weeks ago Sarah also enjoyed an afternoon at the netball with the Urmston girls (plus Chris, Ellice's husband). The game was close the whole way through, and the buzz of the crowd when the Melbourne girls got in front in the last 30 seconds was amazing!
Finally, and certainly not leastly, Stephen and I were overjoyed to meet our niece, Emily Patricia Cowl, who was born to Ellice and Chris, on the afternoon of 16 May, 2012. We were so privileged to be able to see her and mum and dad just a few hours after she was born. I may have shed a tear or two upon seeing this gorgeous newborn. We praise God for a safe delivery, for the health of Emily, and pray for the speedy recovery of Ellice, and for both Ellice and Chris as they adjust to their new 'normal' - being parents!
Please praise God with us for;
- making it this far during Semester! The wonderful friends we've made at Ridley and the encouragement we receive there.
- Ridley College, and its commitment to encouraging students to be formed by God's word, both in head and heart.
- Emily Cowl's arrival into this world, for the staff at the hospital who delivered her, the support of Chris (husband) and Chrissy (sister) of Ellice, and celebrating the joy of new life.
- Mutually enjoyed living arrangements with Chris and Gill, and their friendship.
Please pray with us for;
- Exam preparation. Pray that we would use the time we have wisely and God would calm our hearts and help us to revise what we've learned.
- Starting to attend St Jude's at Parkville, that we may serve the community, and fit in quickly.
- Ridley College, new staff are sought and other staff are farewelled.
- For wisdom for Sarah, to decide on how many subjects to enrol in next semester.
