last night i was reminded of a song that we used to sing at youth in china
i was reflecting on the lyrics and couldn't get over how great they were
i love that the words are true.

let no one caught in sin remain
inside the lie of inward shame
but fix our eyes upon the cross
and run to Him who showed great love
and bled for us
freely you've bled for us

christ is risen from the dead
trampling over death by death
come awake, come awake
come and rise up from the grave
christ is risen from the dead
we are one with Him again
come awake come awake
come and rise up from the grace

beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but heaven's will
no scheme of man
no scoffer's crown
no burden great
can hold You down
in strength You reign
forever let your church proclaim

o death, where is your sting?
o hell, where is your victory?
o church, come stand in the light
the glory of God has defeated the night

o death, where is your sting?
o hell, where is your victory?
o church, come stand in the light
our God is not dead
He's alive, He's alive!

christ is risen by matt maher.
go listen to it

"i hate how distance brings such separation" - mimi.
such truth in those words.
it's something i've been thinking about lately.
will i be close friends with the people i met in china again?
if i go back, will they be there?
or will we meet somewhere else?
and what will our friendship be like?
maybe that's why it's so hard to say goodbye sometimes.
so much changes, nothing is ever the same.

maybe that's not true for everyone
but i'm guilty for being an out of sight out of mind/contact person
i find it hard to keep up with people who aren't around me
maybe because it makes me miss them more
and it hurts once you hang up.

i'm finding it hard being back

i miss...

speaking in half chinese half english. taking taxis everywhere. five kuai rice. pearl city. going to baker and spice in the mornings. thursday choreography day with siobhan. crap coffee. the girls. quiet days. friends places smelling like bathandbodyworks. scooters. surprising people with my chinese. being so close to every other country in the world. 3+2. sheefs. peter's tex mex. sunday night dinner crew and massages. bian li dian. bargaining. dvd stands. h+m. the fabric market. being different. chalet. my pudong friends. vpns. people with different accents. sitting for hours in starbucks. my room. journalling. things being easy and familiar. the crandalls. nanjinglu costa. everything being open late. staying up (more than once) till early hours of the morning in 85 degrees. my parents.

on strike.

in about a week i need to pack up all my belongings, again.
i'm moving back to sydney for a while.
i don't know if i'll ever live china again. part of me thinks i'll be back in a few months, but you can never know where life will take you. china been such a big part of me growing up. i love this country and its people. i think this place has changed me a lot and i'm going to miss it, and all the people i've met, immensely. but. He knows what He's doing. and so i will trust.
and pack.

my favourite michelle wrote this on her blog. i think she is beautiful and wonderful. and love her so very much.
also, i completely agree with what she wants when she's sick. and hopes she gets better soon.


things i want when i’m sick.

hot tea. soup. someone to play with my hair. bubble bath. blanket. sweatpants. someone to talk to. something to do. pride and prejudice. pictures of memories. back scratch. bed. candles. slow music. to be missed. pillows. homework, never minded. hot bean bag. the notebook. medicine. valentine’s day fuzzy socks. glasses. mirrors to lie. surprise. books. to laugh. sun. hot chocolate. care