Thought this might be a good way to say goodbye to 2020. Will take less time for this because I've already reflected once!
January
February - June
I lost many pictures during this period because my phone spoilt! (But got new replacement for free thank God!)
In this period, I flew to Brisbane, flew back to SG for COVID, circuit breaker started when my stay-home notice ended. I basically lived with back-to-back zoom calls everyday, from uni related things, to catching up with my pals, studying or working out together and all church related events.
LOL at the end of it, my eyesight noticeably deteriorated and I realised that zoom calls can't replace in-person interaction at all... My heart missed the people I was calling more than ever and I started to HATE staying at home after extended periods of doing so.
LIFEGROUP
7.30AM CHURCH SERVICE GAH!
Cutie friends!
Catching up with best friends
July
I can't remember, but I think this was the period during winter break or sometime after circuit breaker in June/July. To be honest, because the whole period was mostly spent at home, time felt like a blur and days felt similar.
Tried out Apiary with Tammie! This year I visited many cafes in Singapore. Haha I think I felt rich because I didn't have to spend on groceries anymore.
Meeting up with the speechies for our Y3S1 group shot :D
Had a couple of nature tours with my family!
A new way to bond over zoom! Bake the same thing in two different countries!!
Hey so blessed to be able to vote (for the first time) while in SG!
Sometime there we had combined UQ Huddle for new semester! We were all connected!
We started to meet together for lifegroup as COVID guidelines slowly became less strict! First time having lifegroup at my house!
August-September
I started placements around July and started school in August. It really was the worst semester ever, doing placements via telehealth, online 6am lectures and back to back assignments and exams together. Yet, I really saw God's hand of faithfulness over me as the load was tough, but never broke me. It was as if God was always gently holding me together.
Managed to participate as an OGL in the first ever online camp! I literally had a bad feeling about joining the camp when I was going to be so busy.. I actually had a mini mental breakdown from too many things going on and changes made a week or two later... HAHA gosh. Yet, I didn't want to regret never joining as an OGL, since this is something I can only do as a student!
Happy National Day!
Made time to get out of the house one day with my sister and had acai! Yay
A random day out.
Thanksgiving during one of the most stressful periods of my life:
Unit discipleship by Tersh and TT that really spoke to me and brought about a breakthrough for me.
Thank you Thank you Thank you Hannah for all the love you show me. You are amazing.
These pals who were on the same boat as me and who gave me so so much encouragement!
Yas one time we cooked dinner for the 4 of us within 30-40minutes.
God's word!
Generosity of my auntie who invited me to her house to study when it got too hard to study at home. Over time, I just lost motivation and needed to focus! Other than the study room being ideal for studying, she let me stayover at her house and cooked me alot of yummy food! Besides those, just quality company :)
Such good briyani (store bought) but still.
All the food I enjoyed while staying over at my aunt's :) Bak Kut Teh at Alexandra Food Market!
Managed to catch up with Val and Tammie during one of the weeks when I just felt really horrible. They were so empathetic towards me, can't even! Also, this is my favourite night view so far.
Free makeup from a kind neighbour just made my day!
A dear study buddy who was willing to keep me company during the hardest days :) Lyanne, you are God-sent :) We sat side by side to keep each other accountable (EH STUDY!), had food at her house and she lived so close to me!!! BLESSED!
Great that our core team expanded to two!!!
Me being a dog mum for the most precious and lovable dog! He has such an affectionate personality, patient and basically happy! Big hugs
Around this time, I finished my last assignments, just before my birthday! YAY! I was really blessed. The whole time was really difficult, but thankful for various people who made my life so happy and full. Emotionally it was really hard because I think I was burning out and not coping well with more changes, such as being unable to return to Australia, change in financial state, mess at home, change in church situation and friends. It was as if my main group of friends (or usual source of comfort) became a stressor for me because I had to keep dealing with feelings of loss as people left or transitioned out. It was hard not being able to go to physical church and watching church service alone, when for a long time, going to church was my place to release stress and burdens to God. At the end of it all, as I look back, people can only hurt me so much when people are this precious to me. I'm grateful for a special group of friends that I can terribly miss. I'm thankful at the end of it I realise that my heart just needs God.
October
Birthday month! HAHA
Deep gratitude for friends who bought me a cake.
Thank you Family!
Post-exam fun:
Meeting up with these good-looking pals.
Baking with speechie friends!
A change I have never had the courage to make... Dying my whole head of hair to this reddish brown tinge... The story goes I wanted to get wavy hair with bangs, but the hair stylist told me I was not suitable for bangs. I still wanted a change in my hairstyle, because it was very frizzy and unmanageable. She... suggested this and after deliberating for 5 minutes, decided to go with it..... HAHAH. I dont know, it looks different in various lightings and I think it makes my skin a bit brighter (?) Anyway, it is a welcome change in terms of length, because it is less frizzy now!
November
I started placement around this time and OMG best part of the year is here. I'm not sure if having a daily routine boosted my happiness by 100% or just being with kids increases my endorphin levels by a huge percentage.
Clinic buddies! So glad to make friends here :)
We got them tools! (there was a picture of us and resources here) HEHE. Speech therapy has a lot of preparation in terms of resources compared to occupational therapy. We were complaining about how the kids loved the gym more than the classroom, when speechies put in so much effort for the resources! HAHA
Spending special occasions here. I love how friendly the staff were and how much the large majority of them really cared for the wellbeing of the children.
These sights which prove that there is a master artist * heart eyes *
Christmas!!!! Most blessed to be able to share my hope and faith!
This core team picture really hit home... Gosh, can't wait to return if it is God's will
Enjoying Christmas sounds w speechies.
To summarise, I was really surprised by how 2020 turned out the way it did. The twist and turns and things that did not really go the way I wanted. Yet, similar to everyone else, there was personal growth that came from accepting circumstances, dealing with being apart from others, learning to live and be patient with my family again. There was spiritual growth in leaning on God and trusting Him to never leave my side no matter how bad it gets. There was growth in my learning as well, from doing things online to placements!
A less eventful year, but still an emotional rollercoaster I'm not sure I want to go through again. Yet, I'm thankful that 2020 came and went because I really learnt alot! God was really faithful and good to me :) LOVE YOU JESUS!
