Goodbye 2008

31 12 2008

Blessed Christmas everyone! I know this is coming late… But given that I’ve returned home not too long ago coupled with meetings at work, I guess this is the earliest I can post=)

Being with my in-laws for Christmas was fun! We spent loads of time talking and being in each other’s company. I’m really thankful for them as they have embraced me unconditionally into the family.

As I look back on the year, there’s so much to be grateful for… 2008 has gone by way too quickly… Our first year of marriage, managing our own home, spending time with loved ones, opportunities given at work, making time to create, learning to live without a TV set at home… These are amongst the loads I give thanks to the Lord for…

As the new year apporaches, I look forward to an exciting year, filled with changes… They will unfold in time to come…

Have a god-filled, adventurous year ahead!





Beautiful Weekend

13 10 2008

This weekend was fruitful. Saturday saw my youth ministry heading to the local park for a prayer retreat.

This was the view of my estate from the park. Lovely, isn’t it? So we spent the day in prayer, seeking God and reflecting on our lives. For me, it was a good break from the hustle and bustle of work as I give thanks for His goodness, as well as consider where my life is heading. In the midst of writing while enjoying a picnic, this little guy joined me:

Incredibly happy that the camera was good enough to capture the details on this little friend. When the day ended in the evening, we were thankful that the Lord held up the skies and though there were times where it threatened to rain, it did not. Instead, we got a gentle breeze blowing through the afternoon (it should have been real hot!) and the Beloved even spied a white hawk (I think) catch a fish from the pond. Wow! We must do this more often. Gives me reason to use my dear picnic basket too=)

On a side note, my new friend, Sophia, who was generous to give a RAK (read this) sent not only what was promised, but took the time to create a card and to throw in some other goodies too! Thanks Sophia! You are a gem! These greeted me when I picked them from the post office:

So my dear Sophia, expect this to reach you soon, as I return your kindness:

This is what I really like about the creative world, where the heart is in the art we create, and we get the prvilege of blessing others. Similarly, part of our daily blessing is the joy that we get to cook our own meals, to know that we are actually provided for my the Lord. So this week’s lunch box stars my first humble attempt at chicken curry.

 

This was prepared on Sunday, where amazingly, because the Beloved and I are learning to sleep early and wake up early, got to cook, clean, read and even go to the park in the evening to cycle! Wow! It was absolutely fulfilling! I’m working on improving my cycling skills and plan to do so in the next few months. So no pics of our cycling trip for now. Instead, as the Beloved would say, “Enough pics for now!” Poor thing, my sole target for shooting!

 

So here’s to a great week ahead and I hope you have one too! We are looking forward to yet another creative and satisfying weekend!





Make My Day!

27 09 2008

The last couple of weeks has certainly been challenging at work. Having to prepare papers for the impending exams, marking those that have come in from the tests, managing peeps that are getting out of hand and just learning to be more patient as a teacher… 

With that said, it is times like these that make creating all the more necessary – an outlet for me-time, to re-focus myself and just re-charge myself for a brand new day. Loads have been happening, especially with delightful news.

This arrived happily on a Tuesday after a hard day’s work:

Winning Elle’s Flicker Challenge for September was certainly a pleasant surprise. I had certainly not expected it when I read her blog earlier this month. It made my day and more importantly, reminded me that it’s really not about how layouts I complete. Instead, I need to take the time to thorughly enjoy doing each one at my own pace, playing with the layout and most importantly, pondering over the journalling.

Interestingly, the same layout also won the National Day Challenge at Made With Love.  THese were the stuff I received in the prize:

  

A pat on the back certainly! Interestingly, most of the items in the prize are items that I will rarely buy like rub-ons as they are pricey! I’m more of a paper gal!

Speaking of freebies, received some pencils as a gift that had interesting phrases on them like ‘correcting my mistakes’, ‘needs constant sharpening’… So guess what happened to them… plonked right on this layout:

 

This picture came from the Beloved’s best pal in Canada and I really enjoy listening to them when they talk. It’s like attending a tutorial in University! Definitely thought provoking. So here are the details of School of Thought:

 

I enjoyed creating this layout as it challenged me to consider what I should add to it to unify the theme that’s running through the entire piece. Dream Street’s Wonderland-Magical Moments paper certainly helped! The beautiful snowflakes sparked off my creative juices for the journalling which reads: “Just as each snowflake is unique, the ideas these guys share & generate are one of a kind! Listening to them speak is certainly having a lesson in the School of Thought.” This layout is also going to be submitted for Pink Sketches Sketch #6, and Create’s September challenge that called for us to make use of stationery supplies in our creation.

In the spirit of creating, I have also been thinking of some loved ones and these having been crossing the seas to put a smile on some darlings’ faces:

These travelled to Australia with my parents to congratulate my sis on her graduation. She did really well and got her first class honours in early childhood education! Yeah! Card was created using papers that she loves and of course, piglet was there to congratulate her too. She adores that cutie to bits!

Next up is a card to the land above, when my dear C is.

Been putting off writing to her as there’s really so much I want to say….But yes, finally here goes Mr Owl to say Hi!

Ohhh….while writing this, dear Mr. Postman came along and delivered my Adobe package! Yes, finally, I will have photoshop to play with! Adios for now then! And Yes, I must try to write more often!





re-CREATE-ion

30 08 2008

The last few weeks has been good for my soul. Took the time to scrap and to re-energise as I continue to give thanks to the Lord for His blessings. The following was done for Made With Love’s challenge. Aida hosted it this time round and we had to create using paint, glitter etc.

 

This was fun as I finally got round to playing with glimmer mist and went back to one of my al ltime favourite colours – aquamarine!

The itch to create continued and this time round, the following was done using the scrap challenge found at scrap.inspire.create. This layout was done based on the sketch dome by Michele Lui Tan. Again, glimmer mist was used, this time round to alter the cardstock and I finally got to use the cute elephant paper bought a long time back by Basic Grey.

 

Zion is the name of our elephant. He came about after the Beloved jokingly said that I walk like an elephant up the steps. As a result, he received zion as our 1st month gift from me. Zion was so named as God used a passage in Isaiah talking about the city of Zion to speak to me about the Beloved becoming my husband. As such, Zion is a celebration of our beginnings as a couple.

I’m looking forward to a great week ahead and I hope you have one too!





Adranaline Rush

15 08 2008

After a longggggg break and procrastination, I finally resumed my 5km run! Yup, ran home from work yesterday! It was certainly satisfying at the end, when I can proudly say to DH that I resisted the temptation of boarding the shuttle bus when it actually paused a moment for me at a bus stop when I ran past… I must continue this and make it a habit…It’s really not that difficult and my body will certainly thank me!

With that said, it seems too that having a blog pic and template that I love is also helping me write more. That is good… As I consider what are possibilities open to me in life and what I can do in the next chapter, I’m seriously considering something that involves my gifts and talents, something that allows me to play with colors and types and a daily basis… Pray along with me as I seek directions… Hmm, I should think about this as I run… Here’s to a great weekend!





Inspiration

14 08 2008

I love….this template! Stumbled upon this by chance… Was getting frustrated by what I was seeing each time I came in here, and thus, the lack of motivation to even write. When I finally got to the point of trouble shooting to find out how I can customise my own blog header, voila, realised the root of all the trouble – some templates simply do not allow you to change the header!!! Why didn’t I think of that earlier??? So browsed through those that allowed, found one that I liked, except that the set picture was that of a stadium… Thought I will give it a try anyway…and….to my pleasant surprise, they gave me a picture of vintage books!!! I cannot ask for anything better=)

This little adventure certainly has piqued my interest as to what really drives one to create, to capture the beauty around us. For me, it often begins with words… Right now, after teaching “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost, I’m thinking about this little word “Wonder”. Have we lost our sense of wonderment? I guess through creating, I’m constantly reminded of what God has created and the need to value them. So for me, I am in the midst of remembering to be thankful for the little goodness I see each day, instead of focusing on all the happenings that drive me up the wall. More imporatantly, I’m seeing the gem in DH’s invaluable encouragement for me to spend at least a little time each day to create, for that CERTAINLY helps me to smile and enjoy life, and that, inspires me…

Keep your sense of wonder and the inspiration will follow…





In the Beginning…

1 07 2008

Finally… I’m part of this… As I journey, let it be remembered that I write for Him, that I create because of Him, that I celebrate, thanks to Him – for all the colours in my life… Amen.