A comeback and a round-up!

          Do you remember couple of weeks ago when I wrote about lists, schedules and the "overwhelmed" feeling? Well, should I start by saying my photo a day challenge did not go as well as I thought? Hmm.. It's pretty hard for me to follow through these days. But hey, I still want to share with you some cute pictures I've taken during February. I'm really working at getting organized and hopefully as the weather warms up I'll be out more to take more pictures to share with you. Because pictures are memories that last forever. 

          All right, I cheated, the bottom picture was not part of photo a day challenge, but it's a motto I recently learned on an online class I took. It's so empowering! 

          Did I make you interested on what other kind of pictures I post on instagram? Then, you go and follow me! Also, let me know you are reading my blog (it's always so encouraging when someone tells me they read my blog!!)

What motivates you to take pictures?

The List Invasion

       
          Lately, my overall feeling is being constantly overwhelmed. By news at my job, new friends I encountered on my life journey, new projects, people I want to help/get to know better/ encourage, and lots of TO-DO lists. I feel I don't have the energy to do everything. That's when prioritizing comes in handy. And then, the hardest step (for me): to say "No" sometimes. So I end up each day feeling exhausted, and thinking I am not capable of doing it all. I'm human, after all. Still, the frustration is there - piling up. In moments like these, I get so vulnerable, and I'm like a walking ticking bomb... Waiting for the perfect moment to explode. But the beauty of life wins over everything. While life happens, God gives you little moments full of majesty,  and heavenly peace. He sends you the biggest hug through a wonderful sun rise, and puts a smile on your face through a word of encouragement. 

          This last week was very, very hard. Friday was the hardest. But God told me through my brother-in-law: "The happiness and fulfillment of this life don't come from the place where I live, or the job I have or the things I own, but from God."

           So, life can be hard, overwhelming and unfair; as long as my happiness comes from God, I know my life is fulfilled.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed?

Investing the right way

{source: Google}

        Two of my teachers from high school had the most influence in my life even now after years of not seeing them anymore. I remember one morning, I wasn't paying attention in the class (it was 7:00am, for God's sake I wasn't awake yet!), but I heard my teacher saying "the best way to invest is to invest in people". I thought it was a very interesting remark. Over the years, I've come to understand better what she meant that foggy, cold morning. Recently I read Ecclesiastes 11:1. The NIV version (which I usually read), didn't make too much sense in my head, so I searched for another interpretation. The Message version said

 "Be generous: Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns." 

          Merriam-Webster Dictionary's definition of  "charity" is "benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity". To love the human kind, means to care not only for people’s present, but their future, too. And what’s better than caring for their eternal future? Because, investing in people is investing in people’s souls and investing in their souls, is to invest in eternity. And here comes the vice-versa: "But those who invested in the no-gods are bankrupt - dead broken." Isaiah 42:17

          What was your best investment in the last year?...   

          

History lesson with a fun twist

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              Did you know the first picture was taken in 1827? Did you know it took Joseph Nicéphore Niépce 8 hours to take it? Afterwards, it took Louis Daguerre a dozen years to finally reduce the time to less than 30 minutes. 186 years later and we take pictures in 1/10 of a second. I’ve been fascinated by these facts since I learned about them. It’s something curiously attracting for me how fast human kind can discover new things. Like, my new lenses for my iPhone (say what?!) I got them for Christmas from our gift exchange at work, so I want to get as much use of them as I can. That’s why I’m going to join Chantelle@Fat Mum Slim in her photo a day challenge this month. I'll be posting the pictures on instagram, facebook and twitter. Every Friday I’m going to post on the blog a highlight from the week before, and maybe even share some of my favs.

Would you like to join in this fun adventure?... 

PS: Let me know in a comment below if you'll join and leave your instagram or Facebook  so I can see your photos, too.

I'm Diving In

I was going to write today about faith, because Abraham’s faith amazes me. However, on Sunday I realized I am far from being ready to talk about such a vast subject. And the sermon I listened to inspired me to talk about digging deeper. Or studying. How many times do I spend time really searching the Bible for new meanings, new food for my soul? How many books did I read that helped my spiritual growth or taught me to be a disciple of Jesus? How many times did we read a passage and took only what’s obvious, easy to get to and basic? The sermon I heard was from Acts 5: the story of Ananias and Sapphira - they die after lying about their offering. It’s very known this passage, since I was little I remember people talking about how God punished them for lying. But, if you dig deeper, is so much more to learn from it: they not only lied, they wanted to look better by deceiving everybody to think they gave everything they had. They wanted a good reputation based on a lie. That’s hypocrisy (that’s what the preacher underlined the most). I won’t talk about hypocrisy now, otherwise this article will turn into a sermon (and being a pastor’s kid, that’d be too easy), but it seems God challenges me to dive in his word, not just play next to the shore. Like it was last time (read here), He proved me wonderful things are waiting for me once I dive in.

What was your recent discovery about God that took you by surprise?

Making magic happen...

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           Is it bad when you're proud of your work? Of how it came out? How you managed to make your ideas happen through your creativity? Sometimes, I am (99.9% I don't say it out loud!). Sometimes, I'm amazed how far the creativity's limits can stretch. Of course, there are many times when I fail miserably. But tonight I want to share with you my latest (and cutest!) of my creations. Last weekend a lady from work turned 29...again(!), and everyone counted on me to make a cute card. I knew I had to come up with something good. Since she likes make-up, there had to be something along those lines, but wasn't sure what and how. I wanted an eyeshadow and mascara. So what do you do when you don't have too much time?... Yes, the answer is Pinterest... There were quite a few ideas, but I liked this one the most.
       


  Using whatever I had home (pink and black Bazzill card stock, ivory card stock, circle cutter, craft knife, stamps, ink, passion and some patience), this came out!!.. Unfortunately, I didn't think of taking pictures while I was making it, so these are the only "after" pictures I have. Inside the blush I wrote "It's never to late to dream bigger!" and the inside was blank for everyone to sign. The birthday girl loved it! She said she never received a card as cool as this one in her entire life. I don't know if she was just being nice, or not. All I know is I enjoyed every single second of the process. And, once again I was reminded you don't need all the expensive tools. Creativity, some basic tools, a lot of patience and passion is all you need.

When was the last time you realized patience and passion are more important than all the fancy tools?

And, since I like parties, I linked up to here:

Hello, twenty thirteen!

     

{photo by me}

          It's that time when people sit down and analize themselves for the past year, set goals, see what changed and what's to change. It's the opportunity of "new beginnings". Well, I'm not that kind of person. I've never been and it's hard to imagine myself this way. I'm trying, though - really hard, actually.

          I've had some resolutions last year. Some of them happened. Some, are in progress. Others, didn't.

  I haven't blogged too much. Not necessarily because of lack of inspiration, but because time management was pretty challenging. Besides, until now, I've kept it more as a journal replacer. This year, I want others to get to know this little world of mine. Not because I'm important, but because I want to invest in people. And if I'm shy, this would be the best way(at least, for now). So this year, you'll find me at my working desk, making creatinkart happen; spending time with family and friends; investing in youth & church; seeking God; making a home; falling in love with my hubby every single day; writing about my failures and victories; sharing my fears and moments of happiness. I'll be a busy bee, enjoying the warm days and cold ones. Growing up, falling, getting up and going further. I have a plan (more or less, to be honest!!) and I need your encouragement. Because I'm scared.

       
                So, bring it on, 2013!! Bring it on!!!