Hiatus

Hello there! I'll be going on an internet hiatus for two weeks (unless it’s related to school) due to my bad habits of procrastination and laziness. That means no facebook, tumblr, twitter, blogger, etc. until February 2, Thursday. I realized that I've been wasting so much time on the internet lately, and that I've been wanting to go online instead of doing productive things, so I decided to just stop and take a two-week break.

So until then, I bid you all farewell. See you guys again on February 2! :)

January 2012's Happiness

 Memories
Conversations with friends

Movie nights 

Pianos and guitars

Learning and knowledge

Family moments

Words

Notepads for doodling

Starting with a word from God

Colors

Mysteries

Books

DSLR cameras 

Pretty pens

{Image via We Heart It}

Setting an Example

The beginning of this week has been so far a bit of a whirlwind. I've had assignments to submit (I'm trying a different form of homeschooling this year so I have teachers and assignments), new material to learn, younger siblings to attend to, books to read, posts to write, church and school activities to go to and, of course, there's always the never-ending pile of dishes to do. But amidst all the busyness, I'm thankful that my mom always makes sure we start each day with the word of the Lord.

This week I was reminded of how I should live my life as a Christian. I should be the type of Christian who would serve as an example for other people. 1 Thessalonians 1:7 says, "And so you [the Thessalonians] became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia." Because the Thessalonians had great faith, they inspired and became examples to other Christians. They didn't know it but they became an example to millions of Christians all over the world--including me. Isn't that amazing, to reach people around the world just by setting a good example? That's why I chose this next verse as my life verse:

"You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." - 2 Corinthians 3:3

I chose it because it tells me that in whatever I do, especially in front of others, I serve as a "letter" from Christ. In the words that I speak and the things I do, I represent Him. I'm an ambassador for Him, and I know that to serve as an example to others, I must first follow the example of Christ.

An Update on My Projects

Hey, everyone. :) This will be a quick post/update on the project I showed you in the last entry. Some people commented on it and I thought my response would be too long for a comment, and the people who commented might not see it. 

The project was supposed to be a journal I could fill in with my bucket list--100 things I want to do before God takes me home (in other words, before I die, which hopefully isn't very soon, haha!). My mom told me of a printing company she recently became a member of, and I could just color-print it there. That's an answered prayer, eh? :) But there are a few limitations to the printing so I just decided to wait until I've completed the 100 things then make a scrapbook instead of a journal. Is that confusing?

So, for now, the bucket list compilation/scrapbook/journal will be halted until I've completed the things on the list. However, I have a new project in mind! :) I found my old planner from Total Girl and I was so inspired by the pretty layout and illustrations. The project I'm thinking of doing is to make a planner of my own! It's a pretty time-heavy, and most likely expensive, project but I'm really excited to do it. I've been doing some research and planning and, hopefully, I'll get it done by September, or at least before 2012 ends. That's a lot of time, isn't it? I'll keep you guys updated. See you next week! :)

{Image (c) Total Girl Philippines}

Artistic Pursuits on a Non-Professional Level

I have some slight problems with my current personal project.

1) I have no Photoshop or InDesign to do it on.

2) I have no budget to have it color-printed. (How I took for granted the cheap printing prices in the Philippines! Printing in Canada is more expensive.)

3) I reeeaaaaallyyy want it color-printed!

These setbacks are why, as of now, I'm substituting Photoshop for Microsoft Word to help me with projects and why I need to be extra creative because I'll be working in gray scale for the time being. You may or may not know this but I am in love with color. I can't not have color. One of the first things I look for in magazines, blogs, and other layouts is the color scheme. Right now, I'm a little sad and unsatisfied with my black-white-and-gray work, but never mind! A good artist must always work with whatever she (or he) has and be resourceful. That is one of the true tests of creativity. (Plus, now I know my way around Microsoft Word--especially helpful for school projects!)

Anyway, here's a small sneak peek on the project. Hopefully, I'll get my Photoshop soon and find a way to print less expensively. Haha!

Love: A Definition

What is love? I checked with dictionary.com and it says that love is "a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection as for a parent, child, or friend." Here's what the Oxford Canadian Dictionary says about it: "an intense feeling of deep affection or fondness for a person or thing; great liking." So, according to the dictionary, love is an emotion. But let's be specific. What is love exactly?

Love is actually many things.

First, love is patient.
It's not hurried; it waits.

Love is kind.
It avoids harsh words and gestures.

Love doesn't envy.
It makes us happy for what others have.

Love doesn't boast.
It's not proud.
It doesn't lift us above others. Rather, it makes us want to lower ourselves and be humble.

Love isn't rude.
It respects and honors.
Love isn't self-seeking.
After all, if we love someone, we'd choose their needs over our own instead of the other way around.
Love isn't easily angered.
What kind of love is bitter and angry all the time?
Love keeps no record of wrongs.
It forgives and forgets.
Love doesn't delight in evil.
It makes us want to get away from what we know is wrong.
Love rejoices with the truth.
It doesn't practice deception.
Love always protects.
It always trusts.
It always hopes.
It always perseveres.
Love never fails.

[Image via We Heart It]