WOYWW: Desk To Go

Yesterday, I spent the day at the hospital watching over my mom and the box on my desk is the "desk to go" I brought with me. It has the basics of my prayer journal, water colors, pencil, pens, a glue stick, a small pair of scissors and some scraps of book paper and scrapbook paper. And I guess you can see the blood pressure monitor that I have been using a lot these days.

Although I hardly get to visit anyone to check on What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday, or to check out Word Art Wednesday, I still join up because if not, my blog would fade into oblivion.  Thank you so much for all your visits and encouraging messages.  Every little bit of encouragement helps me go through these challenging days. And of course, I run to the Word of God to help me.  I pray for the grace to see beyond the circumstances and always have hope whatever happens.  Blessings to you, dear blog friends.

WOYWW: Challenges

Here is my prayer desk early this morning for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday. I've been using some book paper and scrapbook paper for some of my prayer journal illustrations recently.

It's been a challenging time. My mother is still in the hospital and last Saturday, I received the heartbreaking news that a young friend of ours died.  He was just 32 years old, confined in the hospital for chicken pox and ready to be discharged when he had a cardiac arrest. So hard to understand...

Specially during difficult times, we pray for eyes of faith. And come what may, in the end, may I be able to say (as the t-shirt they found on that young man's desk says), "I have run the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7.  Sharing in Word Art Wednesday.

WOYWW: Just the Basics

My desk today for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday is just the very basic lap desk.  Today I am in the hospital watching over my Mom. During such challenging times, you really know what your basics in life are. For me it is God and my loved ones, it is family and community, it is faith, hope and love. How about you?

I thought I would not get to post today, but I didn't want to miss the chance of keeping in touch and sharing with you. Be blessed, my dear blog friends. Also sharing this in Word Art Wednesday.

P.S. In case you visited last week and are wondering where those cardboard discs came from, I found a lot of them scattered on the streets after New Year, so I assume they come from fireworks or firecrackers!

WOYWW: Still Hoping

Not much progress in the tidy up plans for my desk but from the looks of my desk, I am still hoping to find some time to create... Newly bound journals (I buy big watercolour pads and have them cut and bound since there aren't any reasonably priced small ones available here) and mini canvas panels...

and some stuff I rescued from being thrown away.  Can you guess where they came from? (I would be very surprised if you know where they came from!)

Yes, I am still hoping to find time to return visits and check out what you've been up to, and I apologize for the delay.  I find myself busy with my Mom, who is not doing well, and I have been also trying to research for alternative ways to help her.  It is quite a challenge but I continue to hope. 

And so my prayer journal illustration is also about having courage and being stouthearted as I wait for the Lord in this challenging time.

Sharing this in What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday and Word Art Wednesday.  Thank you so much for your visits and your words of encouragement! They are much appreciated!

Happy New Year!

Joyful New Year greetings to all of my wonderful blog visitors!  Thank you very much for your encouragement all throughout 2013, especially during the times when I've found it challenging to return your visits.

This first What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday post finds my desk in need of a cleanup.  There is a wonderful pile of magazines that I won from Jean of Bluebirds Living in the Meadow long ago.  I had it sent to my brother in law in the US so he could send it to me and it arrived just before Christmas.  A wonderful surprise since I had forgotten all about it!  Lots of inspiration for the new year!

Another surprise, our cat, Truffles, who the vet said was having a false pregnancy (They even took an x-ray and said there were no kittens), gave birth to three kittens!  

Ah, life is full of surprises and we know not what the future holds!

But I know who holds my future and I can trust in Him! Sharing this also in Word Art Wednesday and Inspire Me Monday!  Have a blessed new year, dear blog friends!

Christmas Blessings!

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel which means "God is with us."  Matthew 1:23

May you experience "God with you"...

...may your life be filled with all things bright and beautiful...

and may the blessings of this Christmas season be yours throughout the coming New Year...

even in the midst of life's messiness and challenges!

Greeting to all my blog visitors and friends from WOYWW, Word Art Wednesday and Inspire Me Monday!

WOYWW: Finding Meaning in the Mess

What's on Your Work Desk Wednesday finds my desk in a state of disarray (so what else is new!) with some gifts waiting for their gift cards...

And in the midst of trying to get at least some of my Christmas list done, I remind myself that in this challenging time, when we are caring for my Mom, Christmas is not really about having my gifts ready on time for December 25 (the Christmas season lasts until Epiphany in January).  It really is all about Jesus who came to save us.

As the Advent reflection from Online Ministries states, "The powerful advantage of Advent is that it offers us light in the midst of darkness, hope in the midst of despair, liberty in the midst of captivity, and peace in the midst of war or conflict. The key to a grace-filled Advent is to begin by identifying where I am experiencing darkness, despair, captivity and war. Recognizing our own unique version of these struggles is the first grace of Advent. We can’t say “Come, Lord Jesus” with any real meaning unless we have a felt experience of what it is we need. Once we experience our need, then the desire can formulate in our heart to ask for what we need."

This Advent and Christmas season is specially meaningful for me because in the midst of my Mom's suffering, I can truly say we need a savior and I am so thankful for Him.  Come, Lord Jesus!

I'm also sharing my prayer journal illustration with Word Art Wednesday.  In spite of the busyness of the season, may we all have a meaningful Advent and Christmas!

WOYWW: Christmas, Finally

Everyone seems to have decorated their homes and finished their Christmas cards and I have only today decided to start wrapping some token gifts.  No creativity here since I did not make these ecobags, just my way of encouraging my friends to use less plastic when shopping.  But they do come in nice colors and patterns, don't you think?

And speaking of colors and patterns, here's a scarf I couldn't resist buying because of it's colors and pattern!

Last Sunday, we went to a wedding and they had a photo booth where you can have souvenir photos taken.  It's popular for weddings and other big parties here in the Philippines.  I wonder, is this popular in your country?

And lastly, a page from my prayer journal about God's great love for his children.  After all, I think that is what Christmas is really all about...

Sharing this in What's on your Workdesk Wednesday and Word Art Wednesday.  Be blessed!

WOYWW: Advent

The year has flown by so, so quickly and now, it is Advent once again, a season we celebrate as a time of waiting and preparation for Christmas.  Last Sunday was the First Sunday of Advent and we had a big "Catchfire" prayer rally.  I designed the theme for the event and on my desk for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday is a ticket and t-shirt that I designed for the event.  

Every Christmas, I plan to buy an Advent wreath but when Advent "suddenly" arrives and I haven't bought one yet, I turn to my makeshift one made out of a wooden/wire fruit bowl, a wreath and some candles. Turn the bowl over and voila...

my Advent wreath!

All year round my Advent project is displayed on our wall but every Advent, it has special meaning for me.  It is made up of twenty five ATCs which have Advent symbols to make an Advent Calendar.

For me, Christmas is all about God's love and this verse from Romans 8:38 is one of my favorites.

Sharing this in Word Art Wednesday and Inspire Me Monday.  Be blessed, dear blog friends!

WOYWW: My Prayer Desk

It's that time of the week again and for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday, I'm showing you the desk that I use for my early morning quiet time.  First thing in the morning, I sit at this desk to pray and read the bible and make a journal page.  I have started on today's page...

My regular desk is filled with stuff from my closet.  I spent the weekend looking through my closet for clothes to donate to Typhoon Haiyan survivors and didn't finish putting stuff away. Every little bit of help is much appreciated.

My cook, who went to her hometown which was totally destroyed by that typhoon is back with us, with stories of the devastation and great need there.  And so, we who live in comfort, always have to try to do more.  

And as always, I like to leave you with an illustration from my journal for Word Art Wednesday. This verse from Psalm 62 is a reminder to trust in God at all times. "I shall not be disturbed", it says.  Hmm, I'm still working on that.

Thank you for visiting!  Be blessed!