Niah Getaway

Finally! I'm able to do some updates. I'm less busy today and managed to get my posts done.

Two weekends ago, I went for a weekend getaway at Niah National Park. It was an event organised by ADYC, which they called Partners' Weekend. And no, I did not spend a weekend in some gua looking for a potential partner, hahaha! It was a weekend for youth leaders to gather, share, be trained & be equipped to 'Transform our land in One generation'. We started our journey on Saturday morning. Janet & Bajeng carpooled with me. I was a bit worried about the condition of the tyres of my car...one of the tyres pancet the day before...but got it quickly done..And thank God, we arrived safe & sound.

Our first session started off with a walk into the caves. How awesome is that! The last time I went into the caves was back in 2005 with my colleagues..a week after I arrived in Miri. But it was raining so badly then & we had a tough time walking in the caves as it was very very sliperry. I slipped once! Sakit aa! So, this time the weather looks very fine and I was hoping that it would turn out to be better than my previous trip. :)

So, off we went. A whole 40+ of us! We have to cross the river by boat and then take a walk through the jungle before reaching the entrance to the caves. It was really fun! On the way there, I got a chance to talk to Ben, the ADYC chairman. The whole time walking, we shared stories...he shared on his printing business (which was very inspiring) and I shared on my teeny crafty business (a lil bud compared to Ben's flourishing business).

After walking for about...err...couldn't remember..coz was so engrossed with the conversation..haha...we finally reached the cave. So we prepared our torch lights and some put on their gloves(!) before we enter into the daaark. It did came across my mind, that this might be a good place to do hand mime with glow in the dark gloves! Hahah! As we entered the cave, it gave me a concoction of feelings....I was excited but then there's this tinge of fear & some sort of "misteri nusantara" feeling going on, heheh...the darkness can be a lil intimidating sometimes. But as I walk, I was more mesmerized with the formation of the cave ceilings and walls, than the looming darkness. Kinda make you stand in awe! I couldn't really describe it. You gotta see it for yourself.

After exploring the cave, we made our way back. The journey back got more interesting....haha...for Bajeng & I, that is. Well, Bajeng kinda slowed down after coming out of the cave..yup, he's "out of gas" even after we made a pit stop at the stalls for drinks. I waited with him, not wanting him to be left behind all alone. Kesian bah... After the pit stop, we continued walking (waaay behind everyone else) and all of a sudden his kaki began to have cramps! And he had to make stops after every few metres as it hurts quite bad. I, took the opportunity to freeze the moment and took a couple snaps of our surroundings. I snapped some rather interesting shots. So baad kan...there was Bajeng, in pain and all...while I was happily snapping away, hehe. It's nothing much I can do. I couldn't possibly carry him! He's more than twice my weight and size! Pengsan aku. :p

After a rather "loooong" walk...we're a few metres from the jetty. Finally! And not before Bajeng's foot suddenly kena cramp again....and this one's the worst. I could see it from the way he cringed. Akai.. Well, we waited for quite sometime, til his cramps lessen and finally, we managed to reach the jetty and there was Janet anxiously waiting for us! Phewh!

The next few days of the event was very encouraging & inspiring...eventhough we experienced butt pains from sitting on the papan floor for too long and in addition to muscle pains on our legs from the cave "walk", hehe. Well we had sessions conducted by Revd. Andy Shie from St. Andrew's, BSB, Bro. Ben and Bro. Stephen Wong. We touch on topics of leadership, taking care of your "sheeps" and Bro. Wisco from Region 5 shared on their activities and how they manage their ministries, as their region has been growing a lot for the past years. We also had games, which later we could do with our own youths.

The weekend flew too fast and without realising, it was time for it to come to an end & for us to head off home. It indeed was a fruitful weekend and I got to know more youths from various regions as well as those whom you already knew, you got a chance to know them better.

I trully think that it's also a good way to start connecting with each other....to share on materials & informations for our youths. We exchanged e-mails and numbers before we parted. I don't know when will we see each other again, but I'm most sure we will. Because we're in this together.. we're partnering with each other and most importantly God...to transform our land.

This is just the beginning of the journey... :)

Gettin' stitched!

Hey there! I know I've not been updating for the past week or so..oopsy. I've been away for most of it. And it's been such an eventful week...i don't quite know where to start (gasp!), haha! I guess I'll share about the cards I made recently. One of them is LLC's weekly challenge. Well, this time round, Sue & I agreed to do a card with stitches. Yup, you heard me right! We embraced our stitching skills (well, i think mine kinda berkarat already, hehe) & took up the challenge! Here's mine:

The card is an encouragement card, with the verse taken from Jeremiah 29:11. The inspiration came from the SOMA seminar that I attended recently. During one of the sessions, we were asked to go in pairs & pray for each other. I paired up with Sue. We chose the verse from Jeremiah to focus on during our prayer. This verse has always been a "heart lifter" for me especially on days when it seems so dark & gloomy. It's a great reminder, indeed!

I hope you can see the swirly stitch ;)

I've decided to stitch a swirl on the upper right of the card. I didn't know it was that tough to stitch on paper. It was definately harder than I thought. You really have to be careful & gentle so as not to scrunched up the card...which will only lead to a total disaster! Hehe. Nonetheless, I had fun!

The next card I did was an order from Maggie. She wanted a birthday card for her daddy a.k.a Uncle Hurbert, who turned 57 on 30th August 2009! (did I get the date right, Maggie?) So here it is:

It's one of my favourite creations because of the new thing I've learned....making a folded t-shirt! I found a video on it on youtube & I really liked doing it. Plus it's very cute! Heheh. Here's some close ups...

Well, I guess that's my update for the moment. I would really like to update more, but will find time for that later. Gotta go and look at houses & such for now, haha! (was wishing it would rain so that I wouldn't have to go out, heehee, but it seems that it's NOT happening anytime soon).
Til then, happy peeking! :)

Plain Jane

Hello Thursday! I was up last night burning some "crafty oil" to make LLC's card challenge. Our challenge for this week is to use handmade paper ribbon (Did I get this right, Sue?). This ribbon looks like a strip of twisted paper...hehe...that's how I see it. I, too used it for last week's challenge. ;)

Well this time, I decided to make my card more plain & simple. So I had to put a restraining order on myself as to not putting so much stuffs here & there...as I usually do (gatalnya tangan!), haha! So here's my plain jane...in my pursuit for simplicity..aiseh.

I used the stamp that I bought from Scrap'n'Crop, which I simply adore! And handwritten the word "Celebrate". Thank God, it came out ok, hehe. Was a tad nervous while writing it..takut it will turn out cacat! Plus, I was also afraid that I would get the words all smudgy...(lefties would undertand this ordeal, especially when dealing with inky pens). Phewh!

Some close up shots of the card and my "Celebrate". :)

Alrighty, I guess that's all folks! Happy peeking & enjoy today.

Do you not know...

....it’s mid August already?! Wow! Time does not fly...it zooms! For the past week, I have been busy especially with the SOMA (Sharing of Ministries Abroad) seminar on last Sunday & Monday. I thank God that everything went well (especially with the praise & worship team). :) Phewh! He is indeed a God who provides! And it was also a blessing to have the SOMA team, led by Revd. Titus from Singapore, to come to encourage, give words of wisdom & share their testimonies.

Well, for the past week or so, I’ve made several bookmarks & notebooks. I kinda miss making them…I couldn’t even remember when was the last time I made them as I've been making mostly cards lately! I found time, two weekends back to make some, which Sue & I then sold at our church on Sunday. The sales that we receive go into the youth fund. (Doing a little contributing to the youths eh, hehe). And here they are:-

My bookmarks...

One of my favourites :)

My notebooks...

I’m still figuring out what card to make for LLC’s challenge this week.*scratch head* We’re running a little late this time, as Sue & I were caught up with the seminar for the past two days and by the time we made it home after the seminar, our only agenda was to hit the sack! So, check out the blog tomorrow for our new updates! ;) Plus, I’m figuring out what to make for mummy dearest. Her birthday was last week and I’ll be seeing her in about a week’s time (Yippee! Can’t waaait!) I would like to make something for her as a birthday pressie! Maybe a journal…or a decorated frame…hmm…I’ve yet to decide. Got lotsa brainstorming to do..whooh! Will get ‘em crackin’ tonight! Hehe.

Before I go off, I would like to share these beautiful & encouraging verses, which has helped sustained me the past busy week. Even Revd. Titus quoted this verse (v.31), such a pleasant surprise! :)

28 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

~Isaiah 40:28-31~

Thanks for peeking & have a blessed Wednesday!

Oh sleepy day!

It’s LLC’s Tuesday Challenge once more! This week’s theme is to make a card with these 3 colour combination - purple+pink+black. Alvin aka Abinz (Sue’s hubby) threw in the challenge at us. Knowing very well that he’s a fan of anything black, he requested that the cardstock that we are to use was to be black and embellished with the colour pink & purple (sorta emo-ish colour, eh). Here’s my late night turn out:

I was extremely sleepy while doing this card. It was a tiring day for me plus the annoyingly hazy weather didn’t help much either (And I’m still sleepy now! Gulping down 2 mugs of coffee did nothing to give the much needed jolt to my system). I started about 11pm plus last night, which was after I came back from choir practice. Heck, I was already sleepy during choir practice! Fr. Chua made us sing with rounder mouths, which was rather hilarious because it made us look like monkeys when they make their monkey noises...hahah! Uhuh…I sang with rounder mouth alright…yaaaawning away! Good thing, he didn’t see me do that. Thanks to Maggie, she was the “view blocker”. ;) If not, memang kena pukulan hebat on the arm!

Hmm..I think I should've put "Live Laugh Sleep"

Anyways, I’m glad that I didn’t get any “crafter’s block” moments while making the card. The only thing on my mind was “Must. Get. Card. Done. By. Tonight.” ….but it wasn’t all that easy & breezy, as I did have a little frenzied moment where I couldn’t find my acrylics as well as moments where my eyes are constantly drifting towards my comfy lookin' bed. By 12.15am, I was done! But I wasn’t satisfied. (“I can’t get no…satisfaction”, heheh) I don’t know why. It seems like my hands are still itchy to tambah here & adjust there…but was tooo sleepy to do so. :p

So, I left it at that and then crashed my bed, heading off for dreamland.

Thanks for peeking! God bless.

A day under the August sun

Last Saturday, my group of friends & I hit the beach (well not exactly on the beach…in close proximity, is more like it) at Taman Selera for some fun, food & fellowship under the August sun! The occasion was an appreciation get-together for those youths who have helped out during the recent Diocesan Youth Sunday service, which was a success!


Kudos to Maggie, the organising chairperson, who worked her butt off (hehe)…I meant, worked really hard, that is, in leading the team to bring the event together! :)

It was a great time together, despite getting sun burned (real bad especially poor Lisa who's now sharing the same colour tone that of a lobster) afterwards & bitten by sand flies (I kena 3 gigitan…which is itching really baad right now, urrgh).

A concoction of laughter + food + great company + beautiful view + good weather (however, I would have hoped that God would turn down the heat from the Mr. Sun for a teeny bit..hehe. Didn't happened though. :p), was in our menu for the day.

These are some photos to share, of what we did on the first day in the month of August (seriously?!! It’s August already!) Eh enjoy…:D

Some of us either barbeque or get barbequed

While waiting for food to be served, some prefer to sit around & read primary school books. They're very educational.

Or some just can sit quietly & look adorable doing it. ;)

Some pick on tiny people :p

Some sit bawah pokok

Some take time to share stories & laughter

But above all, one can't help but marvel at the nature that surrounded us that day.

What beautiful sights to set eyes on.....

And thank God for His goodness & greatness!

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?"~ Isaiah 40:12

A vision of white

LLC (Live Love Craft)'s theme for this week is WHITE! And this idea was given by my friend, Jo. I guess she's in the "wedding" mood already, as the first thought that came to my mind when she mentioned a white theme, is to make a wedding card! Heheheee... ;)

So here, a wedding card I made for this week. I put a little colour to it...by adding a blue ribbon & used a greyish patterned paper.

~Forever~

I was up late last night to make this one (only had time to start doing after I came back from choir practice and that was about almost 11pm when I got my craft motor running! Eek!).

Initially, I had a picture in my mind of how the card would turn out to be but in the end, it came out totally different from what I've planned! But that's the wonder of making cards! The element of surprise comes by while you're busy creating & getting those pieces together. Sometimes an idea could just pop out of nowhere (an "Ahaa!" moment) & you just follow it by & surprise yourself with what you could do in the end. What delight! ;)