"All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied" (Ecclesiastes 6:7, NKJV).

We are never to find our value in what we do. Instead, our value is solely based on who we are in Christ.

There was a purging on Saturday, I felt it in my spirit and I felt it in my heart. The heaviness finally lifting to be replaced by grace and peace. The slow climb back up the hill is slowly starting...

And yesterday during the corporate prayer, I tested...sorry God but I really just wanted to know whether I was hearing it right and whether I was still plugged in properly. And imagine my joy when the exact Word was released by someone else....oh me of little faith.

But thank You, Lord, for being so faithful even when I was so unworthy of Your grace. For answering my prayers for grandma (who's getting healthier, Amen!).

One day soon I'll discover the reason for the crushing...and until then, I pray for your strength and eyes of wisdom to see past the mountain to the promise...and to live a life not defeated but restored and joyful.

Slowly but surely.

Love,
Your daughter

Yes, you heard us right! We just turned one!
...and it was one of the best celebration ever :)

Before we embark on this seemingly long post, I'd like to thank EVERYONE! yes, YOU! for patroning us in this one year. It doesn't matter whether its only been once or many times, thank you from the bottom most of our hearts because you've helped us get where we are today.

I'm thankful, grateful and proud to say that we're doing well and it's time to think and plan for the future! So thank you thank you thank you! *muacks*

To make this successful first year of business that little extra special, we decided to throw a ourselves a little birthday "Tea Party"!

We would've loved to have invited all of you but because it was held at my sisters' private house of residence and to respect her privacy, we only extended invites to personal friends and family. The result - a great time of chatting, eating, trinket showcasing and great promotions for all our buyers :)

For those of you whom we didn't manage to invite, we haven't forgotten you! So don't worry because we're also extending the our first-year-birthday promotions to you - so do look out for the promo in our next post alright? *Not forgetting our Christmas range!* :)

Aight, here are some pics to feast your eyes on...starting with our pretty little invite!

There's only so much you can do when you're in the isolation chamber.

It's the time when you've shut off almost every other voice except the one that's most important....and I've realized, it has its purpose.

It's not a time where you've decided to push everyone away intentionally, it just happens because you've got nothing that's of substantial worth to give or completely genuine or absolutely sincere. It is perhaps a time needed to draw away and sit by the river to drink of its water. Once again, tasting and recalling how revitalizing its supposed to be and how refreshing it truly is.

So you're there, where no one else is, where there's nothing anyone can say that makes it any better or lighter or clearer. You're just there so the water can begin its cleansing, its washing away, and its refreshing once again.

And God has been so faithful...

Ever since my last post, many things have happened and I am careful to keep this to myself for now. I'm thankful that God has slowly been restoring and making anew....and I am rebuilding slowly but surely, taking my time and being cautious so as to not run too fast or get ahead of myself.

I know....

I don't have to do everything, I just need to do what God tells me to and what He intends for me to attend to.

I don't have to be the first to know everything as long as I do what I'm entrusted with, with excellence.

I don't have to know and plan everything, I just need to trust God. There are stone markers in place, I just have to keep a lookout for them and unravel the next season when it is time.

I can't be a superwoman, if I miss out on something, there's someone else who can help fill in the gap. That's why we're a family.

God knows the desires of my heart, He created everything that I hold dear. He planned for all those things in my life to be in my life. And I can prioritize them without feeling guilty or ineffective.

God himself will restore me and make me strong, firm and steadfast - 1 Peter 5:10.

God's grace is sufficient for me...every season, I grasp a deeper and clearer meaning of this.

So for those of you who have been praying over me, understanding without commenting too much, caring without being overbearing or just being a friend to hang out with, thank you because I needed no solutions, just God's love extended through you.

Lord, thank You for hearing, thank You for grace...and thank You for the isolation chamber. For peeling and scraping away the barnacles, restoring and providing the new wine skin. I will continue to cling to you and trust for a new and better tomorrow, always. Love lots, Amen.

In some small measure, I'm glad that not a lot of people still stay tune to this little virtual space of mine. No need for answers...

If I'm honest with myself, no place is exactly where I am right now. Neither all in or skimming the surface. I've managed to withdraw so much of myself that its difficult to get back into the hang on things - the staying in touch, the investing, the being there, or just being available.

Right now, it's the touch and go, the remember and encourage, the give when I make it convenient. It happens when I've come full circle in the whole guilt & balance game. If I can't be there entirely, if I'm torn between two places at once...I might as well just let go of the whole.

....and to top it all off, I feel that I've changed. And not necessarily for the better. I'm a little more jaded and cynical, more easily judgemental and quick to write things off. Where I used to be more easy-going, now I'm more selective. Dependent...

And I know, I just know....this is just the beginning of the tearing down and pruning.

So if I'm not exactly friendly or very open, please just bear with me. I'm trying to get back into the system. Find that balance to the crazy type that she talks about...and maybe, I'll find that certain joy once again.

The leisure of having time on your hands....I love that it's a holiday!

It's so frustrating.

Okay, now that that's out of the way. You'll understand why.

I've been couped up at home, sleeping the days away. I don't mind the sleep really, I haven't gotten this much good of a rest in a long time but it's never good when you're sleeping because you're sick.

Monday was the worst, I felt so chilly with the fever but swallowed some actifast and tried to ride it out at work til about 5.30pm because work just had to be done. Now, I understand their frustrations about resources. While we're all okay with the others taking a break (they rightfully should be able to when they want to), it leaves not much room for the others to hold the fort.

In any case, point to note and to take care of when I get back.

Monday night was the worst, the drive home was painful, I ached everywhere. Not any of the medicine worked, the fever persisted, the vomitting started, everything just went wrong.

Hello h1n1 scare.

It would've been the to the hospital the next day but thank God, the fever broke and I was left to sleep out the remnants over the next few days.

Mom and dad were the best nurses anyone could ever have *hugs* love you lots!

One more day and I should be as good as new - back to doing what I need to, helping where I can.

On the other hand, I still sound like a smurf :(

Here's something to jiggle your memory....