Craft

"...And works with her hands in delight." Proverbs 31:13b

Craft:

trade, the skilled practice of a practical occupation
make by hand and with much skill

I've decided to pursue my "duh, why didn't you think of that before" skill. My joy and passion comes out when I craft so why not take a stab at it and make something.

the end.

House Wife

I've been married for about 5 months now and figured I need to update the world on life as a house wife. Yes, you are correct...I said house wife. Maybe a few weeks after I got laid off from a horrible employer (yes I can say that because they were) my lovely husband proposed. Since then, for the four months of our engagement I've decided to hold off looking for a job and take on the biggest one of all, planning my wedding.

So since the day of the wedding, I have still stayed true to my decision on holding off looking for a job (although I do frequently check craigslist because I'm curious what's out there). By the way, can I correct myself? I know I said "MY decision" but the decision was ours and of course ultimately Gods! Through prayer we've come to the conclusion that I, Alyssa Rae Tiongco, does not need to work.

Scratch that again...I mean I do still work, being a house wife is a lot of work with a lot of love as my income. I've dedicated this time into pouring out my time to keep the home a home that glorifies the Lord. As I do that...I work, work unto the Lord. So on to my next blog post that I feel is necessary to keep separate.

Busy Bee

Obviously I recently got married so I haven't had a whole lot of time to update my blog! Also I've been busy pursuing my jewelry career! Yeah exciting I know!

I think that's all I'll post for now because i amd exhausted!



thealyssarae.etsy.com




enjoy!
;)alyssa rae

Oh BTW...

i married my best friend ;)

since you waited so patiently...

So it was a Thursday night, yes random day. We decided to go out to dinner, we usually do anyways. We went for Pizza in some restaurant in Concord, nothing fancy, nothing out of the ordinary.

Reggie...light bulb...says "Since we're in Concord, lets go to the mall and buy Hailey a gift (a bday party we were attending that Saturday)" and of course I say yes to the mall! What girl wouldn't?

After dinner, we head for Sun Valley mall. He says "I love you" and we get out the car. While we're walking in, we walk past Helzberg Diamonds.

Reggie says, "Hey since we're here, can we check your ring size?"
I say, "Ehhhh, now? I don't want to"
Reggie: "Come on, Lord willing when that day comes I can be sure!"
Me: "Ok, i guess"

So we walk in, we ask for help from one of the employees. A woman is glad to help us out. While I'm trying to scope out some fancy jewelry, Reggie is tugging on my arm not allowing me to go anywhere. As we are being helped by the employee, we walk further into the store.

As I'm looking at all the display cases filled with gorgeous jewelry, I stumble upon one display case in the store that is filled with flowers and besides the flowers is 1 ring, which is unusual because most of the cases have at least 5 pieces of jewelry. It didn't hit me yet. While I'm looking at that I'm thinking in my head "ooh, i like that ring". Reggie stops me and says, "Actually I was wondering if you can try on that ring" as he points to the display case with the flowers. I look, and the employee takes the ring out of the display case and hands it to Reggie.

First I say, "Are you serious??!"
Then Reggie gets on one knee and pops the question, "Alyssa, will you marry me?"

I start crying like a baby and say "YESSSSS!!" while the employee busts out her camera phone and starts taking pictures.

After I say yes and try to collect my tears not knowing more is about to flow out, all my future bridesmaids and groomsmen and disciplers, etc. come running down the stairs with cameras and video cameras to greet us!

all I can say is Praise God! PRAISE GOD!!! Isn't Christ amazing?

Oh, and btw...the flowers were for me also!

Depths of my heart

"You see the depths of my heart, and You love me the same! You are amazing God!"

WORK

So, i've been having bad days at work. It's funny how God orchestrates things...tonight i read in my devotional this little rewritten "psalm" from a writer unknown:


The Worker’s 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my boss, and I shall not want.

He gives me peace, when chaos is all around me.

He reminds me to pray, before I speak in anger.

He restores my sanity.

He guides my decisions that I might honor Him in all I do.

Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mail, system failures, copier jams, back-ordered supplies, unrealistic deadlines, staff shortages, budget cutbacks, red tape, downsizing, gossiping co-workers and whining customers,

I won't give up, for You are with me.

Your presence, peace and power will see me through.

You raise me up, even when the boss fails to promote me.

You claim me as your own, even when the company threatens to let me go.

Your loyalty and love are better than a bonus check.

Your retirement plan beats any 401K, and when it's all said and done,

I'll be working for you a whole lot longer!

Knitting for the Lord

So as Christians, we know that the almighty God is all knowing, sovereign over all things, causes all things to work out for the good of His people, and His will is perfect.

I say this because i've stumbled upon something that got me thinking, bringing me to a chuckle and being reminded that God is in control of all things. You might think its a petty thing but i find it quite funny and amazed in how God can use the smallest of things to reveal His glory.

I'm talking about my new hobby. I've become a knitter (but the cheating kind, with a wheel) haha, and recently i felt like i was in need of a hobby. Something that i can sit still doing while relaxing at the same time. God put in my lap, literally, knitting.

I believe that God in His all knowing sovereignty placed this hobby into my life so that i might draw closer to Christ.

I came to this conclusion a few days ago. A few days ago i decided to take a drive down to the marina in Benicia. I packed my Bible, a notebook, and of course my yarn and knitting wheel. After I had my quite time with the Lord, i spent the remainder of the time submerging into my knitting wheel. Knitting has almost become a subconscious activity. During this time, i found myself talking with God the whole time! Sharing with Him my concerns and prayers, lifting up my praises and just being in His presence. That's when i started to realize, wow! I bet the Lord is thinking, "See Alyssa, i needed to give you a hobby that would cause you to sit still. To be still and know that I AM God."

I feel like with everything going on in my life, i forget to be like Mary and sit at Christs feet. I feel like I always have to be in action, no time to rest! no time to sit and breathe. Like Martha, i've forgotten how to sit still. But God has placed something as simple as yarn and a plastic weird looking wheel to force me to sit still and talk with Him!

So almost every time i knit, i guess you can say that i'm knitting for the Lord! haha, it's true though. My knitting time is my "sit still" time, my time to just lift my thoughts to the most Holy One. Haha, I can't wait for this scarf to be done, so i can start on a new scarf! I'm excited, because the more things i knit, i'll be able to look back on them and think, "oh that scarf was during that one trial in my life" or "oh that scarf was knitted when God did this in my life" and so on and so on.

Yay the end for my yarn blog. haha.

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

FAITH OVER FEELING

"We live in uncertain times which demand a certain hope that can only be found in God. Right now, choose faith over feeling. Don't doubt in the darkness what you learned in the Light." -taken from Girlfriends in God devotionals

Ah, yes it has been a month since i've graduated and yet it feels like i graduated last year. So much has occurred in just a few weeks. I started my new job, I've traveled across the country, got together with relatives that live far away, and I'm just naming the physical things that's occurred.

Besides these things, it seems as if right when i got that diploma of completion, completing school, my life took a huge detour down roads I would have never imagined myself going down. Some smooth rides and some not so smooth with a few bumps in the road. But if i can share one thing that i have been learning, its simple, it's that I can have confidence that my God is in control. I want to go off on a tangent right now and say 'MY GOD'! It has a whole other meaning to it when i say "MY GOD is in control!" Because that's what gives me confidence, the fact that God is now MY GOD i can have faith that he will perfect a work in me.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

So anyways, back to what i was saying...One thing I've noticed is that sometimes it gets so easy to take a hold of the wheel yourself thinking you know the way. But you end up getting lost or stuck and realize that's not where God wants you. I like using this illustration of driving a car on some road and what not. We as stubborn sinners, think we can do it on our own, think we can find our own way. But i will be first to admit that when I'm not giving it up to God, I get lost!! I fail and put my confidence in man and myself when i should be putting my confidence in Christ. Giving Him the steering wheel to my life and letting Him direct my paths, having faith that His will is perfect! and know that He will ultimately be glorified!

I like that piece from the quote above... "faith over feeling". We can get so caught up in our feelings and emotions and forget who the Ruler of our heart is.

fathers day

So for fathers day we go to Taylor's Refresher in Napa. A little change of scenery since we usually go to nice fancy restaurants that need reservations. Recently i heard that Shia La Beouf has been spotted there a couple times...and if you know me, you know i love Shia. We were sitting at our table with the entrance at a distance...and every time someone would walk in i'd glance to somehow possibly spot Shia! hahaha, and this is how our conversation goes...

(looking at doorway)
"Man! where's Shia!" -Alyssa
"I see him! Over there!" -Father
"Where?(knowing he's only kidding)" -Alyssa
"Right there, see the guy in the green shirt" -Father
"No? Which one? the guy outside?" -Alyssa
"No. The guy right there! look! with the goatee(pointing frantically)" -Father
"Who?!" -Alyssa
"That guy right there!!" -Father

As i finally see who he was pointing at, it was some man who was about 30 years older than Shia and almost resembled John Goodman with a goatee...

Oh father...Happy Fathers Day!