On Future

You know how I not so secretly hoping, dreaming, planning to have my own children someday? Two boys and a girl to be precise. Yes, I am a detail freak when it comes to dreams :). Well, when I browse through this page containing heartwarming images of children hanging out, playing, doing chores and what not, this particular image struck me and I just want to post it here. As a little reminder, way to vision my dream better :). My children having a good time at the beach? Sounds very very real.

by John Dolan , uploaded from Momfilter

Dear Savings,

I know... I am sorry, there has been"too much" of a not necessary withdrawal, as well swiping the magnetic strip of the atm card too often for things wanted and not so needed these couple of weeks. You know that is not typical of me. Well, occasionally, I think I have to be this lady who enjoys splurging on new clothes, accessories and make up... Retail therapy? I have to admit, can be a very good mood booster.

Anyhow, I need to let you know that I have had enough. I need, and I want to make you fat. I really do. So please, remind me over and over again that I have more than just enough of stuffs in my closet, flats, heels and wedges in the shoe rack, movie collection by the dvd set and also stacks of new must read on my bookshelf for at least a couple of months from now. 

So here I go; deleting fashion blog from my browsing history, tightening my belt, crossing my fingers!

from Fox in Flats

Thou shall be Smurf'd!

Well yes...Another reminder of almost everybody's smurfy childhood life :) .

The Smurfs

Quick Catch Up

Just sharing one picture from the last little reunion over an enormous buffet lunch with some of my Bandung besties. Bandung is this little city where I was born, and I also went to one of the university there. Joe (the beardy guy) is like a big brother. I am good friends with his family too , means his other big brother and 2 younger brothers, cousins, in laws and relatives. The sweet girl hugging Joe as if he was a bear is Indira, also one of my closest, is a mother of three boys- yes, three boys. As much as she loves being a Mom, the three hour lunch was a well deserved break for her indeed :)). Another girl on the end is Maya, who actually was in senior year when Joe, Indira and I entered the university, but we get along and manage to stay in touch this far. Maya is a mother of one cute son.

Volent , my sister and Joe's cousin Lewi were there too but we did not get the picture together as a group. Too bad.

Not enough time for us to catch up on things, but it was worth the wait. See you guys soon, hopefully with more lovely people in the picture.

Love, Lost and Found: Missed Connections

I think it would be so amazing and profound that a couple could one day be telling their grandchildren the story of how they met and explain that they saw each other on the subway,coffee shop, or a park then connected over a website.
This book will help ; Missed Connections is a collection of illustrated love stories. There’s “We Shared a Bear Suit”,  “If Not for Your Noisy Tambourine” “Hairy Bearded Swimmer” and many interesting other stories. Each is told in the shorthand of a “missed connection,” and then illustrated in Chinese ink and watercolor. Lovely. The cutest fact about it that the stories are originally taken from this blog :)

As for the book- Is it on my must have list ? Oh, Yes!

Missed Connections

Terlalu Pagikah?

Karena aku tahu aku tak akan menemukan
Sekelebatpun dari sisa bayanganmu
Karena tak akan ada satu kapalpun yang akan pernah berlabuh
Mengantarkanmu kembali pulang
Dan tak akan kutemui sudut kota paling terpencil sekalipun
Dimana suaramu dapat kudengar lagi...
Dinyana matamu mampu meneduhkan takutku ini...

Terlalu pagikah?
Terlalu dinikah kalau saat ini
Aku berandai dapat menjalani satu...
Satu malam saja
Tanpa rasa ngeri yang terlalu dalam
Terlalu dalam sampai besi yang kita lemparkan ke dalam
tak terdengar dentingannya

Menjalani satu saja
Pagi tanpa kesesakan yang semakin memeri

Karena aku selalu lupa,
mungkin mendekati kegilaan
mengira engkau masih disini

Sebentar saja....
Sebentar saja kau tinggal...

Terlalu pagikah?
atau terlalu larut untuk memintamu
Menetap sejenak lagi?

TSB- 2005-

Saya dedikasikan hari ini untuk sahabat saya CEM, mengenang sang Ayah.

Writer's Block

It has been a year since I have this guide book to beating writer's block. It comes packaged in the shape of an actual block: 3" x 3" x 3," with 672 pages and more than 200 photographs throughout. Whenever I am stuck, I just flip open "The Writer's Block" to any page to find an idea or exercise that will jump-start my imagination. 

I have that blocking now- maybe because I just got back from Jakarta and too worn out because of all the hustle, grey sky (I am going to stop now!) and yadadadada...

The book- usually find it's way to crack an idea. Today, I think I am just too bored and so not in a good mood.Or maybe, there's just actually too many things on my mind... And I cannot share them with you :(

Writer's Block

Why You Should Buy Art

from 20x200

Young Talent

I am laughing in adoration and pain when I browse to the work and read an article about this young young talented photographer Isabella Connelley  . She is a living, roaring 16 years old artist!

Read her say below; 

I’m sixteen and I live in Sydney Australia. I started taking photos when I was offered dark room photography at school and ever since I have been in love with photography of all kinds. I love how images can take you to a different world how they can make you feel different emotions.

Lake Luguhu-China

This post on one of my favorite page make me feel like I have never been anywhere and have not done so much of a good picture taking...:(( Oh dear time (and savings)... Please bear with me... Do not vanish away so fast.

the photographer

Madiba celebrates 93rd birthday

from here

Invictus

by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

I remember

Today. Two years ago.

I remember the pain, I remember crying out loud and the sleepless nights. I remember the severe anger of letting go and left being in shattering heart . 

I remember the dusts, the wreckage and the horrifying sound of fear.

But most, I remember the courage. I remember picking up pieces of faith and  getting stronger everyday. 

I remember the friendship melts into a very very strong bond...I remember... A family.

Do you even know me? Like,at all?

Is it difficult for people to get you a gift? I mean, say you are so brand minded thus people think twice about getting you stuffs for your birthdays ? Or are you too critical? Hard to pleased too? My flaw is for the reverse; when I give people presents, I tend to assume that they like books too!

Lucky for my friends, and siblings, I always adore a book/ a CD of my fave musician as a gift. Not expensive (unless you are getting me a collector's item) , not hard to find and always always be my treasure.
But, have you ever experienced something like shown on this picture below? Oooh Cookie Monster, I feel for you... :)

from this tumblr

Rootless Tree (?)

No, not the angry song by Damien Rice :) This picture is taken by my friend, an award winning photographer residing in Bali, Pande Kadek . We were on our way home one time after work when we spotted this view. He captured it and set it upside down because of this amusing idea of seeing it from both ways. 
I, now am thinking about the relations between the two. If you were a tree, wouldn't you want to bear fruit? But, how far do you understand that it depends on how you take care of the soil?  You have to water them, feed them so that the root will grow strong, pick the right composting time, make sure they get an enough sun and be ready to shade them if they need it. Will your branch be the one that is so strong yet gentle for those kids climbing over on a sunny day? Or for a bird to use it as a podium for them to sing?
More over... What do you have to sow to get the expected harvest?

Can you choose between the two? If so... What are you? The root or the branch?

As for me... No, I do not think we can become one without the other.

take a look on some other work of his

Pesan Singkat

Pak... Lagi banyak pikiran nih... pengen cerita. Pengen ngadu. Pak, surga jauh sekali ya? Ngapain aja disana? Pasti lupa sama Thress... Pasti sedang bercengkrama dengan Tuhan kita. Tuhan yang sangat sayang sama Bapak sampai-sampai tega merebut bapak dari sisi Thress.

Pak, kalau nanti malam Thress cerita, bisa dengar tidak?

Sedikit saja.

Sebentar saja.

Great News!

Have you met my sister Detri ? The cute, funny girl with a megawatt smile?  Well, this post is to dedicated to her and to share a happy news as she is now busy preparing her ... wedding! Yes, she will tie the knot with her boyfriend of 4 years, in November this year. The wedding will take place in our late Dad's hometown, Siborong-Borong - North Sumatra! How excitingly crazy is that? If you think wedding reception preparation is pain, then a traditional Batak ceremony is like 5 times more complicated :))... But of course it's good to still carry what we inherit from the ancestors.
My Mom is of course on cloud 9 with this plan and we have been praying with an aching but happy heart ever since. We have never been there since decades ago. Well, I do not want to make this about the whole family so I will stop talking about the hometown now.

It was not an easy road for the bride and groom to be. They have to overcome differences and struggle with adjustments like any other couple. Her boyfriend, Oki Leonardus- is a very quite and introvert person and Detri is anything but those two! But somehow, no matter how I can be so skeptical about the power of Love, now I admit that  it can win :). Love, I mean :)

I wish you all the love in the world sis!

Detri and Oki

Pimpinan yang terhormat

Kepada yang terhormat,

Pimpinan PT Derajat Adalah Segalanya

Bapak yang terkasih. Kemarin tamparan dan hinaan itu mendarat lagi di pipi anak kami. Mungkin anak kami ini mulutnya perlu kami sekolahkan lagi karena dari kecil memang ia suka melawan. Tapi seiring berjalannya waktu , anak kami sudah mulai bisa membedakan, kapan saat yang tepat untuk bungkam, kapan bisa angkat suara tinggi. Jadi kalau kemarin ia buka mulut, kami tau ia punya alasan.

Jadi, bapak yang terhormat. Mohon pikirkan lagi, apakah benar anak lulusan perusahaan bapak yang terkenal itu sudah mendapat pendidikan yang baik? Yang cukup layak untuk bisa membawa anak kami menjadi –kata orang- tanggungannya, menjadi anak buahnya? Apalagi lebih jauh kalau mau menjadi imamnya? Penunjuk mana dosa mana pahala. Mana pantas mana pamali?

Jadi, Bapak yang terhormat, kemarin anak kami ini pulang ke rumah, dan si keras kepala itu memutuskan untuk tidak kembali lagi ke perusahaan bapak. Katanya ia merasa tidak cukup layak. Selain itu, alih-alih dikasih kenaikan gaji, ia malah dituduh korupsi. Berencana saja ia tidak, apalagi melakukan. Tahu begitu, lebih baik ia lakukan sekalian, katanya lagi. Dasar memang anak kami ini suka keterlaluan kalau bicara. Kami suruh ia diam, tapi tak kami kirim ia untuk meminta maaf ke tempat bapak. Mungkin bapak menunggu?
Pasalnya begini, bapak yang terhormat, kami tidak mau menjadi abu-abu dalam menyatakan benar atau salah. Jadi biarlah, kalau memang dia merasa keyakinannya itu merugikan atau menyakitkan , dia bisa minta maaf. Kalau tidak, kami akan biarkan dia dengan keyakinannya. Kami juga tak bersuara apapun menyoal dogma-dogma bapak didepan anak kami. Karena itu tadi, anak kami harus bisa belajar sendiri. Kata anak kami, bapak justru membela si pelaku penghinaan tadi. Kami hanya diam, karena mungkin bapak punya alasan, yang tak bisa kami mengerti. Pun tak sempat kami cari tahu.
Dan karena kami ini bukan dari kalangan atas-atau  apapun istilahnya-, kami sehari-hari sudah sibuk bekerja dan tidak sempat berbicara atau menilai sikap atau cara hidup orang lain. Termasuk untuk menilai soal bapak.
Ia- anak kami-  sudah lama mandiri, kalau ia sampai merasa harus pulang, artinya ia sudah mencoba- paling tidak- lalu berani mengakui ketidak sanggupannya. Anak kami itu.

Sekian surat dari kami. Sekiranya bisa bapak anggap sebagai kata permisi yang cukup layak. Salam sejahtera untuk bapak sekeluarga. Kami doakan untuk terus sehat berbahagia.

Believe it or Not: Soulmate

Here we are at the latest post on Believe it or Not. You can go to Special Feature page here in this blog to find more subject in this section.

Do you believe in one? Some say soul-mate is someone that is made truly for you, carved in heaven and sent to earth only for you and no one else. Thus whatever happens you will end up being together. No matter how long, how far, your path will cross anyhow. So don't bother to make an effort looking for them. Hence, praying for it should suffice.

The wikipedia states;  A soul-mate is a person with whom one has a feeling of deep or natural affinity, similarity, love, intimacy, sexuality, spirituality, or compatibility.Which actually , makes much more sense to me.
I used to define it as a connection so strong that I can be drawn to a person in a way I have never experienced before.  "Chemistry" is one important element, so I used say.

However (as time travels, along with its perky force of troubles, moments to make decision, pain and whatnot) I somehow learn that not any of those deep affinity in a relationship can be attained without effort, affection,  tested by time and trials, or sometimes distance and for sure; not enough by being flourished with oh dear the L word, Love... which, my dear... is a verb.

Bad news people ; Soul-mate is earned!
So move your  sweet a##, get to know that guy on the 11th floor , fall in and out of love, call and ask her out, try again. Say amen at the end of your prayer, but get over your past and move on. Be an answer for someone. You may found the answer to your questions too.

(Tempted to relate the heavenly force here but I deleted it. Who am I kidding? Heaven has nothing to do with it ;))

cartoonstock

I am Sam

Remember my jailbreak saga? Well, since I only have like a half of the lost albums as a back up in my macbook, I now am starting to collect the "vanished" ones. One by one, track by track. This very moment I really need to listen to this album. Every single song in the album (esp one with Eddie Vedder's vocals). But it takes time tho'... So, here I am, posting while waiting for the download to be completed, and in reminisce with the story that remains. With the album, the movie and the very man who once gave this record to me.  Not Sean Penn.

I Am Sam OST

Mencari Bapak

Yang mana bapak kandungku? Aku tak yakin…
Kata orang, bapak adalah orang yang memberi nafkah, yang membuat dapur emak mengepul dari pagi sampai malam. Yang membelikan seragam dan membayar uang sekolah, yang mengajari cara memanggil burung dara dan yang memarahi kalau kita kalah cepat berenang menyebrangi kali.

Tapi dapur emak jarang beruap panas, paling-paling hanya sekali di waktu pagi,sebelum nasi uduk buatannya kupikul dalam tampah rotan yang harus kubawa keliling kampung sampai tengah hari .

Berarti mungkin, aku tak punya Bapak?

Seragam sekolah itu yang warnanya putih dan merah kan? Putihnya sudah agak menguning memang, tetapi tetap saja aku rindu memakainya.

Sepertinya sudah lama sekali sejak emak bilang bahwa kepala sekolahku adalah manusia keparat yang hanya menginginkan tubuhnya.

"Jadi daripada harus jual diri, lebih baik gantung dulu seragammu!" Itu kata emak dulu, saat kepala sekolah sempat mampir kerumah. Setelah iuran lima bulan yang kami tunggak ditawarinya penghapusan. Dengan imbalan emak sudi menemaninya di ranjang barang satu malam atau dua. Kukira kepala sekolah adalah Bapakku. Ternyata bukan. Jelas bukan…

Pamannya Rudi juga pasti bukan bapakku. Walau ia sempat mengajariku cara membaca kitab suci, tapi Ia suka merabai punggungku dan menawariku mandi bersama di pemandian pribadi miliknya. Jelas, kalau dia bapakku dia tidak akan begitu.

Dan walau sudah dari dulu kecepatan renangku tak ada yang bisa menandingi, aku tetap iri melihat bapaknya Aji, Dwi dan Usep. Lelaki-lelaki gagah itu, bapak mereka, berdiri di dekat bebatuan, saling berteriak menyemangati anak mereka masing-masing. Saat pertandingan yang hampir selalu kumenangkan itu usai. Salah satu dari bapak-bapak itu akan mendelik padaku sambil berkata sinis “Anak perempuan koq main di kali!”

Pasti…pastinya tidak ada salah satupun dari mereka Bapakku.

Tapi Emak hanya terpekur dalam hening kalau perihal Bapak kuutarakan. Heningnya akan bersilih jadi delikan mata yang galak kalau aku menanyakan seperti apa rupa Bapak. Aku hanya ingin tahu, apa benar rambut ijuk yang menyuburi kepalaku ini benar diwariskan oleh bapak?

Aku hanya ingin membayangkan, apakah benar badan bapak tegap seperti tentara, namun suaranya lembut sekali kalau sedang menembangkan lagu 70' an?

Aku hanya ingin memastikan, kalau Bapak tahu jalan pulang

Kalau Bapak tahu, bahwa ia punya anak perempuan.

Tapi kalau aku terus mendesak, emak pasti menangis.Kalau emak menangis, besok dapur tak akan mengepul... Dan aku tak bisa jualan...

Kalau aku tak bisa jualan, aku tak bisa mengumpulkan uang.
Untuk pergi jauh dari kampung. Untuk mencari bapak.

Jadi...

Semoga saja Usia bumi ini belum menutup sebelum aku bertemu dengan Bapak.

Semoga, akhirat belum turun dari langit menjemput gelungan laut beserta kemelut. Jadi aku akan sempat bersua dengannya.

Dan Bapak akan sempat mengepuli dapur emak, membayar uang sekolahku atau mengajari cara memanggil burung dara dan berenang di kali atau lautan sekalian.

TSB: Jkt ,January 2008 Ada sebuah pencarian yang mungkin harus dihentikan…

Bahasa Ibu

Kalau anda adalah seorang warga negara Indonesia tulen - dan belum pernah tinggal di negara orang walau satu tahun pun- dan anda berbicara dengan logat "broken bahasa" , anda tidak membuat saya kagum. Anda, menggangu.

Sudah Lima Belas Tahun aku tak Bertemu Ibu

(Puisi ini saya tulis tahun lalu. Dan pembicaraan dengan seorang sahabat semalam membuat saya ingin menuliskannya lagi)

from womens support

Sudah lima Belas Tahun aku tak Bertemu Ibu

Aku tau namanya,aku tau rupanya

Aku juga tau siapa kekasih hatinya

Aku tau Ibu sedang terluka

Lagi-lagi,cinta Ibu bertepuk sebelah tangan

Padahal kata angin,kata hujan, cinta ibu itu lebih sejuk desirannya dan lebih deras curahannya.

Dibanding angin, dibanding hujan.

Aku ingin bertanya apa kabarnya, walau aku sudah tau

Aku ingin menyimpan kelembutan suaranya, sehingga bisa kuputar untuk melepas rindu

Merekam sinar matanya yang seperti tersesat, dan berusaha mencari binarnya yang kian pudar…

Sudah lima belas tahun aku tak bertemu Ibu

Aku bisa mendengar doa-doanya

Aku melihat bilur-bilur luka yang ia tutupi,aku ingin berbisik agar Ibu pergi saja..

susul aku kalau memang Ibu bisa…

Jangan mengemis lagi soal cinta…

Karena yang ditawarkan manusia memang tak ada yang sempurna

Kalau kehidupan menyakitimu lagi ibu , aku ingin ibu bisa melawannya

Tapi, karena cinta ibu lebih deras dari hujankah?... Maka ibu hanya menangis dalam diam? Dalam ketakutan

Jangan takut Ibu.. jangan takut

Aku saja waktu kecil dulu, pernah meronta sejadi jadinya nya saat ada yang berusaha melukaiku

Tanganku bahkan belum sempurna saat itu, tapi aku berjuang…Teriakku tanpa suara, tangisku tak ber air mata..

Sampai titik darah penghabisan memaksaku untuk larut dalam takdir kejam yang diberi nama pilihan.

Kemana Ibu saat itu?.. kenapa tiada membelaku?

Sudah lima belas tahun aku tak bertemu Ibu

Aku masih bisa mengingat debar jantungnya yang sempat jadi pengantar tidurku dulu

Masih bisa mendengar raungan kesakitannya saat Ibu sengaja melepaskan aku pergi

Demi kehidupan wajar katamu... Kehidupan yang kini kerap melukaimu?

Sudah lima belas tahun aku tak bertemu Ibu

Aku tak kunjung beraga pun jiwaku terlalu dini menua

Aku tergoda untuk merayu ibu datang, menemani tidurku panjangku yang sarat kehampaan

Tapi aku ragu….

Apakah ini karena rindu atau karena dendamku?

Stand up for me will you?

I am now a regular visitor of  this genius page. Today, I struck  into a very solid rule:

501. Never shake a man’s hand sitting down.(via Captain Luke R. Barnes, USMC)

And I thought I was insane for feeling not so comfortable if I see a person- stays seated- when shaking one's hand. Especially to and older woman or man. I once actually asked a 20 y/0  man to stand up for me and re shake my hand as I told him ; " This, is how you do a proper hand shake, young man". He cringed.
Euuuyhh... For a while, I kept thinking whether I am crazy or just too iritating.
But now, I am relieved. I am not crazy. Not so much.

this tumblr

Will you finish that coffee already?!

What are you? A coffee or a tea person? I am a coffee girl. I cannot function well without a cup of dark and sweet coffee in the morning, and a cup of latte at around 3 pm. I don't do frappucinno , nor other ice blended coffee because to me they are not coffee. To that, I am a slow coffee drinker. I smell, sniff, inhale in every sip. That is the only way to enjoy it. So I think this proposal will never suits me ;p . The man -who I think must be crazy enough to wanting me as a wife- will be in a pounding heart for hours and I just cannot let that happen! Hahaha... But, yes, this is a very cute way of proposing a lady to be your wife.

I bet you a thousand dollar that is a Yes

This Starbucks proposal photos , are by Cindi)

The not so bookish Me

Yes, Tressabel the skeptical bookish... They are probably just as right. But little that they know I can be a lil "adventurous" too ;). Yea... I should've been able to do these often instead of being an annoying blogger, reading books and tiring my eyes with countless festival movies and those serials. Darn... I am disturbingly lame.

Can you tell that I am wearing a shocking green flats here?

sorry. secret. spot.

Not exactly a cannonball but this is fun too!

I can see myself from a different point of view now...
Go find your old pictures, get to know yourself from a different angle!

Not a Love letter

Dear Influenza. It has been 5 days and weekend is here. I had to regret an invitation for a -must be a dazzling- party tonight because you decided to stick with me, even after all those vitamin C infusion, gallons of water, chicken broth and paracetamol. I am okay with that (the party, I mean- not your strength oh germs) But, the weather forecast says it is going to be a sunny day tomorrow and the beach is the place to be. Not in bed- not with another box of tissue and not with this headache that is always around whenever you are here. So, please- read between the lines- take this personally, it has been  5 days. Aren't you supposed to be sick of me by now?

from another germophobe like me

Childhood Movie

What's your favorite movie when you were little? Not TV serials, I bet most kids in all generations have tons - but real movie? When VHS is still "it" and you are sometimes role playing the scenes? (Or was it just me?)

These are three of my most favorites...

The Extra-Terrestrial

The Sound of Music

The NeverEnding Story

Ugly Truth

this is for real

Can you spot the 8 differences?

stuck? click savage chickens

Can you name the title?

These are a few images from some of my all time favorite movies! All time! Can you guess from what movie the scenes are?

 

Answers top to bottom:
Finding Forrester/ Awakenings/ I am Sam/ Little Miss Sunshine/ Good Will Hunting/ Smart People/ Hardball

In moments like these

In moments like these I sing out a song
I sing out a love song to Jesus
In moments like these I lift up my hands
I lift up my hands to the Lord

Singing, I love You, Lord
Singing, I love You, Lord
Singing, I love You, Lord
I love You

by David Graham 

When I am about to Give Up

I think about my quirky childhood memory

I reminisce in silly moments

I think about my God

And I treasure a children's drawing, picturing them growing up

Trials and Tribulations

A long and deep conversation with a best friend (tho’ by text or other messenger tools) always end up with me getting new insight. And I like that. Yesterday, I had a chance to talk over a messenger with my best friend of more than 15 years. It is very comforting yet easy to be able to jump into even the hardest topic when you are that close. Ice breaker is out of the question.

So we talked about how relationships can be overwhelmingly exhausting. She was in a destructive relationship for about 7 years in the past and now in love with a very decent man for 4 years. I must say, I love seeing how happy she is now.

Then this question comes up. Is the wedding bell will be ringing soon? Oh how I understands that she has been longing for it. Then double T; trials and tribulations– as always- find their way to push people right in the corner of doubt and hesitation. I have to disagree when she refers the 7 years was a trial given by God. As the scripture says (James 1:13-14) 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

She knew that man is not her future (for many reasons that I cannot share here), but yet, desire led her to get the idea and misinterpret all the hardships as God’s tests. I cannot tell you how "not so" secretly relieved I am when they broke up .
I am no perfection; I can say this out loud simply because I have been there.

On the relationship she is now having, I believe that God is folding her and him into perfection in God’s eyes. They both are in love and want the same godly things, they involved God since the very beginning of their bond, they move on form the past, being honest about each other’s fears and open about each others dreams.

So, girl, do not stop now. By experience I can say that wedding bell is not the final answer. Think of something beyond, dream about your grandchildren, dream about your retirement vacation where you will be sending postcards from Jerusalem, mesmerize about how you are going to tell bible stories for your great grandchildren. Wedding is just a big milestone. It is not the last destination.
We are meant to walk further and becoming a more beautifully formed being in His eyes. I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20 

Dear best-friend of 15 years...Whatever the doubt you are having, no matter how big your question is... God is standing there at the end of the long winding road with an absolute answer.  All you need to do is unload the heaviness inside you to His throne. So go ahead and do that...

Auf Wiedersehen, Sampai Jumpa!

This one is dedicated to my young, beautiful, bold and cheeky friend, Tine. I met her year last year when I first arrived in this little paradise, Bali. Tine was an intern in the hotel that I am working for. At first, she reminds me so much of the siblings form Germany that I made friends with back when I was little. She’s courageous, outspoken, cheerful and so fun to be with. She is the type of a girl who may seem like a very strong rock but will not be afraid to show her inner soft self. A real adventurer, passionate about her job and I never tell her this but ... I so envy her long legs and an array of her bikini collections and the fact that her parents own a chocolate factory in Germany! Oh yeah I am so going to miss all the chocolate bars from her too (sad face) Hahaha...

This week, she is leaving Bali to get to a crossroad that will outline her future. Up to the time I am posting this, she hasn’t got back to me about the final plan yet. Well, yes she has a lot of tempting options waiting for her because of her hard work and strong will for success. As much as I am happy for her, I am at the same time feel sad of not going to have her around again for our sun-baking time, dinner, party or a drink over a silly and crazy long conversation. I wish you the world girl! And whatever that is you are going to tell me by (darn our last) dinner time, you know the wishes will follow you through. Hugs and kisses.

White party in kuta with Virginie

The not so secret santa night; Ibu Inne, Belle, Yosi, Tine, Ria and the turtle