Connect and Re-connect

8 months into 2016... I do feel that time surely flies in a blink of an eye... in only 8 months so many things had happened but one most important thing that I learned is to connect and reconnect.

I tried to spend more time with my family, both immediate and extended. Timewise, I have to admit it's really not easy to do. Considering the highway, mrt, lrt and whatever constructions all over Jakarta, the time spent on the road is getting longer and longer. By the time I got home on weekdays, it's already 7 - 8pm and I felt exhausted. Weekend is spent doing laundry, cleaning up my room, and no matter how tired I am I determined to go to church with my Dad on Sunday morning for the 7am service then went to buy lunch with him. Once in a while we also had lunch together, sometime just the two of us, or if time permits with my Bro and Sis in law.

One thing that I also noticed is my Dad felt lonely if I spent a lot of time outside home. Since my Bro and Sis in law started their own business, my Dad spent all day at home by himself including on weekend. Even though I just stayed in my room reading or watching, I saw that he felt better having someone at home. If I went out for 2 weekends in a row, the next weekend he would asked me: "What have you been doing? Why are you so busy? Are you going again today?". You know, I always told him where I was going, but his medical condition made him forget. So I explained again... and sometime, I cancelled my plan and just stayed at home. That's when I realized that I have been given such a great opportunity to take care of him when many times I heard about lonely parents who live alone without seeing their children for a long time. I am blessed.

I went out with my cousins, met up with some uncle and aunts, sent messages to those whom I haven't seen or heard from in awhile. To be honest, I used to think spending time with them to be such a chore. But it really amazed me that this time, somehow, as our relationship grew tighter I also felt stronger. Like I have people who cared about me behind my back to support me and pray for me. And I hope that's how they feel too. As lately, so many things good or bad are happening to our family in and outside Jakarta, but somehow there was always a way for us to be connected one way or another, to keep updated with how each other's doing. God's restoring our family's relationship and there's still more that He wants to do with us. I'm expecting.

As for friends... I have to let some go, but gain new ones... After not meeting for a long time, a friend told me during our dinner: "You know, I read that we have lesser friends as we get older. We just don't have the time and patience to build new relationships, it's already hard to maintain old ones." At first I agreed. As time went by, it dawned on me that as I grew older, I also grew impatient and unable to tolerate bullshits. I'd rather have friends who can't promise when to meet but actually have time to keep in touch or just say hi over the phone, than friends who keep saying we should do things together but in the end don't even have time to ask me how I'm doing while they're busy posting stuff of them having fun in SNS.

Being stuck in traffic in the morning or after office hour also became an important moment for me to re-connect. I put on my hands-free and make some calls. There is one dear friend whom I cannot meet at church regularly anymore since we have different service to attend. She spent all day taking care of her mother so it's also not easy to find time to meet outside church. Mornings are to call her or others whom I know are not having regular office work. Evenings to night are for those who's only available after work. My mobile phone bill is rising definitely (though not significantly), but it's money worth spending for.

When I was going through a hard time a few months ago, I didn't tell many people. I posted a thank you post in my FB though but some people surprised me by sending messages to ask what happened and how I coped up with it. And those were people whom I didn't expect to actually care. And just like that, we re-connected and kept in touch. It all started from a simple "Hi, how are you?"

In the end, time is the most valuable thing that we can give to our loved ones. Make an effort to pick up your phone to call or just send a message. You will never know when someone is in need of a person to talk to. Make sure to put down your phone and ignore your SNS for an hour or so when the other person is talking. This year is full of blessings to connect and re-connect for me. And I want to keep it going. Maybe you should too.

Oh yes, here's some moments with my loved ones!! There's a lot more but I haven't backed them up to my computer hahaha These will do :)

160626 Family from Sacramento, before they fly back home. Miss them already!

160707 Bro's birthday and Lebaran holiday lunch w/ Dad... at the Mall!!

160730 Sending off our cousin to University in Semarang and celebrating our birthday.

Our (mid)Night Adventure!

It's Monday again! And back with bad flu and dizzy head T___T

Anyway, we had a long weekend last week and before the holiday arrived I decided to satisfy my curiosity to visit the 'it' Mall at BSD (AEON, what else? LOL) and the biggest Book Fair I have ever attended - the Big Bad Wolf, not far from the Mall. After a lot of consideration, whom else can I ask to go but my other 'bookworm' buddy - Ira :) We both agreed that night time might be ideal, since the next day was a holiday, probably most people are traveling with their family and so on... we heard and saw FB posts already of how long the queue was at noon. But apparently we were completely wrong.

So on Thursday, May 5, we left my house around 6-30pm and headed to AEON Mall. We got there as scheduled, around 8pm after a long traffic jam just about 2km away, then another 15 mins looking for a parking lot. But still good... We got it and headed to the basement. We were surprised to see the crowd but we couldn't resist to NOT purchase anything from the bakery!! Everything looked yummy but we settled on walnut chocolate breads, chocolate muffins and green tea muffins. We looked around, spent some times at Daiso, coffee... then we decided to leave just when the mall was about to close down at 10pm. What do you know, we had to spend another 45 mins just to get out of the Mall!! From the parking lot at the roof to the main road!!

Oh, and my impression of the Mall? Other than the many Japanese restaurants inside the mall I didn't think it was so special. But I'd love to return to try out some restaurants! Maybe next time on another holiday if I'm in the mood hahaha or better, if someone else drives! :p Really, google maps says it's almost 30km away from home and it took me almost 1.5 hours already on a holiday night! I can't imagine on a normal weekend just how bad the traffic will be.

Move on... So when we finally reached ICE where the BBW was held, again we had to spend some time looking for a parking space. I tried to be patient and drove super slowly, following people who's about to get out of the hall... and lucky! We got a space not too far from the entrance. We were excited and a bit overwhelmed at the crowd though it's already 11.30pm. And once we got in... I got dizzy! Hahaha

First, it was crowded. 

Second, it was messy. There was a sign clearly said to put the books back where it belong but noooooo people just put it anywhere they liked it!

Third, it was crowded and messy but still so many strollers with sleeping babies and children inside and in between rows, making it hard for people to get through :(

I almost went out again if not because it was such a pain to get there, then shouldn't I at least get a book or two? So Ira and I went separate ways... I browsed quickly and found about 2 or 3 books I was interested in. Actually more, but I had no more space to keep them unless I get rid what I had currently at home LOL

The OCPD in me was so bothered by the mess that everytime I stopped to look at a book, I also spent time to stack everything back according the titles hahaha I knew that I looked like a weirdo and some people just watched me like I was nuts. But hey, I would go nuts if I saw the mess and didn't do anything about it! >_<  There was also a sign that said not to open the books' wrap and boxes (for some educational hard covers) but nooooooo this man in front of me just took one box, ripped it open, took out the book, ripped open the plastic wrap, opened the book and threw it back to the pile, right in front of me!!! I tried to hold it in and didn't say anything... I was furious and if not because I was getting really tired and the crowd I might've chased after him and gave him some words!

Then I thought let's pay and end it. That's when I realized that the people right next to me was actually queuing for the cashiers. I looked around and saw super long lines at every rows... I moved to check how many cashiers were available. There were 30 and actually people could stand in line for 1 hour just to pay! I wasn't surprised when I saw just how many books each people were buying. Almost everyone bought like a trolley, that's when I decided to throw the white towel. No way I'd queue for an hour for 3 books. Ira and I agreed to call it a day and headed out.

We saw a lady with like a few trolleys of purchase waiting for her car... Surprisingly, we still saw a lot of people who just arrived and again, with strollers -- sleeping babies and all. I wasn't against taking your children with you if you don't have nannies or helpers at home, but maybe you should take turns with your partners to look out for them OUTSIDE the hall instead. There were empty crates on the sides inside the hall, clearly they were filled with books and I could feel the dust in the air. My allergy was even starting to come out, one of the reasons I got out quickly. Really bad for babies to be inside :(

It was already 1AM by the time we got out of the hall. We regretted for not buying anything, but at least we knew what to do the next time BBW (hopefully) returns. Get rid of the old books first to save some space and come with more people so even if we have to queue, we queue for lots of books instead of 3 ROFL

Oh well... it was a nice little adventure and I won't mind to do it again :D But first, I better finish reading those books still in their wraps sitting nicely in my shelf. Yikes!

Love Is All Around

Last week I had to go through a long 3 days trip... Only 3 days but indeed felt like more than that since I wasn't going for just some fun. 

My plan was:

Day 1: Arrive, 2 appointments, rest, nice dinner

Day 2: Visit the zoo, nice lunch, nice dinner

Day 3: Shopping, more fun, nice lunch, fly home

I was stressed out for so many reasons even before I went and in the end nothing went as planned. I was so exhausted on the 1st day and had to take it easy for the next 2 days. But guess what? I have never felt so loved like I did then.

Whenever I felt lonely and down, there were always messages came to my phone whether to make me laugh, gave me encouragement, and even made me bawled my eyes out for the kind words and prayers shared. I was blessed. I AM blessed in so many ways. I experienced God's grace in unexpected ways.

I know it's not enough but I still want to thank...

YOU, for the FB messages and prayers before I left and after I returned... You don't have to be there to show me that you care... your prayers are more than enough buddy!!

YOU, for the nice dinner and shared gelato at night, for being my Momma for a night, for the encouragement and prayers, for the advises. I'm looking forward to share some alcohol in the next visit, still can't get over that green bottle! LOL God is working right now for you as well :)

YOU, for taking a day off just to make sure I wasn't lonely, gave me tons of laughter and kept reminding me to stop touching my boob even when it's itchy (Yikes!), for being my porter and carrying my shopping bags (I know those bottles weren't light!), for the wonderful lunch and bittersweet dessert... As promised, the next time you're home I'll pick you up and drive you back home :p Oh, unless we can get a handsome Uber driver like that one who took me to the airport?

YOU, for remembering my appointments and sent me whatsapp messages to lift my mood, for checking up on my conditions every single day and most importantly for the prayers that kept me holding onto God's promises and believing in HIM every step of the way. And now, for making sure that I eat healthily hahaha Veggies! Fruits! Yeah! *cry*

YOU, for making sure that I covered my bandage well and not got it wet... Yes, I knew there's a hole. Yes, you frightened me with those stories of holes went rotten and stuff. You're the one who didn't stop messaging but then telling me you need to sleep (as if I don't?). But I know I can count on you when I need some reality check ;)

YOU, YOU and YOU... Every single one of YOU who thought of me, prayed for me and spent time to send me endless messages and questions and advises and laughter, every single time when I least expected them. 

I received a good result but there's still some follow up in the next 6 months... I hope that it'll be a better visit, more fun, more good food and definitely stress free :D

No matter how hard were my days, God is watching over me through all of you. I feel the love. And the love is all around me. Bless you!!!