Happy and Sad

It's been one heck of a week! I've experienced both happy and sad moments. Let us start with the sad moment shall we? My husband's dearest grandfather passed away 2 days ago at a hospital in Tondano, North Sulawesi. Losing a loved one is never easy. I know. I've been there. Unlike me (when losing my grandmother), my husband accepted it with a certain amount of grace. He believes that his grandfather is now in a far better place and will always keep him in his memories. Opa Nicholas will surely be missed but will never be forgotten! Readers, if I were you and still have grandparents around, I'd visit them this today, hug them and tell them how much I love them... and oh, maybe ask them to tell their personal life stories! I personally love hearing old stories of my grandparents. Those stories make me feel close to them. 

Opa Nicholas Mamengko and grandson Jonah Christi (my darling husband). This was the last time we saw him, at his house in Tondano. 

My husband and I in Tondano, shortly after visiting Opa Nicholas. 

And on happier note *i'm all smiles*... my husband is in town for 10 days!! Feels so good having him back even though only for 10 days. So please excuse me if I don't blog for couple of days, my husband and I are going to spend some quality time together. Have a wonderful weekend all! And to my moslem friends, Happy Idul Fitri and have a wonderful holiday!

1 John 4:10

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Iker on Spanish Super Cup 2011

Iker Casillas --- photo via realmadrid.com

“Everybody saw what happened. Marcelo's tackle wasn't that harsh. Everything we had to say has been said before. Congrats to the Champion, that’s all.” - Iker Casillas, goalkeeper and captain of Real Madrid C.F.

Congrats Barca, but I will always be a Madridista. And I freakin' love Mou lol he's hilarious! Hala Madrid!!

Banana Republic: Mad Men

Kill me now. A Mad Men-inspired clothing collection, designed by Janie Bryant (Mad Men's stylist!!!), has now launched with retailer Banana Republic. How am I supposed to resist this? Evil. Ugh... maybe just one dress or one cig pant or one jacket or...

*banging my head against the wall*

Banana Republic Limited Edition:

via Banana Republic Facebook Page

Mad Men the tv show:

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Republik Indonesia's 66th Independence Day

August 17th 2011.

Jakarta, Indonesia.

I bleed Red and White because I'm one proud Indonesian. I love my country forever and beyond. I hope each of us (Indonesians) will take time to reflect on what Independence Day is really about – remembering the sacrifices of our soldiers who have given their service (and their lives) to protect the freedoms so many of us take for granted. Freedom is not a gift. It is an earned benefit that was paid for by the blood of our heroes. 

I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you a remembrance of my grandfather and his fellow soldiers who fought for Indonesia's freedom, fought many times to unite Indonesia.

He's my hero, but I honor him even more as a loving husband to his wives (after my grandmother died, he re-married), an incredible father to his children, and a beloved grandfather to me.

So today, I pause to reflect on what has been given and sacrificed. I will never forget. Thank you, heroes!

Strategic planning before combat. Some of grandfather's military tactics are still being taught in Indonesian army school.

The troops. Thank you for the service, I'm grateful (:

Grandpa was writing a letter to my grandma.

Grandpa (in the middle) and his fellow soldiers.

Marching on. Courageous men fought for our freedom, I could not thank them enough for the job they did. My heart goes out to the ones that lossed their lives or were injured in duty.

Grandpa and his fellow soldier, Let. Kol. Slamet Riyadi, planning some attacks.

The Batalyon Worang Monument in Manado. The only batalyon that was named after the commander (my grandfather) and officially registered in the Indonesian army.

He chose Tontalete, the place he called home, to be his final resting place instead of being buried at the heroes' cemetery.

Thank you for giving us the freedom, my heroes! Happy Independence Day Indonesia! --- Photo was taken in Bali, 2009.

* most of the photos are from family collection and few of them are from Ipphos.

Two Remarkable Women

I've always loved these two wonderful and admirable women until today. My passion to be a social worker / philanthropist one day (soon I hope) is coming not only from Audrey Hepburn, but also from these two women, they are all my inspiration. Coming from opposite sides of the world their lives were truly worlds apart. One was a young mother, beautiful, tall and Protestant; the other elderly, diminutive and Catholic. Both lived with the constant attention of the media and understood how this could enable them to reach a worldwide audience for their charitable works; yet both remained able to reach out to individuals with respect and dignity, providing real comfort to the suffering and their families. And in 1997, two of the world's most famous women died within a week of each other: Lady Diana at 36 in a tragic automobile accident and Mother Teresa at 87 of heart failure.

But there is something that public figures, the Government and the leaders can learn from Mother Teresa and Lady Diana. The public is longing to see sincerity, openness, and integrity. The public is looking for freshness and genuine humanness in its leaders. Especially if they can openly communicate by words and actions who they really are and what they truly believe. I hope one day Indonesia (and other countries as well) can have those kind of people in the Government. Here's to hoping for the best! Amen.

Mother Teresa and Lady Diana

via mnartist.org

Smart Invention!

Such a smart invention and I want to buy couple pairs for my pump shoes. Ladies, who's with me?

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10 Things God Can't Do

1. God can’t get tired.
   Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.
   —Isaiah 40:28
   
2. God can’t take on a job he can’t handle.
   Ah, Lord God! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you.
   —Jeremiah 32:17
   
3. God can’t be unholy.
   And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
   —Isaiah 6:3
   
4. God can’t be prejudiced.
   In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears him and works righteousness is accepted by him.
   —Acts 10:34-35
   
5. God can’t break a promise.
   My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of my lips.
   —Psalm 89:34
   
   
6. God can’t remember sins he’s chosen to forget.
   I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
   —Isaiah 43:25
   
7. God can’t make a loser.
   Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.
   —2 Corinthians 2:14
   
   
8. God can’t abandon you.
   Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, he is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
   —Deuteronomy 31:6
   
9. God can’t stop thinking about you.
   How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with you.
   —Psalm 139:17-18
   
   
10. God can’t stop loving you.
    Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
    —Jeremiah 31:3

via Naeem Callaway

Oogy

In 2002, Larry Levin and his twin sons, Dan and Noah, took their terminally ill cat to the Ardmore Animal Hospital outside Philadelphia to have the beloved pet put to sleep. What would begin as a terrible day suddenly got brighter as the ugliest dog they had ever seen–one who was missing an ear and had half his face covered in scar tissue–ran up to them and captured their hearts. The dog had been used as bait for fighting dogs when he was just a few months old. He had been thrown in a cage and left to die until the police rescued him and the staff at Ardmore Animal Hospital saved his life. The Levins, whose sons are themselves adopted, were unable to resist Oogy’s charms, and decided to take him home.

Oogy is a living proof that there can be happiness, love and hope on the other side of the horrible events in life. Also this is truly a story about what can happen when the worst in people meets the best in people and the best wins. Just like in disney movies!

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I'm going to place an order of this book as soon as possible at my favorite bookstore in town since I'm a sucker for dog stories. And oh, my super sweet childhood friend, Lindsay, just posted an entry about Military Working Dogs. I gotta hand it to you girl, that was one great blog entry! I didn't know that there was a dog killed alongside with his handler and those Navy Seals on the Chinook chopper that crashed in Afghanistan last week. I'm so saddened by this horrific news *sobs*.

And oh since my readers are mostly from the US of A (according to my visitor flag counter), I urge you to read her blog entry and spread some love to dogs and other animals. Please adopt stray dogs at your nearest dog shelter if you want to get a dog, they need a home and they need you!

Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love

1121 Kilometres

1121 kilometres (696.4 miles) is the distance between Jakarta, the largest city on the island of Java in Indonesia and Lombok, the island in West Nusa Tenggara province, in Indonesia. Jakarta is the city where I live and Lombok is where my husband now lives, because his flying school has just started. He's gonna be staying there for 9 months, but we've already scheduled my visits to Lombok in between.

From the photos he sent me, I know that we have made the right decision. He's happy. Yes, I miss him everyday, I just need to get used to this. Not easy, but I'll try my best. So now I'm just waiting for time to pass. Hopefully he will pass all the tests, exams with flying colors and get the licenses he needs/wants. --- that's me being supportive (; 

PS: I LOVE YOU, BUN!

My husband and I at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the day he left for Lombok. Yes I'm wearing my most favorite striped top, my mood booster!

The first thing he did in Lombok was took a picture with his new ride, Liberty XL2.

At Senggigi Beach, he stays at this beach front hotel there.

His school's hangar and runway at Selaparang Airport, Lombok.

Husby in pilot uniform with this amphibian airplane.

Bold Stripes

I'm smitten with all these stripes... 

 

images via Matchbook Magazine

Another Great News!

The Rescuing Hug

This picture is from an article called "The Rescuing Hug". The article details the first week of life of a set of twins. Each were in their respective incubators and one was not expected to live. A hospital nurse fought against the hospital rules and placed the babies in one incubator. When they were placed together, the healthier of the two, threw an arm over her sister in an endearing embrace. The smaller baby's heart stabilized and temperature rose to normal. 

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Fly Away

As a wife, I often make decision which is what fills my husband's bucket. Food to eat, where to go, what to do,  pray for him every night and sadly force him to do things that he doesn't actually like nor enjoy just because I thought it was the best for him and convenient for me (yes I'm one selfish bastard lol). 

Unlike me, my husband has an unquenchable love of flying. He would point out planes flying and recite their model names to me. He has been surrounded by aviation for his entire life and aviation is very much in his bloodlines. My father in law and some of his relatives are pilots and clearly have played significant roles in my husband's interest in aviation world.

With that kind of bloodlines, one might think the decision to fly came easy for my husband or that he made it at an early age. Not true. Especially after we met. He already had his career in hospitality industry which I thought was suits him (and yours truly) best. Then one day, out of nowhere, he told me that he might be interested in switching his hospitality career to flying airplanes.

I was sort of freaked out. Yes, I love traveling yet I truly hate being on an airplane (the worst part of traveling). I used to fly quite often, I actually remember loving turbulence as a small child. Now, even thinking that puts me in 'fear mode'. My fear of flying was born the day Adam Air crashed. Since then, my fear is at the point where I have to convince myself on every flight that I am prepared to die, and accept the fact that I am going to die. I've no problem with take-off and landing but turbulence terrifies me. And yes, I know more people die on the roads than in the sky, a plane lands ever three seconds or whatever, meaning that millions and millions of people fly safely a year. But still!!! I'm so silly, I know.

Needless to say, I firmly objected my husband's proposal. This topic was not up for a discussion for quite some time. Then I slowly came to realize how he didn't enjoy his life to the fullest and the only barrier between him and his dream is me. Months later this topic came out again, but this time he reminded me that death is in God's hands. He's right, so I decided to give him my permission, support and blessing.  Fear of flying is my issue, not his. 

Shortly after, the opportunity came his way. He permanently left his hospitality career and business world. The next thing I know, he enrolled at LIFT, passed all the entrance tests with flying colors and best of all he became a lot happier. It's all happening so quickly! God's plan and His timing are always perfect, no significant obstacles come in the way! My husband has been experiencing series of God's favors since day one; he got chosen by his instructors and fellow classmates as "Captain" of their batch, got really good score on radiotelephony practical test and I hope many more great things in the future. I'm so proud and happy for my husband to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot (: Thank you Lord Jesus!

Morals of this story...

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Bertrand Russell's Quote

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I'm in Tears

It’s so crazy how powerful the internet truly is. I just read this on someone's tumblr a moment ago, and it had me in tears. I just had to repost it. Too beautiful.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey.  She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her.  I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office.

A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet.  I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’
Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.
Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog.
Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find, I am wherever there is love.
Love,
God…

iPhone Alarm

This is a simple yet great motivator and also source of positive energy in the morning! I like this a lot! *changing my alarm note on my iPhone immediately*

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Fast Forward to September!

Not that I don't love August, but as a tv series enthusiast, I simply couldn't wait for September to arrive! My favorite tv shows will come back *cue angel chorus HAALLELUJAH* and of course the new tv shows, I watched their preview trailer and totally falling for them instantly! 

1st one, of course, The New Girl simply because of the lovely Zooey Deschanel.

2nd, Pan Am! Why? Because the setting is in 1963 just like Mad Men. Vintage vintage vintage! SWOOOONNN! 

3rd, the new Charlie's Angels. Girls kick ass are cool! Minka Kelly's so pretty.

4th, Revenge. Emily van Camp is the main character, I love her since Brothers and Sisters. The plot looks interesting as well. 

5th, Once Upon A Time. I have a soft spot for fairy tales ((: 

5 new tv series to look forward to! Those are for me, the replacements of No Ordinary Family, Brothers and Sisters, V which all got canceled this year. Oh well, while waiting for September to come, I'm just gonna enjoy August accompanied by Entourage final season and Amazing Race Australia season 1. Oh joy!